Gay Picket On “press” (Press, 9 September 1977)

On 9 September 1977, the National Gay Rights Coalition urged supporters of homosexual law reform to protest outside “The Press” newspaper due to the publication's handling of an advertisement that was meant to feature the names of approximately 40 sponsors advocating for the cause. The advertisement, initially intended for the previous Saturday’s issue, was not published, leading to frustrations among the supporters. B. F. Hastings, the advertising manager of “The Press,” explained that the advertisement was not outright refused but rather held back pending verification of the signatures of the sponsors listed. This procedure is a standard practice for the newspaper when it comes to controversial advertisements. Hastings expressed regret that the advertisement’s sponsors were not informed sooner about the signature verification process, which also involved ensuring that sponsors who had previously consented to a similar advertisement in July were aware their names would be included again. He reassured that “The Press” was ready to publish the advertisement in its current form as soon as the necessary verifications were completed, indicating the newspaper's willingness to proceed once the details had been confirmed. The planned picket by the National Gay Rights Coalition reflects the growing tension surrounding such issues and the need for dialogue between the groups involved.

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