One of the most important things about our society is our diversity. There are millions of people of different race, sexual orientation, with diverse personalities. Times are changing, and we as a people are slowly becoming more open, loving, and accepting human beings. And while everyone is free to express their thoughts and opinions, one should always make sure what they’re saying isn’t hurting others. A lot of the time, people may not know that what they’re saying is considered offensive.
Although hundreds of hurtful terms are spoken today, the following is a short list of some offensive terms people should stop saying regarding to sexual orientation, race, gender, and disabilities.
Sexual Orientation
1. “That’s gay.” Whenever someone is referring to something as being “gay”, they are making a negative implication. And again, everyone is allowed to have their own beliefs, but they can do so that without offending millions of humans around the world.
2. Homophobic slurs. A very popular , insensitive word to describe a homosexual is "faggot." The definition of “faggot” actually has the word offensive in it. No matter if you mean it in a hurtful way or not, faggot is a word that should a bad taste in one's mouth, and one people should definitely avoid. Same goes for words like “queer”, “dyke” etc.
Race
1. “I’m not racist but…” If these words ever leave your mouth, your brain should tell you to immediately stop talking. People that feel the need to defend themselves before they speak are most likely about to say something rude, offensive, stupid, and/or racist.
2. Ethnic slurs. Any offensive terms that describe a race of people should never be said. Some examples would be, “spik," "oriental," "chink," etc.
Gender
1. “Don’t be such a girl.” The idea that men are strong and women are weak is long expired. Neither woman nor man are better than the other and to say “Don’t be such a girl” implies just that. Same goes for “Don’t be such a p*ssy” or the famous “You throw like a girl.” There’s a movement for this idea called feminism, and it’s equally about men and woman.
Disability
1. “Retard.” Although people might just be joking around with their friends when they call them this, saying “retard” or “that’s retarded” is extremely offensive to people who actually have mental retardation. It is not something funny or to joke about in any way.
Everyone has probably said some terms from this list, and that’s okay. We all slip up, make mistakes, and may not even know that these terms are offensive. But if everyone tries to avoid words that offend large groups of people, the world will become a better and happier place.
