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There's a huge problem with Kevin Spacey's statement in response to the allegation that he made sexual advances toward a 14-year-old boy.
SEE ALSO:Rose McGowan leads backlash against Kevin Spacey amid allegations of sexual misconductStar Trek actor Anthony Rapp alleged in a BuzzFeed News report that, in 1986, Spacey—then aged 26—"placed him [Rapp] on his bed, climbed on top of him" and made a sexual advance."
Spacey subsequently released a statement, stating he does "not remember the encounter" as it was "over 30 years ago." He then describes his sexual misconduct as "deeply inappropriate drunken behaviour." But, then in a second paragraph, Spacey came out as gay. "I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man," he wrote.
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But, Spacey's decision to come out in a statement which primarily addresses allegations of sexual misconduct toward a minor is hugely problematic.
Members of the LGBTQ community have spoken out in response to the statement, which many feel conflates being gay with preying upon a minor, reinforcing a stigma that has long plagued the gay community.
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LGBTQ activist Ashlee Marie Preston told MashableSpacey's statement is problematic because he used "his sexual orientation as a get out of jail free card." "He tracked his dirt back into the LGBTQ community, which is now reinforcing the stigma that gay men are predators," says Preston.
These sentiments were echoed by Vanity Fairfilm critic Richard Lawson, who shared his thoughts in a stream of tweets. "Coming out as a gay man is not the same thing as coming out as someone who preyed on a 14-year-old," Lawson tweeted. "Conflating those things is disgusting."
Lawson added that in conflating coming out as gay with sexual misconduct "exposes the gay community to a million tired old criticisms and conspiracies."
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"The distance we've had to walk to get away from the notion that we're all pedophiles is significant," Lawson continued. He added that "a famous person" deflecting these allegations with his coming out is "so cruel to his supposed new community."
But, there's another problem with Spacey's assertions about being under the influence of alcohol, in addition to the three decades that have passed since the misconduct. Preston says Spacey did not take "full responsibility" for his actions and "weaved in alcohol and the length of time that passed to diminish" the seriousness of his actions toward a minor.
Stating "he was just drunk" in response to a man sexually advancing a 14 year old is exactly the same as excusing Trump's behaviour as "locker room talk," or Weinstein's excuse that "the 60's made (him) do it." It's not ok.
Mike Buonaiuto—activist and executive director of social change org Shape History—told Mashable thatSpacey putting his actions down to drunken behaviour is "exactly the same as excusing Trump's behaviour as 'locker room talk.'"
But, there's another highly problematic dimension to the mention of alcohol in this statement; one which only serves to fuel this aforementioned stigma which the LGBTQ community has worked tirelessly to shake off.
As journalist Ira Madison points out in his Daily Beast analysis of Spacey's statement, his description of his sexual misconduct as the result of intoxication "implies that when most gay men get drunk, it's second nature for them to prey on a 14-year-old boy."
"It calls to mind hateful rhetoric like Anita Bryant’s 1977 Save Our Children campaign, which sought to associate gay men and child predators," wrote Madison. Bryant's campaign made an explicit, direct connection between gay men and child molestation.
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Buonaiuto says that Spacey will be "protected by the same language which protects all predators" if we don't "amplify" Anthony Rapp's voice and others like him. "We need to make sure this social movement is louder than those excusing this deplorable behaviour," he says.
Spacey's coming out should not be related or associated with his alleged sexual misconduct. Right now, our focus should be on Rapp's story, not Spacey's coming out. Now is not a time for smokescreens or excuses.
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