Utah People's Post

The Latest News from the Beehive State

Sunday, March 7, 2021
Log in
  • National News
    • Female Caseworker Killed & Doctor Shot in Philadelphia
  • State News
    • Car Chase Leads to Drug Arrest
  • Tech & Science
  • Health
    • How to Prepare For Ticks Season
    • Magical Weight Loss Bean Scam
  • Sports
  • Business
You are here: Home / National News / Ben Carson Apologizes for Hurtful Comments on Sexual Orientation

Ben Carson Apologizes for Hurtful Comments on Sexual Orientation

March 5, 2015 Posted by Contributor

Hurtful Comments on Sexual OrientationOn Wednesday, potential Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson made hurtful comments on sexual orientation in a CNN interview that suggested that being gay is entirely a matter of choice. Later that night, he publicly apologized for what he said, claiming that the statement does not reflect his stance on gay issues. But what effects does this blunder really have on his presidential bid and how does this influence his image both with the public and within his own party?

From blaming the media to admitting an error

When asked by a CNN reported if being gay is a choice, Mr. Carson replied promptly: “Absolutely”. He went on, trying to justify this conclusion by claiming that “a lot of people who go into prison go into prison straight — and when they come out, they’re gay. So, did something happen while they were in there? Ask yourself that question.”

After initially blaming the media for emphasizing wrong parts of the interview, potential public outrage left him with no choice but to entirely retract what he said and issue a public apology on his Facebook page. He did take full responsibility this time and admitted there are no excuses.

The main problem with Carson on this matter is that he has a past of offensive LGBT comments. Two years ago, a similar incident happened, when he compared gay people to people who believe in bestiality. And same as now, his first reaction was to blame his critics for taking words out of context, followed by a full apology.

“I deeply regret”… but still

Even in his newest Facebook apology, he claimed that his choice of words do not fully reflect his stance on gay issues. He suggests that this cannot be applied to each individual’s sexual orientation, but he does disclaim that people are born gay. Based on his own medical education, Mr. Carson advocates that “there have been no definitive studies that people are born into a specific sexuality”, and so, a verdict is still undecided. This may come as somewhat of a surprise given that the American Psychological Association and many other medical groups have concluded that sexual orientation is not a choice, and the fact has been accepted by a large margin of US citizens.

Many specialists condemned his statements. A speaker for the Human Rights Campaign, Fred Sainz, quoted countless mental health and medical studies as sufficient base for the conclusion that sexual orientation cannot be changed. Even fellow Republicans chose to take step back from Ben Carson’s recent comments.

Earlier this week, Carson started raising funds for his presidential campaign, and is still doing well in the polls compared to other Republican potential candidates. So, although his sexual orientation interview seems factually wrong, the fact that he chose that specific language and still (at least partially) stands by his “not all gay people are born this way” stance, may come from a political rationale rather than personal conviction. Although the Republican electorate will probably not go easy on this, it will be interesting to follow Ben Carson’s polls from now on.
Image Source: The Grio

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Filed Under: National News

Woman working out at the gym

Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time

June 29, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)

June 29, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

United Airlines airplane

Passenger Mysteriously Dies on United Airlines flight Bound for Boston

June 28, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Breakfast sandwich

Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat

June 27, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Poppy flower

UN Warns of Surge in Opium-based Drugs and Cocaine Supply

June 27, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

U.S.-Canada border

French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border

June 26, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Plus size model

Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

June 25, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Giant manta ray

Unique Manta Ray Nursery Spotted off Texas Coast

June 23, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

The rainbow flag

WHO Scraps Transgenderism from List of Mental Illnesses

June 22, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

456 People Dead at U.K. Hospital after Taking too Many Painkillers

June 21, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Kenyan girls dancing

Kenyans Facing Poor Nutrition as Supermarket Shopping Is on the Rise

June 20, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Pages

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Staff
  • Terms and Conditions

Recent Posts

  • Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time
  • Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)
  • Passenger Mysteriously Dies on United Airlines flight Bound for Boston
  • Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat
  • UN Warns of Surge in Opium-based Drugs and Cocaine Supply
  • French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border
  • Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

Related Articles

  • U.S.-Canada border

    French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border

    Jun 26, 2018
  • Billboard on Texas Interstate Kindly Asking Liberals to Leave

    Jun 20, 2018
  • U.S. Border Patrol Agents surveying border

    Border Patrol Busts 51K People Trying to illegally Cross Border

    Jun 7, 2018
  • Alabama 4-Year-Old Is Feeding the Homeless in a Superhero Cape

    May 22, 2018
  • Electronic cigarette in man's hand

    Electronic Cigarette Blows Up in Florida Man’s Face, Killing Him

    May 17, 2018
  • CIA Hacking Tool Leaker Faces Child Porn Charges

    May 16, 2018
  • First Lady Melania Trump

    First Lady Melania Trump Recovering from Serious Surgery

    May 15, 2018
  • Mormon Temple in Utah

    Mormons Break 105-year Alliance with the Boy Scouts

    May 10, 2018
  • House Speaker Paul Ryan

    Paul Ryan Denies Dismissing House Chaplain over Politics

    May 4, 2018
  • Baby feet

    Iowa’s Fetal-Heartbeat Bill About to Ban Nearly All Abortions

    May 3, 2018

Categories

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • National News
  • Nature
  • Provo
  • Salt Lake News
  • Science
  • Sports
  • State News
  • Tech & Science
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • West Jordan
  • West Valley City
  • World

Copyright © 2021 utahpeoplespost.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Site Map · Contact

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more.