Tracy Morgan Comes Out For Gay Marriage, Says He'd Love His Son If He Were Gay

UPDATE: Morgan has agreed to go to Nashville with GLAAD to protest the state's controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill, according to E! Online. He spoke to the site's Marc Malkin about his regrets over his rant, emphasizing his belief that all children should be loved, regardless of sexuality.

"I know how bad bullying can hurt," Morgan said. "I was bullied when I was a kid. I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it. I never want to use my comedy to hurt anyone. My family knew what it was like to feel different. My brother was disabled and I lost my father to AIDS in 1987.... Parents should support and love their kids no matter what. Gay people deserve the same right to be happy in this country as everyone else. Our laws should support that."
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PREVIOUSLY: Tracy Morgan said on Friday that he's sorry for his homophobic rant earlier this month -- and it looks like he's willing to put his words into action.

In an interview with Russell Simmons at Global Grind, Morgan apologized again for his verbal tirade that sparked national outrage, swore off his hate speech and came out for marriage equality.

"Of all the sicknesses, there is probably none more abusive than homophobia. My heart is committed to giving everyone the same rights that I deserve for myself," Morgan said. "I don't care if you love the same sex as long as you have the ability to love someone I am deeply sorry for the comments I made. What I am most sad about is the comments I made about kids and bullying."

Morgan also noted his support for gays serving in the military -- an issue solved by the recent repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and then insisted he believed in gay marriage, too.

"I believe everyone deserves the right to be happy and marry who they want too; gay, white, black, male or female. Let me know where the rally's at Russ. I'm there!" Morgan promised.

The words came as he works to make amends, not only with his public, but his friends, too. Tina Fey, his "30 Rock" co-star and executive producer slammed his comments but noted that she believed Morgan was a loving person.

"It also doesn't line up with the Tracy Morgan I know, who is not a hateful man and is generally much too sleepy and self-centered to ever hurt another person," Fey said in a statement.

Another co-star, Cheyenne Jackson, said that he was "disgusted" by what Morgan had said.

For more, click over to Global Grind.

Comments

[Tribal Knowledge]

04:50 PM on 06/20/2011

This guy has issues.

Thankfully, he does not have a backbone, and can be cowed into submission in a snap! Likely, his rant - followed by his repentance - will be embraced as true enlightenment.

[kvolovesart]

03:37 AM on 06/19/2011

This guy is the biggest back peddler I have ever seen...but, I guess he is terrified his career will end like that guy from grey's anatomy...or michael richards...

[Tribal Knowledge]

04:51 PM on 06/20/2011

YUP.

Fact is, we already know how he feels. Pandering, to the folks he is pandering to, always works, though (as we have seen!)!

[DCmykl]

07:59 AM on 06/17/2011

This story begins, "Morgan has agreed to go to Nashville with GLAAD to protest the state's controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill, according to E! Online." Well, I am in Nashville right now and let me tell you something, if GLAAD or Morgan are holding some sort of protest of Tennessee's new law making it illegal to even say the word "gay" in a grade 1 - 8 classroom it's sure a BIG secret.

There is no mention of such an event in the local gay newspaper or on its website. No one I've talked to knows anything about such a protest, and there are no posters, signs or any promotion of it of any sort any where.

[nstig8or]

09:46 PM on 06/16/2011

I forgive you Tracy. I have to admit being shocked at first but some how didn't believe the sentiments were true. I think comedians tend to develop a certain carte blanche to say whatever they want in order to stay edgy. It can get out of hand and before you know it you've lost control and pissed people off instead of making them laugh. No one is perfect. It can be really hard to gauge how people will take things. And Everyone has an off day at work. I'm gay but I still laugh at jokes being poked at gays maybe more so, because I have a good sense of humor. And because I firmly believe no one should be free from ridicule. If we can't laugh at ourselves first then we shouldn't be laughing at anyone ever. Maybe he goofed up...I wasn't there so I cant say that I would or would not have been offended. But Tracy has made me laugh many times over and I hope he continues to work at it for a long time.

[Billdabuilder]

09:13 AM on 06/16/2011

Of course he is backing up. He sees dollars flying out the window and out of his grasp.

[Dino MA]

08:13 AM on 06/16/2011

Every species of mammal exhibits homosexual behavior. Man is no different. I am a supporter of gay rights and believe we all deserve to live the life we want to lead. This country was founded on the idea of acceptance and tolerance. The few passages in the bible that are interpreted to be about homosexual behavior are very few compared to the passages that have to do with love, forgiveness, humility and the belief that God is the only judge.

To me, that means if you point to the bible as your reason to condemn someone who is gay, you are not true to your faith.

That being said, what’s the obsession with vilifying a comedian for making offensive jokes? Gilbert Gottfried lost his gig with Aflac over unfunny jokes. What Tracy said isn’t funny to me, but comedy is unlike any other job in that there is constant pressure to be funny. Both of these men are known for being edgy and outrageous with their humor. We need to take their comments with a grain of salt. Their actions are very different than Michael Richards shouting the N-word at a specific black person in the crowd.

Stories like this only distract us from the real problems in this country. The beautiful thing about this country is if you’re offended, you can stop supporting the artist/person. What’s worse, Tracy’s jokes or the Westboro Baptist Church? Both are protected by the 1st amendment the last time I checked.

[AnotherTry]

08:39 AM on 06/16/2011

I disagree. I believe stories like this point out the huge gap in laws and legal protection for gays, especially children.

And no one is saying he can't say homophobic things. The problem is, he HAD a lot of gay fans from 30 rock who never knew he had this kind of hate in him. They are shocked and expressing that shock is their right just as much as it is his right to say what he wants.

And this is still a capitalist society. If the ones holding the purse strings are uncomfortable keeping Tracy on the payroll after this, that is also their right.

It sounds like you want to be outraged at the outrage. How silly is that?

[Dino MA]

09:45 AM on 06/16/2011

First, I am sorry if my comment was offensive to you in any way. That is not at all my intention.

I do not believe Tracy actually did anything illegal. However, agree that our laws do not provide adequate protection for gays, especially young gay people. If he were fired by NBC, I would not be the least bit upset with NBC. It was Aflac’s right to fire Gilbert Gottfried.

My point is that both comics have always walked the fine line between funny and offensive. Neither attacked an individual the way Michael Richards did. That was wrong. Kobe Bryant’s use of the “F-word” was wrong, not only because it was directed at someone but also because of the intent behind it. He was not searching for a laugh; he meant to hurt someone with that word.

I’m not outraged at the outrage, individuals have the right to be upset when they see or hear something they do not like. It’s the media coverage I take issue with. The news carries on for days about failed attempts at humor but the Westboro Baptist Church and their very hateful ways get far less attention.

Humor (even if the jokes aren’t funny) is very different than a premeditated message of hate. If I failed to articulate that point, again, I apologize.

[Dino MA]

09:48 AM on 06/16/2011

To look at it another way, Tracy’s homophobic jokes get days of media coverage, but Major League Baseball joining the “It gets better” campaign is only mentioned in passing.

[efsacramento]

08:03 AM on 06/16/2011

Why does GLAAD want to join with Morgan on anything. His so-called rant appeared to be a very calculated act meant ro bring attention to himself. He has had extra prominence in headlines at the expense of gays. But, not much has been said aboutthe way in which his rant included the promotion of child abuse. Of course he has a right to say whatever he wants. Too bad GLAAD, which should have nothing to do with someone who would use defanatory sprrch as a publicity stunt for himself, has decided to lower itself withthis narcicistic lowlife.

[booshh]

03:33 AM on 06/16/2011

Never, ever give in to these people Tracy. You had no reason to apologize nor any need to clarify.

You should have been a man, instead of that which you were making fu of and deriding.

Shame.

[ronda chambers]

03:57 AM on 06/16/2011

if homosexuality is a sickness than why can't we cure it. Iam not gay but you neither me has the right to judge. the church has a long history of crimes that god would not aproved. Even during Jesus times. as a matter of fact did not cain take his sister as a wife, isn't that insest. which the bible condemed. now i read the bible and karan both, the catholic church help the nazis.so there is good and bad in all of us. You may not be gay but i bet you are doing something that god would not approved. the bible said those who endured to the end are saved. so we are all sinning as along as we are alived. (i do have minsters in my family and my father is a muslim.) Remenber satan ones one of gods angel and was here before mankind. we have free will to make our choice and santan know it and know what work with us. i don't disagree we was created by a divine being but i think you need to go back and do more research. did you know that the nazis was into the ocult (relgion) not out of the Jewish Kaballah. by the way my granmother fled from germany to escape the nazis. people of hate no mater what color go aganist God order of things.

[jcreamx23]

11:14 PM on 06/15/2011

tracy morgan is a comedian. his JOB is to cross boundaries and say outlandish things to get a rise out of people. its just sad that once again something so trivial had to turn into such a big deal and he was made to parade himself all over tv, recant, and devote himself to a gay purpose (no pun intended - unless it makes you laugh) to exonerate himself from telling jokes. btw, who is tina fey? her arrival to SNL along with fallon marked the beginning of the end of that long-standing cultural icon of a show. she should just shut up and be happy shes not working at mcdonalds. if it wasnt for the brain-dead political sheep of this country and her sara palin impression she wouldnt even be known. tracy morgan on the other hand is a comic circuit legend and an SNL allstar. shout out to brian fellows!

[ronda chambers]

03:24 AM on 06/16/2011

whats wrong working at McDonalds. we get paid vacations, paid sick leave , great health care , 401 k, stock ,free and discount foods (even through i don't eat the food.) and after 15 yrs paid 3 months off of work. free work shoes very 6 months , free uniforms every 3 months, (socks and belts) sorry to say emplyees do not take the benifits. Twice not in the same year i was out of work for 3 months for a kidney transplant, got my full paid. last year i was out because of surgery (female problems) got paid for the 8 weeks off. Own my own house and car. so McDonald been good to me.

[wndk7]

10:43 PM on 06/15/2011

This is so hilarious...reminds me of the 70s when I (white) married my husband (black) and everyone we knew would talk bad about "those" people until they saw us together...then all of a sudden, it was, 'Oh, one of my best friends is black' or 'Hey, I have a real good white friend'....tee hee hee hee hee hee! Joke's on you Morgan! Everyone is sooooooo two faced!

[jsaiditfirst]

07:58 PM on 06/15/2011

Dear GLAAD orginizers; gay, gay, gay, gay, gay, gay.

See........nothing happened to my neighbor gal's. (probably because they both know already that their gay)

[jsaiditfirst]

07:44 PM on 06/15/2011

Morgan must be in desperate need of employment if he's willing to retract portions of his comedy act and commit his son to homosexuality at the behest of some sniveling fan followers.

I wonder if his son is offended?

[moirahutch]

06:48 PM on 06/15/2011

I love Tracey Jordan. I do not like censorship of any kind. This is Animal Farm in the making.

[mathme]

10:55 PM on 06/15/2011

This is not censorship; this is the *free market* at work.

[GeetarDan]

06:21 PM on 06/15/2011

Oh no! A comedian said something offensive. This is totally worth getting bent out of shape.

Not our new state of all-war-all-the-time, not the unemployment rate, not the corporate takeover of our government, not the utter failing of a news industry rapidly being turned into reality tv , not actual violence against homosexuals by people who believe gays are being tempted by an invisible demon (and this is the 21st century!), not the assault on the social safety net, not the fact that our kids are dumb and getting dumber, not the fact that we are drowning in debt, not the rapidly deteriorating environment, not the fact that our culture encourages decadence, stupidity, and self-indulgence of a kind never before seen in human history...

No - this. A comedian said something stupid into a microphone.

Seriously.

People say there's no excuse for what he said. Balderdash. (I would use a different word but the moderators would kick me off.) Ever since Lenny Bruce, then Richard Pryor, and then George Carlin, comedians have tried to offend. Being offended, gasping, is - gasp - funny.

Look at some of the things Carlin said about Christians and imagine you are were a Christian (but first put down that cup of zombie blood). They would sound hateful and offensive to the things that you believe most deeply. And that's the point.

[jcreamx23]

11:05 PM on 06/15/2011

well said.