7/29/25 - LGBTQI+, influencers, and ICE

Good afternoon ...

Today's links are left over from last week. So they aren't necessarily timely. But hopefully they are interesting. This newsletter isn't just about urgent and enraging headlines.

The State of Disabled LGBTQI+ People in 2024

Mia Ives-Rublee, Casey Doherty, Haley Norris, Center for American Progress - July 15, 2025

"Across the United States, LGBTQI+ people with disabilities face persistent and compounding barriers in nearly every area of life, including health care, housing, education, employment, and economic opportunity. Their experiences are shaped by the intersection of ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and structural discrimination."

Over the last ten years or so, the idea of "intersectionality" became an essential way to understand a common but most often hidden and misunderstood set of experiences. It also became a favorite target of ridicule from people with specific political agendas, and others who seemed bewildered by what to them sounded like a strange new word and concept. But really, the idea of intersecting identities leading to layers of discrimination was never as complicated or strange as it was made out to be. People who can be stereotyped and discriminated against in more than one way will often be stereotyped and discriminated agains in multiple ways, all at once. This report is important and upsetting. But it's not surprising. This is the kind of thing "social justice warriors" and "woke" people have been talking about all this time. It's very real, and really quite simple. And as outlined at the end of this piece, there are specific, actionable ways to make it better.

For influencers with Down syndrome, success comes with complications

Shane O'Neill, Washington Post - July 21, 2025

"Simon said that criticism and cruelty are a daily part of her social media presence. She’s received death threats from strangers who disapprove of her account, accusing her of profiting off of her brother or encouraging him to drink. But for her, the benefits of showing her pride in the brother she loves far outweigh the drawbacks."

Probably the most important part of this article is its examination of exploitative content about people with Down syndrome, produced by non-disabled people and/or Artificial Intelligence. The guy cranking out doctored, suggestive images with pseudo-inspiring messages is especially disturbing. But there is a more subtle question also suggested here. When the social media feeds of honest, authentic Down syndrome influencers are constantly bombarded with cruel, bad-faith comments, is it possible for them to hear and take on board constructive, good-faith questions and criticisms – like their creative choices, who is in control, who profits, and how they understand inspiration and empowerment?

We are not ok... And we will keep resisting

Dr. Conchita Hernandez Legorreta, Conchita Consulting - July 2, 2025

"Immigration, as all issues, is a disability justice one. Immigrants with disabilities will always be the most vulnerable. Many immigrants gained their disabilities in route to getting here, including at the hands of border officials and ICE officers in detention facilities. We are mobilizing and protesting because we will continue to fight for what is right, and also because we have no other choice. I am part of the first generation of college students that are unapologetic and will never forget the sacrifice our parents made for us to be where we are today. And because of this, my duty is to resist. To not only make a better life for myself and my family, but to build a world in which parents don’t have to make such sacrifices, where we’re not measuring our level of resiliency to the level of trauma the state has forced us and our parents to experience."

I am not hearing nearly enough about how disabled people are being affected by ICE deportations here in the U.S. I don't know if that's because I am carelessly not looking for more information, or whether disability organizations, activists, and journalists aren't paying enough attention – or both. But it's definitely one of those facets of disability life today that I will try harder to share more about.

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