Response to complaints over letters shameful
Hello friends at Cowichan Valley Citizen. It is with extreme frustration that I write you this letter this morning.
I am frustrated at the fact that once again, I have awoken to bigoted, hateful “opinion” pieces in your newspaper. Yesterday I posted on your Facebook page, and let you know full well how I felt. The response from publishers or editors was shameful. I was told the publication was intentful and done in hopes of inciting anger and a response to the letters to defend our friends in the LGBTQ+ community. It’s 2017. When are we going to stop forcing people within the community to defend themselves against hatred and bigotry? When will you understand that pride month and especially LGBTQ+ individuals are not a social experiment?
Most individuals suffered very real trauma (and still do often) and your publications could cause real pain, fear and/or suffering just by reading these posts. But Cowichan Valley Citizen didn’t care; they sure cared about all the one star ratings they recieved. They definately cared enough to delete their response to my complaints on Facebook after their bad explanation for why they published the piece was torn apart by the public. It starts with you and I, Cowichan Valley Citizen. I again ask you keep your word to the many individuals you approached yesterday and issue a full apology in your next issue. If we don’t see this — stop calling yourself supporters or allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
Using them as a platform to gain readership proves how you really feel.
Kathrynn Gelling
Victoria