Even among Deaf people, there is a need to learn about the intersections among sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics (SOGIESC); issues of persons with disability (PWD); and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
This was emphasized by Mx Disney Aguila, Deaf transgender woman co-executive director of Bahaghari Center for SOGIE Research, Education and Advocacy, Inc. (Bahaghari Center), as she gave a lecture for students of the Makati Science Technological Institute of the Philippines Deaf Department.
“PWDs have often been desexualized,” Aguila stated, stressing that “not seeing us also as sexual beings means we are excluded from sexuality-related services.”
With HIV, as an example, “even now, not a single treatment hub actually regularly employs – with pay – Filipino Sign Language (FSL) interpreters; meaning, when Deaf people get tested or access treatment, they really do not have proper ways to communicate with service providers. This limits access to HIV services of Deaf people, if not actually excluding them.”
Aguila, herself, renders community-based HIV screening (i.e. she can screen people for HIV infection) and can link to care those who may test HIV positive. As co-director of Bahaghari Center, she also helps train Deaf community leaders to offer community-based HIV screening, so they no longer have to rely on Hearing people for HIV-related lifesaving services; and helped produce public service announcements (PSAs) on the basics on HIV using FSL.
In the end, said Aguila, “we do what we can to help those in need. This – particularly – includes minorities in already minority sectors, like Deaf LGBTQIA+ people. And part of this helping is in educating to make sure that they – we – also participate in discussions about issues that also affect us.”
