Project by: Taylor Simmons
Keywords: Queer women (nonbinary/wlw relationships), intersectionality, Black identity, accessibility, Disability Rights
Audio Description of the photo
Featured Image: https://affecttheverb.com/gallery/disabledandhere/proudlyqtpoc/
Project Description: My project will explore the lives of black, disabled, and queer folks while highlighting the different struggles that they go through while managing their intersectional identities. This will tend to focus more on Lesbian and Bisexual women (wlw). I will also discuss how accessible queer and black spaces are for members of the disability community. There will be descriptions of queer bars and pride parades as well as how the Black community sees, treats, and incorporates disability into the Black experience. Lastly, I will explore intersectional invisibility and the impact that has not only on the individual, but also on institutions, safe spaces, and the identities of the respective community.
Audio description of project
Dating Experiences
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Featured image: https://vocal.media/motivation/the-interabled-disabled-couple
Audio Description of picture
Featured Image: https://affecttheverb.com/gallery/disabledandhere/sleepingcouple/
Fact: Only 24% of SSI recipients over age 18 are married, compared to 57% of the general population.
Fact: According to estimates from the 2019 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC), there are 543,000 same-sex married couple households and 469,000 households with same-sex unmarried partners living together. This compares to 61.4 million opposite-sex married and 8 million opposite-sex unmarried partner households. In addition, 191,000 children live with same-sex parents.
Dating can be more challenging for individuals who are Black, queer, and disabled due to intersecting societal prejudices. Racism, homophobia, and ableism compound, creating unique hurdles. Stereotypes and misconceptions about disability, limited representation in media, and systemic biases contribute to misconceptions. The intersectionality of identities can lead to feeling marginalized in both LGBTQ+ and disability communities. Overcoming these challenges requires dismantling systemic prejudices, fostering inclusivity, and acknowledging the diverse experiences within marginalized groups. It calls for a more intersectional approach to relationships, acknowledging and respecting the multifaceted identities individuals bring to dating.
“I’m tired of the “Woe Is Me” dating narratives for disabled women. As a disabled woman I know and thoroughly understand the struggles of dating while disabled, which, in some ways, has contributed to my online dating mishaps. People erroneously believe that disabled women are not interested in dating, will date just anyone, or cannot be “picky” because we should be grateful to have someone being willing to date us in the first place. All of these offensive ideas stymie our ability to confidently date online and in person, as well as allow potential romantic suitors to view us equally as our able-bodied counterparts. Some disabled women shy away from dating altogether due to these inaccurate views surrounding our sexuality, femininity, ‘womanness’, and ‘dateability’. There are many articles online about our fears in finding love at all, struggles with accepting ourselves and combating what society says about who and what we should be, and trusting the attention we do receive and not dismissing it for politeness. These narratives are indeed important to addressing the challenges we endure; however, there are fewer articles that candidly detail what dating with a disability as a woman looks like once we refuse to internalize the sexism and ableism surrounding our identities, bodies, and dating potential” (Thompson)
Black and Disability Justice: Past and Present
Featured Image: https://medium.com/afrosapiophile/black-disability-history-vol-i-reclaiming-the-history-of-the-black-disabled-experience-bd21f2a02656
Audio Description:
History of the Black-Crip Movement
The history of Black disability justice is marked by activism, tenacity, and a persistent fight for inclusion. Black people with disabilities sometimes found themselves on the outside of conversations about racial inequality in the 1960s as the Civil Rights Movement gained momentum. As the 1970s approached, disability activism grew in popularity. People with disabilities like Brad Lomax, a Black panther, made a vital contribution to discussions about intersectionality, highlighting the connection between discrimination based on race and disability. Disability rights activists like Harriet McBryde Johnson were pressing for legislative changes and challenging societal conceptions of disability by the 1980s, when the movement was at its peak.
Mia Mingus is a queer, disabled woman of color who became well-known in the 1990s. Born with polio, Mingus draws on her experiences to challenge societal norms. In the 1990s and 2000s, she emerged as a critical voice, emphasizing the interconnectedness of race, gender, and disability justice. She coined the term “access intimacy”and Mingus co-founded the Bay Area Transformative Justice Collective, contributing to discussions on transformative justice. Her work redefines disability, fostering creativity within marginalized communities.
In order to highlight the creative and musical abilities of crippled musicians, Black activist Leroy F. Moore Jr. co-founded the Krip-Hop Nation in the early 2000s, leaving his mark. His work promoted artistic expression at the nexus of hip-hop culture and handicap, challenging preconceptions.
As the 2000s have progressed, fresh perspectives keep surfacing, extending the groundwork established by past advocates. Recognizing the disproportionate impact of the virus on this group, the Black Disability Coalition was established in response to the issues presented by the COVID-19 epidemic. Its mission is to advocate for the rights of Black individuals who are disabled. Black disability activists have been fighting for inclusive policies, confronting institutional hurdles, and emphasizing the interconnectedness of race and disability for decades. The continuous work of these activists advances our understanding of justice, equality, and Black people with disabilities’ empowerment. The history of Black disability justice shows the ongoing battles for a more equal and inclusive society in addition to the advancements that have been made.
Featured Image: https://affecttheverb.com/gallery/disabledandhere/nothingaboutwithout/
Audio Description
What Can We Do?
How do our everyday encounters with computing technologies (whether social media, electronic health platforms, streaming content, medical devices, or e-commerce) reflect cultural values about what makes a “desirable” or “ideal” body-mind?
It is important for queer Black people to comprehend how cultural ideas about the “ideal” body-mind are reflected in everyday contacts with computing technologies for multiple reasons. Representation and Visibility: Promoting more inclusive and diverse representations is made easier when cultural biases in technology are acknowledged. By enabling queer Black people to be visible in digital places, it dispels prejudices and supports a wider range of identities. Mental Health and Well-Being: Queer Black people’s mental health depends on their understanding of the cultural values that are ingrained in digital platforms. It helps people navigate environments that could uphold damaging standards, promoting self-acceptance and resilience. Building Communities: By recognizing how cultural values influence computing technology, queer Black communities can be better equipped to design and sustain inclusive platforms. This may result in the creation of venues that honor various body-mind experiences. Advocacy and Policy: Equipped with knowledge about how cultural biases are reflected in technology, Black queer people may fight for laws that deal with issues of discrimination, privacy, and representation in digital environments.
Essentially, this understanding enables queer Black people to interact critically with digital spaces, promoting agency, community, and overall well-being in a society where technology is becoming more and more pervasive.
For queer Black people, the ways in which race, gender, sexual orientation, and class interact with disabilities have a significant impact on how everyday technologies are designed and used. This effect is influenced by historical and modern variables in multiple ways:
Accessibility and Representation: Due to historical oppression, there is frequently little representation of Black people and the LGBTQ+ community in technology. Comprehending these intersections encourages inclusive design, making sure that technologies accommodate a range of skills and backgrounds.
The digital divide is a result of socioeconomic variables, which are frequently associated with racial and class disparities. Due to economic inequality, queer Black persons with disabilities may encounter difficulties using technology. Recognizing these linkages makes regulations pertaining to digital inclusion necessary.
How do disability’s historical and contemporary intersections with race, gender, sexuality, and class inform the design and use of everyday technologies?
For queer Black people, the ways in which race, gender, sexual orientation, and class interact with disabilities have a significant impact on how everyday technologies are designed and used. This effect is influenced by historical and modern variables in multiple ways: Accessibility and Representation: Due to historical oppression, there is frequently little representation of Black people and the LGBTQ+ community in technology. Comprehending these intersections encourages inclusive design, making sure that technologies accommodate a range of skills and backgrounds. The digital divide is a result of socioeconomic variables, which are frequently associated with racial and class disparities. Due to economic inequality, queer Black persons with disabilities may encounter difficulties using technology. Recognizing these linkages makes regulations pertaining to digital inclusion necessary. Cultural Competence in Healthcare Technologies: Racial, sexual, and disability intersections affect patient experiences in healthcare settings. Technologies must be developed with the unique health requirements of Black queer people with disabilities in mind, fostering inclusive, culturally competent healthcare. Strong anti-discrimination safeguards in technology are required due to historical discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. This raises privacy concerns. Due to the possibility that queer Black people with disabilities are more susceptible to privacy violations, inclusive and secure design is crucial. Technology is essential to the process of creating a community. Comprehending the historical and modern intersections facilitates the creation of digital platforms that address the unique requirements and experiences of Black gay people with disabilities, hence promoting a feeling of inclusion.
“Black disabled people experience higher levels of police violence and the school-to-prison praxis in ways that are often overlooked. We also experience higher rates of unemployment than our white disabled counterparts and non-disabled Black counterparts.
And yet our Blackness is often seen as a distraction in the disability justice movement. And our concerns are rarely prioritized by other movements because people fail to see how our lives are impacted by white supremacy and ableist culture. But we can’t have our race or disability take a backseat because fragmenting our identity means we are not seen. And without truly seeing one another, liberation can’t happen” (Sanjay).
In conclusion, designing and utilizing everyday technologies for queer Black people requires an understanding of the complex intersections between disability and race, gender, sexual orientation, and class. It tackles structural injustices, promotes diversity, and ensures that technology empowers people rather than perpetuates current inequality.
Aaron Phillip
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Featured Image: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/aaron-philip-dazed-beauty/index.html
As a trailblazing disabled model, Aaron Philip has pushed for inclusivity and broken down barriers to redefine standards in the fashion business. Philip, who was born with cerebral palsy, found it difficult to find other disabled people in the fashion industry. She became the first Black model to gain a significant contract at the age of seventeen in 2018 when she signed with Elite Model Management. She is also the first transgender model with physical disabilities. Philip’s presence inspires the industry to accept diversity and defies conventional standards of beauty. She uses her platform to promote gender diversity and disability rights in addition to modeling. Her advocacy goes beyond addressing the fashion industry’s lack of accessibility, as she advocates for advertisements and runway shows that accurately depict a range of identities and abilities. “Although she consistently rejects the activist label (“i’m not an activist,” she tweeted in December, “i just give a f*** lol.”), the Antigua-born model is nonetheless vocal about her high expectations for the industry. There’s still a great lack of visibility and attention towards people with disabilities in fashion,” she said. “As of right now, I’m one of two physically disabled models in the entire industry, next to Jillian Mercado” (Holland). The work of Aaron Philip is proof of the influence of representation and the possibility of revolutionary transformation in the fashion industry.
Local Activism
A group of Detroit-based organizations coordinated a Black Disabled Lives Matter demonstration on June 15, 2020, in response to the increased COVID-19 risks in communities of color and people with disabilities. They carefully considered accessibility when planning sanitation and separation procedures. Black and disabled, all of the speakers matched the demands of the protesters who were most impacted by police violence. They had little time to plan, but they took their time getting ready for the protest and march, making sure everyone’s requirements were satisfied. The goal of documentation through media creation was to upend narrative gaps in the mainstream while protecting people’s privacy. Disability etiquette was covered in volunteer training, cleanup activities were planned, and accessibility was given priority with tools like ground markings and transparent masks. Remote participation was made possible through livestreaming, and medical personnel, protest marshals, and legal observers provided on-site assistance. The march route and rally site were also selected with participant convenience and inclusivity in mind.
Accessibility and Inclusion in Queer Spaces
Featured Image: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/06/10/metro/boston-streets-vibrant-saturday-morning-with-colors-pride/. – Audio Description –
Queer pride festivals take place all over the world, but many remain exclusive of the disability community despite many members sharing both identities. “Amongst the LGBTQ+ community, it is estimated that more than one-third identify as disabled (Respectability. 2022). This includes invisible disabilities like those with learning difficulties and those who are neurodivergent. Despite this high percentage, during Pride celebrations across the globe, “accessibility is often an afterthought” (Annie Segarra, CNN. 2019). According to a disability rights activist interviewed for Politico, 2022, accessibility is still “something we do, rather than something that is integral to who we are.” This does not align with the values of inclusivity and diversity within the LGBTQ+ community. Inaccessibility = exclusivity” (Franco).
What Can We Do?
To improve accessibility for people with mental and physical disabilities during Gay Pride celebrations, we should make sure the locations have seating places, quiet areas for people with sensory issues (I don’t have any sensory issues but became very overstimulated at Chicago Pride because of the heat, noise level, and secondhand-smoke), and wheelchair accessibility. We should teach assistance practices and handicap etiquette to event staff, add closed captioning to presentations and other visual content, provide ASL interpreters and encourage inclusive communication for events. When organizing events, give mental health services first priority and take a variety of requirements into account. “Pride month is a celebration of queer resilience and resistance. A time for the LGBTQ+ community to collectively rejoice in self-acceptance. Pride is also a great opportunity for LGBTQ+ allies to show their encouragement and support for inclusivity” (Franco).
How Can We Make Queer Spaces More Inclusive of Black and Brown People?
It’s critical to highlight intersectionality and address the particular difficulties that Black and Brown communities confront in order to make LGBT spaces more inclusive of these groups. In addition to aggressively pursuing diverse participation in leadership positions, organizers ought to partner with racial equity-focused organizations. Programs and events should recognize the connections of race, gender, and sexuality while celebrating the vast diversity found within the LGBTQ+ community. Create an atmosphere that honors and respects the various cultural identities, experiences, and backgrounds. Make accessibility a top priority by making sure that venues and events are inclusive of people with diverse abilities. Establish conversation forums to discuss topics unique to Black and Brown LGBTQ+ people in order to promote understanding and allyship. In the end, proactive efforts toward inclusivity, elevating the voices of the oppressed, and recognizing the multifaceted nature of identity are crucial.
Example
Featured Image: https://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/08/16/new-lesbian-bar-a-league-of-her-own-opens-in-adams-morgan/ – Audio Description –
A League of Her Own is a Lesbian Bar located in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, the establishment has negative reviews that both Black and/or queer patrons would take into consideration before entering. All were 1/5 Google Reviews!
“I’ve not had a good experience with any LGBTQ+ bar in DC, and this place wasn’t good either. if you are not white, they will look at you like you’re an alien from outer space at many of these bars, including this one we’ve seen often on for the past few years how these bars in DC operate with being racist. You would think these places would be welcoming in accepting but in reality if you’re not white they do not want you there. most of the good reviews that I seen before writing this are written by White people. I have not seen a good review from a person of color and that should tell you all you need to know” (Gabriella Miernak).
“Fully still at the bar. But wanted to do a review. I’ve been to this club 40leven times and this is the first time I’ve come dresses up. (Halloween.) Apparently the “female” bar back lady said I was swinging my cane. (I came at Papa Legba S3 of AHS-Coven) and I was told I had to check my plastic cane because I was swinging it. Which I was not. When the “security” came to my table my cane was ON THE TABLE. Out of
My hands and they made me check it because someone said I was swinging it. Make it make sense. How can I swing something that wasn’t in my hand? Being BLACK in AmeriKKKa is the hardest thing. I will tank their ratings. I will create multiple accounts just to rate them 1/5 stars for discrimination” (Autumne Jae).
“Completely inaccessible to disabled queers. I don’t just mean your casual, everyday ableism where they have stairs and no ramp or elevator or lift. I mean they outright ban visibly disabled people from entering their bar, even if it’s pouring rain outside, and if you have some sort of mobility aid like a wheelchair, they will follow you around, watch you struggle up the stairs with the help of friends, then tell you that you’re actually only allowed in one tiny, restricted area of the club, presumably where the least amount of patrons will have to be reminded that disabled people are here, queer, and effing ANGRY at ableism in queer spaces!!!” (Cassie N)
“This weekend my friend was discriminated against simply for being in a wheelchair. As a queer woman I was repulsed by the staffs behavior. The idea that this place is a representative of the queer community makes me sick. This bar is NOT a safe place if you are not able bodied and should be avoided by everyone who values inclusivity and accessibility. This site really needs to make 0 stars a thing for cases like this. I’m attaching screenshots from her thread explaining what happened while we were there. Be an ally and avoid supporting queer spaces that are not inclusive” (Corrie B.)
These reviews show that safe spaces still have work to do when it comes to equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Intersectional Invisibility
Featured Image :https://medium.com/jo%CD%9Eo%CB%88%C9%A1%C3%A4d/intersectional-invisibility-the-expansive-experiences-of-black-lives-351ce2feb7d5
Audio Description:
What is Intersectional Invisibility? “Intersectional invisibility describes the experience of being unseen when identity is flattened by ascribing group membership to a single category (vs. multiple groups) and prioritizing prototypical models within those categories. For WOC specifically, they are invisible since they are neither prototypical representations of women (typically thought of as white) nor people of color (typically thought of as men). Therefore, WOC simultaneously occupy two subordinate positions that render their intersectional identities invisible, which may contribute to intersectional invisibility when others fail to fully consider WOC within their constituent groups”(Jackson).
What Does This Mean for Black and Queer Folks?
Intersectionality is often harder for Black women due to the compounding effects of race and gender biases. Black women face unique challenges that result from the intersection of racism and sexism. Their experiences may be marginalized or overlooked, making it critical to recognize and address the complex layers of discrimination they encounter. This complexity requires a more nuanced understanding and concerted effort to dismantle systemic barriers that disproportionately affect Black women.
Personal Story (Trigger Warning of slurs of Sexual Assault Mentioned)
In my personal experience as a Black and queer woman, I have experienced slight discrimination, but I don’t have any horror stories like my friends do. One story that stands out to me was when my friend (Z), was talking about a time where she was walking with her girlfriend holding hands and a group of men passing by started to haggle them. During the verbal altercation one of the guys told Z that her body was to nice to be a {fag} and proceeded to grab one of her boobs. The police were notified, but no further action was taken to make sure the boys faced a consequence.
As I mentioned, I have never had a direct homophobic encounter, but it is something that I think about, especially when I’m walking alone or it’s dark. It’s a constant fear of wondering what to say and what to do if that happens. I’m privileged enough to have accepting friends, family, and a hometown, but the possibility of what-if never leaves.
What Can We Do?
We expanded on this theory with Detroit Disability in November.
This phenomenon can be challenged with the “big tent” theory. This is the notion describes an all-encompassing and inclusive strategy for disability activism and advocacy. In light of the fact that disability is a varied and intersecting experience, it highlights the need to build a broad and diverse coalition that includes people with a range of disabilities. Regardless of their individual circumstances, this strategy fosters solidarity among individuals with disabilities in order to address shared problems, advance inclusivity, and fight for equal rights and opportunities. By recognizing the diversity of experiences and viewpoints among its members, the “big tent” idea seeks to promote cooperation, solidarity, and understanding within the disability community.
Bibliography
Connelly, Eileen Aj. “Overlooked No More: Brad Lomax, a Bridge between Civil Rights Movements.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 8 July 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/07/08/obituaries/brad-lomax-overlooked.html.
Franco, Az. “Accessibility at Pride.” Lucy & Yak, lucyandyak.com/en-us/blogs/news/accessibility-at-pride. Accessed 15 Dec. 2023.
Hevesi, Dennis. “Harriet Johnson, 50, Activist for Disabled, Is Dead.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 7 June 2008, www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/us/07johnson.html.
Holland, Oscar. “Aaron Philip: The Trans, Disabled Model Taking on a $2-Trillion Industry.” CNN, Cable News Network, 18 Feb. 2019, www.cnn.com/style/article/aaron-philip-dazed-beauty/index.html.
https://affecttheverb.com/gallery/disabledandhere/nothingaboutwithout/
https://affecttheverb.com/gallery/disabledandhere/proudlyqtpoc/
https://affecttheverb.com/gallery/disabledandhere/sleepingcouple/
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03616843221106087?icid=int.sj-full-text.citingarticles.24#:~:text=Intersectional%20invisibility%20describes%20the%20experience,prototypical%20models%20within%20those%20categories
https://medium.com/afrosapiophile/black-disability-history-vol-i-reclaiming-the-history-of-the-black-disabled-experience-bd21f2a02656
https://medium.com/jo%CD%9Eo%CB%88%C9%A1%C3%A4d/intersectional-invisibility-the-expansive-experiences-of-black-lives-351ce2feb7d5
https://vocal.media/motivation/the-interabled-disabled-couple
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/06/10/metro/boston-streets-vibrant-saturday-morning-with-colors-pride/
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/cps.html&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1702632113196596&usg=AOvVaw11F0itH0u2CKrI-U79CxzX
https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/issuepapers/ip2003-01.html
https://www.washingtonblade.com/2018/08/16/new-lesbian-bar-a-league-of-her-own-opens-in-adams-morgan/
Jackson, Adrianna, et al. “Managing Intersectional Invisibility and … – Sage Journals.” Managing Intersectional Invisibility and Hypervisibility During the Transition to College Among First-Generation Women of Color, journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03616843221106087?icid=int.sj-full-text.citing-articles.24. Accessed 15 Dec. 2023.
Sen, Sanjay. “It’s Time to Listen to Black Disabled People.” Essence, Essence, 6 Dec. 2020, www.essence.com/news/in-defense-of-black-lives/ada-black-disabled-people/.
Thompson, Vilissa, and RampYourVoice. “Online Dating Adventures of a Single Black Disabled Woman.” Simone Digital, 29 Nov. 2016, simonedigital.com/dating-adventures-of-a-single-black-disabled-woman/.
“#BlackLivesMatter.” Disability Power, www.detroitdisabilitypower.org/blm. Accessed 15 Dec. 2023.
“Leroy F. Moore.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/leroy-f-moore. Accessed 15 Dec. 2023.
“Mia Mingus.” Ford Foundation, 19 July 2023, www.fordfoundation.org/fellows/mia-mingus/.
Audio description of search bar tool
Project Links: https://imagining-access.net/
