Washington Meets with Gay Groups

Zap2It.com | January 23, 2007

Isaiah Washington

GLAAD says it will judge 'Grey's' star by his actions

"Grey's Anatomy" star Isaiah Washington met with leaders of two gay and lesbian organizations in the wake of his public apology for slurring his co-star, T.R. Knight.

Washington sat down with Neil G. Giuliano, president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, and Kevin Jennings, founder of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, on Monday. Statements from the two groups sound at least a little optimistic that they'll be able to work with Washington in the future.

"Isaiah understands that he is going to be judged by more than just his apology," Giuliano says. "He knows that his future actions -- including the genuine first step that today's meeting represents -- will demonstrate his sincerity in becoming part of the solution to anti-gay bigotry."

Adds Jennings: "As a parent himself, Isaiah Washington seemed to particularly appreciate the impact these words have on young people in schools and expressed an interest in becoming an ally in GLSEN's effort to educate young people about the negative impact of name-calling and bullying."

The meeting was prompted by a question in the Golden Globes press room last week about an on-set incident in the fall in which Washington reportedly called Knight a "faggot." At the Globes, he leaned into the microphone and denied having used the slur, setting off a flurry of protest from GLAAD and other gay and lesbian groups and prompting ABC, which airs "Grey's Anatomy," to say it was "greatly dismayed" by the actor's statement.

Washington issued an apology a few days later, saying he could "no longer deny to myself that there are issues I obviously need to examine within my own soul, and I've asked for help."