Usually when someone apologizes for a public/personal misstep, the only thing that comes across is that they are sorry they got caught. On Monday I blogged about Tracy Morgan’s homophobic rant at one of his stand-up gigs earlier this month. In the last couple of weeks the story got major legs- he was chastised by his 30 Rock co-star Tina Fey and the rant was retweeted and reposted ad nauseam...

Shortly afterward I received a comment that my linking his story with HIV was a stretch.  When I posted the blog entry, I had no idea just how close HIV hit the Morgan home.  Here is Tracy’s statement:

“I know how bad bullying can hurt,” he said. "I was bullied when I was a kid. I’m sorry for what I said. I didn’t mean it. I never want to use my comedy to hurt anyone. My family knew what it was like to feel different. My brother was disabled, and I lost my father to AIDS in 1987. My dad wasn’t gay but I also learned about homophobia then because of how people treated people who were sick with that.

“Parents should support and love their kids no matter what. Gay people deserve the same right to be happy in this country as everyone else. Our laws should support that. I hope that my fans gay, straight, whatever forgive, and I hope my family forgives me for this.”

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Since the rant, it’s come out that Tracy’s had a history of anti-gay remarks. Now, he’s talking to GLAAD and will be working with them on ads targeted at the entire issue of bullying as it pertains to the gay community.  Is it a wise career move?  Undoubtedly.  But I’m glad he opened up about his personal connection to HIV, and revisited how his own family was made to feel less than human as a result.

Either way, here’s to hoping his homophobic history is, well, history.

Positively Yours,

Shawn