What does the sex life of a queer cripple look like? The story of activist Andrew Gurza, who breaks taboos and teaches us to see the needs of the disabled
Resolutely "against the wall"
Andrew was born with cerebral palsy and was very aware from a young age that his life would be different from most of his peers. But physical limitations were not what hurt him the most. Rather, it was the way people viewed him that bothered him - often seeing him only through his appearance and specific disability, while overlooking his dreams, ambitions and outlook on life.
Andrew, who proudly identifies as "queer disabled" and uses the pronoun they/them, felt this condition very painfully. His years of experience eventually led him to advocate for a change in the perception of people with disabilities, showing that their lives are much more diverse than people are able or willing to imagine.
In his teenage years, he began to perceive other barriers. While others were experiencing first loves, intimate moments and relationships, Andrew stood in the background and could only watch everything in silence, without being able to talk about his hardships with his friends. Sexuality and intimacy for people with disabilities was a topic that society was mostly silent about. This led Andrew to decide to start speaking out about the sexuality and intimacy needs of disabled people, because he knew that if he didn't, no one else would even try.
So in 2016, the Disability After Dark podcast was created. It quickly became popular and gained a wide audience due to its authenticity and its courage to bring up interesting topics that people don't discuss publicly. Andrew gave voice to many individuals who felt overlooked and showed that sexuality and intimacy are equally important to absolutely everyone, regardless of their physical or mental condition.
But Andrew hasn't just rooted himself in "podcast waters". Because there was a lack of sex aids on the market at the time tailored to people with disabilities, he and his team of experts founded Bump'n, a company that specializes in developing just such aids. According to Andrew, the aim of Bump'n is not only to satisfy sexual desires, but also to boost self-esteem and a sense of independence. Which is clearly succeeding, as this project has also become very successful.
Of course, Andrew's work has not gone unnoticed. His life story has been featured in prestigious media outlets such as the BBC and Gay Times, and in 2017 he became the main character in the documentary 'Picture This', which follows Andrew's life and his efforts to change society's view of sexuality for people with disabilities.Critics have praised the film for the way it highlights the issues these people experience, such as feeling invisible or the stigma of their sexuality, which are the key aspects Andrew discusses most publicly.
Today, in addition to his work in the field of sexual aids and podcasts, Andrew is also very active on social media. One of his (again successful) projects is the #DisabledPeopleAreHot campaign, which encourages people with disabilities to show that they feel comfortable in their bodies and that they have the right to be seen as attractive. This initiative quickly became a viral hit and helped change many people's perspective on what it means to be beautiful and confident these days.
As well as raising awareness in the digital world, Andrew works as a consultant helping businesses better understand the needs of people with disabilities. He is also well known recently for his speaking engagements. He attends many conferences around the world, where he speaks openly and unapologetically about what it means to be, in his words, "queer crippled" and the challenges that brings in terms of intimacy and relationships.
Indeed, according to available statistics, people with disabilities often face significant barriers when it comes to sexuality. Studies show that they are much more likely to be considered asexual, which is not always true. Research also shows, perhaps surprisingly, that people with disabilities are two to ten times more likely to be victims of sexual violence than people without disabilities, which undoubtedly also has a strong impact on their relationship with intimacy in general.
It is not only these facts that demonstrate how crucial the work of "sex activists" like Andrew Gurza is. He not only opens up the discussion about the sexuality of people with disabilities, but also helps to change society's perception of these people in many other ways. Thanks to his efforts, many barriers are slowly starting to break down and people with disabilities are finally getting the space to speak out about their needs and rights.
