ACT NOW: Tweet John Mayer And Ask That He Apologize For Using The F-Word
February 11, 2010
After excerpts from his interview in Playboy’s March issue spread over the internet yesterday, John Mayer took to his Twitter account to apologize for using the N-word. In the same interview Mayer used the anti-gay F-word when recounting the time he kissed blogger Perez Hilton and has not apologized for using that slur.
In the interview, Mayer is asked if he’s ever kissed a man. He responded:
“The only man I’ve kissed is Perez Hilton. It was New Year’s Eve and I decided to go out and destroy myself. I was dating Jessica [Simpson] at the time, and I remember seeing Perez Hilton flitting about this club and acting as though he had just invented homosexuality. All of a sudden I thought, I can outgay this guy right now. I grabbed him and gave him the dirtiest, tongue-iest kiss I have ever put on anybody—almost as if I hated fags. I don’t think my mouth was even touching when I was tongue kissing him, that’s how disgusting this kiss was. I’m a little ashamed. I think it lasted about half a minute. I really think it went on too long.”
Just as Mayer indicated in his apology, that he meant no offense in his use of the racist slur, we hope the intent behind his use of the F-word was not malicious. As a public figure with millions of fans, Mayer should be more cognizant of the impact his casual use of both slurs can have.
Everyday, countless LGBT people including LGBT people of color, are subjected to harassment, ridicule and even violence because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. More often than not, this verbal abuse includes the use of hurtful anti-gay and racist slurs such as the two that Mayer used. As a talented musician who has made comments supportive of the LGBT community in the past, we expect more from John Mayer and ask that he apologize.
ACT NOW: Copy and paste the tweet below or click here to post this on Twitter:
Ask @johncmayer to apologize for using an anti-gay slur in his @Playboy interview http://bit.ly/dsVcAj #LGBT
GLAAD Issues Statement on Perez Hilton’s Apology For Using Anti-Gay Slur
June 25, 2009
GLAAD released a statement today on Perez Hilton’s apology for using an anti-gay slur:
New York, NY, June 25, 2009 – Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton this morning wrote a blog post on PerezHilton.com where he stated that he was “sorry” and “the ‘F’ word will never be uttered from my lips again.”
“It is important and appropriate that Perez Hilton apologized to the LGBT community and his audience for his use of anti-gay slurs,” said Rashad Robinson, Senior Director of Media Programs at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
“GLAAD will continue our work to educate the public on the harms of anti-gay slurs that feed a climate of hatred and intolerance against the LGBT community.”
You can read more background on the story here and here.
Related Posts:UPDATE: GLAAD Responds to Statement By Perez Hilton Regarding His Use of Anti-Gay Slurs
June 24, 2009
Perez Hilton released another statement last night, regarding his use of anti-gay slurs:
“Words can hurt. I know that very well, from both sides of the fence. The other night in Toronto, after feeling physically threatened by a verbally abusive Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas, I chose the most hurtful word I know to hurl at him. I was in an out-of-the ordinary situaton and used a word that I would not utter under normal circumstances. My intention – however misguided it may have been – was to stand up for myself and tell this belligerent man that I had enough of his badgering and was not going to continue to let him berate and intimidate me. I wanted to hurt him with the word I chose, not anyone else. Unfortunately, the one who got hurt was me and, subsequently, a lot of other people. I wish none of it had happened. I can’t take it back. I did what I thought was best at the moment to stand up for myself in a non-violent yet still assertive way. Clearly, I am not homophobic. Also, I am not nor have I ever claimed to be a spokesperson for the gay community. I am just speaking for myself, a gay man. One who is labeled “flamboyant” in the media. An American that is not granted equal rights under the law. I will continue to speak out for equality and I will continue to say things that upset both gay people and straight people. Who I am as a person and what I do for a living are two separate things. I’ve come to terms with all my incongruities and am proud of who I am and what I do. In closing, words can hurt. But words should not provoke someone to violence. Stripped away from the mask of Perez Hilton, I have been extremely bothered by the public reaction to my assault. Violence should never be condoned with such statements as “It’s Karma” or “I don’t believe in violence but….”. In fact, several television and radio shows over the past couple of days echoed the sentiment “He had it coming”. Would they have said the same thing if I was a woman? Would I have “deserved it” if I had been stabbed? Or shot? Or killed? I was attacked from behind without warning and repeatedly punched in the head in a cold, disgusting and unnecessarily violent manner by Polo Molina, the road manager for the Black Eyed Peas, who I did not even speak with that evening. I did not share any words with him and his assault on me was completely unprovoked. I feel like everything happens for a reason and I leave this traumatic experience as a person with more compassion. Specifically, there was an instance last year when actor Jesse Metcalfe was attacked outside of a Hollywood nightclub by a fellow entertainer. I did not condone the violence, but I did make light of that situation. I regret that. Sincerely. There are many ways to deal with disagreements, both good and bad, but violence is never the answer. Never. I now know that first-hand. It should not be condoned, promoted or accepted. No one “deserves” to be the victim of violence. No one “has it coming.” NO ONE. And victims should not be ridiculed. I look forward to marching for equality in Washington, D.C. this October. And I look forward to standing up for my rights in a Toronto courtroom shortly, as I fully intend to seek every lawful remedy against the man that attacked me.”
Today, GLAAD responded to this statement. Rashad Robinson, Senior Director of Media Programs at GLAAD:
First and foremost it is important to remember that the violence committed against Perez Hilton is absolutely unacceptable and ought to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
Perez Hilton’s acknowledgement that words can hurt is an important step in the right direction, and while his change of tone is welcome, he still seems to be justifying the use of the slurs.
A statement that stops short of apologizing for and disavowing the use of that slur doesn’t get us where we need to be – these are vulgar anti-gay slurs that feed a climate of hatred and intolerance that continues to put our community in harm’s way. When someone from our community uses a far-reaching media platform to promote these kinds of slurs, it sends a message that it’s OK to use these dehumanizing words.
Related Posts:This is an important moment. Now that Perez Hilton has acknowledged that words can hurt, GLAAD calls on him to take this opportunity to reflect on his use of demeaning and defamatory language against many different communities on PerezHilton.com – not as Perez Hilton, but as Mario Lavandeira, an openly gay man who just went through a scary and traumatic experience.
GLAAD Issues Statement on Perez Hilton’s Use of Anti-Gay Slur
June 22, 2009
Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton posted a video today in which he made the following remarks about a confrontation with will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas and members of the band’s entourage:
And that is when I made the split-second decision – that I was gonna say what I thought was the worst possible thing that thug [will.i.am] would ever want to hear. As I was standing my ground – without being violent or physical which I would never do – I told him – and you know what? I don’t need to respect you and you’re a f**. You’re gay and stop being such a f***ot.
GLAAD issued a statement today in response to Hilton’s video. From Rashad Robinson, Senior Director of Media Programs at GLAAD, via the statement:
These are vulgar anti-gay slurs that feed a climate of hatred and intolerance toward our community. For someone in our own community to use it to attack another person by saying that it is, quote, ‘The worst possible thing that thug would ever want to hear,’ is incredibly dangerous. It legitimizes use of a slur that is often linked to violence against our community. And it sends a message that it is OK to attempt to dehumanize people by exploiting anti-gay attitudes.
We have reached out to Hilton and asked him to apologize for promoting this anti-gay slur, and we would ask media outlets to avoid repetition of the slur in their coverage of this story.
Robinson goes on further to say:
While not all the facts in this case are known, the violence that appears to have been committed against Perez Hilton is unacceptable and ought to be condemned in the strongest possible terms.
The full statement can be found here.
Related Posts:Young Starlets Tweet for Marriage Equality
April 23, 2009
In the wake of the Miss USA controversy, young Hollywood appears to be coming out in support of marriage equality. Days after Miss California said she believed marriage should be between a man and a woman, the social networking site Twitter was ablaze with marriage equality Tweets from the likes of Britney and Miley.
“Love is love!” Britney Tweeted to Perez. “People should be able to do whatever makes them happy!”
Heidi Montag
Miley Cyrus Tweeted similar thoughts, telling Hilton, “Jesus loves you and your partner and wants you to know how much he cares! That’s like a daddy not loving his lil boy cuz he’s gay and that is wrong and very sad! Like I said everyone deserves to be happy. I am a Christian and I love you — gay or not. Because you are no different that anyone else! We are all God’s children!”
Even The Hills’ Heidi Montag, expected to wed Spencer Pratt this weekend, shared some insight.
“God says in the bible that we should love our neighbor and he created us all as equals. I know in my heart that gays and lesbians should have the same government rights that Spencer and I will when we get married. So, yes, this blonde Christian believes in gay marriage and I hope to one day go to your wedding, Perez!!!”
Read the full story on MTV.com or go directly to their Twitter sites by clicking on each starlet’s name: Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Heidi Montag.
FOX Host Takes Jab At Perez Hilton
April 22, 2009
As you may have heard/read/seen, Perez Hilton recently came under fire for his response to Miss California Carrie Prejean’s answer at the Miss USA contest. GLAAD issued a statement yesterday about the media coverage surrounding the controversy.
Media Matters for America has highlighted a segment from FOX News’ morning show FOX & Friends on their blog:
Steve Doocy, host of FOX & Friends, read this statement from Prejean’s grandmother after noting Perez Hilton is “gay and is a liberal activist”:
“I don’t know why that gay guy, Perez, was even judging a contest with a bunch of girls. That doesn’t make any sense. He should be judging a Chippendales contest.”
Doocy then responded with chuckles, noting: “Grandma, has got a point.”
Rebecca and Jerry in New Video
January 7, 2009
GLAAD allies Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell have just released a new video for Funny Or Die. We’d try to explain the premise, but we might spoil the endless twists. You’ve got two minutes: Just watch it, already!
What to Watch: Friday
September 19, 2008
11:00 am The View, ABC (1 hr) NEW - Perez Hilton visits with the ladies.
8:00 pm V for Vendetta, FX (3 hrs) REPEAT - This future-set thriller by the Wachowskis includes characters such as Valerie, a lesbian prisoner of the state, and Deitrich, a closeted gay talk show host.
