Gay retarded

Anyone else feel like you're fighting a losing battle when it comes to teaching kids not to call each other 'retard' or 'gay'? How do you discourage this?. Twenty-six percent of gay men and 40% of bisexual men disclosed having a disability, as did 36% of lesbians and 36% of bisexual women. Research from the Movement Advancement Project estimated that 3 to 5 million LGBTQ people live with one or more disabilities.

When you use the words gay and retarded, cognitively you are in fact activating those meanings.

It's true that they get pared down, but it remains an open question as to how much. Disabled LGBTQ+ people who live at the intersection of these two identities can face compounded discrimination and stigmatization, and it is important for those who serve, interact with, and love and care for those individuals to understand this complex dynamic. In studies looking at populations in the United States, LGBTQ populations report higher rates of disability compared to the heterosexual and cisgender majorities.

[1][7][8] According to the Movement Advance Project in , an estimated 3 to 5 million lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the United States have a disability. [9]. These are words I often hear around campus exchanged between friends, either to evoke a few laughs or simply to fit in with the crowd. To them, these words still hurt. It goes without saying that our society is far from establishing true equality.

Every day, people struggle with who they are, trying to reconcile their identities with the unaccepting and judgmental community around them. Ultimately, then, even in casual contexts, using these words sends the message that our society condones such discrimination, culminating in a toxic environment that makes it difficult for people to seek help, maintain their self-esteem or even feel safe in their own communities.

Language shapes the way we view the world and influences the issues we find important, and using these terms allows them to be harnessed beyond a joking context and for truly malicious purposes. Because of this, simply ceasing to use these words can have a powerful impact. Concrete policy fixes, increased media coverage and a more accountable justice system are also needed to instigate meaningful change.

But language serves as a crucial first step toward recognizing the rights that these people are due, and it can catalyze the changes that are needed. These objections, however, fundamentally misunderstand why it is important to stop using these words. Still others say that I need to loosen up and gain a sense of humor. But although I understand how some people find it irritating to be corrected when they have no ill intent, these words have a negative impact on others regardless of whether or not they are said facetiously.

Just taking that one step can automatically shift our community in a far more constructive direction. Contact Kimberly Tan at [email protected]. She is currently the only freshman columnist and enjoys writing about a wide variety of topics related to social and policymaking concerns. She is originally from Saratoga, Calif. In her free time, she loves chatting with friends, visiting downtown Palo Alto and reading random Wikipedia articles.

She can be contacted at kwtan 'at' stanford. Opinion by Kimberly Tan. July 21, , p. Print Article. Campus Life. Equity Project. Graduate Students. Fall Sports. Cross Country. Field Hockey. Winter Sports. Artistic Swimming.

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