Newspaper provokes controversy with anti-gay letter

http://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2013/oct/16/gay-rights-local-newspapers

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A local newspaper in Kent finds itself at the centre of a controversy after publishing a reader's letter that implied gay people are sinners.

The Whitstable Times's choice of headline, "Take heed, all you homosexual sinners", has added fire to the flames.

The letter, as shown here, quotes the slogan from gay and lesbian rights charity Stonewall, "Some people are gay, get over it". Then it quotes a passage from the bible (Isaiah 3:9). I'm not certain that the reference is about homosexuality, but the writer clearly thinks it is.

But it is the headline that appears to have provoked more anger than the letter, which was signed "Mr D Bryson."

In a series of letters published in response, the majority attacked the headline.

S Frewin-Clarke, wrote: "Using this as a headline in 2013, shame on you… [it] will fuel the fire of the many ignorant homophobic people who, surprisingly, still exist."

Jo Frazer agreed: "I am less offended by the content of his letter (I live in Kent after all and encounter such homophobic views regularly) than I am by your paper's chosen header… it is deliberately designed to be provocative."

Journalists writing about the story on HoldTheFrontPage also take issue with the headline.

Steve Mueller thought the headline "crass beyond belief" while "Desker"<br />called it "moronic, and "Trunky" considered it "a big mistake – even if, as I suspect, it was written with tongue in cheek." Richard, Lancaster also thought the headline "was making fun of the letter."

Most commenters believed it fair for the paper to publish the letter on freedom of speech (and press) grounds.

The Whitstable Times's editor, Rebecca Smith told HoldTheFrontPage: "The letters pages are a place for people to air their views. This letter did represent an extreme view and the headline summarised that view."

<em>Sources:</em> HoldTheFrontPage/Pink News/Canterbury Times

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