Why Does GQ Magazine Owe Everyone an Apology?

After I yell at my kids or argue with my husband, I eventually say sorry, even though it isn't always easy. Why apologize? Beside doing the right thing, a few reasons to be apologetic come to mind; admit your faults, show apathy, take responsibility for your actions and feeling remorse. When idolized athletes, prominent actors, and White House representatives have been spotlighted for using the r-word, a form of socially repressing people with a disability, those at fault, publicly explain, or join the efforts of the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, or meet with Special Olympics to clear the air of their mistake, for one good reason or another of their choice. Well, what happens if an apology isn't issued? 

On July 15, 2011, GQ magazine published an unethical review by John B. Thompson about fashion in Boston as part of the article, "Worst-Dressed Cities in America". Boston was the number one offender and Thompson wrote, "Due to so much local inbreeding, Boston suffers from a kind of Style Down Syndrome, where a little extra ends up ruining everything." Something bigger then Thompson's nerve is the scale of how harmful his demeaning words are, to society as a whole, but especially individuals with Down syndrome. This type of prejudicial discrimination toward the 400,000 people with Down syndrome in the U.S. is intolerant, offensive, and inaccurate.

The article has since been revised by the removal of Thompson's statement but GQ has not offered its readers an explanation as to reason for the revision and a full week later the magazine or author has yet to make amends. When will they? Everyone is wondering how GQ can publish a discriminatory remark about people with Down syndrome and act like it never happened. Do they think we will forget? Numerous concerned advocates have submitted emails to letters@gq.com, letters from national Down syndrome organizations have been mailed, a handful of articles have been published, many blogs written, FoxNews covered the story, and I created a growing petition, that I informed GQ about, (http://signon.org/sign/gq-issue-apology-for), which has been signed by over four hundred people, that asks for a public apology ......... but GQ has still not issued a response. Why apologize?  Disability oppression is a social tragedy and their public apology is an appropriate step in trying to repair some of the damage they have caused everyone.