Deaf, ASL, and Queer between Linear Spaces

Two of my intersectionality that come up immediately are that I am Deaf and English is not my native language. I was born Deaf and I have never heard how people use spoken language. Written text is a representation of spoken language that I have never had access to. Reading and writing English for me is very scary as I can’t feel the connections that text provides between concepts in language. Using ASL means I can feel the connections between concepts and can access all of the language.

Reading about intersectionality in English or accessing it through ASL interpreters seems one dimensional and linear, one word at a time; thus it is flattened. I used the traffic intersection sign with discomfort and disconnection from my own intersectionality.  

In English, we have pronouns such as she, he, and non-binary pronouns like ze, fey, they. ASL does not use gender specific or non-binary pronouns. I am often asked by hearing people at queer/trans spaces and/or ASL interpreters what is my preferred pronoun. As I’m newly out as transgender, I feel conflicted because I have to reach into a second language, for hearing people label my identity in a very specific way that doesn’t match my Deaf culture or ASL usage. Sometimes I say I don’t care, she is fine, ze, or he. Inside me, it’s not true when I say I don’t care; I feel I can’t be myself as a Deaf person who uses ASL, I need to follow English culture norms and pick a pronoun to use that I will never hear in my own two ears what it sounds like. I know what my sense of identity of my transgender self feels like in ASL, but it does not translate well into English.    

I realized one day, instead of trying to translate from English into ASL I should consider what the concept behind intersectionality means to me as an ASL person instead of from an English perspective. I find it ironic I am using English to convey my own perspective of intersectionality, which means some of the nuances and richness of the meaning in ASL for intersectionality is lost in English. I also reviewed among the Deaf community the meaning for intersectionality in ASL by face-to-face interactions as well being able to access an ASL vlog on this subject. One of the Deaf culture values is that new information is discussed, reviewed, and distributed face-to-face in ASL. By examining intersectionality face-to-face in ASL I was able to understand my own intersectionality in my native language, ASL. When I use the ASL sign for intersectionality, I feel more connected, being able to examine and understand my intersectionality.  It is from this perspective I literally translate into English for this article. Yet the new ASL sign feels needs more review and adjustment because intersectionality is a such complex concept with changing meaning depending on context in which the concept is referred to. I started to develop other ways to convey this in ASL and I look forward to seeing other Deaf individual’s contribution in this area.

My intersectionality comes from identities and experiences of being Deaf, Queer, gender queer, academic, a student studying internationally, and growing up in a religious home. My aspects of being and lived experiences that exist at the same time, come together to make a whole. Yet my intersectionality all have interconnections and come to play in different ways. My intersectionality is also dependent on the people who are interacting with me and vice versa, the setting of the interaction, and the dominant culture of the setting. For example, my Deaf intersectionality becomes highlighted more than others at hearing pride events.

One time I attended an accessible pride event, but a white gay cis-male hearing interpreter was provided who was not comfortable using the sign for lesbian or transgender, thus making the event not accessible for me. The interpreter was only booked for the time when the hearing person was presenting. There was a social afterwards where LGBTQ* members of the community could interact and socialize to affirm their identity and sense of belonging by talking with each other. I could not affirm my identity or sense of belonging because they couldn’t communicate with me. I was excluded. When I provided feedback on accessibility at the event, the organizer talked about money and paused as if they were asking me to thank them for their hard work on making the event accessible even though it was not accessible for me. I persisted and described the impact of being excluded and how the situation is systematic discrimination against Deaf people, only to be labeled as an angry Deaf person who is not a good team player. At those events, sometimes I can’t celebrate being queer or my non-binary gender expression; there is no space for me to be both Queer and Deaf.

When I go to Deaf events, I can access information in ASL as everyone around me is signing in ASL. However, my intersectionality of being Queer and gender queer comes up. For example, I have been teased by Deaf people for signing like a male as they perceive me as a female. I feel awkward and uncomfortable. I feel like I do not have space to be myself at straight Deaf events. In addition, there are only a handful of Deaf academic people who use ASL; often when I am at Deaf events, I’m the only Deaf academic there. I value the Deaf community as they are gate-keepers of my culture, language, and history, yet sometimes there is no space for me to be both Queer and Academic in Deaf spaces.

Recently, because of my research on intersectionality and how Deaf people express through ASL and media as I am a media researcher, a Deaf Queer De’VIA (Deaf visual media) group was created. One person commented, we were always too busy being focused on one aspect, Deaf culture, that we didn’t think or learn how to express all of our experiences and identities in our art.

When I see the new spaces emerging where intersectionality for Deaf people can be expressed, explored, and encouraged, I feel pride and safe to be myself in all of my aspects. Even though it was awkward to use English to describe my perspective of intersectionality, I am thrilled that I can share my Deaf, ASL, and Queer intersectionality between English linear space in text form.

E. Hibbard aka Doc E

Hibbard was born Deaf to a hearing family and identifies as culturally Deaf, queer, and transgender. Ze grew up in upstate NY. Hibbard graduated from RIT/NTID for B.S. in Biotechnology in 1997. Hibbard’s research career led ze to University of Rochester where he completed zir masters before teaching at Scranton State School for the Deaf in Pennsylvania. Recently Hibbard realized zir life long goal of obtaining her PhD with successful defense of his PhD dissertation in Communications and Culture joint programme at York and Ryerson Universities, “Impact of vlogging on Deaf culture, communication and culture”. This defense was conducted in American Sign Language and English, and the thesis was in a combined language/media document (half ASL and half English); all ASL is captioned in English. This is a first for Ryerson and probably the world. Hibbard’s thesis dissertation is on Deaf people, vlogging (online video blogs), and implications for Deaf culture. Zir studies have given ze an in depth understanding of the role culture plays in communication. Hibbard created the first ever model of PhD dissertation to be held online that allowed for the PhD committee to provide feedback in ASL video or/and English. As a result of his efforts towards improving inclusion, ze received the Alan Shepard Award for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Hibbard was the first graduate student to receive the City of Toronto International Student Excellence Awards in Academic category.

Hibbard research interests are sign language online, designing Deaf friendly software, inclusive design, and how Deaf communication and culture are mediated by technology. Zir other interests are interpreters professional development and promoting use of technology for feedback in ASL for Deaf people and interpreters. E advocates passionately about cultural understanding of Deaf people. E is active in the Deaf and Deaf LGBTQ* community and mentors interpreter and Deaf students. Hibbard has presented internationally on culture and communication. Ze served on an Advisory Committee for Ryerson University to improve accessibility. E is currently serving Ontario Rainbow Alliance of the Deaf (ORAD) board.