There have always been vocal members and advocates of underrepresented groups who have worked to raise awareness of the inequalities faced by their communities. As these voices are acknowledged and awareness gradually improves, it leads to a budding understanding of the fact that there are common challenges experienced by people with different minority identities. The overlapping issues experienced by persons with disabilities (PWD) in the LGBTQIA+ community highlight some of the overarching inequalities that exist in our society.
Discrimination against persons with disabilities in the LGBTQIA+ community
Ableism refers to the discrimination faced by people based on their disabilities, and there are multiple terms—including homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia—that are used to refer to the discrimination faced by PWD in the LGBTQIA+ community. This discrimination can manifest in many different ways and is often complex and multifaceted. Taken together, the biases that exist can be overwhelming, difficult to overcome, and confusing for the person experiencing them.
Social discrimination
Negative prejudice—the dislike of a person or group of people based on a certain characteristic—is often the first thing that comes to mind when people think of discrimination, and it absolutely has an impact on how PWD in the LGBTQIA+ community are treated. Individuals who identify with both groups disproportionately experience oppression, social rejection, and isolation as a result of being othered or seen as lesser by others. Even those who would not consider themselves prejudiced may carry unconscious biases that impact their interactions with or treatment of PWD in the LGBTQIA+ community.
The impact of this type of discrimination can be far-reaching, affecting mental health, physical health, and exacerbating the systemic inequalities that can complicate life for both groups.
Systemic inequalities
Also called structural inequalities, systemic inequalities refer to the biases built into the systems that make up our society and create advantages for some and disadvantages for others.
Health and healthcare inequality
PWD in the LGBTQIA+ are more likely to face poor health, poor health outcomes, discrimination in healthcare settings, and barriers to accessing the healthcare they need when compared to people who don’t identify as part of either group. Poor experiences and knowledge of the discrimination or barriers they may face can also lead to them being less likely to seek out care.
Income and employment inequality
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) both exist to protect employment rights, but structural inequalities still exist. Though the root reasons may differ, PWD in the LGBTQIA+ are also more likely to face income and job insecurity, and this is a prime example of how social discrimination can have a huge impact in the context of structural inequalities. People with disabilities may be seen as less capable of performing in a role and LGBTQIA+ may be excluded due to prejudice. This can leave people with fewer employment options or lead to people hiding their identity in the workplace, which can lead to anxiety that, in turn, might actually impact one’s job performance.
Barriers to accessing education
Education is considered a fundamental right throughout much of the world and, in the United States, equal access to education has many protections, including Title IX, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and the ADA. People with disabilities may still face barriers to accessing education, however, including harassment, inaccessible educational facilities, inaccessible materials, and a lack of educational professionals who can meet their learning needs. LGBTQIA+ individuals may also face harassment, oppression of expression, and a lack of access to a safe educational environment overall.
The intersection of these issues
The fact that many of these issues overlap already emphasizes how present they are throughout society and how important it is to actively address them. But what makes things even more critical is the fact that these issues become compounded when an individual identifies with both groups. A person who belongs to both the LGBTQIA+ and disability communities may face many more barriers and inequalities in day-to-day life. Intersectionality shines a light on the fact that discrimination and accessibility issues don’t exist in vacuums that are only relevant to certain groups of people within society. Acknowledging, addressing, and working to dismantle these social and structural inequalities are all important steps in building a safer and more accessible society for all.
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