Disability, Queer Identity, and Spaces that are Welcoming
By Molly Brown
My name is Molly, and I am someone who experiences a learning disability, is neurodivergent, and has family members who experience disability. My passion for supporting individuals who experience disability, my lived experience as someone who experiences disability, and my commitment to inclusive communities that celebrate every individual’s unique gifts and differences are what bring me to FACT Oregon.
Individuals who experience disability live at the intersection of many different identities. I, too, live at the intersection of identities. Many offer me great privilege - for example, as a white, able-bodied person who has access to financial resources, stable housing, education, technology, transportation and membership in a vibrant community that is supportive and inclusive. In addition, I also live at the intersection of queer identity and disability. I identify as non-binary, which means that I don’t fit inside the narrow constraints of the gender binary. I use they/them pronouns and feel safest in spaces where that identity is welcomed and celebrated. My connection and commitment to my queer community, many of whom also experience disability and neurodivergence, is a key reason I was drawn to the work of FACT Oregon and remains my North Star, guiding all aspects of my life.
The needs and concerns of individuals with disabilities are often overlooked in policy and legislation. This is also the experience of many queer individuals. Policy and legislation are often written for the benefit of the “average” or “typical” person, by which we most often mean able bodied, white, English speaking, binary gendered, and resource-rich. But this excludes so many of us and keeps in place a status quo where those of us who don’t fit this definition continue to go underserved. Those who live at the intersection of queer identity and disability face so many unnecessary obstacles as they strive to live a full life. Issues of accessibility, discrimination, and ableism act as roadblocks on the way to achieving goals that for others may be easily met.
Growing up at the intersection of queer identity and disability can feel isolating and confusing in the heteronormative and ableist society we live in. Some of the obstacles I - and many others - face are rooted in inaccessibility - whether intentional by design or not. For example, many public spaces don’t provide an accessible and non-gendered restroom. A visit to the doctor means being forced to disclose your assigned birth gender. At school, you are segregated because of a disability and/or discriminated against because of your gender expression. This can even mean being barred from joining teams or groups that adhere to the gender binary. Navigating spaces which are both inaccessible for people with disabilities AND unwelcoming for individuals who are LGBTQIA+ can be isolating, discouraging, and anxiety-producing. It can be hard to know if a space will be safe, welcoming, non-judgmental, and inclusive when you live at this intersection. The focus of my work is to create more awareness around gender diversity and disability, to encourage inclusive communities and events that are held in accessible spaces, and to celebrate individual differences rather than attempt to hide them.
My hope for the future is that more spaces - including our school communities - will be gender inclusive, accessible, and safe for all people, including those who live at the intersection of multiple identities. FACT Oregon has that same hope. They recognize the value and contributions of all people regardless of race, ability, gender identity, language, and more. They believe disability to be a natural part of life in the same way I know queer identity is a natural part of life. When advocating for disability rights, FACT Oregon stands hand in hand with individuals fighting for equal rights for ALL. This means that we must stand with communities and individuals who are Black and brown, trans, disabled, queer, low income, immigrant/migrant, and more. The work begins here and does not end until we experience a world that does not exclude because of differences but celebrates diversity with whistles and bells.
Will you join me and FACT Oregon in this work? Take a step now and sign up for our Legislative and Policy Updates to keep abreast and get involved in community action.