Glee’s Lauren Potter and Jane Lynch address the R-Word

This is from last May but it is still powerful today. 

from Social Times by Megan O'Neil:
Thanks to a multitude of amazing campaigns for good causes, YouTube has cemented itself as one of the best platforms for spreading the word about important issues, ideas, and non-profits.  In the latest viral YouTube PSA, Lauren Potter and Jane Lynch of ‘Glee’ speak out against the word ‘retard’.

The powerful campaign, launched by Spread the Word to End the Word, an ongoing initiative from Best Buddies and the Special Olympics to eradicate the everyday derogatory use of “The R-Word” aims to show people that it is just as unacceptable to use the word “retarded” as it is to use other racial and offensive slurs.  The video is pretty blunt in its use of other derogatory terms, in order to get the point across.  I think it’s extremely effective.

In the video, Glee star Lauren Potter says, “It is not acceptable to call me a ‘retard’ or to call your friends ‘retarded’ when they do something foolish.”  Jane Lynch adds, “The R-word is the same as every minority slur.  Treat it that way, and don’t use it.”  These days, the R-word is so overused that a lot of people don’t realize the derogatory nature of the term.  Here’s hoping that this video will open eyes to people so that they will think before calling themselves, their friends, or anything else “retarded.”