Gay & lesbian organization launches tolerance campaign

NEW YORK -- Four actors from "Grey's Anatomy," the ABC hit where Isaiah Washington was fired for anti-gay slurs, are featured in a new ad campaign preaching tolerance for gays and lesbians.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation on Tuesday released 25 new public service ads that it will encourage TV networks to air. The ads feature celebrities talking about either the power of anti-gay words or the importance of accepting a gay or lesbian family member.

T.R. Knight, Sara Ramirez and Kate Walsh of "Grey's Anatomy" all made ads. Alexandra Billings, a transgender actress who appeared in one episode of the medical drama, also participated.

Washington wasn't included, although he filmed a separate public service announcement for GLAAD that aired on ABC earlier this year. He was fired from the series for using an anti-gay slur backstage at the Golden Globe Awards in January while denying he had used the word earlier against Knight.

GLAAD didn't specifically seek out "Grey's Anatomy" stars, said Damon Romine, the organization's entertainment media director. It produced the spots at its media awards event in April, and approached celebrities who appeared there to participate, he said.

"Be an ally. Be a friend," tennis star Martina Navratilova says in one of the spots, echoing the campaign's theme.

A handful of cable networks, including the Sundance Channel and Lifetime, have agreed to run the ads and GLAAD will be approaching more to participate, Romine said.

Actors Rachel Griffiths, Marlee Matlin, Rebecca Romijn and Lance Bass are among the 21 other celebrities featured in the ads.

"It is incredibly important to reach out to a wide spectrum of people, to encourage the support and understanding from those who might become our straight allies and also to dispel the damaging, false myths and unfounded fears propagated by bigots and zealots," said former pro basketball player John Amaechi, another participant.

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On the Net: http://www.glaad.org