SOUNDBITES — "I didn't realize that my words could really affect and hurt as bad and as negatively as they did – not only to the transgender community but also to our audience – our listeners, our backbone, if you will. My ignorance prevented me from understanding how hard a transgender's life is day to day — I never understood that and I'm very sorry for that. I ignorantly thought that name-calling was just that – name-calling. And due to my ignorance, I was wrong about that." —KRXQ radio host Arnie States, apologizing yesterday for laughing about violence toward transgender children
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I love when people realize the err of their actions and comments. This may be a way to save face, but the appology does sound sincere. Thank GOD there are people in this world who still do have a conscience that functions.
Actually, I like this apology a lot. At least it isn't one of those "I'm sorry if I offended anyone" apoligies. He takes responsibility for his bad behavior and the results of his behavior.
Good man.
@AlanInSLC:
Ditto. This douchebag is an adult. Of course he knew his words would hurt someone. He just didn't expect that his job might be put in jeopardy. Now, he just wants to protect his assets.
What? I have responsibilities as a radio host? Say it ain't so?!
That being said, at least he apologized and did it in a seemingly meaningful manner.
Honestly, 12 years ago, when I graduated from high school, we were just as assaulted for being gay or transgendered then as we are now (if not more so). The difference is that we realized that words really are just words and it is up to the individual on how they are taken. I've been called everything in the book my entire life, and none of it has phased me. However, somewhere along the line we stopped raising our kids to be tough and started raising them to be offended, and since then we have become a nation of people that are overly offended by just about anything.
I forgive them. I still refuse to listen to their radio show or donate money but I accept their apology as valid. I think we need to get over this and move on. There are other far more damaging and pressing matters affecting transgendered Americans than last week's news which has now been apologized for.
I firmly believe that apologies are made by actions and not words. It's one thing to say your apology, but no matter how heartfelt it may be, if you want to prove yourself, you need to have the actions to back it up. I'd like to see this guy use his minor celebrity status to further education about transgender people and transgender issues now. When I see that happen, only then will I believe his apology.
galefan2004:
"However, somewhere along the line we stopped raising our kids to be tough and started raising them to be offended, and since then we have become a nation of people that are overly offended by just about anything."
Right, because there's more dignity in being a punching bag or a mutilated body on a mortician's slab than standing up and saying that transphobia/homophobia actually might be wrong. I'm sure glad we don't live that world anymore. Hopefully you can find a time machine so you can go back and enjoy all of that fun, dignifying abuse.
@Kropotkin: Words and violence are two very different things. The majority of people that end up dead do so because they don't fight back. If you keep expecting the society or the school to protect you then don't be surprised when it doesn't. What I said was that in 1997, we took words to mean very little, and we protected ourselves from violence. We didn't expect the world to be a hate free zone, we simply realized we needed to respond to hatred in an appropriate manner. We didn't expect a safe zone in our schools, we just realized that we needed to handle our own. In this day and age kids honestly believe that their school will protect them (because its done such a stellar job so far) and believe that they shouldn't have to deal with harassment instead of figuring out ways to deal with it.
@Kropotkin: "Hopefully you can find a time machine so you can go back and enjoy all of that fun, dignifying abuse."
You. Are. Awesome. Sir.
Fuck them and their I-don't-wanna-lose-my-job apology. Sideways. With a rusty hacksaw. Twice.
@galefan2004: "The majority of people that end up dead do so because they don't fight back."
This is an insult to those killed due to homophobia. Blaming the victim is ridiculous. Schools should protect kids, and the justice system should find and punish those responsible for anti-gay violence. It's possible to be tough and protect yourself AND trying to change society to be more accepting.
So… if "a transgender's" life was less hard, it would be okay to advocate violence being done to small children?