National Post apologizes for running transphobic ad

The National Post has apologized for running a transphobic ad from the Institute for Canadian Values that caused widespread outrage. In an extensive note from the paper's editors, they explain that while they believe position promoted by the ad is worthy of debate in an open society, it ultimately crossed the line. "Where the ads exceeded the bounds of civil discourse was in their tone and manipulative use of a picture of a young girl; in the suggestion that such teaching "corrupts" children, with everything that such a charge implies; and in their singling out of groups of people with whose sexuality the group disagrees," the apology reads.

As for how the ad managed to get into the paper, the note isn't particularly specific (which isn't that surprising). "The National Post has procedures in place for vetting the content of advertising, especially advocacy advertising. The procedures are intended to ensure that such ads meet a standard of tone and respect that is consistent with furthering constructive dialogue about important public policy issues. In this case, those procedures were not followed. An ad that should not have run in its proposed form was allowed to run."

The direct apology comes near the end, when the editors explain that the paper will not run the ad again. "The fact that we will not be publishing this ad again represents a recognition on our part that publishing it in the first place was a mistake. The National Post would like to apologize unreservedly to anyone who was offended by it. We will be taking steps to ensure that in future our procedures for vetting the content of advertising will be strictly adhered to."

Kudos should go to the paper for admitting the mistake and apologizing in such lengthy fashion.