Faded sitcom star apologises for gay rant
Gay campaigners today condemned anti-gay remarks made this week by comedian and actress Roseanne Barr on a California radio station.
In a discussion about families accepting their gay relatives, Barr said, “Never once in my 54 years have I ever once heard a gay or lesbian person who’s politically active say one thing about anything that was not about them.
“They don’t care about minimum wage, they don’t care about any other group other than their own self because you know, some people say being gay and lesbian is a totally narcissistic thing and sometimes I wonder.”
Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay Lesbian Victory Fund, disputed Barr’s assertion: “Roseanne Barr has defamed the hundreds of openly gay and lesbian elected and appointed officials who go to work every day to improve schools, make streets safer and better their communities.
“Politically active gays and lesbians are involved in many issues and they’re giving back to their communities.
“Inane comments like Roseanne’s are irresponsible and uninformed. Her remarks are all the more surprising given her previous support and understanding of the LGBT community,” Wolfe said.
In a statement on her blog, Ms Barr apologised to the gay community:
“I deeply regret that I have offended gay people. I said things that I do not really mean, before I had thought them through… I was wrong and I seriously apologise!” she wrote.
“Call me up today and let me have it! I will apologise and try to make clear what I really meant to say… which was that everybody needs to unite right now, and step outside of their own neighbourhoods, groups, races and classes to stop Bush’s war on our country and our people.
“I love gays and I hate division. I am just a big idiot with a big mouth sometimes. I will learn to be more careful! Please forgive me, I am so sorry!!!!”
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