Florida's Lieutenant Governor, Jennifer Carroll, has issued an apology for an earlier remark she made about women who engage in lesbian relationships. GLAAD reposted a fax from Carroll that was addressed to Equality Florida.
"I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincerest apologies to anyone I may have offended with my recent comment. It is wrong and inexcusable to make a comment that hurts people and that was not my intention. As a Christian, my faith guides me to love and respect all people. The false charges that have been lodged against me are no excuse for what I have said that may have been hurtful to members of your organization and to other Floridians. Please know that I am committed to treating every person with the utmost courtesy, respect and dignity and I hope you will accept my heartfelt apology."
Equality Florida's Director, Nadine Smith, added that she had spoken personally with the Lt. Governor about the matter and credited her for her public apology.
According to the Miami Herald, Carroll had been accused by an ex-aide, Carletha Cole, of being caught in "a compromising position" with another female, Beatriz Ramos.
When questioned by Tampa's WTSP-10 about the allegation on July 14, Lt. Governor Carroll seemed to laugh nervously and defend herself by saying she was married to a man and did not look like lesbians do:
"The problem is, when you have these accusations that come out, it's not just that one person that you're attacking. It's an entire family. My husband, doesn't want to hear that. He knows the type of woman that I am, My kids know the type of woman that I am. For 29 years -- I'm the one that's married for 29 years. The accuser is the one that's single for a long time. So, usually black women that look like me, don't engage in relationships like that."
WTSP-10 reported that the accuser, Cole, had been fired and is currently facing criminal charges for giving a recording of a meeting to a newspaper reporter.
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