New York, NY, August 15, 2011 - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today spoke out against anti-LGBT remarks made by Adam Carolla, former host of 'The Man Show,' during his weekly podcast and urged his listeners to educate themselves about the hardships facing LGBT Americans today.
Audio of the segment and a summary of his history of offensive remarks about LGBT people as well as about Hawaiians and Filipinos are available here: http://www.glaad.org/adamcarolla.
Two years ago, on the syndicated radio program 'Loveline,' Carolla said that "all things being equal" - gay parents are "not as good as" straight parents.
Last Thursday, during 'The Adam Carolla Show,' the host spoke out against the LGBT community. In his rant, he also told LGBT people to "shut up" because they are "ruining his life" by speaking out about equality. He went on to say that members of the LGBT community should stop using the letters "LGBT" to describe themselves, and should instead use "YUCK." Regarding transgender people, Carolla at one point asked: "When did we start giving a sh-t about these people?"
GLAAD will be reaching out to its allies in the entertainment industry to let them know about Adam Carolla's history of racist and homophobic remarks.
"Given his history of anti-gay and racist comments, networks and advertisers should know what their money is supporting if they choose to hire Adam Carolla," said Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs at GLAAD. "The gross intolerance that he tries to pass off as comedy should not have a place on our airwaves."
GLAAD asked listeners of the show to learn about the hardships that Carolla makes light of and directed them to a column in The Advocate written by Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, which reviewed the landmark study "Injustice at Every Turn" which was co-produced with the National Center for Transgender Equality.
Transgender people can be legally fired in 35 states for being transgender. They are twice as likely to be unemployed.
Transgender individuals live in poverty at nearly four times the national rate.
Over 25% reported that they had lost a job due to their transgender identity.
They are twice as likely to be homeless.
41% have attempted suicide, more than 26 times the rate (1.6%) of the general population.
Regarding his comments on the children of gay parents, GLAAD reminded listeners that virtually every credible authority on child health and social services including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Child Welfare League of America has determined that a parent's sexual orientation has nothing to do with the ability to be a good parent. Children of gay parents are just as healthy and well-adjusted as other children.
