The Observer: And Now Some Good News?

Statement from John Mulholland, editor of The Observer:

We have decided to withdraw from publication the Julie Burchill comment piece 'Transsexuals should cut it out'. The piece was an attempt to explore contentious issues within what had become a highly-charged debate. The Observer is a paper which prides itself on ventilating difficult debates and airing challenging views. On this occasion we got it wrong and in light of the hurt and offence caused I apologise and have made the decision to withdraw the piece. The Observer Readers' Editor will report on these issues at greater length.

The comments posted beneath the article have also been removed in line with our deletion process and as a result these comments will no longer appear in individual users' profiles. 

The Observer online.

The above statement has replaced Julie Burchill's disgusting transphobic rant, following a storm of protest.

Not sure what the Orwellian act of deleting it from the web changes - and I don't think it's a good thing, bar as an admission of guilt - but well done to all who kicked up a fuss.

Let us hope this awful saga means we have now reached a turning point. 

Next I'd like to know why The Observer decided to run that trash in the first place.
This isn't about freedom of speech, it's about a newspaper deciding what to publish.

PS Suzanne Moore has sort-of apologised for her comments. No word yet from that serial transphobe - and homophobe - Julie Bindel. I wouldn't hold your breath...

PPS Poor beleaguered Julie - so silenced, so censored - soon had her article re-published by the Telegraph online.

Update: Over the following few days Independent Voices ran several pieces like this defending Burchill and criticising The Observer - all very silly and partisan school playground stuff...