Calgary queer venues lack accessibility. A new campaign could help change that
CBC
Simply navigating queer spaces can be an arduous task for Rylee Seutter.
Leaning on the right armrest of their wheelchair, the non-binary burlesque performer in Calgary recounts the obstacles they face when trying to access Twisted Element, a beloved 2SLGBTQ+ nightclub in downtown Calgary.
"I need somebody to hold the door open for me just to be able to get past the doors," Seutter explained.
"I need to transfer out of my wheelchair, and I need someone to pick up my wheelchair and carry it up the stairs."
They confess the process of then "struggling up the stairs" is equally frustrating and dehumanizing.
Unfortunately, Seutter's experience is not unique. Inaccessible entrances and restrooms as well as cultural barriers create significant obstacles for disabled members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community seeking to enjoy local queer spaces.
For Seutter, who experiences these challenges on a nearly daily basis as an ambulatory wheelchair user, it is not enough to simply highlight the problem; they are a powerful voice leading the way toward a more inclusive and equitable future for Calgarians.
"I think we need to change the narrative about what it means to be a wheelchair user," Seutter said.
"I don't see my wheelchair as something that has ever held me back. It's something that has helped me and empowered me so much to do what I want to do in life."
Recently, a new initiative has emerged to address the lack of accessibility in queer spaces. The Accessible Queer Spaces (AQS) fundraiser seeks to raise money to adapt local 2SLGBTQ+ spaces for disabled members of the community.
Launched by community members not living with a disability, AQS offers a chance for inclusion in places that are meant to be safe havens for queer folks.
The fundraiser's first priority is to install a lift for wheelchair users at Twisted Element, with plans to expand the program to other spaces in the future.
The campaign was launched in January by drag artist and transgender activist Victoria Bucholtz, along with other allies of people with physical disabilities.
"More and more of these performers use accessibility aids to access the space and perform," acknowledges Bucholtz.