Yeah, I'm sorry, too. (Audism in "hearing" dominated queer communities)

Friday, June 15, 2012

Yeah, I’m sorry, too. (Audism in “hearing” dominated queer communities)

[This post is addressed specifically to hearing queers.]

I’m Deaf Queer.

Those are two identities that I never want to separate or choose one over the other but I often feel forced to. I’m Deaf and while my involvement with the community has unintentionally hit a record low lately, I’m happy being Deaf, I sign, I have a few good Deaf friends, etc. However, I’ve been queer longer than I’ve been Deaf and so sometimes I feel much more of an attachment to the queer communities I’m part of. Queer communities (both Deaf and hearing) have been my strength, refuge, and a major source of happiness for me for pretty much as long as I can remember.

However, there is so much audism that goes on in hearing queer communities. I want to love the queer community with all my heart but it is difficult sometimes. It’s disgusting to see a community I love possess so much unchecked audism. Furthermore, it is one that often prides itself on it’s attention to social justice politics, at least in theory… but in real life if often misses the mark, especially around Deafness. It’s really annoying to have someone tell me how much they believe in social justice, turn around and say and do actions that totally contradict that, and then get annoyed with me (usually for not praising their “help”, whether I asked for it or not) when I have the audacity to politely call them out on it.

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