The Stream

How is #DisabledPeopleAreHot challenging the way society views disability and beauty?

Hashtag highlights body diversity and social struggles of people with disabilities.

On Thursday, March 28 at 1930 GMT:
Body positive hashtags like #DisabledPeopleAreHot and #HotPersonInAWheelchair are being shared on social media to highlight an aspect of people with disabilities that isn’t represented in popular culture: Disabled and sexy.

In mass media, disabled people are not typically portrayed as those with sexual needs. They are sometimes thought of as too sick to have sex or people who remain infantile and asexual into adulthood. How do these stereotypes influence the way society treats people with disabilities? When able-bodied people don’t view you as being capable of dating or being in a romantic relationship, how does that impact your identity?

In this episode, we’ll hear perspectives on disability and sexuality and what can be done to change misconceptions.

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:
Lawrence Carter Long @LCarterLong
Director of Communications, Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
dredf.org/about-us/people/lawrence-carter-long

Maryangel Garcia-Ramos @maryangel_
Disability & Diversity Activist

Anne Wafula-Strike @Anne_W_Strike
Paralympic wheelchair racer
annestrike.org

Read more:
The taboos around disability and sex put limits on everyone, disabled or not – Guardian
#DisabledPeopleAreHot is trending on Twitter – Healthline

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