The B.C. Liberal Leader says there is no room in his party for homophobia, transphobia, or any other form of discrimination.
Speaking on the NL Morning News, Andrew Wilkinson was asked about his party advertising in the The Light – a controversial magazine that promotes anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion content while promoting conversion therapy – as first reported by PressProgress.
“This came up yesterday and I was disappointed to hear it because we are a party that stands for equality for everybody, and to hear that somehow some advertising appeared adjacent to some material in a magazine that takes contrary views is just not acceptable,” Wilkinson said.
In a statement this morning, the BC NDP accuse the Liberal leader of standing by his caucus’s decision to run the ads in the magazine.
“It’s deeply troubling that Andrew Wilkinson and other BC Liberal MLAs would spend thousands of dollars supporting a publication that is actively homophobic, and that campaigns against the existence of families like mine,” said NDP MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert.
“He should apologize immediately and commit to stop advertising in this discriminatory magazine.”
Following the interview with Radio NL, Wilkinson took to twitter and said going forward his party will take ‘immediate steps’ to ensure its advertising decisions reflect those values at all times.
“Like any other media publication, whether its yours or others, we don’t control the editorial content, but to find these things on opposing pages is not acceptable,” added Wilkson, while on the NL Morning News.
“We have LGBTQ members in my family, and I’m proud of that, and I love them.”
Kamloops South MLA responds after his face appears in magazine ad
According to PressProgress, 14 BC Liberal MLAs have expensed more than $1,700 over the last 18 month on ads in The Light magazine. It also says that Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone is among the Liberal MLAs who have billed taxpayers for ads placed with Light Christian Media Inc.
Speaking on NL Newsday, Stone says he was unaware his face was on a party ad in the magazine.
“I was very concerned to learn that advertising dollars from my office budget had been used to co-sponsor ads in the Light Magazine, a publication that has featured content that does not align with my personal beliefs,” Stone said.
“It is a publication that does feature, often, content that does not in any way align with my personal views. So I’m accountable that this happened, and I apologize. I absolutely do not condone anything that results in discrimination.”
He says the image was brought to his attention last night.
“My office will no longer be advertising in the Light Magazine, and we are reviewing all of our office advertising decisions to ensure publications are consistent with my values moving forward.”
I was very concerned to learn that advertising dollars from my office budget had been used to co-sponsor ads in the Light Magazine, a publication that has featured content that does not align with my personal beliefs. I am accountable for this having happened and I apologize. 1/3 https://t.co/tSPx4iuehd
— Todd Stone (@toddstonebc) June 30, 2020
