The June 28 KidsPost story "Why the R word is not okay" missed a wonderful opportunity to stop kids (and adults) from degrading another huge group of people: gay men and lesbians. More prevalent than the hurtful terms "retarded" or "you're a retard" is "that's so gay" or "you're so gay." These are often used jokingly, just as the "r" word is, and they're just as painful.
I appreciate that the article focused on those with intellectual disabilities, but even a sentence or two about the other group of folks who are also commonly insulted and degraded could have knocked out two slurs at one time. I'm amazed how many people both young and not so young use the phrase "that's so gay" around me all the time even though they know I'm gay. I am a grown man and can handle it. But suicide remains an epidemic among our gay and lesbian youth, and it is usually the result of teasing and harassment.
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