a failure of hypocrisy

For the second time in as many days, the Mail publishes an opinion piece condemning homophobia (and this one actually mentions Jan Moir's column) in an attempt to repair its reputation... but still refuses to apologise or recognise that there was anything wrong with Jan Moir's column. It was just an "honest opinion."

Obvious here is the desire for the Mail to separate it's own routine dehumanisation of gay people - not merely by columnists offering their "honest opinions" but by the newsdesk - from the people who act (violently) on the basis of those beliefs.

We might tell you that gay people are trying to destroy society, break up your family and pervert your children, argues the Mail, but we're horrified that anyone would do anything about it. In other words, the Mail's problem is a failure of appropriate hypocrisy amongst a section of its readers - to loathe gay people is laudable; to act on that hate is terrible.

Some things to note:

the Mail's editorial position - homo BAD - remains unaltered;
Jan Moir is still employed by the Mail;
not a single advertiser boasting commitments to equality and respect has pulled their business from the Mail.