Isaiah-Less Grey's Gets GLAAD

Mon., Apr. 16, 2007 11:34 AM PDT by Gina Serpe

You gotta give it to the LGBT community—they know from irony.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation held its 18th Annual Media Awards in Los Angeles Saturday, honoring the mainstream media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representatives of the community. Topping off their kudos pack: Grey's Anatomy.

The series, whose off-screen shenanigans has done plenty to put gay issues in the headlines, albeit not entirely positively, received the GLAAD Award for Outstanding Individual Episode.

Proving the media watchdog can not only master irony but layer it, the episode of the ABC hit receiving the praise, "Where the Boys Are," was the very one whose tense backstage relations resulted in Isaiah Washington referring to then closeted costar T.R. Knight as a "faggot," a term Washington repeated in front of a throng of reporters and eventually sought rehab for uttering.

On hand to pick up the award was Knight himself, along with costars Sara Ramirez, Kate Walsh, Katherine Heigl and episode writer Mark Wilding. Washington, however, was not present.

"I am angry at the inequality we face everyday," Knight said. "I hope to turn my anger into action. One of my actions is to be here to celebrate GLAAD's work—it's work to teach and promote inclusion."

As for whether any tension lingers around his workplace, Knight simply said, "I don't know."

"We're showing up and doing our work," he told Access Hollywood on the red carpet. "There's a lot of work to be done, so that's my focus.

"We have about 20 days left [until the season ends], not that I'm counting. It's going to be nice to have two months away, you know. I think everyone's looking forward to it."

Knight went on to say that he believed the summer hiatus will help him and his fellow cast mates "learn from [the incident]. Grow. That's the hope; that's my hope."

Meanwhile, Jennifer Aniston received the Vanguard Award, honoring individuals who have increased the visibility of the gay and lesbian plight. Aniston was feted for her recent portrayal of a Courteney Cox-smooching rival editor in Dirt. The award was presented by her Good Girl costar Jake Gyllenhaal.

"People say actors are brave for taking certain roles," he said, per E! Online's Marc Malkin. "I say, 'No!' What's truly brave is picking out an outfit to wear in front of this crowd. The tie: white or black or white or...transgendered?' "

Aniston kept her remarks slightly less laughable.

"I want to thank GLAAD for their steadfast commitment to opening people's minds," she said. "This is called the Vanguard Award, which in some ways suggests I'm at the forefront. But I'm here with you tonight to say that I'm proud to stand not in front of you, but I stand right beside you. I commend you."

Lance Bass, whose coming out last summer was the first of several high profile closet abandoners, was also on hand for the ceremony, handing out an award to a media professional who promotes equal rights for the community.

ABC dominated the TV awards. Aside from the Grey's Anatomy nod, but the network won Outstanding Drama and Comedy Series awards for Brothers & Sisters and Ugly Betty, respectively.

The award for Outstanding Film went to Little Miss Sunshine, for its inclusion of a gay, albeit suicidal, Proust scholar played by Steve Carell. Writer Michael Arndt was on hand to collect the hardware.

GLAAD is also scheduled to hold Media Award ceremonies in San Francisco on Apr. 28 and Miami on May 10. A previous bash took place in New York on Mar. 26.

The Los Angeles ceremony is slated to air on the Logo network this Saturday.