TUV leader Jim Allister has written to the Chief Executive of Pink News challenging him over an article about HRH Prince George.
Commenting Mr Allister said:
“With multiple media outlets clearly obsessed with LGBT issues I find it amazing that this inconvenient article has been completely ignored. While anyone who dares to challenge whatever the latest demand of the LGBT lobby is will be subject to scrutiny this grossly offensive article has passed without comment.
“I would have referred Pink News to the Press Standards Organisation but it appears that they have not signed up to the Editor’s Code of Practice. While the PSO is hardly a powerful body nor its Code demanding it nonetheless sets a minimum standard which publications agree to abide by. I am interested to know why Pink News have broken with the norm across most of the industry in the U.K. by not signing up and have requested an explanation.”
Mr Allister’s letter is as follows:
Dear Mr Cohen,
Re Article by Josh Jackman
I write to express my disgust at an article written by Josh Jackman and carried on the website of your publication dated 25th July 2017.
The highly inappropriate article – People think Prince George looks fabulous in this new photo (see http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/07/25/prince-georges-subjects-have-crowned-him-a-gay-icon-for-some-reason/amp/ ) describes HRH Prince George as “a gay icon”. In reality the photo which prompted the piece shows a four year old boy who is smartly dressed and excited about being on a helicopter with his male father and female mother.
To take an image of a little boy and to fantasise of him being an icon for a life defined by sex is outrageous and sick.
The reaction to the article on your publication’s own Facebook page alone should tell you that the piece was misjudged to say the least. The vast majority of comments are critical. As one of them observed, “You are using 1970s stereotyping to come up with this nonsense. … It is ignorant in the extreme to speculate about the sexuality of any child in such a public fashion”.
Sexualising a young child in this fashion is entirely inappropriate. You should immediately withdraw the article and apologise.
I would refer you to the Independent Press Standards Organisation but I note that Pink News isn’t listed among the outlets which have signed up to its Editor’s Code of Practice. I would be obliged if you could advise me as to why this is the case.
Yours sincerely,
Jim Allister MLA