Washington Meets With Gay Activists
Yesterday, Isaiah Washington met up with gay rights activists in an attempt to make up for the homophobic slurs that put the star under fire again.
Washington met up with the Gay and Lesbian and Straight Educational Network and plans to be working with the organization in a continuous basis.
Washington, who stepped away from filming for the hour-long meeting, said he is interested in pursuing various options, such as public-service announcements, according to Jennings. No firm agreements were reached, the GLSEN director said.
“I think this is a very good first step toward him showing he really wants to do something. We take him at his word,” Jennings said.
Is this a case of forgive but not forget? Or is this water under the bridge for some of you?
I don’t know, I guess we’ll see what comes of this. I think that if someone wants to work toward no longer being homophobic, it’s a good thing.
Though it doesn’t mean you can forget the hurtful things he’s said.
Still not really sure what GLAAD’s position is on this. Anyone know?
Via | CNN
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POSTED IN: Isaiah Washington, News
8 opinions for Washington Meets With Gay Activists
JCW
Jan 23, 2007 at 11:23 am
I have read that GLAADs position on this is that they believe he is sincere
in his desire to make amends.
As I commented in an earlier post, I suspect we’ll be hearing no more about this from ABC, the cast has probably been instructed (again) to try and avoid public discussion, and it’s hoped by all that this will now go away.
Like many Grey’s fans, I’m certainly willing to “get over it” if Washington
is sincere and follows through with his promises to educate himself about homophobia and try to educate others.
There’s just the nagging question of sincerity following the way he went back on his previous apology at the GGs.
Also, I still find it disturbing that Shonda Rhimes in her capacity of creator/producer never once felt the need to speak up and state management’s disapproval of the incident.
However, if Washington, the cast and crew, and the general public have really learned a little bit about the dangers of bigotry in the workplace from all this, then at least it may turn out to have done a little good.
Now let’s hope that this never happens again - for everyone’s sake.
Lisa Burke
Jan 23, 2007 at 2:23 pm
If Mr. Washington can speak of another being a “faggot”, then it only proves one thing….that he’s truly a “nigga”!
What an idiot! He truely is responsible for blackballing himself in Hollywood! I hope he gets fired. Too many of these actors think just because they get paid big money that they can shoot off at the mouth with no consequences. Puleeze! My 5 year old would be punished at school for saying such a thing, so why shouldn’t Mr. Washington? Doesn’t he realize that Hollywood is run mostly by Gays & Jews? Maybe him, Michael Richardson and Rosie O’Donnell should star in a series and have it directed by Mel Gibson! They could call it “Big Mouth Biggots in Hollywood”!
E. Doss
Jan 24, 2007 at 8:23 am
A drowning man will reach for anything available to save himself. We are now being asked to give this black bigot a third chance. I used the phrase “black bigot” for effect. That is what he is and no doubt seeing the phrase, with all of the venom that I feel for him will do more than just trouble him until the public stops calling for his head. Bigotry, out of the mouth of any person hurts. I am an African American Mr. Washington, and that does not change the fact that you are a black bigot. I feel about you the way I would feel about any low life name caller.
Sick of all this. . .
Jan 24, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Name calling is never acceptable. But, I am sick and tired of society making ‘unacceptable behavior’ (like homosexuality), acceptable. What you do behind closed doors is YOUR business. I don’t have to acknowledge or accept YOUR sexual preference CHOICE. You don’t see me on tv or in the streets flaunting that I am heterosexual, waving flags and fighting for a ‘right’ that is not right! If that makes me a biggot, then so be it! Homosexuality is wrong, you know it, THEY know it and they know that they will have to answer to God for their CHOICE of behavior. Mr. Washington, I stand beside you 100%. If people do not stand up for what we believe, then we will fall for anything. And I know you have all heard this before - God made Adam and Eve - not Adam and Steve.
BeeDee
Jan 24, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Let me remind you of the petition to have this creep fired:
http://www.petitiononline.com/at343sh7/petition.html
I didn’t sign it before, but I have now.
jen
Jan 25, 2007 at 6:22 am
Well if T.R. Knight is homosexual, then what is he going to do, sue everybody that calls him a bleep? Guess what, it comes with the territory. Oh that’s right gay’s deserve respect and bleep is such a disrespectful label. Let’s see what it means, it means “Your GAY!!!!” No, a real disrespectful word is the “N” word used by Kramer on Seinfield. That means “ignorant” and is an insult and deserves way more attention and termination of his contract. But as soon as a black man says something that is not even a racial comment, he is scolded and hunted down by the media and gay activist groups with the noose ready for hanging! What about next month when gays decide they don’t like being called “gay”, are people going to be sued and defamed for using the word gay. bleep means “a male homosexual.” Now the “N” word on the other hand “a word expressive of racial hatred and bigotry.” This is how I stand, no matter what word is used for a homosexual, people are still going to feel however they feel about gay relationships. Whether they are for or against it the word bleep should not lead to anyone’s termination unless specifically specified on Washington’s contract. Who is to determine if bleep is slander or even degrading. Hey, I am a black female. I don’t like being called African American, why can’t I just be American. Can I sue the government for giving me a label that I don’t like??????????
Dana
Jan 26, 2007 at 11:19 am
Actually, the word Washington used is a very derogatory term. They used to burn homosexuals, just like witches. The bundles of wood that were used to burn these “heretics” were called faggots. Calling a homosexual by this term is no better than saying “Burn Him!”. It is important to ban all words of this type, and to remember that black people are not the only group of people that have historically been discriminated against. Noone is downplaying what Michael Richards said by dissaproving of what Washington said. Why should it be outside of a homosexual’s right to ask not to be called by such a horribly derogatory term?
Dana
Jan 26, 2007 at 11:27 am
To be technical, the word faggot refers to the bundles of wood that were used to burn heretics, such as witches and homosexuals. Homosexuals were once hunted and murdered, and the word faggot is a very sharp and horrible reminder of that. By using this word, you are basically condoning the practice of burning homosexuals. It is possible to disapprove of what Michael Richards said as well as of what Washington said. It is important to remember that there are many groups of people who have been discriminated against in history, and true equality will never be reached until all forms of discrimination are stopped, not just the most publicly advertised kinds.
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