Dr. Ben Carson, a pediatric
neurosurgeon at John Hopkins University and a conservative celebrity,
has stepped down as commencement speaker at the Johns Hopkins School
of Medicine after comments he made during a Fox News interview drew a
loud outcry from students and faculty.
According to The
Baltimore Sun, Carson withdrew from the event in a letter he
sent to medical school Dean Paul Rothman.
“Given all the national media
surrounding my statements as to my belief in traditional marriage, I
believe it would be in the best interest of the students for me to
voluntarily withdraw as your commencement speaker this year,”
Carson wrote.
In the past weeks, Carson has walked
back and apologized for comments he made during an appearance on
Hannity.
“My thoughts are that marriage is
between a man and a woman,” he said. “It's a well-established,
fundamental pillar of society, and no group, be the gays, be they
NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality – it doesn't
matter what they are – they don't get to change the definition,”
Carson said, referring to the North American Man Boy/Love
Association, a group which is thought to no longer exist.
Last week, he apologized to John
Hopkins University for his “poorly chosen words.”
“I am sorry for any embarrassment
this has caused,” Carson
said. “But what really saddens me is that my poorly chosen
words caused pain for some members of our community and for that I
offer a most sincere and heartfelt apology.”
“Although I do believe marriage is
between a man and a woman, there are much less offensive ways to make
that point.”