Southwest Pilot James Fritzen Taylor Apologizes For Gay-Bashing Rant

Southwest Pilot Apologizes For Profane Anti-Gay Rant

The Southwest Airlines pilot whose profane and offensive anti-gay rant was broadcast over cockpit radio, then shared around the world, has issued written apologies to his fellow employees.

James Fritzen Taylor identified himself as the speaker on the tape, and sent a letter to the employees of the airlines accepting responsibility for the "derogatory" and "truly insensitive" comments.

He asks forgiveness especially from Houston-based flight crews -- on the tape, he described Houston as "easily one of the ugliest bases."

No special apology, however, to the Chicago-based crew, which he infamously described as a "continuous stream of gays and grannies and grandes" and "eleven f***ing over-the-top, f***ing a**-f***ing homosexuals."

According to the Dallas Voice, Taylor is married, and lives with his wife in the Dallas suburb of Argyle, Texas. No one answered the door at his home, Houston's NBC affiliate KPRC reported, and so far there's been no word from his wife about the rant, which focuses on the lack of suitable women to "bang."

Read the letter Taylor sent to his co-workers:

To All Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants and all Employees:

Because of the impact of my comments, I wanted to communicate with you directly. Please accept my most sincere apology for the inappropriate and disrespectful remarks I made in March with an open microphone. I deeply regret the derogatory remarks I made and the hurt I have caused — I take full responsibility for those comments. It was truly insensitive of me and I would like all of you to know that from now on, I will show nothing but the utmost respect during my interactions with all employees. In addition, I would like to extend a special apology to all Flight Attendants, and especially those of Houston. I hope you will allow me to maintain a working relationship with all of you that will provide me the opportunity to extend an individual, personal apology to each one of you whenever we fly together. Please know that this event has forever changed me and I hope that others can learn from my mistake. I have learned a much-needed lesson to be more sensitive of others and I hope you will see me as a more tolerant and considerate person. I am proud to be employed by Southwest Airlines and I am committed to representing our Company, and its employees in the most professional way possible.

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