Thoughts about "the other F word."
My front page piece on "Grey's Anatomy" in today's Daily News has prompted a lot of newsroom discussion about the use of the word "faggot" which we have used in print and online is covering the Isaiah Washington story. Some wondered why we would print the word when an equally offensive word like "nigger" is written as "the N word." That's a good question and not one I have an answer to at this point. I felt we should print it because it is jarring to see the word in all of its ugliness and without printing the word, how can we advance discussion about how offensive it is to gay people? I would love if in American society, "faggot" was routinely refered to as "the other F word" (unfortunately, "the F word" is already taken and we all know what word that signifies.).
Anyway, readers a weighed in on the subject and the overall controversy and I wanted to share with you some of their thoughts: D. Dupuis writes: I take issue with your statement that the slur used by Isaiah Washington has something to do with "political correctness" (as quoted below).
It's about BIGOTRY, as would be the case if Washington had been referred to as a "nigger."
"But the actor, now firmly in the center of a growing firestorm involving political correctness and professional behavior, changed course and issued a lengthy apology to Knight, his colleagues, the show's fans and "especially" the gay and lesbian community for his use of the word "faggot."
Another reader asks this question: How does this differ from the richards fiasco and why does he deserve 2 apologizes when everyone is ready to throw richards to the wolves for his ranting about blacks?
Lori writes: What I would like to know is how many times do you think that Mr. Knight or anyone else for that matter could get away with call Isaiah the "N" word? That man is a PIG, he deserves to be fired NOW!!! Or, maybe, for his punishment they could get him and Rosie O'Donell together for a little chat.
But Matthew Kleinsasser of Maui Hawaii writes: Come on guys, how about the other side. You covered the folks that are incensed by the use of a word. And you covered the guy that is trying to keep his public appearance as clean as possible. But, what about the 80 or so percent of the real people that are not incensed by the use of a word and do not hold personalities more responsible morally than they do each other. Why not include the third side from those of us that actually watch the show and actors? See if the silent majority judges them like the vocal minority does or, if we understand that it is a word and not a spear.
Then there is Larry, who seems to prefer that the issue not be covered at all: Greg, I'm deeply offended at your gay agenda as evidenced by a second article in the Daily News within a couple of weeks. It is clear that a small but vocal minority of people, with support of Hollywood and the news media, are attempting to legitimize homosexuality. No matter how much publicity you try to create, it is still a sexual perversion.
I'd love for the readers of OUT IN HOLLYWOOD to weight in. Send me your comments!
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in Hollywood
Greg Hernandez authored Out In Hollywood for the Daily News from June 2006 to February 2009. He can now be found at Greg In Hollywood: www.greginhollywood.com
Who is this clown from Maui?
A far larger percentile than 80 -- one that inclues the glbt community -- has never thought about fighting homophobia in the first place. That's because we're considered by society, and therefore by ourselves, as beneath contempt -- the lowest of the low. Well that ground to a halt in 1969 when street queers fought the cops at Stonewall. A whole political movement arose from that battle that continues to this day. And it's a very fine day when T.R. Knight stands up for himself. Here he was, an actor on a hit show with no real public profile. And being gay, creating a public profile would have been quite an undetaking -- in the past. In that past directors, producers -- even grips -- could have called him "faggot!" without fear of the slightest approbrium. Not anymore.
As for "Political Correctness" it's a lethal buzzword neo-fascist used to silence those who fight back.
Don't let them silence you.
Ever.
Greg: I would like to THANK YOU for your "gay agenda" and for bringing us an inside look at this provacative story. Words have power, and I thank you for exploring how this power can effect us all.
~Morgen
I've worked on a number of ABC/ Touchstone shows and at the beginning of every season (as with EVERY SHOW in Los Angeles) the cast and crew must sit through a sexual harassment meeting. And the message is clear: zero tolerance.
Obviously there are channels to go through in order to bring human resources up to speed, but in this case, he opened the door to "a hostile workplace." While he may have been calling out TR, there are other gay members of the crew that may find that uncomfortable and could bring a sexual harassment case against him.
I wasn't there when he did it the first time, but I know people who are crew members and they said it DID happen. (And considering the only person to come forward and say he never said it was Isaiah... makes you wonder...) Clearly there were witnesses.
It's not about the difference of "the n word" or "the f word." It's about the fact that both words on a working set are NOT tolerated in the industry.
If it were any crew member, they would be fired before the next camera set up.
I think what needs to happen is clear.
Matthew of Maui: so in an article on Michael Richards at the time you should talk to the folks that just happen to love Seinfeld and aren't offended by the n-word because it doesn't affect them? "He didn't offend us, so why should it matter" Part of the, "come on, why should gays get special rights" arguments.
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