{"id":23545,"date":"2013-06-25T02:30:42","date_gmt":"2013-06-25T07:30:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/?p=23545"},"modified":"2013-06-25T02:30:42","modified_gmt":"2013-06-25T07:30:42","slug":"ncd-statement-in-support-of-lgbt-pride","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/06\/25\/ncd-statement-in-support-of-lgbt-pride\/","title":{"rendered":"NCD Statement in Support of LGBT Pride"},"content":{"rendered":"

NCD Statement in Support of LGBT Pride<\/strong><\/p>\n

June 17, 2013 — This June, the National Council on Disability joins the world in celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month by celebrating our commitment to advancing the rights for all Americans, including LGBT Americans, and LGBT Americans with Disabilities.<\/p>\n

The disability community includes all ages, races, and ethnicities, from every socio-economic<\/span> bracket, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.\u00a0 Just as a person can become part of the disability community in an instant, a person can also \u201ccome out\u201d at any point in their lifetime.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t necessarily an either\/or equation, often both identities beat within the heart of the same person.<\/p>\n

There is a considerable paradox in identifying with the label, stigma or identity so often rejected by the families and communities that LGBT and disabled Americans are born into but it is through this process of connection and eventual identification that stories of strength, struggle, and commonality help us discover and, at times, become who we are.<\/p>\n

The stigma and fear that accompanied the medicalization<\/span> of identity has often hindered LGBT Americans from coming out, and in doing so has prevented them from getting needed services, assistance, and opportunities they could benefit from by disclosing. By the same token, fear and criminalization of disability \u2013 perhaps most shockingly applied with the passage of \u201cUgly Laws\u201d many of which were still on the books until the 1970\u2019s \u2013 sought to keep Americans with disabilities literally hidden from public view and by extension, left out of civic participation and even history.<\/p>\n

At his second inauguration, President Obama mentioned Seneca Falls, Selma and Stonewall and America\u2019s arc towards inclusion. NCD would add San Francisco \u2013 the site of the longest sit-in of a federal building in United States history.\u00a0 Close<\/span> to 120 disability activists occupied the Department of Health, Education and Welfare building and stayed there for 25 days until regulations enacting Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act were signed. This protest was significant for numerous reasons \u2013 certainly because its goal was achieved, but also because of the staunch support of allies in the LGBT and the African-American civil rights movements.\u00a0 The 504 actions powerfully illustrate the success that can be achieved when coalitions across communities work together toward the shared goal of justice, but if actions like the 504 sit-ins are ever going to take their proper place in history we have to recognize and celebrate the intersection of diversity and unity.<\/p>\n

While it hasn\u2019t always been reported or recognized as such, there have always been times when our movements have come together.\u00a0 At the height of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, as the Americans with Disabilities Act was being drafted, the disability community steadfastly vowed not to support any version of the ADA that excluded protections for people living with or perceived as having HIV\/AIDS, an epidemic that then and now disproportionately impacts the LGBT community.<\/p>\n

In 2009, President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, expanding the existing United States federal hate crime law to include crimes committed because of either actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, again uniting us in the fight against discrimination and harm.<\/p>\n

Pride can help break the destructive influence of shaming and isolation. In community we discover the bond of common experience, learn about parallel histories, and have an opportunity to develop shared strength in ways an individual can\u2019t do alone. Pride can be the antidote to stigma and rejection. It can be a beacon of hope, perhaps our best tool in suicide prevention.<\/p>\n

While we are privileged to celebrate Pride in many places here in the United States, we must also remember that around the world people with disabilities and the LGBT community are still harassed, attacked, and killed simply for being who they are.<\/p>\n

Despite seemingly overwhelming odds both<\/span> groups now openly celebrate those things that the closed minded among us fear. Whether lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, inter-sexed or disabled the right to bodily integrity and continued resistance to forced medicalization<\/span> and attempts to \u2018cure\u2019 us of our history and experience connect and make us stronger both individually and as a whole.<\/p>\n

NCD applauds the success of the LGBT community in our common quest for marriage equality and family rights. Nearly thirty years after the publication of \u201cWhy Can\u2019t Sharon Kowalski Come Home?\u201d which chronicled the legal battle of a lesbian college professor to gain legal guardianship of her disabled partner, NCD applauds the increasing support for marriage equality and looks forward to the day when all Americans \u2013 including those with disabilities — enjoy similar recognition without penalty or recrimination.<\/p>\n

Similarly, both parents with disabilities and LGBT families continue to face discrimination in custody and adoption decisions. NCD promises to actively seek solutions to parenting and family rights issues that benefit both LGBT families and people with disabilities.\u00a0 NCD\u2019s work on community living and youth services is fortified when it is informed by cultural competencies that are respectful and responsive to LGBT identities. We promise to continue and increase the incorporation of these perspectives in our policy work.<\/p>\n

The struggle for inclusiveness continues, but we are increasingly united in both our communities and mutual goals, whether it is the inclusion of LGBT leadership at a disability rights rally, or the visible participation of people with disabilities at an LGBT pride event. This, by any measure, is progress.<\/p>\n

While our common histories and experiences of the LGBT community and disabled Americans seem almost obvious in hindsight, we haven\u2019t always taken the time or made the effort to share and learn from them.\u00a0 Forty-four years after the Stonewall riots and four decades after Section 504 was signed into law, the common threads in the tapestry which weave our communities together have never been stronger — or more undeniable.<\/p>\n

On June 14 the Social Security Administration revised its policy allowing transgender individuals to change their gender marker on a Social Security card bringing SSA\u2019s policy in line with similar changes made in the past three years by the U.S. State Department and Veterans Health Administration. In celebration of these victories and those yet to come, NCD is proud to stand alongside our allies, friends, and family members in<\/span> the LGBT community in celebration of this year’s Pride.<\/p>\n

Signed,<\/p>\n

Rebecca Cokley
\nExecutive Director
\nWashington, DC<\/p>\n

Jeff Rosen
\nChairperson
\nRockville, MD<\/p>\n

Kamilah Oni Martin-Proctor
\nCo-Vice Chair
\nWashington, DC<\/p>\n

Lynnae Ruttledge
\nCo-Vice Chair
\nVancouver, Washington<\/p>\n

Gary Blumenthal
\nSudbury, Massachusetts<\/p>\n

Chester A. Finn
\nAlbany, New York<\/p>\n

Sara Gelser
\nCorvallis, Oregon<\/p>\n

Captain Jonathon F. Kuniholm<\/span>, USMC (Retired)
\nDurham, North Carolina<\/p>\n

Matan Aryeh Koch
\nNew York, New York<\/p>\n

Janice Lehrer-Stein
\nSan Francisco, California<\/p>\n

Ari Ne\u2019eman
\nSilver Spring, Maryland<\/p>\n

Stephanie Orlando
\nAlbany, New York<\/p>\n

Clyde Terry
\nConcord, New Hampshire<\/p>\n

Dr. Fernando M. Torres-Gil, Ph.D.
\nLos Angeles, California<\/p>\n

Alice Wong
\nSan Francisco, California<\/p>\n

Pamela Young-Holmes
\nMadison, Wisconsin<\/p>\n

Website: http:\/\/www.ncd.gov<\/a><\/p>\n

SOURCE:<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.ncd.gov\/newsroom\/06172013<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NCD Statement in Support of LGBT Pride June 17, 2013 — This June, the National Council on Disability joins the world in celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month by celebrating our commitment to advancing the rights for…<\/p>\n

Read more →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[2622,18995,732,35,19003,2679,511,637,1205,105,730,515,6203,18999,19002,731,4859,18998,18997,513,772,1727,18996,19001,7681,19000,2889,4955,17635],"class_list":["post-23545","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-deaf-news","tag-aids","tag-and-transgender","tag-bisexual","tag-community","tag-department-of-health","tag-department-of-health-and-human-services","tag-disabilities","tag-disability","tag-discrimination","tag-education","tag-gay","tag-government","tag-hiv","tag-james-byrd-jr","tag-jeff-rosen","tag-lesbian","tag-lgbt","tag-matthew-shepard","tag-matthew-shepard-and-james-byrd-jr-hate-crimes-prevention-act","tag-national-council-on-disability","tag-ncd","tag-president-obama","tag-pride-month","tag-rebecca-cokley","tag-section-504-of-the-rehabilitation-act","tag-sharon-kowalski","tag-social-security-administration","tag-ssa","tag-welfare"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p752R-67L","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":23618,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/06\/27\/statement-from-ncd-birch-vocational-school\/","url_meta":{"origin":23545,"position":0},"title":"Statement from NCD: Birch Vocational School","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"June 27, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"National Council on Disability (NCD) Statement on the Birch Vocational School in Providence, RI June 13, 2013 View NCD Statement News reports sparked by a U.S. Department of Justice investigation found that disabled students at the Birch Vocational School in Providence, RI were forced to perform manual labor - including\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2221,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2007\/09\/13\/national-council-on-disability-urges-congress-to-support-ada-restoration\/","url_meta":{"origin":23545,"position":1},"title":"National Council on Disability Urges Congress to Support ADA Restoration","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"September 13, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"NEWS RELEASE NCD #07\u00e2\u20ac\u201c542 September 13, 2007 Contact: Mark S. 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Information gathered will be used in the development of NCD's next annual progress\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2307,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2007\/10\/03\/ncd-says-increase-employment-opportunities-for-people-with-disabilities\/","url_meta":{"origin":23545,"position":3},"title":"NCD Says Increase Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"October 3, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"NEWS RELEASE NCD #07\u00e2\u20ac\u201c544 October 1, 2007 Contact: Mark S. Quigley 202-272-2004 National Council on Disability Says Increase Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities WASHINGTON\u00e2\u20ac\u201dThe National Council on Disability (NCD) today, on the first day of National Disability Employment Awareness month, released a report that presents the best practices in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":21474,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2013\/01\/17\/executive-director-of-ncd-vacancy\/","url_meta":{"origin":23545,"position":4},"title":"Executive Director of NCD Vacancy","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"January 17, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Executive Director of NCD Vacancy Vacancy Announcement: Executive Director, National Council on Disability Series & Grade: AD-0301-00 Open Period: January 17, 2013 until Filled Position Information: Full-Time Excepted Service Duty Location: Washington, DC Key Requirements: You must be a US Citizen or National The National Council on Disability (NCD) invites\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8656,"url":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/2009\/12\/09\/youre-invited-to-ncds-houston-quarterly-meeting\/","url_meta":{"origin":23545,"position":5},"title":"You’re invited to NCD’s Houston Quarterly Meeting","author":"Grant Laird Jr","date":"December 9, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"December 8, 2009 Dear Friends and Colleagues: On behalf of the National Council on Disability (NCD), it is my pleasure to invite you to attend NCD\u2019s next quarterly meeting, which will take place at the JW Marriott Houston, 5150 Westheimer, Houston, Texas, beginning at 8:3 a.m. on Tuesday, January 19,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "General"","block_context":{"text":"General","link":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/blog\/category\/deaf-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23545","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23545"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23545\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23546,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23545\/revisions\/23546"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23545"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23545"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deafnetwork.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23545"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}