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Peter Thiel Apologizes for Attacking Diversity, Questioning Rape

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The gay tech entrepreneur and Trump supporter retracts controversial passages in his 1996 book The Diversity Myth.

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Two years before he cofounded PayPal, Peter Thiel shared his conservative beliefs in a book he cowrote with David Sacks titled The Diversity Myth: Multiculturalism and Political Intolerance on Campus. The book included several passages demonizing colleges -- and specifically Thiel and Sacks's alma mater, Stanford University in California -- for efforts at inclusion and allegedly "dumbed down" standards and curricula for minority students. The authors also bizarrely questioned rape victims.

"But since a multicultural rape charge may indicate nothing more than belated regret, a woman might 'realize' that she had been 'raped' the next day or even many days later. Under these circumstances, it is unclear who should be held responsible. If the alcohol made both of them do it, then why should the woman's consent be obviated any more than the man's? Why is all blame placed on the man?"

Thiel and Sacks are now apologizing for parts of the 1996 book, reports the Los Angeles Times.

"More than two decades ago, I co-wrote a book with several insensitive, crudely argued statements," Thiel said. "As I've said before, I wish I'd never written those things. I'm sorry for it. Rape in all forms is a crime. I regret writing passages that have been taken to suggest otherwise."

Thiel's profile has risen considerably this year.. The billionaire admitted this spring to funding a successful lawsuit against Gawker by Hulk Hogan, after the gossip site published a sex tape of the former wrestler. Thiel -- a longtime enemy of parent company Gawker Media, partly because one of its sites outed him years ago -- was responsible for bankrupting Gawker Media, leading to the shutdown of its flagship site, Gawker.

Thiel then came forward as a supporter of presidential candidate Donald Trump, even speaking at the Republican National Convention and proclaiming, "I am proud to be gay." Then, earlier this month, it was reported that Thiel was donating $1.25 million to Trump's campaign.

(RELATED: Peter Thiel Shows Us There's a Difference Between Gay Sex and Gay)

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Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.
Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.