GQ Magazine...... Much food for thought

In a recent web slideshow John Thompson writes, "due to so much local in-breeding, Boston suffers from a kind of Style Down Syndrome, where a little extra ends up ruining everything." 


I am deeply saddened by this. I am hurt beyond words that this kind of thing is not only allowed to be published, but that someone is truly implying that my son's extra chromosome has ruined him & somehow ruined a piece of society. 


I sent my letter to the editors and so have many, many other people. Even the Boston Herald   publishes something in response to the despicable words Mr. Thompson chose to write and that GQ magazine felt was ok to publish. 


Many people say that we're to sensitive. Every group gets poked fun at. And that's true. Every group does get poked fun at, but most of the time.... those laughable pokes don't suggest that an entire group of people has ruined a piece of society. 


To say that I'm disappointed that the editors saw fit to publish this is an understatement. And I'm pretty sure that in 1931 when GQ was started, it was simply meant to be the "Vogue" for the men's fashion world. I don't think I have ever heard of Vogue magazine doing a piece like this. I'm sure I'd remember if there was controversy over Vogue doing a piece that was so insulting to so many different kinds of people. I guess the editors of GQ feel that controversy sells magazines. And they would be correct that controversy does sell magazines. Much like a car wreck on the highway causes traffic and rubbernecking so everyone can get a glimpse of the wreckage. 


So I guess like a supermarket tabloid, GQ has decided that quantity of sales is what truly matters. Not the quality of the pieces they publish. Thank you GQ magazine for clarifying that for me. 


For what it's worth, I know that not every person at GQ feels the way Mr. Thompson and the editor who published this slideshow do. But.... you're only as good as your weakest link. 


Here is the letter I sent to GQ. 

I must say that after looking at this slideshow and reading the descriptions...... I am highly disappointed that your editors would see fit to print something as disgraceful as: John Thompson of GQ magazine writes, "Boston suffers from a kind of Style Down Syndrome, where a little extra ends up ruining everything!"

As a mother whose son happens to have Down syndrome, I'd really like to know what Mr. Thompson is implying exactly. Is Mr. Thompson suggesting that my son's extra chromosome has ruined him or somehow ruined a part of society?

It is this kind of thing that perpetrates the notion that people with Down syndrome are somehow not as good as the rest of the population. It also serves to not only make Mr. Thompson look like a fool, but makes your company look even worse for showing the world that you not only condone this kind of behavior, but embrace it.

You might do a good deed for the day & provide Mr. Thompson with the knowledge that everyone's genetics has schmutz on it. Maybe that little bit extra on one of his genes causes a specific cancer. Maybe he has a little something extra on the genes that cause Alzheimer's or a bigger than average nose. Guess what? I don't think those things make Mr. Thompson any less of a person. I think his closed mindedness does.

Maybe you should take a cue from Walgreens. They have embraced people with different abilities and are showing the world that people of every ability are not only worth every bit as much as "you" and I, but probably more so. Here is a link from their website,  http://www.walgreens.com/t​opic/sr/disability_inclusi​on_home.jsp. You'll notice it says, "inclusion". Not "Those bastards have peed in my gene pool." Again..... maybe you'll follow their lead. Maybe Mr. Thompson would do well with a little course in sensitivity training. Actually.... being that Mr. Thompson has already shown his true colors, your company would do well to no longer have this kind of person making contributions.

Very truly yours,

Jennifer Scott
Mother to a wonderful little boy who is genetically ENHANCED
And someone who'll be spreading the word about what has been published


If you so wish, you may send your emails to:


Letters@gq.com and webletters@gq.com. You can also click here to follow the links to send an email to the editor. 


Also, the slide commentary has been changed since it was first published to read: But Boston is the epicenter of prep style!," you say? That's true, but it's with a little extra that ends up ruining everything: ..."