Before his controversial co-hosting gig at the Miss Universe pageant last night in Moscow, openly gay NBC correspondent Thomas Roberts spoke out against Russia’s antigay law while walking the red carpet. “I know the law is very vague and still hard to interpret for many people,” Roberts stated. “But it is discrimination and that’s definitive. And I don’t think that the LGBT population in Russia or anywhere should be marginalized to that degree. We are not asking for special protection. We’re just asking for equal respect.”
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WATCH: Thomas Roberts Condemns Russia’s Antigay Laws on Miss Universe Red Carpet
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jimbryant
Thumbs down to Thomas Roberts. He’s a piece of crap.
He said or did nothing on the actual show to bring the public’s attention to the anti-gay laws in Russia. Some might even say he’s a traitor.
Dxley
Thumbs up to Thomas Roberts.
Stefano
He is the new Harvey Milk !!! Gays in Russia : you don’t have to be affraid anymore, Super Thomas Roberts is Here ! He will save you All With his super powers ! Bang bang ! Take that Putin ! My words are more powerfull than your law ! Bang ! Bang ! LOL
GymJockTX
I reckon I’m powerful superficial, cuz I’d still like to pretty much eat him alive, bang him senseless, and blow him ’til they’s ain’t nuthin’ left o’ his baby batter, ‘ceptin what’s stuck ‘tween my teeth…
litper
How many people saw this? 10?
Rockery
@litper:
LOL!
Bingo! this did absolutely nothing and he still put that cash in his pocket from the pageant
Snapper59
I wonder what made him abandon his news career. MSNBC must be phasing him out – replacing him with Mia Farrow’s kid? They’re both wearing enough makeup they look a step away from Drag Race.
AnitaMann
What an embarrassment.
Caleb in SC
Gay Uncle Tom. Piss off.
bledoutcolor
Thomas Roberts is courageous, intelligent, and as a gay youth myself (just turned 20) I can say hes a great role model and hero to young gay people who are struggling with their places in the world, just like all out successful and happy adults are.
That is all.
Caleb in SC
@bledoutcolor: Your youth betrays you. Get a sense of gay history and then get back to the rest of us. We were gay bashed when police did not care. We were building a better world for LGBT people while you were in diapers. We blazed the trail while people of your ilk were blindly following behind. Sorry, Son, but your observations fall on deaf ears.
Caleb in SC
@bledoutcolor: Here is a little grammar lesson: “Thomas Roberts is courageous, intelligent, and, as as gay youth myself (I just turned 20), I can say that he’s a great role model and hero to young gay people, who are struggling with their places in the world. Mr. Roberts is the same as all out, successful and happy adults.” Get a little more education and then post. Thank you!
jimbryant
How much was Thomas Roberts paid for this hosting gig? Thirty pieces of silver?
Harley
@bledoutcolor: as a 20 year old you have NO clue. When I was 20 (before you were born) my best friends were all dying around me, with a republican administration that ignored the problem because it was only happening to queers and drug addicts. YOU are probably bare-backing on a nightly basis with no regard to the consequences, cause you can always just “take some pills”. GROW UP!
jimbryant
Harley,
Um, gay men could easily have avoided AIDS by stopping their use of drugs and stopping their sexual promiscuity with total strangers. Don’t blame government for the poor choices that gay men made.
Harley
@jimbryant: let’s see: 1) me and my friends did not do drugs with the exception of alcohol, and 2) sexual promiscuity is going on today as it has since mankind was hunting and gathering. 3) I had friends in committed monogomous relationships die as well. YOU obviously did not live through the epidemic so YOU obviously don’t know what we went through in the 80’s. I was lucky ( and still am ) in maintaining my negative status. You are heartless and misinformed. Go watch your FOX news and troll somewhere else you creep.
Caleb in SC
@jimbryant: “Poor choices?!?!?!?” How can you make a choice when there was no information available because the government (Reagan Administration) chose to remain silent? YOU have no sense of history. Educate yourself and try again.
Degas
@bledoutcolor: Stay positive and ignore the grammar queen. Your sentiment is what is important. My son is about your age, and your generation is blazing its own trails. One generation builds for the next. It’s a blessing and a gift that you are able to live openly and at such a young age. It’s important to know gay history, but the only person you owe a single thing to is yourself. Live a good life, and love.
Dev.C
You all sound like those far right nut jobs who complain about the good old days. If you feel that strongly about this situation then maybe you should fly to russia and become a martyr for the gay population. Just because 30-40 years ago activist aggressively picketed the street for justice doesn’t mean the same will happen today. Thomas Roberts has done nothing wrong other than doing his job, His personal feelings should be just that, Personal. Anderson Cooper has to talk to countless assholes and he never brings his personal feelings into play when doing his job.
I don’t understand why people expect Celebrities and Reporters to risk their livelihoods, Jobs, Families because they have visibility and access to the assholes who cause this hell. We can’t even get full respect and equality in our own country, so why do we feel a need to reprimand and call out someone else?
jimbryant
Harley,
How do you know that your friends were monogamous? Did you keep a tab on them?
The sad fact is that gay men have chosen a highly promiscuous environment in which to socialize. It is far more promiscuous than that involving men who interact with women.
Keep in mind that when a man visits a gay sauna, he pays $10 and can then go in and have sex with as many non-vetted men as he wants. Three, four, five…it’s all in a night’s work.
When a man visits a brothel, he pays about $150 and can then have sex with only one vetted woman. The expense and the vetting act to prevent STD’s in the heterosexual scenario.
Dxley
I cannot believe these old men are attacking this kid. It’s not his fault that you went through what you did and don’t criticise him for thinking of Roberts as a hero – get your own heroes.
I think he’s right and I back what he said. You people wanted Roberts to refuse money? Well, that’s messed up. I would have taken the job as well if I were him and support my husband with it and pay the bills. Way to go, Roberts!!!
Btw I’m not opening up for debate, just voicing my opinion!
vocodr
Great make-up, Thomas! You forgot your wig, though.
Stefano
A gay journalist that covers a Miss Universe contest a hero and a model ? I can’t stop laughing. LOL