Meet a Gay Man With Down Syndrome Who Doesn't Let Labels Define Him
In an ongoing video series by Mic called “Flip the Script,” the outlet took a closer look at the use of the “R” word in pop culture. As part of this exploration, they sat down to talk with some people affected by it.
In the video below, Mic editor Elizabeth Plank talks with Paul, a young man from Brooklyn, who has Down syndrome and also happens to be gay. He and his mother discuss with Plank the way the word “gay” is used pejoratively in a similar way to the “R” word and the harmful effect these words can have on people.
“I am homosexual,” Paul says in the video below, “and I feel fabulous about it.”
Watch their full interaction in the video below:
For more “Flip the Script” videos, check out Mic’s YouTube channel.
Melissa McGlensey is the former News Editor at The Mighty. Her writing can also be seen in Ms. Magazine, on the Ms.Magazine blog and in The Huffington Post’s Good News, Comedy and Impact sections. Melissa is also a New York City comedian who does sketch, improv and stand up. She is passionate about social justice, politics, Thai food, literature, disability rights and more. She is currently in a long-distance relationship with her cat, Sneakers, who lives in California. You can follow her on twitter at @OhHeyMeliss.
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