I'm gay, and absolutely horrified by what she supposedly said, but suggesting physical violence against someone is worse in my eyes.

Then lets turn that around, why can't you treat her opinions with respect regardless of how they affect you? That sounds like human decency too.

Clearly there is a reason for it; religion, upbringing, experiences I don't know. You can't just tell someone "its wrong to be homophobic" and expect them to suddenly become accepting. It also isn't necessarily someones fault if they are homophobic. You can't just condemn her for having a view you strongly disagree with and think she is a bad person for it, otherwise there is a hint of double standards especially as she is harming noone.

Well none of you appear to have managed it so far. Get a move on.

You set up the meeting and I'll be happy to.

Oh sure, get the gay guy to be the secretary *huffs*

Anyway I'm too busy assembling a straight task force to go explain to the Pope that the gays didn't done the credit crunch. Get some other homo to do it.

Firstly, I don't have respect for people who discriminate against others on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, race or disability. If that makes me intolerant of the intolerant, then so be it.

Secondly, Mona's actions are harming someone - her son - because he'll grow up to be as closed minded and bigoted as she is.

Let's face it-Mona's a homophobic eejit.

LOL.


Actually I was asking you to do it as a respected member of the Apprentice blogging community rather than on the basis of sexual orientation.

Hi guys,

A number of off-topic posts have been removed from this thread. Please keep the discussions constructive...

Thanks!

You're just being deterministic, he might have other factors in his life which will make him see things differently.

Its not about having lack of respect, its about telling these people that they shouldn't have these views and educate them as to why, not just "you're homophobic, you're a bad person". That in itself is discrimination. People automatically think these people think that way by their own choice.

What if her sons gay

Then shes got a problem..hell meet one every day looking in the mirror for a start

With regards to it being to do with her religion/upbringing i dont really see that as an excuse tbh...she has moved to/was born in a country where gay is acceptable/normal so needs to keep those kind of views to herself.
As do people with racist/sexist views...not saying people arent alowed to feel like it...though imo they are wrong to-just keep it to yourself

In this year's Apprentice so far (based on what's actually been broadcast, rather than talked about elsewhere), has it been stated that Howard is gay, or is it just from assumption and then these press reports coming out?

I don't remember the show flagging Howard as being gay (but could've missed it of course)... so far, he just seems to be trying to stay under the radar, and avoid making any impression at all (but still more noticeable than Noorul of course)... but there are others doing the same.

As for Mona's comments - there's been a lot of judging her, without any of us actually having seen the incident, like a Daily Mail-style witch hunt!

For all we know, there may have been a reason she said that (if she did)... for example, that she would like to talk to her son first, and explain the differences in orientation, so he understands that all people are equal whatever their inclinations and beliefs - rather than picking up half-truths or lies in the playground?

Of course, she could be a raving homophobe who hates all non-straight people for all we know... or just not be very bright, to make such un-PC comments in this ultra-PC country.

She should've just told Howard the truth, that she didn't want her son to meet him, as he's as dull as dishwater, and is a waste of space on the show, and nothing to do with sexuality at all...

She will surely be fired soon enough anyway, after an appalling display in the last task, and so far not seeming to be very good at anything...

Yup, there's no better way to stay under the radar than to Project Manage the first task.


She wants her son to avoid gays so she can tell him the truth about them before he picks up lies in the playground? That makes about as much sense as Mona's pitch for Pants Man. Why not meet a gay to learn the actual truth about them? Or explain to her son the truth about gays without the unncessary "avoiding gay people" part?

Why would he have to meet a gay man to learn the 'truth about them' (and what do you mean by 'truth about them'? - that they're just normal people like straight people, no better and no worse - or is there something else he needs to be told at 6?).

Why could she not tell her son that all are equal - or are you saying a straight person is not capable of telling 'the truth about gays'?

Just wait and see what was actually said and in what context first - the article was quick to tell us about Howard's problems with homophobic bullying as he grew up - did the insider check with her or her friends/family to see if there's something in her past that may have coloured her judgement of gay men (rightly or wrongly), or were they in such a rush to smear someone's chances of winning they didn't bother to look into it?

It's too easy to just jump on a very shaky article from a tabloid and join in the knee jerk reaction, that's all.

If this is broadcast or followed up officially, then she will get what's coming to her, if she's found to have made clearly homophobic remarks, and her future prospects will be harmed by it - you only have to see the anti-racist backlash against Goody and the others on BB. With the amount of publicity already generated, they won't be able to just sweep it under the carpet.

'Why not meet a gay to learn the actual truth about them?'

Does a six year old need to know? As a parent it's her perogative as to whether she wants to expose him to issues like sex (orientation included) or not. I don't know in what respect she meant it , because I haven't seen the episode but I myself would not see the need to explain what 'gay' is to a six year old. I don't know if I'm giving the woman too much credit here, but I'm sure she's aware her son will come across gay people at some point, perhaps she'd rather he was older before becoming aware in that sense.

I'm not saying he'd HAVE to meet a gay guy to know the truth about gay people, or that straight people aren't capable of explaining equality. But the best way to learn what gay people are like (just like any other type of people) is to meet them and interact with them. Her saying that she doesn't want her child to meet a gay person is kind of at odds with a presumption that she wants her child to have a balanced truthful view of them.

What I'm saying is that there's no logic behind your assumption - how does keeping her son away from gay people allow her to explain them better?


And damn right a 6 year old child needs to know about gays if the topic arises naturally. To the extent that they need to know that there are same-sex couples just as there are opposite sex couples. No need to go into the mechanics, but to say otherwise is to say that gay people should pretend they don't exist just so you don't have to explain something very simple to your child, and that's plain insulting. I mean, how do you think the gay parents of adopted children do it? Do you think one of them hides in the attic until the child is 9 and ready to "understand"?

Obviously this is on the presumption that she says what the article is saying she says. But if she does, I can't think of any conceivable context in which it is not offensive.

It seems a lot of people want to be dramatic for the sake of it. Just because someone doesn't want to explain something to their child doesn't mean they're trying to 'pretend it doesn't exist' or that something is wrong. Indeed there is nothing wrong with sex but alas society decides not to explain it to children until a certain age. Some parents aren't happy to have their children learn religious education until they're in high school. That's just the way it is. People can delude themselves and get high and mighty if they wish but the truth of the matter is, people are not equally comfortable with certain things and homosexuality happens to be one of them. Everyone has their different belief systems and values.
As I said before, I don't see a need to explain 'gay' to a six year old. A child doesn't need to know someone is gay anymore than they need to know any other aspect of an adult's private life. Being gay doesn't define someone surely...

I hate the way people who are anti-gay seem to be obsessed with gay sex.

Why does anyone think that meeting a gay man will involve explaining sexuality to a small child? Why can't you just say "Some men love other men and some women love other women."

That's not the kind of thing a six year old thinks is a big deal. Unless their PARENTS make it a big deal.

Seriously, I remember being utterly astonished as a little kid to learn that people could be brown and black! I learned it out of a picture in a book and I went rushing to show my mum and share this exciting news with her. Should I have somehow been "protected" from this information till my mum could explain to me that it was OK to have a different skin colour? It hadn't occurred to me that it wasn't OK. I just thought it was amazing and interesting.

Anyone who can't stand it when their children are exposed to the diversity of human beings has got a huge honking problem. And they are going to pass their problem on to their children.

I have a six year old whose best friend has two Aunties. He accepts that and just thinks they love each other like Mummy and Daddy do. I think kids do just accept things and if they have questions you answer them as best you can. I do it when things come up and I intend to let him grow up thinking being gay is as acceptable as being straight. He's met a gay man and finds him hilarious. If he asks me anything else I'll find a way to explain. I would never dream of keeping him away from anyone gay which is why I find Mona's views hard to understand. The only reason I can find for the bigotted comment is a religious one. Some religions are very anti-homosexual and teach that view. No excuse of course but a possible reason.

That is no excuse imo either. If you choose to live in this society where we accept different sexuality/religion/race, then you keep those views to yourself...i personally dont agree with some peoples relgious choices, i wouldnt dream of saying that to them...its their choice and as long as it doesnt affect me, who am i to judge?

And I totally agree, i know there are alot of homosecual people posting regarding this, i want to give my view as a straight mother of 2..someone on the previous thread that was closed said ýou go to any school gate and mothers will agree´. I think that is utter crap...i personally dont know anyone with that attitude....most people will agree that it makes not an ounce of difference who someone chooses to be with.

I know i have been quite quick to judge on this..all im saying is if she did say it in the contex its written then its wrong....and i cant really see it being taken in any other context tbh, but we shall see

What ****ing year is it? Some of the "opinions" in this thread are scary.

People do like to get themselves worked up - one way or another.

To be fair I made that comment thinking mostly of that last thread about this - THAT was frightening. This one's a bit nicer.

Progress?

Actually, I wasn't meaning you. I was thinking of some of the scary comments made on both sides (some of which have been removed).

So I was really agreeing with you.

There may have been progress but some of the worst comments are no longer here.

Ys, fortunately they just removed the comments before this went the same way the other thread did