Intersectionality of Identifying as Disabled and LGBTQIA+

It's Pride month, so this blog is related to having two different identities and the relationship between them. Have you heard the term intersectionality? A definition can be 'the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage' (Oxford Definition). I want to talk about the intersectionality between the disability community and the LGBTQIA+ community. 

Members of these different communities share similar experiences with coming up against barriers and discrimination, and this intersectionality is highly complex. There are different identities that the individual may struggle with singularly, but when these identities are mixed, it raises unique challenges for the individual. Societal norms on sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as norms around ability, often work to deny LGBTQIA+ people and people with disabilities opportunities that others do not even think of as an issue. We need so much more exploration to do when navigating this journey and getting the most out of our life experiences. At the risk of sounding like I am trying to be younger than I am, we all deserve to live our best lives.  

I have had a journey on its own based on identifying as bisexual. This experience has been long and one that I have only really come out to my best friend about. I feel much more comfortable identifying as a disabled woman than I am about identifying as bisexual. I have been doing a lot more exploration recently, and I am realising that just because I am married to a man doesn't mean that I can't still identify as LGBTQIA+. I have a likely flawed belief that I will not be welcomed into the community due to appearing heterosexual. This is my own internalized fears and may not be how I would actually be received if I did want to explore the LGBTQIA+ community. The LGBTQIA+ community is historically extremely marginalized, and I think the intersection with the disabled community is thought-provoking.

I have investigated pride events, and there is little information about accessibility for these events, so I have shied away. But, my reaction to finally finding a pride event organized by disabled people for LGBTQIA+ disabled people was an absolute joy, and I have never felt more seen. This event has thought of everything from the accessibility of price to bringing an essential companion for free. It is also online as well as in person for those who are unable to leave the house. I can only hope this is the start of pride events that are more accessible for people with disabilities, for this community demographic to be thought about, and to make us feel valued. 

To make a pride event accessible to all, the organizers need to ensure that providing assistive technologies, sign language interpretation, captioning, accessible facilities, and sensitive healthcare services that consider the specific needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals with disabilities. This includes quiet rooms for those who have sensory needs and neurodiverse individuals. 

I have just "come out" to my friends and a few people close to me recently in the last few months. I must admit that at the age of 44 and in a marriage with a man, I asked myself what the point was. But I think  I want to feel comfortable in my whole identity. I have fully embraced my disabled identity, and I love that part of me. Therefore, I think, for me the next steps are embracing my bisexual identity and becoming comfortable with that. I am going to be attending my first Pride event at the end of June, and I hope I will feel included and part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I am pretty nervous about going due to anxieties surrounding acceptance. I have yet to receive any negativity surrounding being bisexual, as this has been a very new experience for me, but I am looking forward to this new part of my life. So, during this Pride month, let's all be authentic and proud of it. I'm pushing myself right out of my comfort zone and trusting in the process. Remember that if you are in a straight-passing relationship, you are valid in the gay community.