Community newspaper ‘The Observer’, based in Gladstone Queensland, is facing a community backlash after it published a letter from a reader who described homosexuality as a sexual perversion and stated that homosexuality was neither normal nor natural.
Local resident Carol Zussino wrote a letter to the newspaper complaining that a new television show had a “token gay character”.
Mrs Zussino continued on in her letter sharing her opinion that homosexuality was neither natural or normal because it did not result in the production of offspring, something Mrs Zussino saw as the primary purpose of all species.
The letter also claimed that homosexual intercourse was dangerous and unhygienic.
The letter has been widely criticised on the newspaper’s Facebook page but the editor of the newspaper has defended it’s publication arguing that the newspaper had a responsibility to publish both sides of an argument.
Editor Allen Winter said the newspaper was meeting it’s responsibilities.
“There are a number of rules around publishing letters to the editor. The basic one is that newspapers have a responsibility to publish letters on either side of any argument, no matter what the editor may personally think.
“The other important rule is that editors are not expected to publish letters which are libelous, or incite illegal activity. The letter from Mrs Zussino is neither libelous; nor does it incite illegal activity. The letter is her firmly held opinion.
“If the letter was not published, The Observer could rightly be accused of censorship. Remember this: the newspaper is merely the messenger. The letter writer is the person who wrote the words.”
The editor has invited readers who disagree with the comments to respond by writing their own letter to the editor.
OIP Staff
Mrs Zussino was approached for comment.
Source: SameSame.com
