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

[tcuoohjohn]

All the wrist splints in Christendom could make Tucker Carlson look straight. He's in a panic and confabulating stories to butch his act up a bit. He's not fooling anyone.

Tucker is the premier graduate of the St. Ambrose School for the Sexually Ambiguous.

[Schaden]

As much as I dislike Tucker, this story is BS.

If someone grabbed me in a men's room, the least they could expect is to get their head slammed into the wall.

[Tabasco]

The operative word in this story with Tucker is 'if'.

[kfdan]

I thought Jon Stewart clarified the essence of Tucker when he commented on his bow tie! This character does not belong anywhere near any kind of show.
He's a cream puff!!!

[KeysDan]

Tucker still does not get it. Once again, on tonight's show (Yes, I watched--sorry, tired of Lou Dobbs on immigration) he adamantly claimed the right to visit violence on the guy who physically grabbed him, or so the story goes. Maybe, a sponteously response would be to hit back, but a 25 minute lag and the gathering of a pal to smash his head against the wall (or, if you prefer, version #2, to physically hold him until the police arrived) seems more like vigilantism than self-defense. Unless, of course, he was part of a posse deputized by the D.C. sheriff. In any event how did this supposed 22-year old experience relate to what Senator Craig must have felt was a consensual contact, as illegal as it was being in a public place?

[pzdoff]

Maybe it wasn't a person at all, maybe it was that evil purple teletubby.

[Qbear]

Tucker

Put up evidence of this gay man bothering you and his arrest record...OR GET THE F*CK OFF THE
AIR!

[barrycourage]

Why did Carlson to return to the scene? What was he trying to prove? And why did he need to prove it?

Sounds like Carlson had some latent fears that needed to be squelched.

Also, what kind of man needs to get a friend to beat up someone? Why waste 25 minutes? That's not self-defense, that's retribution.

If Carlson were truly concerned that the soliciting would hurt others, he simply would have reported it to the police as fast as he could. Let them apprehend the guy or file a complaint and give them a good description.

And teenager shmeenager, this kind of bullying streak is a permanent personality trait.

Ditto for Dan Abrams and Joe Scarborough. I would love to ask Dan Abrams if he thinks "beat up the Jew" is as funny as "beat up the faggot."

By bragging that he beat up a cruiser, Carlson is in fact approving of unlawful behavior in a restroom. A noncoercive, nonviolent unwanted advance is one thing; assault and violent battery is another.

What's the SOL on assault and battery in D.C.?
Is confession on national television enough for conviction?

Even if not, MSNBC should consider whether it wants talking heads who are thugs.

[Happyfella]

Look at all the sodomites coming to the defense of a predator in a mens room grabing a HS student. He should've been beaten a lot worse than he was to send a message.

[shockmagog]

Jesus was gay.

And you call yourself a Christian.

[barrycourage]

Happyfella:

Look at all the sodomites coming to the defense of a predator in a mens room grabing a HS student. He should've been beaten a lot worse than he was to send a message.

posted 08:39 pm on 08/30/2007

-----------------------------------------------
I told you happyfella, hon. The best way you use your tongue is when you rim me. Come here, sugar. Put your tongue up my bum and stop trying to make people believe you can think. It drains energy that can be used for better things.

[IMPRISONBUSH]

TUCKER DOSE IT AGAIN AS ALWAYS HE TASLKS AS IF NO ONE IS HEARING HIM.
MSNBC SHOULD START THINKING OF LETTING TUCKER GO HIS RATING ARE " O " AND HIS COMENTS ARE DANGEROUS.
IF A MAN , GAY OR STRIGHT IS BEAT OR KILLED BECAUSE OF HATRED IT WILL BE " MSNBC AND TUCKER FAULT AND I HOPE THEY WOULD SUE BOTHE PARTYS FOER THE BEATING.
MSNBC WAS DOING GOOD UNTILL YOU LET PEOPLE WITH HATERED HAVE AN HOUR OF YOUR AIR TIME.

[squareyellowpaper]

Gays can learn a lesson from the Mormons.

Have you ever lived in a community that has a large or majority Mormon population?

Well, they only give their business to other Mormons. And, they have a price for Mormons and a higher price for non-Mormons.

Why have Mormons survived in this country? Because they stick together and help one another out.

Run a list of services and products that advertise at Gay Pride parades and fairs. Who advertises in Gay newspapers? Gay web sites?
Which companies are Gay run and operated or Gay friendly?

It is time to unite and stop complaining.

Where are your letters to those people who support the Gay community? Get with it!

[SiberianHusky]

I doubt self-segregating is a good move for the Gay community. Besides, any business person that happens to be gay would still be a business person first and sell to the largest consumer base possible -- if he/she wants to stay in business.

[TimN]

They already have it. It's called Key West.

[LITU]

I know why Tucker and his ilk won't enlist. When someone says duck, they say goose.

[Star123]

Tucker is often like this...But what was up with Mattews suddenly saying he was against gay marriage, against civil unions, against gays in the military and that some of his guests freaked him out? Did I hear that correctly? Matthews told Gary Bauer he was on Bauer's side...

[imusintheevening]

Matthews is off his meds again

[squareyellowpaper]

Why would Gay groups even bother with Tucker?

There is only one way to get to these people and that is through sponsors. Just say no to any service or product that advertises on his show. It's just that easy.

[squareyellowpaper]

For the few that watch these clowns, you'd think MSNBC would have gotten rid of them long ago.

Scarborough had it tough following Countdown.
Now Abrams is in the same shoes.
tucker....well, he is just rude. Remember how he used to be a guest on some of these shows passing himself off as an expert conservative and usually being knocked down. When he and Chris Matthews hear the conversation or the reply going in the wrong direction, they just cut people off mid-sentence.

CNN is no better with the repetitive Lou Dobbs. My goodness! They give him a whole hour on his immigrtion pulpit!

These news services are just tryiing to appeal to America's lowest common denominator!

[AlP]

Tucker wishes.

[loki]

Who watches this bozo anyway. He is just like the rest. Loud rude,but will fight to the end no matter how wrong they are. There is a growing list of these types of people. Rush, Coulter, Beck, Tucker, and so on. If these people represent the views and actions of the republicans, I really feel sorry for them, and hope that more focus and support is given to universal mental health care so they can get the help they need.