One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Brett Ratner Gets Ally Award from GLAAD After Making Nice
Brett Ratner (Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com)
In 2011, Brett Ratner stirred up a shitstorm by using the word "fag" at a Q&A for his then-newly released film, "The Heist," and subsequently dropped out of producing the Oscars because of the outrage he caused. Well, since then, Ratner has been cleaning up his image with the LGBT community and according to The Hollywood Reporter, he accepted an Ally Award from GLAAD on Saturday night.
The entertainment site reports that Ratner's message was clear: People were pissed at him after he used the word in question, but the shit he took is nothing compared to what some LGBT kids get growing up and trying to find acceptance:
"Being insulted for using the word cannot compare to the experience of any young gay man or woman who has been the target of offensive slurs or derogatory comments."
Ratner described the kind of name-calling that went down after he dropped the f-bomb, including being called "Homophobe. Bigot. Gay-basher. Ignorant frat boy," and, in a counterproductive moment, "Fat, Jewish pig."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
