Dustin Lance Black: “I apologize and cannot emphasize enough the importance of responsible sexual practices”

Dustin Lance Black, the Oscar winning screenwriter of Milk and a leading voice for LGBT equality, has responded to photographs that surfaced online Friday of him having what appears to be unprotected sex with a man he was dating three years ago.

“It is unfortunate that individuals and other outside parties are trying to profit from material which is clearly private,” Black said in the statement released E!Online’s Marc Malkin. “I have had the privilege to speak to people across the country, both gay and straight, on a number of critical issues including safe sex. More important than the embarrassment of this incident is the misleading message these images send. I apologize and cannot emphasize enough the importance of responsible sexual practices.”

Marc writes that Lance’s attorneys are trying to halt distribution of the explicit photos which leave absolutely nothing to the imagination.”