Sara Ramirez may no longer work on an ABC show.
But that doesn’t mean the actress has stopped watching ABC shows.
The former Grey’s Anatomy star made this clear on Thursday via Twitter, responding in negative fashion to a joke that was made last month on The Real O’Neals.
On the episode in question, which aired on January 17, Noah Galvin’s openly gay character, Kenny, compared being bisexual to having “webbed toes” or “money problems.”
Where’s the humor in those references?
That’s what Ramirez wants to know.
Ramirez – who portrayed bisexual character Callie Torres on Grey’s Anatomy for 10 years and who then came out herself as bisexual – wrote that she was “truly disheartened and disappointed” by the joke, adding that she would “invest my brand where I’m respected.”
The actress addressed ABC and The Real O’Neals producers in her Tweet, encouraging them to “own” and “address” the mistake in order to “empower our #Queer and #Bisexual youth & community w/accurate positive reflections.”
In response to a fan who thanked Ramirez for speaking out against “biphobia,” Ramirez Tweeted the following:
“As someone who worked 4 them 4 10 years+,am truly disheartened & disappointed quite frankly.I will invest my brand where I’m respected.”
And then there was the response below from PFLAG.
Formerly known as Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, PFLAG is the largest domestic organization for parents, families, friends, and allies united with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer.
It actually worked with The Real O’Neals on the episode that featured this joke and it released a statement in response to the backlash.
Read the statement here:
Ramirez also linked on Twitter to a Change.org petition that seeks to “End Biphobia and Bi-erasure on The Real O’Neals.”
Those who watch Grey’s Anatomy online or on television for a decade fell in love with Ramirez as Callie, the tough-minded surgeon who dated Mark Sloan and married Arizona Robbins.
She surprised many fans when she left the role last May.
“I’m deeply grateful to have spent the last 10 years with my family at Grey’s Anatomy and ABC, but for now, I’m taking some welcome time off,” Ramirez said in a statement at time, adding:
“[Series creator] Shonda [Rhimes has] been so incredible to work for, and we will definitely continue our conversations.
“I send my love to Ellen [Pompeo], the rest of the cast and crew, and I look forward to always being a part of the Shondaland family!
Rhimes did not kill Callie off, so the door does remain open for a future return.
After four months after departing the series, Ramirez got on stage at the 40 To None Summit and delivered a speech about her sexuality.
“So many of our youth experiencing homelessness are youth whose lives touch on many intersections, whether they be gender identity, gender expression, race, class, sexual orientation, religion, citizenship status,” she said.
“And because of the intersections that exist in my own life – woman, multiracial woman, woman of color, queer, bisexual, Mexican-Irish American, immigrant, and raised by families heavily rooted in Catholicism on both my Mexican & Irish sides – I am deeply invested in projects that allow our youth’s voices to be hear.”
Ramirez went on to say that she wants to “support our youth in owning their own complex narratives so that we can show up for them in the ways they need us to.”
After saying these inspiring words, the actress Tweeted:
”#ThankYou @TrueColorsFund 4 the work you do 2 end #LGBTQ #YouthHomelessness & your support #Woman #Latinx #Bisexual #Intersectionality.”
Ramirez married Ryan DeBolt in 2012.
We wish her the best and give her props for always speaking her mind when it comes to important issues.