Emmy-Nominated ABC Stars Speak Out About the Power of Words

(PRLEAP.COM) Amidst a national dialogue about the harmful use of the “f-word,” the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced today the release of a new public service announcement (PSA) denouncing the use of anti-gay words and homophobic jokes.

The PSA is part of GLAAD’s new series of “Be an Ally & Friend” PSAs featuring 22 entertainers. Nine ABC stars appear in the 30-second spot (in order of appearance): Ana Ortiz (Ugly Betty), Sara Ramirez (Grey’s Anatomy), Rebecca Romijn (Ugly Betty), Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty), Kate Walsh (Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice), T.R. Knight (Grey’s Anatomy), Michael Urie (Ugly Betty), Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters) and Becki Newton (Ugly Betty). Knight and Griffiths were both recently nominated for an Emmy for their roles.

The campaign encourages people to be straight allies and help combat homophobia, sending viewers to online resources (www.glaad.org/ally) to give them the tools to do so. The new PSA can be viewed at www.glaad.org, or embedded from LiveVideo here: http://www.livevideo.com/GLAAD

GLAAD will release multiple 20- and 30-second versions of the spots, as well as versions of the PSA in Spanish and American Sign Language, approximately every two weeks during the coming year. The PSAs will also be available through broadcast collaborations with Access Hollywood, national cable networks such as Fox Reality, GSN, IFC, Lifetime, The N, Sci Fi Channel and Sundance Channel; local cable systems and network affiliates; online at LiveVideo, YouTube, AOL Video and MySpace; and others to be announced.


Media outlets interested in running the PSAs should email a request to entertainment@glaad.org or call (323) 634-2013. Artwork of select participants can be downloaded here: http://www.glaad.org/ally/photos.php


The PSAs were directed by Nadine Licostie, and produced by Licostie and Connie Grazia for Red Thread Productions.


About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. For more information, go to www.glaad.org.

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