‘Bachelor’ Juan Pablo Galavis-GLAAD Release New Apology for Anti-Gay Statements

The ABC star has agreed to meet with the media watchdog’s representatives and LGBT Latinos and families

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“The Bachelor” star Juan Pablo Galavis issued a second apology for anti-gay statements he made on Friday after speaking with LGBT media watchdog group, GLAAD, on Saturday afternoon.

In the new statement, which differs from the one he made on Facebook on Saturday, he extends his support to gay parents, addresses GLBT youth and says he’ll be meeting with GLAAD representatives and GLBT families this week.

Also read: ‘Bachelor’ Juan Pablo Galavis’ Anti-Gay Comments Intensify Spotlight on Network Culpability

Read the statement below:

“I have heard from many gay Latinos today who are hurt because of what I said and I apologize. I know gay parents and I support them and their families. They are good parents and loving families. I am a father and I know the feel of being a father, why wouldn’t I want my gay friends to also be happy parents?

I also want gay and lesbian youth to know that it is fine to be who you are. Gay or straight, Black or White, Latin or American, what matters here is to respect who we are.

I look forward to meeting with gay and lesbian families as well as Monica [Trasandes] and Wilson [Cruz] from GLAAD. Gay and lesbian people, and the children they are raising, wrongfully face discrimination and I want them to know that I’m on their side.”

See video: Glenn Beck, GLAAD Find Common Ground Over Russian Anti-Gay Discrimination

Galavis has agreed to meet later this week in Los Angeles with LGBT Latinos and families including Monica Trasandes, a gay mom from Uruguay who leads GLAAD’s Latino and Spanish-Language Media Program, and GLAAD’s Wilson Cruz, who played TV’s first gay teen on ABC’s “My So-Called Life” and currently works with GLAAD to advocate for more LGBT-inclusive television programs and films.

In response, Trasandes, GLAAD’s Director of Spanish-Language and Latino Media, responded to his apology:

“At a time when Latino support for gay and lesbian people and our families is growing, we look forward to continuing the conversation with Juan Pablo and working with him to help educate his fans about who gay and lesbian parents are. Study after study shows that young people raised by gay parents are as happy and healthy as other young people.”

GLAAD names several studies on its blog.

The controversy stemmed from comments Galavis made to a reporter Friday night at an ABC/Disney event during the Television Critics Association press tour. He said that he didn’t support the casting of gay “Bachelor” on the ABC dating series. “I don’t think it’s a good example for kids to watch that on TV,” he said.

Also read: ABC Condemns ‘Bachelor’ Star Juan Pablo Galavis’ Anti-Gay Comments: ‘Careless, Thoughtless and Insensitive’

He would go on to say that he felt gay persons were “more pervert.” “To me the show will be too strong – too hard, to watch on TV,” he said.

ABC, “The Bachelor” executive producers and Warner Horizon Television on Saturday were quick to condemn the sweeping anti-gay comments on Saturday.

“Juan Pablo’s comments were careless, thoughtless and insensitive, and in no way reflect the views of the network, the show’s producers or studio,” they said in a statement.

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