Dr. Ju Gosling advocates for recognizing disabled LGBTQ+ individuals as sexual beings during Disability Pride Month. Celebrated every July, this event highlights the achievements and resilience of disabled people. Gosling, an artist and co-chair of Regard, addresses detrimental stereotypes suggesting disabled individuals are asexual or genderless, which leads to the marginalization of their sexual identities. She stresses the importance of visibility for overlooked issues within the LGBTQ+ community, particularly concerning disabled and racial minority groups. Gosling emphasizes that societal prejudices persistently impact individuals' recognition of their sexual orientation.
Gosling emphasizes the vital need for visibility within the LGBTQ+ community, stating, "As an LGBTQ+ community, we need to look at the issues facing people of colour and disabled people." She highlights the importance of recognizing the diverse experiences within these communities and avoiding assumptions that they all share the same challenges.
Gosling addresses harmful stereotypes that portray disabled individuals as asexual or childlike. She asserts, "There's still this idea that disabled people can't be gay... These attitudes allow abuse to go unchecked because sexuality is hidden and seen as wrong if you're disabled." This statement underlines the prejudices that contribute to the erasure of the sexual identities of disabled individuals.
Ju remarks on the societal neglect of sexual orientation for disabled individuals, stating, "People assume we don't have a sexual orientation or face discrimination. It's just an absolute lack of visibility." This reflection illustrates how misperceptions continue to erase the unique identities of disabled LGBTQ+ members.
She critiques the broader societal influences on perceptions of disability, saying, "These are social issues. People absorb these prejudices without realizing it. I spent years wondering why raising disability issues in LGBTQ+ spaces was so difficult." Her perspective sheds light on the deep-seated biases that exist within community spaces.
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