`GREY'S' ACTOR FEELS FALLOUT FROM SLUR.

Byline: -- Greg Hernandez

With ABC remaining mum about his future on ``Grey's Anatomy,'' actor Isaiah Washington met Monday with two prominent gay and lesbian groups in an apparent effort to repair his tattered public image and possibly save his job.

Washington, who caused a stir last week for using a gay slur backstage at the Golden Globe Awards, sat down with the leaders of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in a meeting arranged by ABC.

Washington is said to have candidly acknowledged the harm he had caused by his repeated use of the epithet ``faggot,'' which he had directed at co-star T.R. Knight during an on-set argument in October, then repeated last week in denying he ever said it. Washington issued an apology Friday less than two hours after ABC issued a statement slamming him.

``Isaiah understands that he is going to be judged by more than just his apology,'' GLAAD President Neil Giuliano said. ``He knows that his future actions -- including the genuine first step that today's meeting represents -- will demonstrate his sincerity in becoming part of the solution to anti-gay bigotry. We welcome the opportunity to work with him in the coming months to help improve the cultural climate faced by LGBT people across this country.''