Seeing as loads of people are talking about this I couldn't help but comment. I was raised and am a strict Liberal. So when I hear people 'gay-bashing' or making fun of 'mentally challenged individuals' it makes me physically ill. I work with Autistic kids and I find them to be some of the most amazing people I've ever met. But I myself sometimes do say 'oh that's retarded.' I think that's something we all have to catch ourselves on.
My friend recently told me she was gay and she was afraid to tell people because of how they might react in our community. And honestly I think that's true. We are in a predominantly Conservative Republican community that frowns upon those whom are Liberals (i.e me :( ) and those with different sexual orientations. I think what I'm trying to ask is this:
Why is it ok to throw around the words gay, queer, homo, fag...etc. in anger/frustration/or even in joking when the people saying these words are against the entire meaning of them?
