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Roland Martin Meets With GLAAD Over Controversial Tweets

Posted: 02/14/12 05:26 PM ET  |  Updated: 02/14/12 05:26 PM ET

Roland Martin

Roland Martin met with gay rights group GLAAD on Tuesday, after CNN suspended him for tweets that many considered to be homophobic.

Martin created a firestorm of controversy after tweeting, among other things, that people should "smack the ish" out of any male fans of a David Beckham underwear commercial. GLAAD initially called for his firing from CNN. Martin later apologized for any "offense" his tweets may have caused.

On Tuesday, GLAAD reported that Martin and the organization's senior director of programs Herndon Graddick met in Los Angeles. In a statement about the meeting, it wrote, "The introduction is the beginning of an open and honest dialogue. Both parties came away with a better understanding of one another and look forward to continuing this dialogue."

The meeting comes almost a week after Martin was suspended indefinitely from CNN last Wednesday. The network made the move three days after Martin wrote the controversial tweets. GLAAD praised the decision as "a strong stand against anti-LGBT violence," and invited CNN and Martin to meet with representatives to discuss ways to further combat it. Martin had tweeted that he was looking forward to meeting with them.

Below, see the offending tweets, as well as Martin's responses to some of his many critics.

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05:32 PM on 02/26/2012
You cannot take back what has been said. Let's move on because many Black folk has taken things all their lives from the white race and is still going through it. If we had not taken it many lives would be lost. So, get over it and move on. There is more to consume ourselves with than what one man about a commercial. He said it, big deal. He lost his job but he will find another one. Black folk don't get upset about trivial things. We have gone through it all of our lives. This is so petty.
I pray that GLAAD see GOD one day and their names are WRITTEN IN THE LAMBS BOOK OF LIFE. Now, I said that, I wonder what will be said now. There will be no tweets, no computer, no cell phone just you and GOD. Now, you figure it out.
08:02 AM on 02/25/2012
Phobia= fear. The black community does not fear homosexuals, many just are not accepting of their lifestyle. if any of you white gladd members visited urban black neighboorhoods in large cities you would know homosexuals are part of the community and are able to walk around freely. Take a trip to the Bronx, Newark, Philly and DC and you will see plenty of homosexuals living a normal family life with their partners and children. I do not have to like homosexuality, I do not have to like inter racial marriage, im black and i can choose not to black people or overweigt people, muslims and or christians. i do not have to accept anything i find inappropriate, immoral and makes me uncomfortable.
02:42 PM on 02/21/2012
Sorry, Roland, you crossed the line. I suggest you get some sensitivity training on matters LGBT.
It's a shame that your socio/political savy doesn't extend to people who don't conform to your notions of gender and sexuality. It's 2012 , Roland. Time for some edumacation, brother.
09:52 PM on 02/20/2012
LadyBird needs to just go back to his "church" and "pray away the gay" with his wife Michelle Bachman
11:56 AM on 02/20/2012
Hopefully, the meeting came after the session with his psychiatrist.
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09:55 AM on 02/20/2012
This puffed-up toad is a great example of a 'legend in his own mind'. Doubt if this meeting will do much good.
07:23 PM on 02/19/2012
People should really stop and think before they tweet. I've heard more idiotic comments and seen more candid booby shots since Twitter has come out than I'd care to remember.
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FloridaLAW
This Day, This Moment, Right Now!
02:02 AM on 02/18/2012
GLAAD is just using this as a publicity stunt. While his comments were immature and certainly inappropriate I don't see how CNN can suspend Martin for this while keeping Bill Bennett on the payroll. Bill Bennett remarked on his radio program that if you wanted to reduce crime you could abort all black male babies. Is that inciting violence?
07:09 AM on 02/18/2012
No, seems to be a true statement that would not incite violence.
04:41 PM on 02/18/2012
You need to go back in the closet, where you belong!
King7David
Hoo Yah!!!!!!!
04:23 PM on 02/19/2012
Good point FloridaLaw.....and I just fanned you pal.
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DeloresT
Writer/retired teacher
11:56 PM on 02/17/2012
Roland. Stop with the tweeting. To me that should not be something that a grown man spends his time doing anyway.
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QUATYL
05:07 PM on 02/17/2012
I don't blame Rollin Martin for feeling the way he does because that's who he is. He doesn't have a choice-----HE WAS BORN THIS WAY!----heard that anywhere before? They're gay peoples own words but I guess they don't count because he's not gay. How do you you feel now? I can't wait to hear your excuses why i'm wrong.
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Clay Brogdon
Independent Thinker
01:04 PM on 02/18/2012
I agree with you completely. I don't understand why some of these libs think they can force grown, straight men to be comfortable with gays. Like you said, I WAS BORN THIS WAY!
09:55 PM on 02/20/2012
Bigotted Jerks of every race, creed, and sexual orientation are "born that way" everyday. That doesn't mean that we have to tolerate them...
08:07 PM on 02/16/2012
I am confused about all the hoopla...who are these GLAAD people anyway?..I know that homosexuals have been riding the civil rights coat tail for a long time..I am tired of them comparing themselves to African Americans and our civil rights struggle...Our struggle was based on discrimination caused by our skin color..not whom we choose to have sex with..Gays say they were born that way..I doubt it..African Americans on the other hand didnt choose to be black..I wonder if any African American boy or girl can wake up one day and choose not to be black?..Ain't happening...leave Roland Martin alone...Why are homosexuals so sensitive?...I didn't see anywhere he was inciting violence against gays or making homophobic comments for that matter
07:12 AM on 02/18/2012
Because so many gays are killed by people making that kind of comment. You may not be gay and not understand it. Roland was being homophobic which is a common thing in the black community circles. It is understood and accepted in the black community. People use negative comments to abuse others and that is what Roland did with his comments. Too many young people are being murderered behind his comments. Straight people will laugh at it and accept it.
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cre8ive
Leave the herd. Be heard.
12:15 PM on 02/16/2012
GLAAD is speaking volumes about Roland Martin and silent on Brandon White. Priorities people.
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Dinosaur David B
07:29 AM on 02/16/2012
Wow. What a country. This guy gets suspended and is threatened with losing his job over some stupid, and likely alcohol-induced tweets that are at best, borderline homophobic, and Rick Santorum is allowed to run for President running on a blatantly homophobic platform, promising to curtail the rights of gays (as did Bachmann). Yeah. This makes sense. Martin's only mistake here is that he isn't a right wing Republican.

Check please.
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AnotherTry
Tell me again why we can't be equal?
10:16 AM on 02/16/2012
The difference being, one is a politician who is trying to attract bigots and the other is a paid-pundit trying to pretend he isn't a bigot.
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Dinosaur David B
11:05 AM on 02/16/2012
Yes. But so what? The message is still that bigotry and homophobia are fine as long as you do it on a grand enough scale and cite a 3000 year old book as your justification.
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QUATYL
04:58 PM on 02/17/2012
I don't like the gay lifestyle and i'm not a bigot. It's just my opinion. And listen to this-----it's not a choice, I was born this way----have you heard that anywhere before.
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AnotherTry
Tell me again why we can't be equal?
07:04 AM on 02/16/2012
Lance Bass and Niel Patrick Harris were both called out for anti-transgender speech. They took the hit, acknowledged it, apologized and moved on. Is a little maturity too much to ask?
06:05 AM on 02/16/2012
We have freedom of speech. However, it is NOT legal to incite violence against a person or group of people. I don't think he did it on purpose, so there aren't any actual legal implications, but it is problematic enough that a suspension is justified. This could all have been avoided anyways; just think before you speak.
06:37 PM on 02/17/2012
Oh stop it! Roland Martin is going to trigger violence against gays!? Really? GMAFB.