California Paper Publishes Byline With Antigay Slur, Apologizes

A California newspaper that's been involved in several controversies is embroiled in another one after publishing a byline that contained an antigay slur.

The Christmas Day print edition of the Santa Barbara News-Press carried a story by staff writer Paul Gonzalez in which another employee had altered his byline to read "Paul Gayzalez" and identified him as "News-Press Faggoat." His regular byline appeared in the online version.

The News-Press issued an apology Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reports. "In Monday's News-Press, one of our employees changed another employee's byline to reflect an offensive slur," the apology reads. "The News-Press has taken immediate and swift action with this employee; we do not tolerate any form of harassment in the workplace. We apologize to our readers." The employee was not identified.

Gonzalez told the Times via email, "This person has offered me a personal apology which I have accepted." He said the person is no longer with the paper.

The News-Press has stirred controversy with its conservative politics in the liberal community about 95 miles north of Los Angeles, the Times notes. In 2015 it drew protests with the headline "Illegals Line Up for Driver's Licenses" on a story about undocumented immigrants applying for licenses. In 2016 it was an early endorser of Donald Trump for president, but Santa Barbara County residents voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton. Owner Wendy P. McCaw, who bought the paper in 2000, has often clashed with editorial staffers, who have accused her of interfering with news content.

The Pacific Pride Foundation has prepared a letter of protest to the paper, reports the Santa Barbara Independent. "The News-Press leadership might not condone this language, but the reality is that at least one person in the newsroom thought this was acceptable. It is not," the letter states.