Pride Edition: The Intersection of Queer Liberation and Disability Justice - Part 2

Mary continues her conversation with Season 12 contestant of RuPaul's Drag Race and the national co-chair of Drag Out The Vote, Brita Filter for The Politics of Disability Pride series.

The two discuss anti-LGBGTQIA+ legislation, voting, lack of access to voting, lack of accessible social media, and more.

Drag Out The Vote is a nonpartisan, nonprofit that works with drag performers to promote participation in democracy. You can learn more about it here.

The Politics of Disability was named Best Interview Podcast at the Astoria Film Festival in both October 2022 and again in June 2023.

Transcript

Mary (00:07):

[music playing as Mary: speaks]

Hello everyone and welcome to season 2 of the award-winning podcast The Politics of Disability. My name is Mary Fashik. I am your host and founder of the Disability Justice movement Upgrade Accessibility. 

We’re still navigating that bumpy road, but there are lots of potholes along the way. You’ll want to make sure you’re buckled up really tight. 

All set? Here we go.

Brita (01:02): It affects your quality of life and if there's too much traffic, it it, it affects you. If there's um, if there's, if you're your garbage doesn't get picked up on the right day, then it affects that, it affects your home life if you are, if you have kids and you're, um, and school is canceled on Fridays because the, the state cannot afford it. It, it is affecting, you have to take off from work for an extra day because of that. So there's, there's so many different reasons and you know, right now what we have, um, if there are, are drag queens today, actually we are having a giant, um, community meeting as drag queens all over the country, um, who have signed up to become one of our drag ambassadors. And what it is, is that you become one of our drag ambassadors at Drag Out The Vote.

(01:55): Um, and what we do is that we give you the knowledge and the resources and everything you need to know to go out into your community to help get out the vote. Um, and um, if you follow, Drag Out The Vote on social media or if you want to get involved, you can go to their website, which is drag out the [dot] vote. And um, what that is is, um, we have different text banks. You know, there's a bunch of primary elections that are coming up that are very important. Um, they're, as we get towards, um, general elections in certain places, um, we will do do more work specifically. And a lot of this stuff is very accessible because we, a lot of people do it online and through Zoom and that's how they immediately connects with people be and then, um, and so if you want to get involved, uh, because we're gonna have so many different events through Drag Out The Vote, um, that are digital specifically.

(02:58): Um, and a lot of them are, uh, a lot of them that I'm doing are specifically towards New York, but anyone can join on these, these Zoom events to really, you know, they really helped me cuz they really get me fired up and they really get me empowered. That's what they do. Um, to hear other people who it's their, it's their job and their passion to really get behind these incredible, uh, uh, their, their job to, to get people out and vote and to hear them talk about what's going on in the country and to hear them talk what's going on in their communities and how, how it's wrong and like what we can do as constituents to really, you know, essentially fight back and tell them that this is unfair, this is unfair and this is not accessible to people. Um, and, and I know that the, uh, disability community definitely understands how that is. So, um, uh, please come and please join us. Um, there we have mailing a mailing list that you can join. We're... it's updated every single week with what's going on and we will find ways for people to get involved if they want to get involved.

Mary (04:12): And, um, if you need help making anything accessible, I'm offering my help to you as well.

Brita (04:20): Mary. I appreciate that so much. I love that. I would absolutely love that. And I know that you do that for people's social medias as well. So I, I think that is an incredible way. I think it's, there's also a great way for, um, for content users all over the place, especially those who give back to, to make it accessible. I know for me specifically, I, I tried to always, always all put captions on everything that I use. It's so important for me. Sometimes it might be like 2:00 AM and I'm posting something cuz I need to get it out and I might slip up. But there's times where I'll delete it even though it has so many likes and put captions because we need to, I have so many HOH um, friends that, uh, that really need it and really benefit who reach out to me and tell me that like, I, I need, I need the captions. And I'm so grateful that you put the captions on things.

Mary (05:23): And that was my first DM to you and I don't know if you remember, but my first DM to you was, "Thank you for always captioning your content."

Brita (05:34): Oh, thank you.

Mary (05:35): And I know you don't remember, but you told me, "I've got you." And I knew you did, right? Like it was amazing to see and you know, no, you don't like...that's why you do it, but non-disabled people should not get a pat on the back for making things accessible. 

You know? It just should be. But I am grateful to you that you understand how important accessible content is. And to be quite honest with you, that is what made me follow your account even more and pay more attention to what you were posting. 

Because, I'm like, "Oh, Brita's making her content accessible. That's amazing!" Like when, you know, like when RuPaul put out video about registering to vote, and we, and we to need to register to vote. And I was like, "Why did no one on production, no one in RuPaul's team think we should caption this video?" And you did. You went back and you put captions on it and that was the one I shared.

(06:54): I did not share the original video because there were no captions. But you went back and you captioned that particular video and that was the one I shared and I was like, this is awesome. Right? I want you to know that people notice, especially in the disabled community, people notice. And it's important because we are continually left out of the conversation time and time again. And I again, I would love to work with Drag Out The Vote, to make things accessible in our community so that we can meet each other at our intersection

Brita (07:42): Yeah.

Mary (07:42): And we can have over progression instead of moving backward.

Brita (07:49): Absolutely. I I completely agree. And I, I think it's so important that you share that because you know, I I'm noticing that a lot of people, a lot of people do things and the reason why a lot of this anti-trans, anti-drag legislation is going through is cuz people are uneducated and what people are uneducated about, people are afraid about. And so you bringing this to the light, I think will also, because baby, you know, I'm gonna share this podcast when it comes out and I look forward to sharing it because I, I think it's important for people to know. 

And I think a lot of people just don't realize, they don't realize. And people need to realize how important and how much of a difference it makes in people's lives and how much that the joy that people might bring to their content, other people can also enjoy it as well. So I I I appreciate you for bringing that in the forefront and it's so important.

Mary (08:47): I appreciate you being open and receptive. Cause a lot of times people are not, people are like, well, I'm doing the best I can, I can't do any more. And like, well I understand that, but there are so many of us who, you know, I know you're not familiar, but my listeners will be familiar. But we always add image descriptions to our posts and sometimes, you know, a lot of us have chronic fatigue and we're too tired to ask...to put image descriptions. 

So we'll ask in our post, "Hey, can someone do the ID for me?" And someone will go back and put image description in the con...in the comments. So, you know, we always try to make our content accessible, which is ironic that our community is doing this for other people in the community and we have limited resources, limited energy. But those who have more privilege than us don't wanna take the time to do it or learn how to do it.

Brita (10:04): Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I think, I mean, if there's any way that I can help to try and lead a a, uh, uh, uh, I don't know even if it's posting something to make people aware, I'm more than happy to help and get behind you to try and make it more accessible for individuals. Because again, it's, it's all about the knowledge and it's all about letting people know and how how big of a difference it makes for individuals.

Mary (10:31): Well guess what, everyone? We're gonna start making drag more accessible to everyone. So I'm, I'm excited for, for that. I do wanna talk about something you said about the anti-trans bills, um, because I was thinking about Willow, right? And I was thinking about something Willow said in their season about how they never really got to... it was something about like their gender identity. But they have spent so much time dealing with their illness that they couldn't work through everything else. And I think it's important, you know, like when gender-affirming care is hard to access as a non-disabled person. Imagine as a disabled individual - how hard it is to access gender-affirming care. Here in Georgia, now because of all these anti-trans bills, the gender-affirming care, they are treating people for autism. 

Cause they're saying that autistic people do not have the capability to decide whether they are non-binary or transgender. Imagine that they are weaponizing disability to keep someone from fully realizing who they are. What are your thoughts on - and this is why I say this is important, that when we talk about ant-drag, anti-trans bills, that we talk about disability. Because they are weaponizing disability in these bills. And I don't see people at the forefront talking about this.

Brita (12:41): You know, it's, you bring up a great point. Um, I think it's, I think, I think I'm also gonna say it again is, is education. I think it's that people, people don't know. People don't understand. People like to make rules without asking other individuals about their life experiences and, and understanding what their disabilities are and how, and how it, it affects them. And also how you can be, uh, you can have multiple things that make you special and unique as an individual. Like I know that I, I I am a, I'm a beautiful queer person.

I also am such an advocate. I'm a drag queen. I also have a severe anxiety, asthma, um, [chuckles] and severe depression. And these things are things that make me so unique and so special. And so it's important for people to realize that there's more than.. more than one thing that, that, that that individual can be.

(13:45): And because they don't have that lived experience, it doesn't mean that it does not exist. So I think it's so important by, by, by people just talking about it first, people talking about it and people realizing, and by and by getting this word out, I mean, I mean truly you are... today, Mary, you are opening my mind to so many other things that I have not thought about because it's never been brought to my attention. And I think it's so important to bring this to people's attention. And, and, and you are at the forefront of all of this, making sure that people understand. So I think, I think it all comes down to education, because what people are, what people don't, are are afraid of things they don't understand. And it's, it's time to educate people about it and for people to come out and to tell their story, um, they, and to tell their story honestly.

(14:39): So I'm, I'm just, I'm so grateful for you for doing that. And we need more people like you. So if there's people out there listening, um, I, I know it can be scary at first, um, to get into, you know, wanting to be out on the forefront, wanting to talk about things and, and, uh, to publicly share. But the, those things are, are, are the things that you will be educating someone. And you can also be inspiring someone. Because I know that for a long time I was afraid, I was afraid for such a long time to speak out, but to also be proud of myself and to be proud of who I am. 

You know, I, I always thought I was, I was so shamed of, um, having, of having, uh, you know, uh, my, my mental health issues, depression, anxiety. I mean, even having asthma as a kid, you know, I didn't wanna, I I didn't want to, I didn't want people to make fun of me or, but you know what, when it comes down to it, there, there was someone else that had also been going through something similar, always that by me speaking out, they, they were seen, they felt like they were seen and they felt like that they could also make a change.

(15:56): And that they weren't too embarrassed to share their experience with others. So I, I encourage everyone to share their experiences with other people and the public to make sure that they know that like, oh my gosh, two things can exist at the same time. Yeah.

Mary (16:15): Exactly. Like, you know, things are like not mutually exclusive and it's important that you, you know, that you honor a person's whole identity. Which is something I talk about ad nauseum, about, but, you know, recognizing and honoring someone's identity, their whole identity. As we wrap up today, what message do you have for other drag performers regarding the disabled and chronically ill community, especially those who are hesitant to talk about disability or come on this podcast or don't wanna go back to virtual shows or anything like that. And what is your message for your fans who are in the disabled and chronically ill community, who are gonna be so excited when this podcast comes out.

Brita (17:18): Um, I, I just want to let people to know to, to not be afraid. It's a lot easier said than done, but I lived so much of my life in the closet, in the, uh, and, and so much of my life being so afraid to start something. I mean, honestly, me saying this right now is something that I, I have to, I have to remind myself on a daily basis. 

There are things and, and, and different, um, you know, career changing things that I've been holding off and not working on because I'm afraid of it. I'm afraid of it. And, and I have to remind myself that the way that I've become who I have and I how I've become so successful is because I've decided to do something that I was afraid of. And I conquered that fear. You know, I, I didn't, the, I honestly started, how Brita started is that I decided on that year that I started drag, which was, it was at the be I started drag in January and it was right after a new year.

(18:27): And I decided that year that I was gonna do something every single day that I was afraid of. And by doing that, doing it something little, it could be something little every single day that I was a little afraid of. And it just made me this strong individual I am today. And it's something that I have to constantly remind myself cuz I, uh, you know, as we live life when we, we experience things, but also like even during the pandemic, it, it, it really, you know, little things can help me to get out of my shell and to also experience life fully and in different ways. So I want people to, to, to get out there and especially with drag queens and you know, to my other Drag Race sisters who, that when I post this, if they, I I hope to share it with other individuals and for them to realize that maybe the reason why they didn't come to your podcast or or record with you is because they were afraid and, and they didn't, they just were un un uneducated and didn't know how this would be.

(19:35): I, I challenge them to, to, to do that, to do something you were afraid of and to learn to learn. It's so important. And to listen, to listen to other people and to listen what they're going through. Because I know that there's so many other individuals that can really benefit, um, from, from doing this. I'm so grateful for you, Mary, today because I have, I have learned so much. Um, and by knowing your story and you taking the time with me here. I am... I'm just so grateful for this experience today and I'm, I'm so, I'm so happy that, that I could be here with you. And it, its, it's truly, it gets me thinking. It gets me thinking of how I can help other individuals to make things more accessible. And, and um, also, if there's any drag artists that are listening out there and you wanna donate your time to this accessible pride, I think it's very important.

(20:33): And I'm totally going to, I look forward to getting together a group of people to make this happen for other indivi...for, for all of you. Cuz it's, it, it's so important, so important. And, you know, another last thing I gotta say is make sure you go out there and vote. And if you don't have, and if you have an accessibility need, I'm sure that Mary and I can help you wherever you are from to try and figure out how we can get you to the polls or how we can get mail-in voting. We just need to make sure, you know, it's important when you're voting to have a plan, to have a plan beforehand. So you stick to it and you know what the deal is and you know that there is a possibility for you to vote and to not just wait till the last minute because your vote matters.

(21:24): No matter who you are, your vote matters. So, um, and, and, you know, people reach out to me all the time and I go to my people back at Drag Out The Vote. I was like, all right, how can we make this happen? Let's streamline this and let's figure out this for this individual because they are taking the time to come to us to say that they need help. So let's help them. Um, so, uh, please, usually all my messages, I I get back to them really quickly. I have an amazing team. Shoot me an email and I I I will respond or someone from my team will respond and we'll get back to you. And I'm sure it's the same with you Mary as well.

Mary (22:02): Yes. Um, I am the team. That's what I always tell people, I'm a one woman show. I am Upgrade Accessibility. It's me. Um, but I will...I make a promise to work with each other to vote. And we're gonna make sure that we get our community registered to vote and that we try to make voting accessible. Brita, thank you so much for your time. You are so busy and Brita's team is amazing. Brita is amazing. So thank you so much. All of the information that was given in this podcast. You can find in the show notes, make sure you get involved, get involved with Drag Out The Vote. Brita, thank you again.

Brita (22:59): Yes, of course. Thank you so much Mary.

Mary (23:02): [music playing while Mary speaks] 

Thank you for joining me for this episode of the Politics of Disability Podcast. As you navigate your journey, remember: disability is political; disability is messy; disability is not palatable--nor does it have to be.

[music playing]