We reported a couple days ago that out sports and entertainment publicist Howard Bragman got married in Los Angeles, and that his request to friends and family was that they donate to Equality California to stop the anti-marriage amendment there on the ballot in November. Well, we’ve heard that people are ponying up in Bragman’s and his partner’s name, and chief among them is Isaiah Washington (who got axed from Grey’s Anatomy for dropping the gay F-bomb), a client of Bragman. Bragman confirmed the donation this morning.
“Chuck and I were very touched by his generosity and his support of this cause, and we expect many other high-profile contributions,” Bragman told me. “He said wishes us all the best and he supports the rights of others in our community to get married.”
Howard was also on MSNBC yesterday and, while he was there to talk about a completely separate issue, used the platform to ask for viewers’ financial support for Equality California and ask them to vote against the amendment.
To me, this is great: Both Bragman using his loving relationship to gain support for the cause and Washington, who has been working to clean up a bad reputation in the gay community, putting his money where his mouth is and supporting gay marriage. –Cyd Zeigler jr.
on Jul 17th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Wasn’t Bragman hired by Washington to help “clean up” his reputation? Based on Washington’s behavior in the past — where he apologized for calling T.R. Knight a faggot, then DENIED he ever said it while using the word AGAIN — this donation, and the announcement of it, just reeks of self-serving propaganda. It doesn’t remotely indicate to me that Washington is truly a supporter of same-sex marriage.
on Jul 17th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Joe,
if Bragman was hired by Washington to “clean up” his reputation, it surely doesn’t seem to have worked, does it? Because no matter what Isaiah does, people like you will NEVER believe him. THEREFORE, why would he give money to support gay marriage if the job he hired Bragman to do failed so miserably?
on Jul 17th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Why do you assume I’ll never believe him? If he sincerely apologized, and sincerely overcame his homophobia, and sincerely supported gay marriage, why would I not believe him? But to date, he hasn’t displayed any sincerity in anything he’s done. For all I know, Bragman told him “write out a check, it doesn’t have to be very much, and I’ll announce how you donated to the cause”? Imagine turning your own wedding into some good publicity for your client? Unfortunately, in Hollywood, I can imagine it all too easily.
on Jul 17th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
well im glad he is giving his money
http://www.queersunited.blogspot.com
on Jul 18th, 2008 at 8:55 am
I don’t know that this gesture necessarily means Washington supports gay marriage. Bragman asked that in lieu of gifts, people donate to this cause. Washington merely gave Bragman the gift he requested. That doesn’t equal supporting ga marriage in my mind. I’m not saying he doesn’t support gay marriage, just that this doesn’t mean he does.
on Jul 18th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Hey thanks for posting about this!
We’ve made some comments of our own our blog, The California Ripple Effect. Check it out:
http://ca-ripple-effect.blogspot.com/2008/07/isaiah-washington-makes-donation-to.html
on Jul 19th, 2008 at 12:49 am
very interesting indeed! hopefully this will have a positive impact on the elections in November for the couples who did marry since June 17.
on Jul 19th, 2008 at 12:53 am
Isaiah should have kept his money and same sex marriage is an abomination.
on Jul 19th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Did you know that Isaiah Washington’s middle name is Brent?
on Jul 20th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
who cares how he feels in private; his money can do a lot of good
on Jul 21st, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Actually, Isaiah has apologized on a number of occasions. The other thing that people seem to forget is that this episode was totally out of character for Washington. He had no previous homophobic reputation. And in fact has played a gay character in the past. He played one of two gay characters in spike Lee’s film Get on the Bus. In addition, prior to this incident, he was a supporter of HIV/AIDS issues. What he did was horrible, no questions. But people make mistakes and sometimes do things and say things that they don’t mean. No one can really no–except Isaiah–who the real Isaiah Washington is. Is he the person who said the homophobic statements or is he the person who previously did not have a homophobic reputation and by all accounts had many gay friends.
on Jul 26th, 2008 at 12:15 am
What people seem to keep forgetting or do not know at all is that Isaiah never called T.R a fag, he just happened to mention him at the time. He was complaining about T.R being late and when he was told to calm down he replied, “I’m nobody’s faggot” he didn’t call T.R any kind of names. Either way what he did was generous and I for one would thank him.
on Sep 11th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
I’m was under the impression that washington did call T R Knight a faggot. and also going to say if he did it may be because he’s a closet one himself. I’m not one to judge but isaiah washington looks gay. If he is so what if not so what