A spokesperson for Johns Hopkins University told TPM the school stands by its choice to invite him as commencement speaker for its medical school’s May graduation. Some students are circulating a petition to replace him after Carson compared gay marriage to pedophilia and bestiality in an interview with Fox News.
“Dr. Carson is a distinguished Johns Hopkins surgeon and scientist chosen to speak at the School of Medicine diploma ceremony because of his extraordinary accomplishments as a neurosurgeon and his many contributions as an advocate for education and children,” Kim Hoppe, director of communications for the JHU School of Medicine, said in an e-mail. “His personal views are just that, his own. When he speaks about them, he is not speaking on behalf of Johns Hopkins.”
Carson, who is retiring this year from his position as director of pediatric neurosurgery at JHU, did not back down from his remarks about homosexuality on Friday, but told the Baltimore Sun he was sorry “if I offended anyone” with his choice of words. He told MSNBC that he is considering stepping down from his commencement role in light of student complaints.
