Roland Martin is back in good standing with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) following his on-air apology Sunday in the wake of Super Bowl tweets the group called homophobic.
Martin was suspended by CNN earlier this month for a pair of tweets that appeared to advocate violence against gays.
“If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him!” Roland said in one of his tweets.
Another of Martin’s tweets read, “Who the hell was that New England Patriot they just showed in a head to toe pink suit? Oh, he needs a visit from #teamwhipdatass.”
GLAAD had earlier called for Martin’s firing over the tweets.
During his “Perspectives” segment on his show “Washington Watch,” Martin recalled his February 14 meeting with GLAAD over the tweets. Martin said the meeting was helpful and explained that he’s sympathetic to many of GLAAD’s stances.
“Ironically, I have historically supported many of the issues important to the GLAAD agenda, such as ending ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy; gay adoption; and including gays in hate crimes laws. Those, folks, are facts.”
He continued that he believes all people have a right to be heard.
“If you’re gay or straight, your voice matters. If you are a pastor or activist, your voice matters,” Martin said. “I have no plan to abandon my goal as a truth-teller on a variety of issues; and, yes, that includes those that may be on the LGBT agenda. I am confident that this table can serve as an example of Dr. King’s ‘table of brotherhood,’ and I and this excellent team will do all we can to advance the dialogue so we all can learn, grow and prosper together.”
GLAAD was quick to applaud Martin’s statements, calling Sunday’s “Perspectives” segment an “important step” in mending the hurt caused by his tweets.
“Martin today took another important step, acknowledging that his words had a negative impact, and making it clear that he understands how serious the issues of anti-LGBT bullying and violence are,” the organization said on Sunday. “This incident, along with recent incidents of violence directed at LGBT people, sparked a national dialogue centered around why the issue of anti-LGBT violence needs to be taken seriously.”
