Human Rights Campaign Statement on CBS Commentator Billy Packer
HRC news release:
WASHINGTON – Joe Solmonese, President of the Human
Rights Campaign issued the following statement today in reaction to the recent
comments by CBS commentator Billy Packer during an interview with Charlie Rose.
Packer used the term “fag out” during the interview when Rose jokingly offered
his assistance for the NCAA Men’s Final Four.
“John Amaechi, who has done a tremendous amount of youth
work and obviously knows the sports world first hand, has said that every time
someone uses the F Word, gay kids in high school die a little bit on the
inside.
“CBS has tried to spin this
as a poor choice of words. Billy Packer and the CBS Network should know better
and must apologize for the hurt that this kind of remark causes.”
The Human Rights Campaign hosted a panel of GLBT
athletes in Atlanta coinciding with the NCAA Men’s Final Four Games. John Amaechi, Billy
Bean, Joey Fisher, David Kopay, Terri O’Connell and Esera Tuaolo all shared
their stories and unique perspectives on the experience of GLBT Athletes. The
panel was moderated by ESPN
Magazine Senior Writer, LZ Granderson.
Video of the panel can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=hrcmedia
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