Guitarist legend Carlos Santana apologizes for suggesting transgenders should stay 'in the closet'

Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana has apologized for comments he made onstage at recent concert in which he suggested there are only two genders and that transgender people should remain "in the closet."

"I am sorry for my insensitive comments," Santos said in a statement to Billboard magazine. "They don’t reflect that I want to honor, and [I] respect all person’s ideals and beliefs."

The term "in the closet" has long been considered a derogatory term related to members of the LGBTQ+ community not revealing their gender preference.

Santana also said he apologizes "to the transgender community and everyone I offended" and that he realizes "what I said hurt people, and that was not my intent. I sincerely apologize."

He said at the concert that humans were created by God and "before we came out of the womb, you know who you are and what you are." 

In addition, Santana said many people "start believing that you could be something that sounds good, but you know it ain’t right, because a woman is a woman and a man is a man. That’s it. ... Whatever you wanna do in the closet, that’s your business." I’m OK with that."