GLAAD Blog: "Tweet John Mayer And Ask That He Apologize For Using The F-Word"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

ACT NOW: Tweet John Mayer And Ask That He Apologize For Using The F-Word

February 11, 2010 by Jonathan Rosales, GLAAD's Entertainment Media Manager

http://glaadblog.org/2010/02/11/act-now-tweet-john-mayer-and-ask-that-he-apologize-for-using-the-f-word/

After excerpts from his interview in Playboy’s March issue spread over the internet yesterday, John Mayer took to his Twitter account to apologize for using the N-word. In the same interview Mayer used the anti-gay F-word when recounting the time he kissed blogger Perez Hilton and has not apologized for using that slur.

In the interview, Mayer is asked if he’s ever kissed a man. He responded:

“The only man I’ve kissed is Perez Hilton. It was New Year’s Eve and I decided to go out and destroy myself. I was dating Jessica at the time, and I remember seeing Perez Hilton flitting about this club and acting as though he had just invented homosexuality. All of a sudden I thought, I can outgay this guy right now. I grabbed him and gave him the dirtiest, tongue-iest kiss I have ever put on anybody—almost as if I hated fags. I don’t think my mouth was even touching when I was tongue kissing him, that’s how disgusting this kiss was. I’m a little ashamed. I think it lasted about half a minute. I really think it went on too long.”

Just as Mayer indicated in his apology, that he meant no offense in his use of the racist slur, we hope the intent behind his use of the F-word was not malicious. As a public figure with millions of fans, Mayer should be more cognizant of the impact his casual use of both slurs can have.

Everyday, countless LGBT people including LGBT people of color, are subjected to harassment, ridicule and even violence because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. More often than not, this verbal abuse includes the use of hurtful anti-gay and racist slurs such as the two that Mayer used. As a talented musician who has made comments supportive of the LGBT community in the past, we expect more from John Mayer and ask that he apologize.

ACT NOW: Copy and paste the tweet below or http://twitter.com/home?status=Ask%20@johncmayer%20to%20apologize%20for%20using%20an%20anti-gay%20slur%20in%20his%20@Playboy%20interview%20http://bit.ly/dsVcAj">click here to post this on Twitter:

Ask @johncmayer to apologize for using an anti-gay slur in his @Playboy interview http://bit.ly/dsVcAj #LGBT