1. If the situation had been a gay actor calling a black actor a racial slur, we would surely have seen someone getting fired, or at the very least reprimanded. I cannot imagine an minority group like the black community NOT understanding how unjust it is to use insulting names. It is diappointing to see such support for Isaiah Washington considering the timing. Certainly there were other better-deserving, less-bigoted candidates for this award.

Posted at 12:59AM on Mar 6th 2007 by John in Florida

2. I wonder, was Mr. Washington honored for his performance and visibility on the show, or for his acts of contrition after the scandal erupted? I can't imagine that he would be singled out for the former without the later, considering the negative impact of his words.

Posted at 9:50AM on Mar 6th 2007 by Brad

3. John wrote, " I cannot imagine an minority group like the black community NOT understanding how unjust it is to use insulting names."

I wonder, is this a wake up call that we need to do better at colalition building with other minority groups. Several African American pastors have been vocal opponents of marriage equality for example.

What response would be most proactive and successful at moving forward?

Posted at 10:25AM on Mar 6th 2007 by David Stocum

4. There was another GLBT blog where someone was complaining about the Image Awards failing to recognize the show "Noah's Arc," which is/was about four black gay male friends. Anyone familiar with that show can argue about whether or not it was worthy of recognition by any awards show. But I still feel like the Image Awards is very reflective of feelings regarding homosexuals within the black community in general, and I would agree with David that gays (my particular feeling is white gays) should work harder at expressing an interest in race and coalition-building if you want to receive anything reciprocal. I have felt left out of the GLBT community as a black person, so if you're not doing a good job of reaching out to gays of color then don't expect heterosexual blacks who claim the bible is on their side to be supportive of you. I'm not saying I don't have a problem with their views and Washington's slur, but I'm also honestly not very surprised. I think that right now blacks view the GLBT community as competition, so approaching them with the mindset of reaching out and working together to combat all types of hate could make a difference. You can question why gays should be the ones to reach out, but that's really not going to solve the problem.

Also, being honest in responding to John, I think the reaction to Washington has actually been roughly the same as the reactions people have to racial slurs. He got media heat, and then turned around and received an Image Award. Trent Lott and Arnold Schwarzenegger got media heat for their racial comments, and then turned around and got re-elected to office (and NOBODY complained about that). And Mel Gibson's career is not seriously hurting over his anti-semitic tirades. If you want understanding from other minority groups, then you have to calm down on acting as if everything that happens to gays is so much worse and as if there is so much more tolerance for or uproar over race than homosexuality--there's not.

Posted at 11:45AM on Mar 6th 2007 by nunya

5. Isaiah could have come really close to redeeming himself if he'd just have declined to accept this award (or even the nomination in the first place) on the basis of his recent actions hurting his image.

Posted at 1:33PM on Mar 6th 2007 by James Ranson

6. Have we gotten away from the meaning behind the NAACP award itself, sometimes I wonder what would the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would have said. Stand up for equality for all, for all dang on it. You must pick better wars to fight, and this actor not noted in my community for doing anything stands up and accepts this award but should not have. Sometimes in life we say things that when spoken out loud we realize that we are blomming idiots.

Posted at 9:28PM on Mar 6th 2007 by Kimberly Claggett

7. I watched Oprah today and the NAACP does believe, as stated by their website www.naacp.org, that someone who make a racial slur should loose their job. The Gay Community, especially Gay and Lesbian African Americans, must share our opinions with the NAACP and urge that they revoke Isaiah Washington of his Award. Image Awards should be 50% Performance, and 50% Rolemodel for that community. And Isaiah Washington has not been a good Rolemodel for any community but the homophobic community. I don't believe Isaiah Washington should loose his job, that's censorship, but I strongly feel no one who spews hateful comments should be given an award. This is offensive not only to the Gay Community but the Black Community as well.

Posted at 1:09AM on Apr 18th 2007 by Justin

8. He is OFF Greys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sooo happy!
Finally the angry man with hate oozing his every orafice is gone! I truly hope he has a lot of difficulty getting any other work!

Posted at 12:47PM on Jun 11th 2007 by susan