The Island City went wild this week when it was discovered that what at first appeared to be an advertisement for West Side Story was actually an editorial cartoon that depicted racist scenes. In an OPT-ED published today by Norm Kent he explains, “On page 25 of the South Florida Gay News, we did not have an ad for “West Side Story.” We did not have an ad displaying an erotic man featured with gold beads around his neck. On Aug. 12, SFGN ran an ad depicting an image of a naked young Black man being lynched, with a rope around his neck. And it looks like the dancer was stepping on the face of George Floyd, yet another character cast deceptively in the image.” The cartoon was apparently submitted by a trusted advertiser of the paper, and due to Norm Kent’s recent brain surgery and following treatment for Covid-19 along with several other staff members or travel-related personal issues, the ad was not checked before the paper ran. Kent states in the OPT-ED, “From me to everyone else on the staff, our failure to flag that stupid freaking ad led to the most embarrassing moment I have experienced in 40 plus years as a weekly news publisher in South Florida. That’s right, over 40 years.” He ends with this promise to do better, “We will use this as a learning moment, and do better next time. If we make better decisions, we can expect better outcomes, happier endings, and newer beginnings. At SFGN, we have written hundreds of stories over thousands of pages these past 10 years. We expose the naked city, with all its wins, warts, and wounds. This week, it’s us. Our screw-up. We own it. But that’s all she wrote folks. Now we have another paper to put out.” Happening Out Television Network and Queer News Tonight has run this special news report every Thursday called “Queer Up South Florida Gay News” for quite some time. We are part of the Hotspots Magazine, W.M.E.G group. Many in South Florida have questioned why we do this. This report is a perfect opportunity to answer that question publicly. Does LGBTQ+ digital television compete with LGBTQ+ print platforms like South Florida Gay News? And does South Florida Gay News compete with our print publication HotSpots for advertisers and readers? Absolutely. But at the end of the day, our LGBTQ+ community is far more important than that competition. IF the South Florida LGBTQ+ community thrives and grows in Pandemic we must recognize that we all work together. We support each other. THAT is why we are proud to support South Florida Gay News and their new issue every Thursday. Norm Kent does get one thing wrong in this week's OP-ED. Mistakes happen, and mistakes can be forgiven. It seems to Queer News Tonight you took all the actions that the LGBTQ+ South Florida community has come to expect from your leadership. And yes, for 40 years. South Florida Gay News is on stands today..
Norm Kent, Publisher of South Florida Gay News Publisher, Says Running Racist Cartoon Ad Is Unforgivable
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