and on midgets

I'm not sure if I had introduced a lady at work who volunteers at the lab, I call her FHS (fat housewife scientist). Originally from a small city in China, she has been in the states only two years but her english is pretty good. (this is because she likes to talk quite a bit which helps a lot) A conversation from yesterday:

FHS: You know, weird, american children looks so old.
Me: ?? Oh yeah teenagers tend to put on lots of makeup.
FHS: No no. not teenagers. young young short children. They have old faces. Scary!
Me: Old faces? Perhaps they were midgets?
FHS: what. what is midget?
Me: Hmm. Um. *Hard to explain in simple english* Oh Ken, can you google midgets?
Me: Did they look like this?
FHS: YES! YES! SO OLD!
Me: They were midgets.
FHS: Urgh. Like gays.
Me: *wants to punch said FHS*


The last comment she made eluded to the fact that she did not like midgets or homosexuals. Previously, she has made quite a few comments stating her dislike and I've always been very caught off by them. I get so angry and disgusted at her said comments. My other co worker, also from China was reading over my shoulder the other day when I was reading about Shanghai's first gay festival. To which she said, It's a mental disease! Why are they celebrating a disease?! It is disgusting.

I felt so sad and mad, oh boy! Apparently in China, homosexuality was considered a mental illness until 2002. I'm aware that everyone is entitled to their own opinions but it is very difficult for me to comprehend how people dislike other people just because of who they love. I'm not sure why I am not more aggressive in my response to their statements, it makes me kind of sad at myself. I have to remind myself that that is their problems and not mine.