The media often infantilizes and de-sexualizes disabled people. Disability advocate and self-described “queer cripple content creator” Andrew Gurza wanted to challenge this trend by resurrecting the hashtag #DisabledPeopleAreHot, and it’s caught on.
Gurza tells LGBTQ Nation that a few European media outlets, the BBC and The New York Times have all interviewed him or covered his campaign.
Approximately one in five Americans has a disability, and aging and illness ensure that we’ll all experience a physical or intellectual disability at some point. As such, Gurza has long pushed for greater disabled inclusion in media, social and sexual spaces through his podcast Disability After Dark and his Twitter feed.
Gurza has cerebral palsy, a congenital disorder that can impair movement, muscle tone and posture. He says navigating a sex life can sometimes be a “nightmare” for people with disabilities.
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Along with the hashtag’s many users, many LGBTQ people with disabilities and people with invisible disabilities have shared images too. Here’s a small sampling of queer and non-queer people posting #DisabledPeopleAreHot pics.
I’m in a chair but still pulling off this crop top 💖🥰#DisabledPeopleAreHot pic.twitter.com/ES3i4xqUUN
— 🌸riley texas reznikoff🌸 (@tsundere_enby) February 17, 2019
I’m 26 and have mild cerebral palsy. My balance issues will always be prevalent, and people assume I get “scared” easily because I get jumpy. It’s my cerebral palsy’s natural reaction. XD
#DisabledPeopleAreHot pic.twitter.com/1Nx3ZRDTY7
— Marcus Flack #SaveTheBadlands (@Marcus_Flack2) February 18, 2019
I just love these hashtags. #DisabledPeopleAreHot pic.twitter.com/UXV7zMv1cm
— Mahkyla Lynn (@Nebulas_End) February 18, 2019
#DisabledPeopleAreHot i can definitely get with this hashtag she fione fione 😍😘 pic.twitter.com/QvC9Z8j2WO
— ♿Jew-E'L Darbone'♿ (@Jew_ELstar06) February 18, 2019
⚔️
Local autistic plural system with the garbage ankles and crackley joints checking in #DisabledPeopleAreHot pic.twitter.com/LHCJrLIOf0
— The Garden (@TheGardenGroves) February 18, 2019
And I can fly too. #DisabledPeopleAreHot pic.twitter.com/piU0s1uhDo
— David J. Ley PhD (@DrDavidLey) February 18, 2019
About time I post something that makes me feel good, especially about myself. I think I look great here #DisabledPeopleAreHot pic.twitter.com/cTfuClGVn7
— David, Social Justice Warlock🇵🇷 (@theinkedknight) February 17, 2019
#DisabledPeopleAreHot What a nice hashtag. I may be autistic, but damn boi, I got some FIRE facial hair. pic.twitter.com/QMkyOobwbG
— Copper 🐻 (@TotalWhovian) February 18, 2019
Never let anyone tell you otherwise pic.twitter.com/S0Ki6nETI1
— 𝖀𝖓 𝖙𝖆𝖑 𝕹𝖞𝖝 𝕳𝖆𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖙𝖔𝖓 (@NdotHam) February 18, 2019
“Disability and sexuality [are] still so taboo,” Gurza explains. “It’s still so taboo that nobody wants to talk about it.”
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“My cerebral palsy… changes the way the world is, and there’s no way around that,” Gurza continues. “But what there is a way round is people’s reactions.”
In addition to promoting the the hashtag and podcast, Gurza is currently crowdfunding a disabled-friendly sex toy, has helped advise on a gay adult video shoot involving a quadriplegic man, has discussed how queer sexual spaces can be more disabled-inclusive and provided netiquette for flirting with people with disabilities.
In 2015, Gurza organized “Deliciously Disabled,” a 125-person disabled-inclusive sex-positive event in Toronto which featured DJs, burlesque performers, “lots of booze” and a place where disabled people could make out. The event provided assistants to help people get in and out of their assistive devices and had its own hashtag: #DeliciouslyDisabled.
