Disability advocate responds to Winston Peters using slur for Greens
An intellectual disability advocate criticised NZ First leader Winston Peters for calling the Greens 'retarded' and not withdrawing the term when challenged.
Dianne Pelvin, a 53-year-old intellectual disability advocate, expressed her distress at hearing Winston Peters use a slur to describe the Greens and then defend the language. She described how such words have caused her personal hurt since childhood and how they perpetuate harmful labelling of people with disabilities. Pelvin called on Peters to consider the impact of his language, stating that people with intellectual disabilities deserve to be treated with respect and recognised as capable individuals.
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The Spinoff
If I could say one thing to Winston Peters, it would be: please don’t use mean words
Intellectually disability advocate Dianne Pelvin describes what it felt like to hear NZ First leader Winston Peters call the Greens ‘retarded’ this week , and then double down when challenged on his use of the term. I’m 53. I have…