Grey's Anatomy Star Isaiah Washington to Meet with GLSEN Today on First Day of No Name-Calling Week

Grey's Anatomy Star Isaiah Washington to Meet with GLSEN Today on First Day of No Name-Calling Week

Washington to Discuss Use of Anti-Gay Slur as Schools Nationwide Begin NNCW Events

NEW YORK, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington has agreed to meet with GLSEN Executive Director Kevin Jennings this afternoon in Los Angeles to discuss ways Washington can team with GLSEN to ensure America's youth understand the power of anti-gay slurs like the one Washington recently used to refer to fellow Grey's star T.R. Knight.

Today marks the beginning of GLSEN's No Name-Calling Week in schools nationwide.

GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, commends ABC and Washington for recognizing the harm of Washington's use of the word ''faggot'' and reaching out to GLSEN to turn an unfortunate situation into an opportunity to open a dialogue with America's youth.

According to GLSEN's 2005 National School Climate Survey, 75 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students reported hearing derogatory remarks such as ''faggot'' or ''dyke'' frequently or often in school.

''We are encouraged by the apparent sincerity of Isaiah Washington's apology and his recognition of the power of a word that, like so many others, has no place in our society,'' Jennings said. ''We would like to thank Isaiah and ABC for reaching out to GLSEN in what hopefully will be an important step in the healing process for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and all those who were offended by the remarks.''

Fittingly, the meeting takes place on the first day of No Name-Calling Week, created in partnership with Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and supported by Cisco Systems and nearly 50 national partners. The fourth-annual No Name-Calling Week is a time for educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds.

Learn more about No Name-Calling Week at http://www.nonamecallingweek.org/.

About GLSEN

GLSEN, or the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students. Established nationally in 1995, GLSEN envisions a world in which every child learns to respect and accept all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression. For more information on GLSEN's educational resources, public policy agenda, student organizing programs, research, public education or development initiatives, visit http://www.glsen.org/.

Source: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network

CONTACT: Daryl Presgraves of GLSEN, +1-646-388-6577 or
dpresgraves@glsen.org

Web site: http://www.nonamecallingweek.org/
http://www.glsen.org/

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