On December 3rd 2020 was the international day for disabled persons, a day to promote the rights of disabled persons as well as understanding the issues surrounding disability. My interviewee, Jordyn Alexander, is a disabled trans-man. Two things that this world has deemed as less than time and time again. While strides in the community have been taken disabled persons and trans persons face discrimnation on a daily basis. My interviewee and I discussed issues surrounding transness, being disabled, and how impactful he has been in both spaces.
Q1. What has been your biggest struggle as a queer person?
“Probably being comfortable with myself. I think that’s something that’s always a progress. I came out really early and then I came out as trans, and that’s where I have faced a lot of rejection and have had to get to a point to love myself. Finding a space where I felt comfortable and confident with additional acceptance and people that accepted me. Some people don’t realize that for my field of work, behavioral health, I have to have a higher level of security and background checks. Each time I fill out a form that’s connected to my social security number, they are going to find out. It’s always in the back of my mind, like is this going to be a discrimnation issue? Thankfully, I have never encountered that but it is an additional worry, because it’s like coming out again.”
Q2. What has been, in your opinion, your biggest accomplishment(s) for the community?
“I started out doing a lot of advocacy and public speaking, I created a lot of events for the community. Like a day of silence event, I work closely with GLESN (The Gay and Lesbian Education Network) to create those events but probably what I am working on now is my biggest accomplishment with Thrive Resources and Solutions.”
Q3. Tell me about Thrive Resources and Solutions.
“Day to day, it’s more of a case management. It was born out of the recognition of the gaps and services for marginalized young adults, ages 17-24. I’m sure you can think of a handful of agencies for youth and elderly, but when you look at that age group for young adults there is almost nothing there. When people age out of services it’s really hard to get what they need from mental health, to physical health, to food and security. The statistics that exist for that age group are severely lacking and programs just aren’t filling those gaps. I noticed those gaps myself as a marginalized young adult, I thought that my experiences were unique but working in behavioral health, working specifically with the clients I work with, and the juvenile justice system, kind of made me realize my experience is far from unique and that’s the issue. My hope is to bring awareness, but also try and close those gaps in the services.”
Q4. What do you plan to do in the future with Thrive and also yourself?
“In the future I hope to partner with other agencies, locally, and try and really build up that network to support our community. As a person, I’m pretty open to whatever goes on, I really want to grow as a person, I would love to do more volunteer work in the community. I recently had to get my health back on track, which has been a struggle, I was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative condition. So that required the use of a wheelchair which was an adjustment to make. It has kind of impacted my ability to work as many hours as well as volunteer as much.”
Q5. Tell me about your advocacy for persons with disabilities.
“My main focus has always been individuals with disabilities. Pretty much from my first job onwards, disabilities come up in every field, people don't realize that there is special care you have to take. There are specific resources for that population that just many people forget about and they don’t get the resources that they need. In my experiences I have been both a service provider and someone who utilizes services. I know how I want to be treated. I also write advocacy articles and they have been shared around with The Mighty and a blurb I wrote was on Yahoo once. I try to bring that issue to the forefront, whether it be with the articles, or calling up a disability rights organization locally because I’m stranded at the gas station and can’t get my own gas. That’s something that I noticed at the gas station, ADA compliance in Florida it was no problem they had accessibility signs where you could call a number or beep two or three times. We moved back up to New York and I go to a gas station and I’m looking around like, where’s the sign? Who do I call? The gas station has a step up into it, so I couldn't get in, and I had to have a stranger pump my own gas. I try to bring awareness to all of that. There is a lot of disability discrimination within the LGBTQ+ community. It’s sad because it’s the largest minority group, you can join at any time (talking about disabled persons) and people don’t realize that. A lot of people will also try and jump in to help me, especially if my wife is there. We have to put our foot down, like don’t touch me, don’t touch my wheelchair, I have a lot of back problems and pain and if they move me incorrectly and can cause injury or really hurt me. A lot of people will just try and grab onto me, like you don’t know me, you don’t know my medical history, do not do that. Let people be independent, let people live their lives. It’s the same with the LGBTQ+ community.”
Q6. Any advice you want to give to people with disabilities or that are struggling with their queer identity?
“With queer identities, I would say be patient. Don’t stress too much with putting a label on it, things change, things are fluid. I feel like when you try so hard to distress yourself trying to figure it out, you are causing more harm than good. It creates an additional layer of stress, it’s okay to be questioning for a while. It’s what our community forgets, it’s so label focus. Please just let them figure it out. For my sexuality, I just don’t put a label on it, I love who I love, I like who I like. It’s hard for people because they are like, “well what are you?” I just chose not to identify because I don’t want to be in that box. Also be kind to yourself, it takes a lot to love yourself, but you will get there. If anyone is struggling with the things I’ve struggled with, like homelessness, food insecurity, and especially any form of trafficking please reach out for help. There are places that will help, if you are worried about discrimination just know that your quailty of life is more important than any situation.”
Being a queer person means you are outside of the “norm.” A norm that demonizes diasbaled person for things beyond their control. Jordyn Alexander's big message was independence. Allowing people the space and freedom to ask questions, ask for help, or be themselves. As someone who is a part of two minority groups, Jordyn has had a different take than my other interviewees. His perspective on life is about helping others in need, no matter the cost. My conversation with him made me realize that people are able no matter the label.
Jordyn Alexander and where to find him:
Thrive Resources and Solutions: https://thriversolutions.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thrive_rs/
Resources:
Human Trafficking Hotline: https://humantraffickinghotline.org
Trans Lifeline: https://translifeline.org
GLSEN: https://www.glsen.org
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