Stonewall drops Bill Leckie nomination for Journalist of the Year after protests

Illustrated rainbow pride flag on a white background.

Scottish Sun journalist Bill Leckie has been dropped from Stonewall’s Journalist of the Year shortlist.

Mr Leckie, one of five nominees for the award, was criticised in a 2007 Stonewall Scotland report for poking fun at a drag queen bingo night.

In 2008, he criticised the use of taxpayers’ money on treatment for trans prisoners

However, he was nominated for an award by the charity for one of its annual media awards after writing a sympathetic article on gay rugby star Gareth Thomas.

Last week, trans campaigners complained at his nomination and questioned whether Stonewall would nominate a gay-friendly writer who had once been racist.

A Stonewall spokesman told PinkNews.co.uk: “Bill Leckie’s nomination for Stonewall Journalist of the Year 2010 has been withdrawn. We’re sorry for any offence this has caused.”