Hate Speech

Okay, back on my soapbox here. There’s something I just can’t stand, and people don’t see the problem.

Pardon me, I’m going to be offensive for a moment.

If you were trying to accomplish something, and some stupid little bureaucratic SNAFU got in the way, would you say, “That’s so Latino!” ? Or, “How black!”

I’m betting you wouldn’t. So why is it okay for people to say, “That’s so gay!” ?

This is one I just don’t get. How did this even get far enough to become a problem? I correct kids at my school (when school is in) every day. Yes, kids in middle school say things they shouldn’t all the time. It’s that age. I know. But these kids don’t realize it’s wrong.

They know racial slurs are wrong. They know mocking disabilities or intelligence or stereotypes is wrong. They can even translate my hard look and raised eyebrow into, “Oh, I said shit in the office. Better apologize.” But these kids do not realize that equating bad things with homosexuality is a slur. Why? Because we adults are wary of telling them so.

It’s insane. Telling kids they can’t tease someone because they’re black isn’t promoting “the black agenda.” Explaining that you can’t mock someone who can’t walk isn’t pushing “the disabled way.” Are there really still people out there who think they might “turn” a kid gay by telling him there’s nothing wrong with being gay?

It’s hate speech. That’s what it is. If every bad thing is gay, then what are gay people?

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