Paris Hilton released an apology following media reports about comments she made about gay men. Hilton's comments were made during a conversation with a gay friend when part of the comments were recorded by a New York cab driver, then released through Radar Online earlier today.
She released the following apology to GLAAD:
As anyone close to me knows, I always have been and always will be a huge supporter of the gay community. I am so sorry and so upset that I caused pain to my gay friends, fans and their families with the comments heard this morning. I was having this private conversation with a friend of mine who is gay and our conversation was in no way towards the entire gay community. It is the last thing that I would ever want to do and I cannot put into words how much I wish I could take back every word.
HIV/AIDS can hurt anyone, gay and straight, men and women. It's something I take very seriously and should not have been thrown around in conversation.
Gay people are the strongest and most inspiring people I know. It is so wrong when people bully or put down others for being gay. No one should have to go through that. Again, I am so sorry from the bottom of my heart and I feel absolutely horrible. I hope that everyone can accept my apology and know that it is not who I am or how I feel in any way.
Thank you for taking a minute to read this, I love you.
I want to say how sorry I am. I can't fit the whole apology about the cab recording here, so please read it at @glaad tinyurl.com/9ewgyhc
— Paris Hilton (@ParisHilton) September 21, 2012
Paris is right that HIV/AIDS can affect anyone. Over thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, better education around HIV/AIDS is still needed by much of the public and the media.
We urge everyone to take a look at the history of AIDS activism, the subject of powerful and gripping new documentary, How to Survive a Plague, which opens in select theaters this weekend. You can read our interview with director David France, or find out more on their Facebook page. It's a film that people of every generation should make a point to see.
And if you want to get more information, volunteer with an HIV/AIDS service organization in your community, or learn about other ways you can make a difference, check out these organizations:
GMHC in New York City (Gay Men's Health Crisis)
AIDS Project Los Angeles
San Francisco AIDS Foundation
AIDS Foundation of Chicago
AIDS Foundation Houston
Philadelphia FIGHT
Find HIV/AIDS service organizations in your state (via TheBody.com)
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