The public service announcement from Isaiah Washington regarding the tolerance and acceptance of homosexuals will air tonight during repeats of Grey's Anatomy, the Orlando Sentinel reports.
Here's a quote from the ad Washington recorded on behalf of gay rights groups, which will run during the two-part "Six Days" this evening:
"Words have power. The power to express love, happiness and joy. They also have the power to heal. When you use words that demean a person because of their sexual orientation, race or gender, you send a message of hate. A very powerful message. But we all have the power to demand better from one another and from ourselves. We have the power to heal and change the world by the words we use."
Washington has gone to great lengths to make amends since coming under scrutiny for two incidents in which he referred to his gay co-star, T.R. Knight, by a derogatory slur.
While more people surely would have gotten to hear this positive message during last week's season finale, it's still appropriate for it to air during an episode of Grey's Anatomy and we're pleased that it is.
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14 Comments
May 24th, 2007 11:04 AM
As a gay man I'm pissed the GLAAD and other gay groups would stoop so low to use Washington in a PSA. I don't believe for one minute that he has changed. It irritates me immeasurably and I think it's a giant step backwards for gay men and women. It just keeps the hatred alive. And I'll be the first to nominate Washington for an emmy for his performance on the PSA. What an actor!
May 24th, 2007 12:23 PM
Hey give the man a break PLEASE! Nobody is above mistake, and he is trying to make amends, what more do you want him to do?
May 24th, 2007 12:55 PM
My point was that GLAAD and other groups should not be using him in their PSAs. The decision to really just causes me to question the integrity of GLAAD. Honestly, I don't really care what Washington believes. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and the right to free speech. I will keep watching Grey's because I love the show. HOWEVER, the letters of GLAAD stand for Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. Choosing to create and air a PSA starring someone who has defamed a gay man seems extremely bizarre to me. And trust me, Washington got a break. If he had bullied any other minority group he would not still be employed.
May 24th, 2007 1:35 PM
I HUGE GEREY'S FAN, I am a hardcore BANG fan so this is really difficult for me because over this IW's future on the show is in jeopardy, I still don't know if he will be back in S4 and will not know for a long time and since the S3 finale I am heartbroken and can't even bear the idea that BANG is over, but do you really think that if he had bullied any other minority group he would had been fired right away?
I am not American (as you can probably infer from my English) so this is really interesting for me to try and understand...
May 24th, 2007 2:27 PM
Posted May 22, Kristen on E! Stated IW is definately GONE
TR is staying!!!!
May 24th, 2007 3:00 PM
You mean this?
Gansiger in Dallas: Is Isaiah Washington leaving Grey's Anatomy?
I've now heard from various reliable sources that Isaiah has been taking meetings in New York and Los Angeles in search of a new job that would take place during the coming TV season, so it certainly appears that Isaiah's Grey's days are over. Insiders at ABC tell me "not everyone will be coming back" to Grey's this fall, and although T.R. Knight's fate was also left hanging in the balance after the season finale, I'm hearing he's gonna be back (gotta wrap up that love triangle, not to mention his betrothed is the new chief resident!) but like I said, Isaiah looks to be a goner. (Kinda makes that scene of Cristina ripping the shackle off her neck while sobbing "I'm free" and the Chief's lecture to Burke that he's "disappointed" in him this year all the more poignant, no?)
Please!
May 24th, 2007 5:18 PM
I'm sorry but I'm not believing for a mintue that he's changed.
May 24th, 2007 8:16 PM
so..does that mean that IW's gone? or not? cuz he's an incredible actor.
May 24th, 2007 9:01 PM
I think one has to be given the opportunity to change and I wonder if he's been given a fair chance to change. We are not in his heart so we have to judge base on the fact that he is trying. Imagine for an instant that a man who has played gay characters before may have simply made a mistake. We are all human and maybe are inability to forgive and take his apology at face value should be examined the same way he examined his temper and word choice.
May 24th, 2007 9:28 PM
No, continuing to hate is what keeps hatred alive.