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Roland Martin Apologizes; “A Start,” Say Critics

Roland Martin Apologizes; “A Start,” Say Critics

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CNN commentator Roland Martin has posted an apology on his website for Super Bowl Sunday remarks that were widely seen as homophobic, but the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation still wants him to meet with LGBT advocates.

"Based on several tweets I made on my Twitter feed on Super Bowl Sunday ... I have been accused by members of the LGBT community of being supportive of violence against gays and lesbians and bullying," Martin writes on the site. "That is furthest from the truth, and I sincerely regret any offense my words have caused."

Martin tweeted Sunday, after retailer H&M's Super Bowl commercial featuring soccer player David Beckham, "If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham's H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him! #superbowl." Martin later said he was making fun of soccer fans, not gay men. Earlier in the day, he had posted on his Facebook fan page that "a New England Patriot they just showed in a head to toe pink suit ... needs a visit from #teamwhipdatass."

GLAAD demanded that CNN fire Martin, and several other organizations, including the National Black Justice Coalition, objected to his comments, as did numerous bloggers and individuals. On its website, GLAAD says Martin's apology "is a start," but adds that he should "put actions behind his words."

Noting a video posted on several sites yesterday of an antigay attack in Atlanta, GLAAD calls on Martin "to meet with us and our partners to discuss how we can work together to address the staggering rates of anti-LGBT violence that continues to face our community today." Also, the lack of response from CNN is unacceptable, GLAAD officials say. Read more here.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.