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

[godlessclif]

If Tucker had better timing he could have gotten on the Tom Cruise episode of South Park.
Cruise, "I'm not in the closet"

They could have him duke it out with cartoon Cruise and Travolta.

[cliveohclive]

Ok..

I'm gay.

I find Carlson to be a intellecutal light-weight. He is absurb in the manner in which he conducts discussions on his ratings deprived TV show.

However, I saw the broadcast in which Carlson made these comments. I find nothing wrong with these comments. Attempting to molest someone in a public restroom is illegal and vile. I can well understand how a young man would be traumatized and moved to anger and, yes, even violence.

Perverts who troll restrooms do so at their own risk. Part of the lure of seeking restroom sex is the danger. Well, in the case of the perv who tried to molest Carlson, he reaped what he sowed.

[LeftVetPatriot]

Hear, Hear.

Gay and perverse are not the same thing at all.

[cliveohclive]

Thanks, Lefty...

Gay activists must grasp the reality that it is not in the best interests of gay people to have organizations like GLAAD advocating for pervs in the restrooms.

Pervs in the restrooms go there at their own risk.

GLAAD: I'm gay, and in this matter, you do not speak for me.

[imusintheevening]

Exactly, I have some very dear gay friends, but since I have no tendancies I am not threatened and we have great discussions.

[imusintheevening]

A better way to say it is I don't pick my friends by their politics, but I'd rather have gay friends than repug friends if I had to choose.

[flobflo]

Some one "bothered" him or he was "assaulted", which is it? I think he made it up to look like a tough guy in front of "real" men like his boss Abrams and Joe blow.

[HumeSkeptic]

I read it in a Top News and Opinion section of the The Huffington Post that Tucker is gay.

[HumeSkeptic]

The fact that Tucker is gay should not be an issue.

[imusintheevening]

It not we all agree he is

[Ladyrantsalot]

Has anyone found the arrest record? That would be one way to determine if this story is true.

[dezzertguy]

One does not break away from a sexual or other assualt and return with a buddy to "hold them against the wall." He should watch Judge Judy and learn that once you get away from a situation it is not okay to go back and be physical. He should have gone directly to mall security. He does look and act like a cartoon image of a gay guy, but that does not excuse the man in the bathroom. Tucker is a simple jerk that somehow continues to get a pay check.

[jasondeluxe]

Though bowtie-femme-bottom tucker made his little story up, it is instructive, because if you are propositioned in a mens room odds are 100 percent that it's a republican doing it; and I've said before violence against republicans IS NOT violence it's common sense.

Like every other republican pussy I just wish tucker would come out and tell the TRUTH he gave the dude a blowjob and then ran out of there crying and professing his support for gulf war 1.

[azhiker]

Tucker, you should not have dressed like a tart when you go out. It's those fish net hose that drive men crazy. Great story though, like you would actually turn down sex with a man. Was the pervert a RepubliCON Senator, Tucker, or just a every day Republican? A boy named Tucker, is always fair game for homophobes.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Now this is funny!!!

[tweedy54]

His stepmother is heir to the Swanson frozen food fortune.

[HumeSkeptic]

I don't really care about the fact that Tucker is gay.

[Waitaminute]

i noticed tucker was very unnerved by craig's situation. He made some of the dumbest comparisons to democrats. He was really upset. And it wasn't directed at craig.

Follow Tucker. I think he is gay. Go to places where black men frequent. He has a thing for Obama. He pretends he don't like him. But i think he does.

[argentino]

there are so many tv channels now that the "talent" has really gotten watered down...there is so much competition for viewers that these tv "personalities" will do & say anything for attention in the hope of attracting ratings...as entertaining as this may be in the short run - it actually diminishes the public discourse in the long run...

[amhcw]

It should not be considered "normal" for a user of a public restroom to be approached by another man in a sexual way. I'd freak out if another woman approached me in a woman's restroom. Even though I disagree with Tucker Carlson on most issues, I agree with him on this one. I consider him brave to have said what he said--and I was watching when he said his piece.
Maybe it is time for men to always have individual stalls, too.

For heavens sakes, we need to insist on (not just allow) the propriety of gays tieing themselves down legally by marriage/civil unions. Then they would have a socially sanctioned sexual outlet. Public places should never be acceptable places for sexual behavior.

[imusintheevening]

you mean like real family values? :)

[Matango]

As much as I loathe Tucker I have to say that hypothetically, as a teenage minor, if some guy had physically touched me in a sexual way I would have lashed out violently too. I wouldn't have needed a "buddy" to help.

The only difference here is that he left and came back. If I had left I would have gotten a cop or something.

I'm not justifying violence but anyone soliciting sex with teenage boys (by touching without asking) in a public bathroom deserves whatever they get.