Ben Carson Apologizes For Anti-Gay Remarks After Rebuke From Hopkins Dean

Dr. Ben Carson receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George W. Bush in 2008
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Dr. Ben Carson offered a detailed apology on Friday for making anti-gay remarks in a Fox News appearance. The statement came just minutes after the Dean of Johns Hopkins University’s medical faculty publicly rebuked him over the incident.

Carson, the longtime director of pediatric neurosurgery at JHU, had previously offered up a “sorry — if you were offended” style non-apology for his interview with Sean Hannity. In that appearance, Carson said that opposite-sex marriage was “a well-established, fundamental pillar of society and no group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality — it doesn’t matter what they are. They don’t get to change the definition.” He later went on to blame the resulting controversy in part on “racist” white liberals who wanted to keep him on a “plantation.”

But his new statement to the Hopkins community, obtained by New York Magazine, abandoned the defensive posture in favor of an out-and-out apology.

“I am sorry for any embarrassment this has caused,” Carson wrote. “But what really saddens me is that my poorly chosen words caused pain for some members of our community and for that I offer a most sincere and heartfelt apology. Hurting others is diametrically opposed to who I am and what I believe.”

He added that while he does “believe marriage is between a man and a woman, there are much less offensive ways to make that point.”

At nearly the same time Carson’s statement went out, Dr. Paul Rothman, dean of the medical faculty at Johns Hopkins University and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine, e-mailed staff to condemn Carons’s Hannity appearance.

“Controversial social issues are debated in the media on a regular basis, and yet it is rare that leaders of an academic medical center will join that type of public debate,” he wrote. “However, we recognize that tension now exists in our community because hurtful, offensive language was used by our colleague, Dr. Ben Carson, when conveying a personal opinion. Dr. Carson’s comments are inconsistent with the culture of our institution.”

Medical students have been circulating a petition to remove Carson, who is retiring from the school this year, as their commencement speaker in response to his recent behavior. Rothamn did not address this request directly, but said in his letter that he “will be meeting with graduating students on Monday” to game out the school’s response to Carson’s remarks. Carson, for his part, has suggested he will step down as graduation speaker if he becomes convinced students are opposed to this appearance.

Here’s Rothman’s full letter:

Controversial social issues are debated in the media on a regular basis, and yet it is rare that leaders of an academic medical center will join that type of public debate. However, we recognize that tension now exists in our community because hurtful, offensive language was used by our colleague, Dr. Ben Carson, when conveying a personal opinion. Dr. Carson’s comments are inconsistent with the culture of our institution.

Johns Hopkins Medicine embraces diversity and believes that the same civil rights should be available to all regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. For example, the Johns Hopkins University has provided benefits for same-sex domestic partners since 1999 and has long maintained a policy against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Dr. Carson is well known for his accomplishments as a neurosurgeon and for his contributions to the Baltimore community. While his recent comments are inconsistent with our core values, Dr. Carson has the right to participate in public debates and media interviews and express his personal opinions on political, social and religious issues. We strongly value freedom of expression and affirm Dr. Carson’s right, as a private citizen, to state his personal views.

We have been carefully listening to the varied opinions expressed by members of our community in response to Dr. Carson’s comments. It is clear that the fundamental principle of freedom of expression has been placed in conflict with our core values of diversity, inclusion and respect. We are trying to thoughtfully work through these issues, and as part of that process, we will be meeting with graduating students on Monday.

Those who work and study here, and the patients we serve, create a rich tapestry of people from all races, religions and backgrounds. Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and freedom of expression is at the heart of our standing as a world leader in medical care, research and education.

Sincerely,

Paul B. Rothman, M.D.

Dean of the Medical Faculty
CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

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