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My Letter to Senator John Fetterman Regarding Bullying and Disabilities — Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents
Dear Senator Fetterman,
I am genuinely sorry that you are enduring vicious bullying because of your disability.
‘Because I live in a political environment, I was ridiculed and made fun of because I wasn’t able to process things at times,’ he said as began to tear up in front of the panel. He began to tear up as he presented an app that allows him to ‘fully participate in this meeting’ and communicate with members of his family. ‘I’m so sorry, I’m sure many of you had to go through this kind of thing,’ Fetterman added. ‘I admire everyone who has to live with these kind of struggles and prevail over them.
I am also a Pennsylvanian with disabilities, also in my fifties, also rely on devices to process some spaces, and definitely have my share of bullies from childhood and adulthood. The kids were terrible, the adults are terrifying.
As an adult, I have multiple disabilities, some visible and some hidden. I need accommodations in public settings, modest things like a +1 escort to some things, an aisle seat, a cup of water or to have my cell phone so I can disengage from my thoughts and refocus on the event or activity. I also sometimes rely on my phone to communicate in situations that are…
