I do not believe this “apology” (if that’s what you can call it) has the least little bit of sincerity about it. It’s a PR ploy to keep the peace and prevent this right wing, bigoted organization from getting expelled from the State Fair. Is this all Mr. Roy Brian has to say after one of their “volunteers” traumatized an innocent child and possibly left this innocent child scarred for life? And just who, exactly, selected and screened these volunteers? I hope this victimized family understands that they have a really good lawsuit in the making, and I hope they decide to pursue it. I want no part of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship’s idea of “faith and family”. That’s my take, what does everybody else think?
I want to give the group props for making the apology. Sincere or not, some groups wouldn’t even go this far.
David Taffet
on October 8, 2011 at 12:14 am
Actually, I’m with Paul. I guarantee you no one from the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship has ever had to stop and think about how their action hurt someone and then write a letter to a lesbian couple. Big step.
And from talking to Fair officials, they believe the action was from one man, not really what the group was there doing. The rest of the booth had no problem removing the one who was violating all sorts of Fair rules.
And it’s Yom Kippur, a day when we accept apology. Crap, now I wish I let them know that it was Jew who made them apologize to the lesbians.
Rachael
on October 8, 2011 at 11:49 am
This is NOT an apology at all. @David, it doesn’t matter if the original intent of the group was to bash gays or not, the man harassing them did so WHILE representing the company, therefore the company themselves are liable for it and they should have issued an actual apology and not just a letter recapping that day’s events. Dondi is my sister and the fact that my seven year old niece was subjected to this is enraging. It’s people like this ignorant man who make Christians look like intolerant, insensitive bigots. That’s not to say that they’re all like that by any means, but he definitely represents what some of them are capable of- which, in this case, is disregarding the emotions and well-being of a child merely to get their close-minded point across.
While I would not give them a complete pass, I agree it is a big step to even make the effort. I feel pretty sure the State Fair put a bit of pressure on them as well.
Tom P
on October 9, 2011 at 9:16 am
If they are sincere in their apology, it will be readily apparent in the actions they take to follow up on this. Did they identify the offender? Did they talk with him? Did they fire him? Will this be allowed to happen again?
The apology is just the first step…if they don’t follow up with actual action to keep this from happening again, such as sensitivity training, etc., then we know that this apology was not sincere.
Eric M.
on October 9, 2011 at 5:45 pm
Where is the apology? I don’t see one.
Myself
on October 9, 2011 at 8:07 pm
Boy…we like licking up bread crumbs don’t we? These guys basically bullied a family which made a little girl cry on HER Fair day. Where is the apology for that? And WTF does Yom Kuppur have to do with anything? It may make it acceptable for you …but this is about HER. If our acceptance level is that low, then why call ourselves a community? This is a crock of PR bullshit. Keep running gay activist out of town and this city will always be begging for bread crumbs and accepting them as fair.
Alex
on October 10, 2011 at 10:31 pm
what a bullshit ”apology”
BDUB77
on October 19, 2011 at 3:12 am
and I quote…. “a verbal conversation”….I think the terms verbally attacked, or verbally assaulted would be better ways to describe it!… and where I come, when you issue an apology you generally say “I/we appologize” or “I/we am/are sorry”…this contains none of those…therefore…no apology…its more of a “oh shit, we fucked up, now we have to cover our ass entirely because of one biggot who can’t keep his mouth shut”
I do not believe this “apology” (if that’s what you can call it) has the least little bit of sincerity about it. It’s a PR ploy to keep the peace and prevent this right wing, bigoted organization from getting expelled from the State Fair. Is this all Mr. Roy Brian has to say after one of their “volunteers” traumatized an innocent child and possibly left this innocent child scarred for life? And just who, exactly, selected and screened these volunteers? I hope this victimized family understands that they have a really good lawsuit in the making, and I hope they decide to pursue it. I want no part of Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship’s idea of “faith and family”. That’s my take, what does everybody else think?
I don’t really see much an apology their either, James. Looks more like an “oops! we’ve been busted” statement to me.
I want to give the group props for making the apology. Sincere or not, some groups wouldn’t even go this far.
Actually, I’m with Paul. I guarantee you no one from the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship has ever had to stop and think about how their action hurt someone and then write a letter to a lesbian couple. Big step.
And from talking to Fair officials, they believe the action was from one man, not really what the group was there doing. The rest of the booth had no problem removing the one who was violating all sorts of Fair rules.
And it’s Yom Kippur, a day when we accept apology. Crap, now I wish I let them know that it was Jew who made them apologize to the lesbians.
This is NOT an apology at all. @David, it doesn’t matter if the original intent of the group was to bash gays or not, the man harassing them did so WHILE representing the company, therefore the company themselves are liable for it and they should have issued an actual apology and not just a letter recapping that day’s events. Dondi is my sister and the fact that my seven year old niece was subjected to this is enraging. It’s people like this ignorant man who make Christians look like intolerant, insensitive bigots. That’s not to say that they’re all like that by any means, but he definitely represents what some of them are capable of- which, in this case, is disregarding the emotions and well-being of a child merely to get their close-minded point across.
To Hell with him.
While I would not give them a complete pass, I agree it is a big step to even make the effort. I feel pretty sure the State Fair put a bit of pressure on them as well.
If they are sincere in their apology, it will be readily apparent in the actions they take to follow up on this. Did they identify the offender? Did they talk with him? Did they fire him? Will this be allowed to happen again?
The apology is just the first step…if they don’t follow up with actual action to keep this from happening again, such as sensitivity training, etc., then we know that this apology was not sincere.
Where is the apology? I don’t see one.
Boy…we like licking up bread crumbs don’t we? These guys basically bullied a family which made a little girl cry on HER Fair day. Where is the apology for that? And WTF does Yom Kuppur have to do with anything? It may make it acceptable for you …but this is about HER. If our acceptance level is that low, then why call ourselves a community? This is a crock of PR bullshit. Keep running gay activist out of town and this city will always be begging for bread crumbs and accepting them as fair.
what a bullshit ”apology”
and I quote…. “a verbal conversation”….I think the terms verbally attacked, or verbally assaulted would be better ways to describe it!… and where I come, when you issue an apology you generally say “I/we appologize” or “I/we am/are sorry”…this contains none of those…therefore…no apology…its more of a “oh shit, we fucked up, now we have to cover our ass entirely because of one biggot who can’t keep his mouth shut”