'Tracy Morgan to return to Nashville to apologize for anti-gay rant' by Alan Duke, CNN

Tracy Morgan will deliver a face-to-face apology in Nashville to those who were offended by his recent anti-gay rant.

(CNN) -- Comic Tracy Morgan returns to Nashville on Tuesday to apologize to those he offended when he went on an anti-gay rant during a stand-up comedy routine.

Morgan will be in the city with members of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) to deliver a face-to-face apology to people who were in the Ryman Auditorium and to work with the Tennessee Equality Project, GLAAD said.

"By not only apologizing, but sending a message of support for gay and transgender people, Tracy will help many realize that no one should be treated differently or subjected to violence," GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios said.

Morgan is a star of the hit NBC sitcom "30 Rock" and a "Saturday Night Live" veteran.

Details of Morgan's anti-gay remarks, delivered during a June 3 show, emerged after an audience member posted them on a Facebook blog, which was picked up by Jezebel magazine.

"He mentioned that gay was something kids learn from the media and programming, and that bullied kids should just bust some ass and beat those other little f**kers that bully them, not whine about it," Kevin Rogers wrote in the blog post.

Morgan said that if his own son told him he was gay, he would "pull out a knife and stab" him, Rogers wrote.
"The sad thing is that none of this rant was a joke," Rogers wrote. "His entire demeanor changed during that portion of the night. He was truly filled with some hate towards us."

Morgan later apologized in writing and followed up with a phone call last week to the president and staff of GLAAD.

Tracy Morgan apologizes for remarks

Tracy Morgan meets with LGBT teens

"I know how bad bullying can hurt," Morgan told GLAAD. "I was bullied when I was a kid. I'm sorry for what I said. I didn't mean it. I never want to use my comedy to hurt anyone."

Morgan said his family "knew what it was like to feel different."

"My brother was disabled, and I lost my father to AIDS in 1987," he said. "My Dad wasn't gay, but I also learned about homophobia then because of how people treated people who were sick with that."

"Parents should support and love their kids no matter what," Morgan said. "Gay people deserve the same right to be happy in this country as everyone else. Our laws should support that. I hope that my fans -- gay, straight, whatever -- forgive and I hope my family forgives me for this."

On Friday, Morgan visited homeless gay, lesbian and transgender teens in New York. He has also agreed to record a public service announcement for GLAAD's upcoming "Amplify Your Voice" campaign, the group said.

CNN