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

[Waitaminute]

Tucker has a thing for Obama. It was wishful thinking on Tucker's part.

[Justis]

A man solicited Tucker when he was in high school. I don't buy that Tucker was "assaulted". Tucker felt humiliated by the advance--perhaps as a teenager he was insecure about his masculinity--so he got a friend to help him assault the solicitor. End of story.

Tucker revised his story and retold it to make himself look macho and justified. Pathetic.

[BWonka]

Oh... I thought Tucker attacked the other guy because he wouldn't let Tucker 'do' him! You mean Tucker ISN'T gay?

Sure - and neither is Larry Craig.

[jdunn1973]

Obviously we should have a problem with violence aimed at someone just because of their sexuality. But there is more to the story then that. Some guy assaulted him ,according to his report, and if a guy had assaulted a girl, you would love to hear that she kicked his ass. If the guy had simply asked him on a date, that may have been a different story with a less dramatic outcome. I don't think the restroom is a great place for setting the mood anyways. Having Craigs face as the poster boy of restroom cruising may finally put an end to gays looking for amorous adventures in the bathroom. cheers.

[barrycourage]

Craig's face would put an end to anyone looking for amorous adventures anywhere.

[demigod]

So - if a straight man makes an "advance" to a woman who's not interested, she should become hostile, go get a friend, a cop or both, and return to kick the crap out of the offending male and have him arrested ?

C'mon guys, if you've been approached it means someone thinks you look good, good enough to make a wildly dangerous approach. If you're not interested, just say so. You don't have to go non-linear and exact the world's moral vengeance.

Now - everyone has the right to resist unwanted touching or a rape. Who knows what Tucker's talking about or if it really happened.

[lthuedk]

Will Tucker top the totem?

http://www.light-to-dark.com/republican_totem.html

.

[roger3815]

Oh Thank GOD, he is NOT GAY.

Ladies, he's all yours.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

Geez....th­anks, but no thanks. I like my men a little more "manly".

[KeysDan]

Unfortunately, I saw Tucker's performance on Dan Abrams show since I was slow to switch channels after Keith Olberman. I was astounded by his admission of vigilante violence and how he returned with an unnamed pal, 25 minutes afterward, and before the police arrived. The perp was still there and was not trying to flee. This story did not ring true at the time and was all the more suspect after the revision of events in the "explanatory" public relations release. Please advise, what am I to believe--the p.r. release or my lying eyes?

[SteveS]

Look at the difference between 'toe tapping' and 'grabbing'.

One is more realistic, one is clearly a lie. If he was grabbed, he was assaulted and the guy should have been arrested, therefore, there would be a police record.

If there was no grabbing, but maybe just a solicitation, then that would explain why the story was downgraded to a security guard.

Tucker's lying through his teeth. It doesn't add up.

[scottriviera]

wow...as a devout watcher of Countdown with Keith i have always respected the integrity of MSNBC....b­ut that respect is slipping, and fast.

[Marlyn]

yes but Countdown with Keith is still worthy.

[MrBritesnide]

Actually, Keith Olbermann is there for the sole reason of bringing respectability to the network.

[Garee]

Carlson made his first mistake when he tried to recall an event in high school. Everyone knows the reaction to such an event would be totally different then than now as an adult. What he was trying to do was to put an adult "spin" on a teen event. I think he did it, I am sorry to say, to keep the interest in a rather dull television personality.
I bet he made up his reaction for the "guys" (Abrams and Scarborough) just to fill the time. Those two "dead heads" probably were encouraging him to "enlarge" upon what was probably a "non event" in a restroom.

[noamjunior]

I got a feeling tucker will be the next forcibly cast out of the CON closet

[bbln]

One afternoon, I watched Tucker Carlson salaciously address two female reporters, one of whom I believe reports for the Washington Post - after the Larry Craig scandal, Tucker basically said "you mean women don't do that in the restrooms; well, that's disappoint­ing..." AND, one time, he commented on Obama Girl who might vote for Hillary Clinton, and that he'd like to see those two get together -

Beyond the offensive, and inciting thing he said about his high-school gay bashing incident, he's inappropriate everywhere else too.

[Marlyn]

"he commented on Obama Girl who might vote for Hillary Clinton, and that he'd like to see those two get together"

This is one of the Republican talking points ... that Hillary is a lesbian.

[adled]

The original pencil-neck geek. The kind that can't say f**k with out others snickering behind his back. It's no wonder he's a Republican because if he tried being a Dem he'd be made to dye his bowtie pink. What a poofter; with all due respect to the gay posters.

[WigWamWag]

Be sure to help stop the abuses of the morally impared.

The world does not need any more self rightous upity gays or ultra liberal progressives who are so quick to claim "civil rights protection­."

If they want to gain any respect they need to earn it by being respectable 100 percent of the time, publically and privately.

[noamjunior]

come out wigwam -your wife is wondering why she isn't getting any

[LorettaSingbiel]

"If they (GLBTs) want to gain any respect they need to earn it by being respectable 100 percent of the time, publically and privately.­"

If CLOSETED heterosexuals want to gain any respect, they need to earn it by being HONEST about their sexual orientation 100 percent of the time, publically and privately.

If CHEATING heterosexuals want to gain any respect, they need to earn it by being HONEST in their COMMITTED relationships 100 percent of the time, publically and privately.

The Bible contains 6 admonishments to homosexuals, and 362 to heterosexuals. It's not that God doesn't love heterosexuals. It's just that they need more supervision.

And BTW, did Carlson mention the AGES of the "attacked", or the "attacker"? Were they BOTH "jail bait"? Perhaps the TRUTH, the WHOLE TRUTH, and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, can be obtained from the "police" (or "security guard") report?

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta

[Issak]

"Be sure to help stop the abuses of the morally impared"

The world does not need any more self righteous douche-bag republican hypocrites -who are so quick to claim some sort of moral higher ground, while simultaneously wiping their cowardly
asses with the rule of law.

[barrycourage]

"If they want to gain any respect they need to earn it by being respectable 100 percent of the time, publically and privately.­"

So all heterosexuals are respectable. Charles Manson, Attila the Hun, Chimpy, Cheney, Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin, Kadafi...

I told you wiggy, 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.