Does WordPress escape/(add slashes) to $_REQUEST fields in a plugin?

I’ve been using WordPress for awhile but am writing a custom plugin for a table in the wp database but not for a wp table. The table is called ‘schedules’ and it has a TEXT field ‘sched_desc’ which is populated with simple textarea for now.

First thing is first, magic_quotes_gpc is OFF.

The problem is, when I post my form (to insert/update data in ‘schedules’), the $_REQUEST array seems to get modified by WordPress and my field ‘sched_desc’ value gets any single and double quotes escaped. So if if ‘sched_desc’ contains [Who’s buried in Grant’s tomb?] upon getting $_REQUEST[‘sched_desc’] in the plugin, it now contains [Who\’s buried in Grant\’s tomb?].

If I print_r the $_REQUEST at the beginning of admin.php, the values are ok! If I print_r a little down the road in admin.php, the values are escaped!

I don’t understand why WordPress (or something else) is mucking with the values. Does anyone have any direction or ideas? I can’t be the first to hit this, yet searching for an answer in the forums and on the web has not resulted in anything.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

-Tom