Beyond the rainbow.

June 29, 2023 10:19 PM

Finding a visual way to represent an inner identity can be complicated. (WaPo Gift) For much of American Sign Language's history, those who have had the most power to disseminate signs have been straight, White, cisgender people. The rise of video-based social media is allowing ASL to spread more rapidly and is empowering the Deaf queer community to exert more influence over American Sign Language.

From 5 years ago, Nyle DiMarco and Chella Man teach us queer sign language and discuss being Queer and Deaf.

Deaf and Queer: David shares his coming out story.

posted by Toddles (1 comment total)

I am currently learning ASL in an explicitly queer context. We have a different sign for queer, which I mention to emphasize what we might call the complexity of ASL, though I'm not sure that's the right word. The WaPo article feels very focused on "official" signs or signs defined by some authoritative body and, of course, that's not how ASL or queer communities function--language (in general, but here in marginalized communities) evolves and spreads organically, without official blessing. But, at the same time, as mentioned in the article, because most of the world is hearing and straight, queer d/Deaf people aren't necessarily going to have access to interpreters who know those signs, and some signs do get developed or canonicalized by committee.

Learning ASL in an explicitly queer space certainly feels different to my previous exposure, though I haven't been able to put my finger on why. It honestly may not to be do with queerness at all and that it's a space doing a better job of centering d/Deaf people.
posted by hoyland at 6:50 AM on June 30, 2023 [3 favorites]