The fight against ableism is important for queer people

We want to reiterate that every single person here has and will experience ableism in their lifetimes. Not only will almost everyone become disabled at some point, but the way hate against queer people works in society is meant to be disabling. Just look at what is happening to trans people right now. Hate against trans people aims to make society as inaccessible as possible for them. Anti-trans sentiments are directed at their access to healthcare, to exercise, and even to something as utterly basic as a public bathroom! Being at the intersection of disabled and trans means access to these things is restricted even further. The late trans, disabled icon Sylvia Rivera said it best. “They have been brainwashed by this fucked up system that has condemned us and by doctors that call us a disease and a bunch of freaks.” We need to recognise ableism for what it is. The fight against ableism is important for queer people. Disabled people also need spaces where they can explore their identities and sexualities. Not having these spaces has kept us trapped in closets fighting against inaccessibility. And we have more to talk about than just accessibility and medical diagnoses. Kirsten Hearn, co-founder of Sisters Against Disablement and Lesbians And Gays Unite In Disability, summarized this perfectly in 1986: “We wanted to talk to you about body image, about symmetry, about the way in which we relate to each other, about sex, about many other things. You have forced us to talk about access.”

Judith, Mira, Jax, Nadia en Noah in Speech for the Dyke March (Feministsagainstableism.nl)