Apr 30, 2016
Meet the creators of “Queer and Disabled” – Annie, Robyn, Erin & Rachel. These four Youtubers recently collaborated to create one of the most informative, fun and revealing series we’ve seen from the Youtube queer community. The representation of queer disabled women in the media has to be one of the lowest out there and yet the need for it is so incredibly great. We were able to ask these four incredible people about the series, what it means to them and what everyone needs to understand about being and dating queer and disabled people.
Tell us about Queer & Disabled – what is the series about, who’s involved and what should a viewer expect?
Erin: “Queer and Disabled” is about being queer and disabled! About all the trials and tribulations of regular dating and online dating as a non-heterosexual disabled person.
Robyn: Basically we answer questions about the intersection of identifying as queer and being disabled as well as discussing some of the misconceptions people have of us as a minority group.
How did you all meet each other?
Annie: The simple answer is Tumblr. The first time I saw Rachel was a photo of her where she was in all black, had silver hair and was standing with her cane, instantly I was like, “I have to know this person”, we ended up communicating more back and forth on YouTube and Instagram though. Robyn had a pretty big presence on Tumblr, she’s one of those people you can’t miss with her edgy hairstyles and her cool wheelchair with the stickers on it. And Erin makes fantastic videos on Tumblr, disability topics and stories, we started speaking a bit more after our photos were picked up for our Kylie Jenner cover shoot re-enactments.
What was the aim for the series for each of you, what would you like people to take from it?
Robyn: To show other young queer and disabled individuals that they are not alone and if we work together we can become more visible to the wider society. I think the more open we are about the issues we face the more understanding people and in turn we will face less prejudice.
Rachel: I think that the intersection between sexuality and disability isn’t discussed enough. My disability involves chronic pain and illness which can be very isolating in itself, I want to discuss this experience as well as sexuality openly because I want other young queer and disabled people to know that they aren’t alone.
Erin: That dating for disabled people is different and maybe just to be mindful of disabled people in their own dating preferences because I know that disabled people aren’t exactly at the top of everyone’s dating pool so it would be nice to maybe switch it up a little bit [laughs].
Annie: This is just a few voices of MANY diverse people within the two communities, there are so many sexual and romantic identities and there are so many different types of disability, this is just the START of even larger and more complex conversations and I hope you’ll want to hear them. I hope people will acknowledge our existence, consider accessibility when it comes to their spaces and online design, I hope people will demand more and accurate disability representation in the media, I hope non-disabled people are ready to have disabled people’s backs, to listen to what we have to say, listen to our stories.
What are your top tips for online dating for people who identify as queer and disabled?
Robyn: I would honestly say to just be yourself. The right people will be interested regardless of your disability and it shouldn’t be something you have to hide or anything like that. Have fun with it!
Annie: Don’t be afraid to message first, don’t assume no one on the site is interested in talking to you because of your disability, get to know someone through their profile and chat about similar interests. Post some fun and flattering photos!
And what about people who are checking out the profile of a disabled queer person?
Annie: If you have any questions about our disability just try and be respectful about it, sometimes it can be a very sensitive topic, so it’s always safer to say “May I ask about… at this time?” and reassure them that “If not, it’s okay, I’m happy to talk about something else.” Disabilities are part of our everyday lives, it can seem foreign to you, but for us, it’s as familiar as our reflection. Whether we were born with it or became disabled at some point, we’ve adapted and learned to do things just a little differently than you would do. Please know that a disabled person can be just as sexy, funny, smart, quirky, talented, etc, as any able bodied person. I know that, but do YOU know that?
Rachel: I think we’re all pretty cute so you’re damn right you should be checking out a queer disabled
person’s profile! 😜
What do people always misunderstand about being queer & disabled?
Robyn: In large, I think we are just not seen by wider society and this leads to a lot of problems like fetishization. It comes down to misrepresentation and a lack of representation altogether.
Annie: There is this idea that by default disabled people hate themselves or feel ugly, or are doomed to be unhappy until they are not disabled. Some people still don’t know that some wheelchair users can walk and proceed to harass them when they do. Some people don’t understand how chronic pain can fluctuate, how one can be physically capable of one action in one moment, but then unable to the next. Some people see objects that create accessibility and call it “lazy” like pre-cut or pre-peeled food, spinning forks, automatic robot vacuums, etc. Some people think accessibility is an extra, it’s a “nice” thing to do, when really, it’s the right thing to do, it’s equality.
Where can we find out more – and can we find you on Her?! Send links to your profile if yes!
Annie: Not yet! I’m waiting for it to become available on Android here in Miami! (still on Dattch though!)But you can get me on: YouTube & Tumblr
Rachel: I’m on HER but need to find the link to my profile! Then I’m on YouTube & Tumblr
Robyn: You can find me on YouTube and Tumblr
Erin: Im here on Tumblr
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Be sure to check out Queer and Disabled on Youtube
