Update
The National Post apologised for running the transphobic ad, while still not quite getting it, and blaming a chain of command breakdown: their ad people "are sometimes processing so much stuff they don't even look at or read the ads... I'll be honest, no one saw it," ad manager Enzo Loschiavo told OpenFile Toronto.

UPDATE AND CORRECTION:
Halifax journalist Erica Eades followed up with OpenFile to explain that Charles McVety did not in fact ask for advertising space in The Dalhousie Gazette. Eades’ tweet this morning to our reporter indicated that The Gazette, where she is an editor, was contacted by McVety to purchase paid advertising. (Eades tweeted, "He emailed the Gazette about advertising and I basically told him to go to hell.")
In fact, Eades says she was only sent a press release, albeit a personalized one, from Charles McVety's email address. This was the only contact Eades had from Charles McVety and his organization, the Institute for Canadian Values.
In a subsequent interview, Eades admitted to "poor word choice" in her tweet this morning. We have struck the text that refers to the request to place an ad, and also updated the headline on this post to reflect this information.

**Updated with statement from the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project at the bottom

An ad campaign that is horrifying gay rights advocates may be on its way to Halifax.

Today, the National Post ran what some are calling a transphobic ad, sponsored by Charles McVety, who is well know for his public opposition to marriage rights for gays and lesbians.

The ad shows the picture of a young schoolgirl with giant brown eyes. The text reads: “I’m a girl. Don’t teach me to question if I’m transgendered.”

A local journalist, Erica Eades, says that McVety contacted her at her Dalhousie Gazette work address with a personal request to run the ad give attention to his ad campaign in their paper.

“I was kinda confused,” she says, because the small print of the ad is related specifically to Ontario schools curricula.

“I was so put off by it. I basically just told him that I found it appalling and that in the future if he could refrain from contacting me ever again.”

The press release McVety sent to the local journalist on Sept. 26 reads in full:

To: "Ms. Erica Eades" (email redacted)
Subject: Stop Confusing Our Children with Gender Questioning Teaching

Hi Ms. Erica Eades:

For Immediate Release

Monday, September 26, 2011

Toronto, OnStop Confusing Our Children with Gender Questioning Teaching

The Institute for Canadian Values, its 52,000 members and like minded citizens call on Dalton McGuinty, Tim Hudak and Andrea Horwath to commit to removing age inappropriate gender teaching from the school curriculum.

President Charles McVety says “parents across Ontario are outraged to find out that the Ministry of Education continues to teach children to question their gender, role play opposite gender, “search images of Pride Parade”, make posters for Pride Parade and even have a “Pride Parade” in their school. To teach this material in the TDSB JK – Grade 3 Curriculum is appalling.”

McVety goes on to say “the fact that the Curriculum is mandatory teaching, with no parental notice and no provision for an objecting parent to opt out of the program, make it even more outrageous. Add this to the Premier’s promise to withdraw this controversial teaching last year, parents feel betrayed.

For further information contact Charles McVety at 416-456-0096

Some responses to the ad from Ontario Twitter users has produced:

And a spoof ad:

Update

Kirk Furlotte, with the Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project has sent us the following statement:

The Nova Scotia Rainbow Action Project has several issues with the transphobic ad released by the Institute for Canadian Values.
It misleads readers into the false belief that a transgender identity can be learned or instilled in a person. It is an innate trait that is not externally created.
Encouraging youth to question their identity does not cause them to be transgender, gay OR straight. It does help them gain a better understanding of themselves and develop self-confidence.
The ad also implies that education is the equivalent of indoctrination whereas the reality is that it was developed by professionals to provide age-appropriate education on gender identity, expression and diversity. Children are taught these skills at a young age as that is the age at which they are developing their ideas around gender identity at that time.