A Greenwich charity has slammed the decision by a local newspaper to publish a “homophobic” letter and award it a prize.
The Metro Centre in Norman Road, which provides support services for the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community says that the letter that was given Star Letter status and awarded with a prize in last week’s News Shopper was “appalling”.
The controversial letter (available to read in full here), written by Mrs Fitzsimons from Lewisham, refers to gay people as being “perverted” and goes on to say that “there is no equality today due to everything being biased towards homosexuality”. She suggests that adverts for gay, lesbian and bisexual clubs promote “perversity”.
As author of the paper’s Star Letter, Mrs Fitzsimons was given a free pen from Webster’s Pen Shop.
Marguerite McLaughlin, CEO of the Metro Centre, has written a furious letter to the News Shopper accusing them of trying to create a “tawdry controversy”. She calls the letter a “hate-filled rant against lesbians, gay men and bisexual people”. The charity boss says that the newspaper should give an apology to its gay readership.
Click here to read Marguerite McLaughlin’s letter to the News Shopper’s editor
Ms McLaughlin has also revealed to Greenwich.co.uk that she has ordered all of the charity’s advertising with the newspaper to be suspended until a satisfactory explanation has been provided by the paper’s editor.
Soon after the letter was published in last week’s Greenwich & Lewisham edition of the freesheet, a storm erupted on local blogs (see here, here and here) and on the social networking site, Twitter.
Greenwich councillor, Nigel Fletcher (Conservative, Eltham North) wrote on his blog that the News Shopper had made a “a big error of judgement” and that rewarding the letter’s author with a prize was “inexcusable”.
Despite a barrage of criticism, the News Shopper, based in Petts Wood, insists that the decision to award the letter with Star Letter status and give its author a prize was not an endorsement of the letter’s content.
Bravo Marguerite McLaughlin.
I hope other advertisers will come to the same conclusion.
Dear Greenwich .co.uk
I am very saddened and ashamed by the Newsshopper printing the letter by Mrs Fitzsimons and then rewarding it with a “Star” and a free pen.Then when much outrage at the said letter the Newsshopper ran for the hills.
Well done to Ms Mclaughlin of the Metro Centre ( that does much good work) for taking a stance.
I urge all of you that this nasty letter effects, to complain until the Newsshopper is brought to book.
I would very much like a tv news company to search out and interview Mrs Fitzsimons and so she can explain her veiws,and.then the Newsshopper.
A couple of years ago I did a docu fly on the wall TV show ( The Hotel Inspector) in which I was outed ,which was a bit of a shock, but I have nothing to hide so no problem After the TV show was aired within an hour I had over 7500 e mails (from around the world).Not one mentioned the fact about me being gay but said nothing but kind words.It is a shame that it takes the Newsshopper and Mrs Fitzsimons from just down the road to be so shabby.
I don’t ever want to see this horrible paper with it’s stupid and repulsive views through my door again.