The issue of the Florida Bar News that featured an ad condemning gay adoption is in recycling bins by now, but it’s not the last subscribers will hear about it.
Mark Killian, editor of the weekly publication, said the News has received a number of letters to the editor in response to the ad, and they will be published in the upcoming August 1 issue.
Killian said his paper ran the ad because not doing so would be censorship.
“The Florida Bar News is not in the business of censoring our members. While we may not agree with the opinions they express, there is value in airing various views so that the membership at-large is made aware that some their colleagues espouse those positions,” said Killian. “Political speech has First Amendment protections. The response to speech you do not approve of is more speech, not censorship. I have confidence the marketplace of ideas will sort out the appropriate answers through the competition of various points of view expressed in free and vigorous debate.”
In the meantime, the ad is being addressed by local attorneys.
Laura Pichardo, president-elect of the Central Florida Gay and Lesbian Law Association, said the board will consider a response to the ad at their upcoming meeting.
