Blind Prophecy

A CNN Poll is asking the question…

“Grey’s Anatomy” controversy: Should Isaiah Washington be fired over the alleged gay slur?

Honestly, I probably would have said no before Washington’s boneheaded interview at the Golden Globes. Frankly, Washington could have answered the question without repeating that particular word, and I would love to see the show producers take it seriously. Let me put it this way, it’s a job… and if I worked at a mostly straight office where one of my coworkers used that word in a derogatory manner and aimed at me, I’d pretty much demand that management discipline the offender or start looking for my replacement. Freedom of speech is one thing, but as sexual harrassment policies, corporate codes of conduct and dress, and myriad other other rules we all know can illustrate, your right to free speech can and should be curtailed in a professional setting when it creates a hostile and oppressive environment for other employees.

It’s as simple as that. Has Washington made T.R. Knight (or any other queer employee of the show) feel unsafe, unwanted or unable to stand up for himself? Was there language used in such a way as to make anyone feel uncomfortable? It’s not P.C. bullshit, it’s the reason we collectively agreed to a common, professional manner of engaging one another in the workplace.

But of course we’re talking about celebrities here, so it feels like the rules are different. Maybe they are. After all, this isn’t like Joe from the factory floor spouting off anti-gay slurs in an emotional moment, celebrities don’t get that kind of anonymity. Especially not when they go on record in the press denying they used unaceptable language by repeating the particular offensive term.

Bottom line, Washington definately owes Knight and his coworkers an apology. Whether or not he owes an apology to all the other queer Americans who heard him use that word is up for debate, but it wouldn’t hurt. I suspect, though, that if we don’t start demanding apologies (and sincere ones at that) from the recent surge in hate speech coming from celebrities, it may just become “cool” to get away with it whenever and wherever possible.

ETA: If you have no idea what I’m talking about, here’s some background info.

Filed under: livejournal by Jere Keys