This week, 58-year-old actor Kevin Spacey, one of the most successful actors in Hollywood, announced: “I choose now to live as a gay man.”

If only that were all.

But it is the context of his statement that has enraged members of the LGBTQI community, aware that theHouse of Cardsactor just used the world stage to perpetuate an unhelpful – and ultimately untrue – myth about a bogus correlation between homosexuality and paedophilia.

Some argue that Spacey used his homosexuality to intentionally detract from the real story at hand: the alleged sexual advances he made towards a 14-year-old boy, 30 years ago.

“Coming out stories should not be used to deflect from allegations of sexual assault,” Sarah Kate Ellis, the president of GLAAD said.

“This is not a coming-out story about Kevin Spacey, but a story of survivorship by Anthony Rapp and all those who bravely speak out against unwanted sexual advances. The media and public should not gloss over that.”

Comedian and actor Billy Eichner tweeted, “Kevin Spacey has just invented something that has never existed before: a bad time to come out.” >

Here are some of the most poignant tweets being written and shared by members of the LGBTQI community:

Nope to Kevin Spacey’s statement. Nope. There’s no amount of drunk or closeted that excuses or explains away assaulting a 14-year-old child.

— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) October 30, 2017

“I’m sorry, Mr. Spacey, but your application to join the gay community at this time has been denied.”

— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) October 30, 2017

Gay men like to be with adult men who also like men. Gay men do not abuse children, predators do. Gay men are not predators. Fuck Spacey.

— Kristin Clifford (@kristincliff) October 30, 2017

Disgusted by Kevin Spacey throwing gay people under the bus to distract from his paedophilla. We’ve worked for years to shatter that myth.

— Louis Staples (@LouisStaples) October 30, 2017

I’m not interested in Kevin Spacey being gay. I’m curious as to why we’re conflating sexuality w/ the molestation of a minor. Stay on topic

— Ashlee Marie Preston (@AshleeMPreston) October 30, 2017

I’ve been very very gay and very very drunk many many many times but never hit on a child so Kevin Spacey needs a better apology.

— Faith Choyce (@faithchoyce) October 30, 2017

The classiest way to come out of the closet is as a PR smokescreen to distract people from the fact that you tried to molest a child.

— Guy Branum (@guybranum) October 30, 2017

It took 58 years for Kevin Spacey to cash in his gay out of jail free card.

— Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) October 30, 2017

Can’t believe I’m saying this in 2017 but here it goes:

Being gay is not an excuse for trying to molest children. pic.twitter.com/5mA4o0r7xm

— Travon Free (@Travon) October 30, 2017

Kevin Spacey sexually assaulting a minor has nothing to do with homosexuality. Also, someone should explain this to #KevinSpacey.

— Aimee Carrero Rock (@aimeecarrero) October 30, 2017

Kevin Spacey really tried to throw the entire LGBT community under a bus and call it solidarity in an effort to mask his personal failings.

— deray mckesson (@deray) October 30, 2017

F*** Kevin Spacey for further endangering my Lgbtq community by intentionally linking his homosexuality and coming out to his pedophilia.

— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) October 30, 2017

pic.twitter.com/pg2PLnHpXt

— Zachary Quinto (@ZacharyQuinto) October 30, 2017