RAYLY AQUINO

This gay deaf model doesn’t give a fuck about your limitations.

This gay deaf model doesn’t give a fuck about your limitations.

“I

was a skinny, nerdy kid that took his hearing aids off after school in order to fit in and avoid being bullied,” explains openly gay model, Rayly Aquino. “As a kid, I remember having to take multiple routes to and from school in order to avoid getting jumped. While it certainly wasn’t easy, the hood has taught me a lot about myself and the things I could withstand. It made me strong, and as I got older, it also made me wise.”

Born in the Dominican Republic and later moving to The Bronx, Rayly reveals that his life has been a series of hurdles that have found them fighting to be where he is today: Out, loud and visible. But no matter the challenge, he understood that his actions would always have consequences that could create a life-changing opportunity for people to see beyond his limitations.

“All the projects that I’ve had the pleasure of working on considered me not because I’m a deaf PoC, but because of my talent and personality,” he states boldly. “Some people have admitted that they completely forgot that I was deaf because it was easy for them to converse with me. To be honest, when I receive comments such as this, it’s a rewarding feeling. It’s a testament to all the hard work I’ve done to learn how to communicate with people who are different from me.”

Here we speak to Rayly about the beautiful intersections of his identity, and why we all need to stop putting limitations on marginalised groups within our own community.

How would you describe who Rayly Aquino is?

Determined. Consistent. Blunt. Sometimes too blunt. I’m a “go for it” kind of guy because living, in my opinion, is not in the consistency of your accomplishments but rather in the consistency of taking risks. I don’t believe in being prepared for the next chapter because, in some ways, too much planning can hinder one’s ability to live fully. I’m no expert, but I’ve been consistent in going for it without ceding. And in the process, I’ve gained knowledge and learned so much more about myself relating to my strengths and morals.

What was it like growing up in The Bronx as a young queer kid?

I didn’t come out as gay until I was well into my twenties, so I technically didn’t grow up as a ‘queer kid’. Nonetheless, I grew up in the hood and the hood is no joke. Gangs fights, drug deals, and shootouts occurred quite often. I was a skinny, nerdy kid that took his hearing aids off after school in order to fit in and avoid being bullied. In fact, as a kid, I remember having to take multiple routes, to and from school, in order to avoid getting jumped. While it certainly wasn’t easy, the hood has taught me a lot about myself and the things I could withstand. It made me strong, and as I got older, it also made me wise. I think it’s important to note that while my upbringing in the Bronx wasn’t always safe, I don’t want to perpetuate this misconception that The Bronx is a dangerous borough to live in. The Bronx is rich in both culture and beauty, and anyone who resides there should consider themselves lucky to be apart of the community.

What is the biggest misconception people have about Rayly Aquino?

The biƒest misconception people have about me is that I’m this unapproachable, cocky, straight edged guy. I’m quite the opposite though. I’m sensitive, soft spoken, and very laid back. It’s unfortunate that we live in a world where people focus solely on how one dresses and looks to inform their judgement. Sadly, it’s all about perception, and that’s exactly why it’s

important to speak up and advocate for yourself, especially when you are a person of colour. It’s always interesting to witness people’s reaction after they speak to me not only because I’m the complete opposite of how they originally perceived me, but because I destabilize their ideas of what it means to have a hearing disability. Some people have admitted that they completely forgot that I was deaf because it was easy for them to converse with me. To be honest, when I receive comments such as this, it’s a rewarding feeling. It’s a testament to all the hard work I’ve done to learn how to communicate with people who are different from me.

I guess your tattoos can speak before you often can, allowing people to make incorrect assumptions about yourself. Is this something you’ve experienced?

Certainly, all the time.

So how inclusive do you believe the LGBTQ community is towards queer deaf people?

I think we are getting there. I mean look at Chella Man. He’s changing the game. The guy is pretty inspiring.

Why do we have hurdles that prevent complete inclusivity from within our own already marginalised community?

I’m a deaf man who was born in the Dominican Republic and migrated to The Bronx in hopes for a better life. That said, things have never come easy. Then, when you consider the intersectionality of my identities – being gay, Afro-Latinx and deaf – it adds multiple layers of complexities. Because of my identity markers, my words and actions are often questioned, and I have to put in three times the amount effort a ‘normal’ person would in order to achieve a quarter of the same success. Working ten-times harder is in my DNA though.

You speak Spanish, English, and also American Sign Language. Is the LGBTQ community welcoming to those with a hearing impairment?

In my experience, yes. Both the LGBTQ and the deaf community can relate to one another because both have experienced, and still are experiencing, human rights issues relating to inclusivity. Therefore while they may sometimes be ignorant about what it means to have a hearing impairment, they are generally pretty open to learning more.

And you’ve worked with some incredible people, who has been the best and why?

Oh man, that’s a hard question to answer because they have all been amazing experiences. Working with Highsnobiety and British Vogue have been some of the most memorable experiences because they both provided me with a platform to speak about and thus create visibility about my hearing impairment. However, all the projects that I’ve worked have been supportive of diversity and inclusion. I was at a meeting with an agent, and he nailed it when he said, “Diversity and inclusion, as it relates to fashion or entertainment, means that all types of humans are fairly considered when recruiting for work, and they are judged by their capabilities and not solely by their race, cultural background and/or sexual orientation.” In other words, it’s all about consideration. All the projects that I’ve had to pleasure of working on considered me not because I’m a deaf PoC, but because of my talent and personality.