Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Earlier today, I wrote about Mychal Massie's World Net Daily article where he erroneously claimed that I call blacks who oppose same sex marriage, "particularly appalling and ignorant." Today, he offered a swift apology - which shows humility and class. I thank him for his effort to set the record straight.

Wayne...as we have already discussed...I give you my most sincere apologies in misquoting you...I pulled your quote from memory and obviously made a misstake...also...as I indicated to you earlier...there is much with which we have to disagree without my intentionally attempting to defame or malaign you...it was an unintentional oversight on my part...also as I shared with you previously...I am unapologetic in my positions...but regardless of our positions we are both on the frontlines..attacks of our positions are part of what comes with being on same...but to that point I have never knowingly or intentionally made up things or misquoted those with whom I disagree...thank you for your kind response as well...I look forward to debating you down the road...if such opportunity occurs...be assured my first comment will be to apologize to you for my inadvertent error...all the best...

Apology noted and accepted.

8 Comments:

I am happy that this man has removed the erroneous quote. However, when he says that he would never "attempt to defame or malaign you," he is mistaken. Given the position he takes on gay people, especially his assertion that gays can "change their behavior," and that equal marriage rights would somehow harm heterosexual marriage or even be offensive in the eyes of God, he is most certainly defaming and maligning us as people. I wish that this man would consider these things.
posted by Chris L., at 11/25/2008 12:54 PM

It is notable that he apologized but i see it as an attempt at jockeying for position. I am UNINTERESTED in his opinions and i still say his inability to comprehend sexual orientation is insulting. Fortunately i could care less about what he thinks than he does me. NEXT!!!!!!!!
posted by Spouse Walker, at 11/25/2008 1:16 PM

It is disgusting how easily some folks like this man think we can be consigned to a life of no romance, love, sex or family unit. Just amazing...that's what he means when he says that we can "change our behavior". In his mind, we don't deserve equality because we have the supposed option of living that way! Take heart, such abhorrent views cannot, in the end, win the day.
posted by Chris L., at 11/25/2008 1:29 PM

Yeah Chris, and you apparently think all blacks are your enemy, so how are you any different from him?
posted by Ryan Grant Long, at 11/25/2008 3:10 PM

This comment has been removed by the author.
posted by Chris L., at 11/25/2008 3:25 PM

ESHTO, we need to clear the air. You have me terribly wrong. I was not criticizing all black people, a few of whom I too have dated. (You mentioned in another post that your partner is black.) I was expressing my hurt, disappointment and anger at the 70% who voted for Prop. 8, a group who I thought should have known better.

When Barack was elected, I was overjoyed, even ecstatic. Then I decided to check out the results on Prop. 8. I was crushed and stunned to see that Prop. 8 passed, and the fact that 70% of black folks in CA supported it was a real blow. I felt totally betrayed, and I still feel that way.

I think that I am entitled to express that profound sense of betrayal without being called a racist. I think there is indeed much work to do together, but I do believe that there is a special homophobia problem in the black community.

Anyone who says that there is work to be done in the black community regarding LGBT issues is acknowledging this fact. I want nothing more than for all of us to be in this together, and in lamenting the fact that apparently we aren't there yet, you mistook my view as an attack against all black people. Nothing could be further from the truth. I truly abhor bigotry in all its forms, and I am saddened that you took this as an attack on black people, instead of upon the distressing actions of the 70% in California. It was not meant that way, and I apologize if you were offended.
posted by Chris L., at 11/25/2008 5:03 PM

I think we all need to examine the type of language we use, even when it's done for humor. I have an Asian friend who is only attracted to white men and refers to *himself* as a 'potato queen', just as non-Asians who 'only like' Asians are called 'rice queens' etc.; those who have a preference for larger folks are 'chubby chasers' or 'bear hunters'. I have always found the slang 'on the down low' to be offensive, as it seems to be only used for men who cheat on their wives or girlfriends with other men. The fact that he's cheating should be called 'down low', not because it's homosexual. Although these terms can be campy and funny, we should realize, that they're also dehumanizing.
Gary (NJ)
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