Consent has a specific meaning: it refers to agreement to participate in an interaction. It is not a tool for regulating who is allowed to exist or be visible. In an era where states are increasingly criminalizing transgender people and drag artists for their mere presence in public space, this misuse of consent language should give all of us pause.
June 9, 2019. Ali Stroker wins Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the 73rd Annual Tony Awards. An actor, singer, and wheelchair user, Ali Stroker has been a trailblazer for disability representation on the stage. She was the first wheelchair user to graduate from the Tisch School of the Arts Drama Department at New York University. In 2015, she was the first wheelchair user to appear on Broadway, starring as Anna in the musical, Spring Awakening. For her performance as Ado Annie Carnes in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Oklahoma!, Stroker became the first wheelchair user to win a Tony Award in 2019.
Take the quiz: Check Your Ableism!
Being Young and Disabled
By Noah Griffth, Auburn University
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In My Moment of Distress
By Anonymous, Temple University