The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation demanded Isaiah Washington apologize for using the word "faggot" in relation to his "Grey's Anatomy" co-star.
"When Isaiah Washington uses this kind of anti-gay slur – whether on set or in front of the press – it does more than create a hostile environment for his castmates and the crew of 'Grey's Anatomy,'" said Neil G. Giuliano, GLAAD president, in a statement. "It also feeds a climate of hatred and intolerance that contributes to putting our community in harm's way."
Last October, rumors surfaced about Washington's referral to "Grey's Anatomy" co-star T.R. Knight as a "faggot" during an on-set altercation with actor Patrick Dempsey. The openly gay Knight confirmed during his appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" last week that Washington had used the slur.
Backstage at the Jan. 15 Golden Globes ceremony, Washington repeated the word while denying having used it to refer to Knight.
"No, I did not call T.R. a faggot," Washington told reporters. "Never happened. Never happened." "Grey's Anatomy" co-star Katherine Heigl quickly condemned Washington's use of the slur, telling "Access Hollywood" that the comment was "hurtful" and adding, "I'm not OK with it."
"As Ellen pointed out in her discussion with T.R., this is a word that's used to abuse kids on school playgrounds," Giuliano said in a statement. "We also know that, tragically, this sometimes can be the last word people hear before they're attacked, beaten and possibly even killed. Washington's repeated use of it on-set and in the media is simply inexcusable."
GLAAD contacted Washington's representatives last week to arrange a meeting with him.
"We want to sit down with him and give him an opportunity to raise public awareness about the destructive impact of these kinds of anti-gay slurs. Over the past four months Washington has become part of a significant problem of anti-gay prejudice in this country. He has an opportunity now to be part of the solution."
Grey's' star under attack for repeated slur
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