I received this from Mark McLaurin this morning:
“As an advocate and activist with a fifteen year history of working for equality in the LGBT community, I know that words not only matter, but they are powerful. Last week, I carelessly used a pejorative phrase in an online argument that is insulting and hurtful. While my intent was not to refer to Transgender people, as a community, that way, I now recognize that what I intended is not important- what matters is how people felt when they read it. At this time, I want to offer my most profound apology to anyone who subsequently read what I typed, it is not a reflection of the regard I have or the support I’ve given throughout my life to the fight for justice for the Transgender community. My commitment is to use this episode to fuel my continued work to advance our collective vision of a more socially Just society. I am hopeful that my apology can begin the process of healing that will let us get back to that fight !”
It works for me. Thanks Mark.
This is a fair and good apology. No shame in admitting poorly chosen words in a moment of frustration.
It would have been great if this happened sooner, but it happened and seems sincere. If this happened more often with half as much sincerity, I would probably not currently view the L/G political groups, and gay men in particular, as I do.
Thanks, Bianca. This didn’t come from SEIU, they made their own statement and I suffered no repercussions and was not asked to write this, it’s from the heart. Some will accept it and some won’t- what’s important to me is that I put it out there and I happen to mean it !
Freaks do not work at a circus! They are people!