Call it a hidden truth: Disabled people are sexy, too

Consultant says the barriers for people with disabilities are ‘amplified’ in the bedroom.

CAMBRIDGE — A free talk on Monday evening explores the issue of sex for people with disabilities.

Andrew Gurza, a Torontobased disability awareness consultant, will open up on the subject at Preston Memorial Auditorium at 7 p.m.

A documentary called “Picture This” will also be shown. Attendees are advised there will be mature content.

“Disabled people are sexual, sexy and fun,” Gurza said in an email before the event.

“But also ... we experience sexuality deeper and on a different emotional level than our non-disabled counterparts. The emotional parts of sex and disability, loneliness, ableism, etc., are never touched on ... and so I want to bring that to light.”

Gurza said the regular barriers for people with disabilities are “amplified” in the bedroom.

“When we think that disabled people can’t have sex, can’t get aroused, or don’t deserve to be sexualized, this can have a lasting and painful impact on us and our attempts to be seen as sexual beings. A most common example of this is, ‘Can you feel your legs?’ or ‘Can you get an erection?’” said Gurza, who has cerebral palsy.

Plenty of disabled people want to make their own decisions in life but “what tends to happen when you have a disability is you have a whole lot of other people making decisions on your behalf,” said Carmen Sutherland, representative of Bridges to Belonging, the Kitchener-based nonprofit group organizing the event.

Information and tickets can be found on the group’s website, www.bridgestobelonging.ca.

The event is free, but participants still need a ticket.

There will be a question-andanswer period during the evening. Questions may also be asked anonymously.

If you have a question, email it to communityrelations@bridgestobelonging.ca