McLaurin Apologizes for “Circus Freak” Comment

I received this from Mark  McLaurin this morning:

“As an advocate and activist with a fifteen year history of working for equality in the LGBT community, I know that words not only matter, but they are powerful.  Last week, I carelessly used a pejorative phrase in an online argument that is insulting and hurtful.  While my intent was not to refer to Transgender people, as a community, that way, I now recognize that what I intended is not important- what matters is how people felt when they read it.   At this time, I want to offer my most profound apology to anyone who subsequently read what I typed, it is not a reflection of the regard I have or the support I’ve given throughout my life to the fight for justice for the Transgender community.  My commitment is to use this episode to fuel my continued work to advance our collective vision of a more socially Just society.  I am hopeful that my apology can begin the process of healing that will let us get back to that fight !”

Marti Abernathey is the founder of the Transadvocate and the previous managing editor. Abernathey has worn many different hats, including that of podcaster, activist, and radiologic technologist. She's been a part of various internet radio ventures such as TSR Live!, The T-Party, and The Radical Trannies, TransFM, and Sodium Pentathol Sunday. As an advocate she's previously been involved with the Indiana Transgender Rights Advocacy Alliance, Rock Indiana Campaign for Equality, and the National Transgender Advocacy Coalition. She's taken vital roles as a grass roots community organizer in The Indianapolis Tax Day Protest (2003), The Indy Pride HRC Protest (2004), Transgender Day of Remembrance (2004), Indiana's Witch Hunt (2005), and the Rally At The Statehouse (the largest ever GLBT protest in Indiana - 3/2005). In 2008 she was a delegate from Indiana to the Democratic National Convention and a member of Barack Obama's LGBT Steering and Policy Committee. Abernathey currently hosts the Youtube Channel "The T-Party with Marti Abernathey."