The letter is a blog post from author and right-wing American blogger Matt Barber, who published the piece on his own website, barbwire.com, last month.
In the letter, Barber took direct aim at a number of topics, including abortion and gay marriage.
Western Pride NL member Kyle Curlew, who initiated filing the complaint, said his "jaw dropped" when he first saw the two-page letter.
"I couldn't even believe that it was published in the Herald. It was a rallying call for people to stand against LGBT rights. Essentially, hate propaganda," Curlew told CBC.
Curlew said after reading the letter, he decided to take the matter to police.
"We filed a human rights complaint under C-46, Section 19, which is 'propaganda and the incitement of hate towards an identifiable group.' So we are hoping to press charges."
Curlew said he feels the long-time publication stepped a little too far outside its role in local media.
"Letters to the Editor in a Newfoundland and Labrador magazine should, for one, include letters from our community here on this island. Not someone who is completely removed from our politics in the [United] States. The other thing, The Newfoundland Herald is a television guide, not a political magazine or a religious magazine. I don't think that kind of discourse belongs in a television guide."
Chelsea Noel, president of the Grenfell Campus Student Union and a member of Western Pride NL, said the letter was upsetting and people need to take a stand.
"There is a lot of anger when you first pick up something like this. Especially for me, towards The Newfoundland Herald. What compelled them to post this type of material? This hate propaganda? It was really shocking. It was really alarming," Noel said.
Noel said the magazine showed insightful hate towards the LGBT community.
"There is still a lot to do. We still face discrimination every day. In The Newfoundland Herald no less," said Noel.
Late Thursday afternoon, Herald Managing Editor Pam Pardy-Ghent responded to CBC's request for a comment.
"We have received so much feedback on this letter, more than we have ever received before on any matter or topic. This is obviously something, and rightfully so, that has infuriated a number of people, and has inspired them to reach out to us.
We will be responding to this issue – and running many of the responses we have received – in the next, and in future editions of The Newfoundland Herald. While free speech is very important to us, being responsive and responsible to the people of this province is as well."
Herald Managing Editor Pam Pardy-Ghent issued this none apology today:
Pam Pardy-Ghent published a response letter in the latest issue. She didn't express regret for printing the letter, but she apologized for the hurt it caused.
"Many beautiful, wise, wonderful and caring people were hurt and angered by Barber's letter, and the fact that it was published in the Herald. And for that, I'm truly sorry," she said.
Pardy-Ghent said the letter posed what she considered a journalistic dilemma about where to draw the line between freedom of speech and censorship.
"If we refuse to publish letters that may be controversial, or letters that do not line up with our own beliefs, then I believe there's a problem. Opinions, no matter how unpopular or controversial, can be freely expressed in this country whether they are from a minority, or a majority,"
Seems to me, Pam is more concerned about a lawsuit than she is about the harm she's caused.
This Editor had to know how this would be received and made a conscious/calculated choice in posting it.
Her none apology strongly suggest she either agree's with the content of the article or she's driving sales of her rag.
Either way, it makes her choices very ugly ones!
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