GLAAD yesterday issued a statement in response to the altercation between Perez Hilton and Will.i.am manager Polo Molina at Toronto's MuchMusic awards.
Said GLAAD Senior Director of Media Programs Rashad Robinson: While not all the facts in this case are known, the violence that
appears to have been committed against Perez Hilton is unacceptable and
ought to be condemned in the strongest possible terms."
The group has also asked Perez to apologize for language he used during the altercation: "I don't need to respect you and you're a f**. You're gay and stop being such a f***ot."
Wrote GLAAD: "These are vulgar anti-gay slurs that feed a climate of hatred and
intolerance toward our community. For someone in our own community
to use it to attack another person by saying that it is, quote, ‘The
worst possible thing that thug would ever want to hear,' is incredibly
dangerous. It legitimizes use of a slur that is often linked to
violence against our community. And it sends a message that it is OK to
attempt to dehumanize people by exploiting anti-gay attitudes.”
UPDATE: Perez says GLAAD further victimized him.