Gay Groups Call On Tucker, MSNBC To Apologize For Assault Remarks

Two major gay rights groups -- the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network -- have released statements condemning remarks by MSNBC's Tucker Carlson about assaulting a man who "bothered" him in a men's room.

From GLAAD:

GLAAD Calls on Tucker Carlson, MSNBC to Apologize for Insensitive Remarks Condoning Violence

August 29, 2007

New York, Wednesday, August 29 - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today called on Tucker Carlson, NBC News and MSNBC to apologize for remarks made on Tuesday night that appear to condone violent assault.

On the Tuesday, Aug. 28 edition of "MSNBC Live with Dan Abrams" MSNBC host Tucker Carlson referenced an incident from his past when he was the recipient of an unwanted advance from another man. Carlson told program host (and MSNBC General Manager) Dan Abrams and fellow MSNBC host Joe Scarborough that after being "bothered" by a man in a restroom in a Washington, D.C., mall, Carlson returned "with someone [he] knew and grabbed the guy... and hit him against the stall with his head, actually. And then the cops came and arrested him." Abrams and Scarborough are seen chuckling throughout Carlson's telling of the story.

Earlier today, GLAAD called Abrams' office to discuss NBC News and MSNBC's response to Carlson's behavior. Abrams' office responded with an e-mailed statement attributed to Carlson, which read:

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Let me be clear about an incident I referred to on MSNBC last night: In the mid-1980s, while I was a high school student, a man physically grabbed me in a men's room in Washington, DC. I yelled, pulled away from him and ran out of the room. Twenty-five minutes later, a friend of mine and I returned to the men's room. The man was still there, presumably waiting to do to someone else what he had done to me. My friend and I seized the man and held him until a security guard arrived.

Several bloggers have characterized this is a sort of gay bashing. That's absurd, and an insult to anybody who has fought back against an unsolicited sexual attack. I wasn't angry with the man because he was gay. I was angry because he assaulted me.

The statement is not only a failed attempt to justify Carlson's advocacy of violence, but also changes key details of the previous night's on-air story. First, Carlson does not repeat his assertion that he "hit him against the stall with his head," instead changing his story to say that he "seized the man and held him down until a security guard arrived." The security guard element is also newly invented. In his on-air statement, Carlson said that "the cops came and arrested him."

"Carlson's story was difficult to watch on two levels," said GLAAD Senior Director of Media Programs Rashad Robinson. "To see someone brag on national television of returning, with an accomplice, to the scene of an unwanted advance to violently attack the person who made it is incredibly disturbing. But it was also hard to watch because of the sheer absurdity of most of what Carlson was saying."

"Whether Abrams and Scarborough were laughing with Carlson or laughing at him, the fact remains that MSNBC and NBC News have some explaining to do about their standards and practices," Robinson said. "They need to explain whether bragging about physically assaulting a man in response to an unwanted advance is appropriate on-air behavior for one of their employees, and whether laughter by two others is an appropriate on-air response."

PLEASE CONTACT NBC NEWS AND MSNBC TODAY. Ask Tucker Carlson to apologize and ask NBC News and MSNBC if Carlson's on-air comments are reflective of their network's standards and practices.

Allison Gollust

Senior Vice President of Communications, NBC News

[e-mail]

212.664.3220

Jeremy Gaines

Vice President of Communications, MSNBC

[e-mail]

201.583.5000

Leslie Schwartz

Director of Media Relations, MSNBC

[e-mail]

201.583.5000

Tucker Carlson

Host, "Tucker"

[e-mail]

201.583.5000

From GLSEN:

GLSEN Outraged by MSNBC Host Tucker Carlson's Comments About Assaulting Gay Man

GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is outraged and horrified by MSNBC host Tucker Carlson's revelation Tuesday night insinuating that as a high school student he once assaulted a man for a perceived sexual advance. GLSEN is calling on Carlson to issue an apology and disavow violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people as reprehensible and unacceptable.

"Tucker Carlson's casual acknowledgment perpetrating such a violent act is shocking and sends a dangerous message to youth that physical assault based on actual or perceived sexual orientation is acceptable," said GLSEN Deputy Executive Director Eliza Byard. "Countless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth are bullied, harassed and assaulted at school every day. MSNBC and Carlson need to make it clear that violence in this case was an unacceptable reaction."

More than a third of LGBT students (37.8%) reported being physically harassed (being pushed, shoved, etc.) at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation in GLSEN's 2005 National School Climate Survey. Additionally, 17.6% of LGBT students reported being physically assaulted (punched, kicked or injured with a weapon) in school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.

To watch the clip of Carlson's comments or learn more about the incident and others like it, visit Media Matters for America at www.mediamatters.org.

About GLSEN GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more information on GLSEN's educational resources, public policy agenda, student organizing programs or development initiatives, visit www.glsen.org.

Comments

[lisakaz]

I'm not sure I entirely agree with the gay group's position. The point about condoning violence is well taken. They should have just cornered the guy and enabled the police to arrest him. OK. But the comments almost suggest that the invitation came from a gay constituent vs. an old fashioned perv. If they wanna argued that it's bad form and not a gay practice to solicit sex in public men's rooms, they shouldn't entirely defend someone who engages in that practice.

I think the waters are being muddied. Do they condone the solicitation or not?

[barrycourage]

Which comments are defending soliciting? Quote them. Who said them?

I think you know these groups would never defend that practice. In fact, gay groups have been going to great lengths to denounce Larry Craig for his antics. They have been denouncing public sex and solicitation quite loudly.

The issue here is that Carlson returned to the scene 25 minutes after he left it with a buddy to beat the guy up.

Calling the cops immediately is justified.
Cooperating with their investigation is justified.
Filing a complaint is justified.
Vigilantism is not justified.

If Carlson were in any way injured by the perv, he would not have returned to the scene.

If he thought the perv was a threat to others, he would have got the cops there fast.

Now Carlson is bragging about bashing "the perv." Many if not most homophobes refuse to make the distinction between gay people and the men (usually "straight") who solicit public sex.

And when a public figure acts like it is ok to take justice into his own hands and beat up what predators will generalize to be "a gay man," he endangers all sexual minorities.

[shag11]

He's such a dumb-assed punk. He is a royal pain in the ass, who doesn't warrant a show. He's probably just validated that attacking people is okay, that could include himself.

[maxfusion]

Until the "gay community" learns that public bathrooms aren't bedrooms , we'll protect ourselves. Never pause at the rest stop on 280 (northbound) just south of S.F. Talk about harassment, whew.

[ZanIts1984]

Um, no.

Studies have shown that the men who go to these bathrooms to solicit sex from other men identify themselves as straight. Usually they have wife, kids, and all that good stuff. So, its not so much the "gay community". In fact, the gay community does not condone this behavior at all.

[Happyfella]

I worked vice for a couple of years when I was first on the force...it was gross. The only thing that made up for it was cracking some homo across the teeth when he shot his mouth off after he was busted in CP.

[Qbear]

This is EXACTLY why queers don't trust f*ckin PIGS even when the get bashed.

A friend of mine who was as gentle a man as I knew, (he'd studied in the Seminary.) He got wrongfully arrested, and they beat the sh*t out of him before he got to the squad room. He was embarrassed to be seen for a week, and still bruises were visible from the way he was beaten.
SO don't act suprised queers have ARMED ourselves, since neither the police or courts are trustworthy.

[barrycourage]

Happyfella

I worked vice for a couple of years when I was first on the force...it was gross. The only thing that made up for it was cracking some homo across the teeth when he shot his mouth off after he was busted in CP.

posted 08:44 pm on 08/30/2007

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Amazing.

They actually let Fourth Grade dropouts on the vice squad. The I.Q. cutoff must have been 73.

You know what else is fun? Getting an arrogant cop fired by working your connections on state and county bar associations, the media, and civil liberties groups.

That's a real kick in the teeth, Einstein.

[Happyfella]

You know whats even more fun than that a**hole? Telling a self important deviant fag like yourself that I am already retired and living a great life with my family. So go back to the mens room and remember, nothing beats that crack as the nitestick hits your head.

[tcuoohjohn]

Carlson entire story sounds like horseshit to me. In fact is sounds like the kind of story that someone in a homosexual anxiety attack would ook up as " evidence" to prove they aren't gay. " The Time Tucker Carlson Beat Up The Queer Story". Right...

[atomic]

TERRIFIED TUCKER

There is only one clear reason why Tucker Carlson would go to the extent to go back to beat up a guy in the washroom and then brag about it many years later ...

and that's that Tucker was frightened by his own latent homosexual feelings and had to prove to himself and others that he was in fact not one of those Homo's.

Any sexually secure individual would have just said they weren't interested and maybe told the authorities if the conduct was in some way overtly rude or lascivious.

Pretty boy Carlson has too much to prove. Even on Dancing With the Stars it was clear he was terrified of looking not-masculine.

Tucker is obviously terrified of anything remotely connected to anything gay. Terrified.

[Centaur]

Isn't it just like "lil tucker" to "volunteer", when it wasn't necessary, about his supposed gay encounter and "exclaim" to the world how "macho" he is by taking on an "unwanted" gay solicitor. On the contrary, in his haughty attempt to prove that he isn't gay probably conjures up his own doubts about his "sexuality". In fact, it seems to be a pattern by his fellow "gay repugs" who want to prove how anti-gay they are by voting against gay rights just so that they can try to convince others that they are not until they get busted.

[LorettaSingbiel]

"it seems to be a pattern by his fellow "gay repugs" who want to prove how anti-gay they are by voting against gay rights just so that they can try to convince others that they are not until they get busted."

They must ALSO cower in "marriages" of convenience & concealment, which is supposed to silence suspicions, so as NOT to get caught, nor NEED to be "cured".

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta

[Subhunter]

The big story here is that there actually is someone or some group that takes that strange little pompous dweeb seriously enough to bother contesting anything he says.

[ZanIts1984]

No, the big story here is idiocy of MSNBC putting the strange little pompous dweeb on TV and letting him speak.

[barrycourage]

Touche!

[expatsteve]

Tucker made the whole story up. He thought he was sounding like some kind of tough guy, then changed the story when he was being called a gay basher. If it really happened, he can tell us when and where and we can look at the police report describing his heroic actions. There won't be one.

[sarge]

Of course he made it up, that's why the story was changed from "cops" to "security guard". That modification is proof positive there was no arrest!

[TerryFL]

.

To me, the bigger story here is how much ill will that "Tucker" generates. Doesn't MSNBC realize that the posters at this site are their core audience? Every time there is a story that refers to him, there is an unending supply of venom spewed in his direction. He has to be one of the most hated hosts on TV, yet he survives like a cockroach in a post-nuclear world.

The saddest part is that David Schuster, an excellent reporter, rides the pine while this braying jackass moderates "Tucker: the smartest who ever lived". I can only hope that CNN has enough brains to hire Mr. Schuster.

.

[ownsthepodium]

Libs love to be self righteous about the rights of gay, even as they constantly bash gays day in and day out as they do here on Huffpo.
How these contradictions in basic morals doesn't make their heads explode is amazing. I guess they have no core principals so it makes it easy.

[shockmagog]

The "contradiction" is in your mind, because you are unable to understand the epidemic homosexual hypocrisy of the Republican Party.

[hiprogloho]

If a female fought off a heterosexual assault it would be contrued as within her rights to defend herself against such an attacker.

But in a gay context it is perceived as bashing? This is sick political correctness gone wild and an Orwellian nightmare.

Whoever initiated the contact is the hater and bathrooms used as straight or gay sex clubs are illegal.

Hello. This is a non story. Sorry, sexual harassment is not ok if the pervert is gay.

[MichaelBuchanan]

This has become a story about Tucker Carlson lying about an incident in a way that he thinks will earn him favor and distance himself from the act of gay sex.

If the story is true, an arrest report will surface. If it doesn't, Tucker should resign or be fired.

[barrycourage]

Hello. You obviously have not read this non story.

Carlson left the scene of the "assault" for 25 minutes after it happened. He no longer was in danger, if he ever was. He should have gone straight to the cops. Instead he got a friend to return with him to beat the guy up.

What woman would fight off an attacker and return to the scene 25 minutes later for a confrontation? Most women would immediately call or go to the police. If they weren't too afraid, they would file a complaint and pursue the matter. They might even participate in a line up.

Sorry, hippo. Can't turn this one into a diatribe against gays and political correctness.

You are wrong about the facts and you have major problems with reasoning.

[Tabasco]

Tucker Carlson is one of the most self important pseudo-int­ellectuals around.

His news commentary continues a downward spiral toward delusion. His eternal smirk would lead some to think he knows what he's talking about. Sadly, he don't.

This latest adventure into macho bravado is a prime example why MSNBC should lay him off and FOX should hire him for double his salary.

Northshoredude pegged it right. 'me thinks he doth protest too much'.

Verily, he muncheth the meat pipe.

[TimN]

GLAAD is right on this one folks. Tucker's story rings of homophobia, adolescent insecurity and good old fashioned B.S. But, even if it were true, if this guy did commit an assault and Tucker and his pal were indeed holding him for security, they could only use the force necessary to hold him. Tucker's fabricated story of grabbing the guy and hitting him up against the wall goes beyond that. Tucker is one frat boy that needs to be off the air and back in prep school where he belongs.

[MichaelBuchanan]

Gay panic is a common defense of the self-hating closet-case. Probably didn't happen that way at all. Tucker more likely was loitering, cruising for sex and was then too chicken to go through with it and ran home and cried in the closet. Or rather did go through with it and has been racked with guilt ever since. Therefore, he has created this new fiction that makes hime some kind of hetero-hero.

[LorettaSingbiel]

"Gay panic is a common defense of the self-hating closet-case. Probably didn't happen that way at all."

"He came on to us" was the common defense of the MURDERERS of Matthew Shephard.

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta