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OLYMPIA — A Republican state senator drew sharp backlash Wednesday after using a slur for people with intellectual disabilities during a Senate floor debate, prompting condemnation from Democratic lawmakers, disability advocates and the chamber's Republican leader.
During debate on amendments to House Bill 1390, Sen. Leonard Christian, R-Spokane Valley, said on the Senate floor: The folks that we're responsible for, we're putting rapists in with retarded people."
The remark drew audible gasps from senators and an emotional response from Sen. Nicole Frame, D-Seattle, who later said she was “horrified” by the language.
“To be clear, it was not a slip of the tongue, it was a very intentional choice,” Frame said. “And then he went on to mock the fact that apparently he needs a list of words that he’s not allowed to say.”
House Bill 1390 would eliminate the Community Protection Program, a service for people with developmental disabilities who have a history of sexually aggressive behavior. Under the proposal, the program would end Jan. 1, 2027, and the Washington Developmental Disabilities Administration would be required to transition all current participants into other services or programs by Dec. 31.
Christian defended the remark Thursday, saying he intended to use strong language to emphasize his opposition.
Christian said he did not intend to be disrespectful but chose a harsher term because he felt previous language about the issue had been too soft, comparing the situation to “feeding these people to the wolves.”
"This is too important to soft pitch," Christian said and repeated his quote from the Senate floor with the slur.
He acknowledged the term may have been poorly chosen.
“Could I have chosen a better word? Probably,” Christian said.
Christian had not publicly apologized as of Thursday afternoon.
Sen. Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma, called the language “point-blank unacceptable” and said several Republican senators privately apologized to her and other Democratic colleagues after the exchange.
“We are all responsible for our words. As elected officials, we are even more responsible,” Trudeau said. “When we say things, people believe them.”
Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, criticized the remark and issued an apology on behalf of the chamber.
“I was disappointed to hear those remarks, and I sincerely apologize for them,” Braun said in a statement. “The ability to speak freely in this chamber carries with it an expectation that we will choose our words carefully and conduct ourselves in a way that reflects well on this institution.”
Republicans did not censure or penalize Christian as of Thursday afternoon.
Stacy Dym, a disability rights advocate with nonprofit The Arc of Washington State, said the language was particularly troubling as lawmakers consider potential reductions to disability services.
“It is appalling that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities must witness the use of such dehumanizing language by their elected official,” Dym said in a statement.
Dym said the term, once used as a clinical label, quickly became associated with discrimination and stigma toward people with developmental disabilities.
“Language matters, especially from our leaders,” she said. “This word is no longer acceptable outside of historical documents.”
Coincidentally, Wednesday was also "Spread the Word to End the Word national awareness day, an annual campaign started by the Special Olympics to discourage the use of the slur Christian used.
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