Justin Thomas’ apology for using ‘inexcusable’ homophobic slur isn’t enough

Atrocious.

Justin Thomas, the No. 3 golfer in the world, apologized for saying an anti-gay slur at a PGA Tour tournament in Hawaii on Saturday.

Thomas said the homophobic slur after missing a par putt during the third round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions. With total silence on the course, TV broadcast microphones clearly picked up what Thomas said for viewers to hear at home.

“There’s just no excuse. I’m an adult, I’m a grown man,” Thomas told the Golf Channel after his round. “There’s absolutely no reason for me to say anything like that. It’s terrible. I’m extremely embarrassed. It’s not who I am. It’s not the kind of person that I am. But it’s … unfortunately, I did it and I have to own up to it and I’m very apologetic.

“Like I said, it’s in excusable. I’m speechless. … It’s bad. There’s no other way to put it. I need to do better. I need to be better. It’s definitely a learning experience. I deeply apologize to anyone and everybody who I offended and I’ll be better because of it.”

Here’s the moment. A reminder: the video includes the slur.

I’m willing to sound like a parent when I ask: What is that word doing in Thomas’ vocabulary? It’s 2021. It’s one thing to let a four-letter swear word slip in frustration. It’s another thing entirely to utter a anti-gay slur as an expression of frustration.

It’s not just a word. It’s no mystery why we didn’t see the first openly gay golfer in the PGA until 2018. It’s no mystery why the gay community is underrepresented in sports. Using that slur is inexplicable, atrocious and sickening.

It seems trivial to remind everyone, but in the last 12 months, we’ve seen a sports broadcaster (rightfully) resign from his job for using that word. We saw Kobe Bryant get an $100,000 fine for using that word in 2011. There’s recourse for homophobic speech. But way more important than looking at the punishments, we should acknowledge how a word can impact the community it marginalizes. The LGBTQ+ community consumes golf and plays golf. There are surely young golfers — whether they are LGBTQ+ or not — who idolize Thomas. Thomas’ word further alienates the LGBTQ+ community from the sport. It emboldens young people in the golf community to use the word to deepen that alienation and denigration. There’s a fallout that will be bigger than a fine (or whatever punishment the PGA doles out).

It’s nice that Thomas apologized. That was the correct first step. It’s fine that the PGA Tour piggybacked Thomas’ apology, even if the statement felt enormously insufficient. (“As he expressed after his round, we agree that Justin’s comment was unacceptable,” the PGA Tour said.)

But now it’s time for Thomas to take action and perform outreach to bring increased inclusivity to golf, a sport that already has a reputation for being exclusive, both financially and culturally. To truly make amends, Thomas needs to take action. An apology isn’t enough.

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