Event Recap: Diversability Unplugged: Disability & LGBTQIA+ Pride
On Wednesday, June 21st at 7 PM ET, we hosted Diversability Unplugged: Disability & LGBTQIA+ Pride, a panel discussion about the rising anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation being introduced across the United States, the intersection of ableism and homophobia, Pride month, and lack of access to Pride events.
Our panelists included:
Claire Raymond (she/they), Student, Disability activist
Andy Arias (he/him), Diversity and Policy SME
https://instagram.com/andyswheelz
https://twitter.com/andyswheelz
https://tiktok.com/@theandyarias
https://www.theandyarias.com
Suzanna Chen (she/they), Student, freelance journalist
Kayden Coleman (he/him), Transgender Advocate/Educator/Consultant
https://instagram.com/kaydenxofficial
https://TRANSgendatime.com
Mary Fashik, Diversability’s Community Engagement Manager, moderated the event.
The panelists discussed the intersection of LGBTQIA+ pride with their disabled identities. Andy shared that he had struggled to acknowledge his disability and often left it out when discussing his identities due to questioning and stereotypes associated with being disabled. However, he now recognizes the importance of acknowledging his disability as part of his whole identity. Pride, to him, means embracing every intersecting identity, including being disabled, and acknowledging the experiences and challenges that come with it.
Suzanna related to Kayden's experience of feeling the need to justify and validate their disability because of its invisibility. They both express frustration about the lack of representation and community for people who are both queer and disabled. Pride, for Suzanna, represents respect for existence outside societal binaries and norms, including both disability and queer identities. They highlight the potential synergy between the disabled and queer communities in advocating for acceptance and inclusivity.
Claire shares their journey of understanding their disability and the importance of representation in accepting their disabled identity. They discuss the challenges they face as a disabled person in terms of finding community and accessibility in social spaces. Kayden adds to the conversation by highlighting the difficulties he faces when going out as a disabled person, needing to cope with pain through excessive drinking, and the lack of understanding from others who see him enjoying himself but don't witness the aftermath or daily struggles. He also discussed the challenges he encounters when seeking accommodations, such as accessible shopping carts.
Overall, the panelists emphasized the need for acknowledgment, acceptance, and understanding of the intersectionality between disability and LGBTQIA+ identities within the context of pride. They shared personal experiences of facing misconceptions, stereotypes, and barriers and advocate for creating more inclusive spaces and communities.
Mary acknowledged that, even as a disabled person herself, she struggled to reconcile her queer identity with her disability due to societal norms and lack of representation.
Suzanna highlighted the lack of awareness and understanding of accessibility barriers in event planning, emphasizing that it goes beyond physical access and requires considering the needs of disabled individuals from the beginning of the planning process.
Andy goes deeper and addresses the attitudinal barriers within the LGBTQIA+ community, emphasizing the need for a shift in consciousness and perception to truly create inclusive spaces for disabled individuals.
Claire emphasized the importance of including disabled voices in the conversation and consulting with disabled individuals during event planning to ensure accessibility and an enjoyable experience for everyone. They also mentioned the positive example of an event in Orange County that listed accessible bathrooms, making disabled individuals feel welcomed and included.
Finally, Kayden related the exclusion of disabled people from Pride events to the broader issue of catering primarily to cisgender, heterosexual, and normative queer individuals. He expressed the need for more inclusive events that consider the accessibility needs of disabled individuals and highlight the challenges they face, such as walking long distances without accommodations.
The panelists discussed the lack of authentic disabled LGBTQIA+ representation in Hollywood and expressed their desire to see more diverse narratives and experiences on screen. They expressed frustration with the repetitive tropes of coming-of-age stories centered around white, able-bodied characters and emphasized the need for disabled, LGBTQIA+ individuals from different racial and ethnic backgrounds to be involved in the storytelling process. They highlighted the importance of capturing the unique experiences of disabled individuals navigating their identities and coming out within the LGBTQIA+ community. The panelists stressed the need for more inclusive and authentic representation that goes beyond the cookie-cutter narratives often presented in mainstream media. They expressed their desire to see stories that reflect their own experiences and challenge the dominant white, non-disabled narrative.
Mary asked Suzanna about her experiences as disabled and LGBTQIA+ in the UK compared to the United States. While she couldn’t speak representatively about the disabled LGBTQIA+ community in the UK since she has been living there for a relatively short time. However, she noted that there are cultural differences, such as the presence of microaggressions and subtle forms of exclusion in the UK. She also mentioned the ongoing debate between exclusionary feminism and transgender rights, which she believes is more pronounced in the UK.
Kayden talks about his experience of feeling pressured to drink during Pride celebrations, even though he didn't want to, highlighting the lack of respect for disabled individuals in those spaces. Mary emphasized the importance of creating accessible spaces that are alcohol-free, considering the needs of disabled individuals who may experience chronic pain or have personal reasons for not drinking.
Claire shared her personal journey of coming to terms with her LGBTQIA+ identity and experiencing a lack of representation and community support in her high school years. She mentions her first Pride parade and the meaningful experience of participating, but also acknowledges the challenges she faces as a wheelchair user in continuing to participate in physical parades.
The panelists touched on the topic of trauma and how it can shape their perspectives and reactions to certain situations. They emphasized that while they may try to make light of their experiences through humor, it is important to acknowledge that the lack of certain experiences and the impact of trauma are not okay. They expressed a desire for more inclusive and accessible Pride events in the future.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube and check out our upcoming events at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/diversability-8371536401