1. In your presentation you are going to adress a very invisible issue, even in the LGBT field. Could you briefly explain what double exclusion consists of?

In the history of groups at risk of exclusion, LGBTI people and people with disabilities have encountered significant barriers, which prevent them from participating on equal terms with the heteronormative and non-disabled society. Both characteristics do not facilitate inclusion, on the contrary, it hinders the possibility of achieving equal opportunities, and exponentially raises the difficulty for a full inclusion. A person with a mental disability, who also is a member of the LGBTI collective, really finds difficulties in the employment, training, sexual or identity areas; which require a double (triple in women cases) effort to achieve their rights and freedoms equalization. In theory, it should be an experiential source or human wealth (sexual and human diversities). However, in most people it really becomes an issue that undermines their identity and their self-confidence.

2. In your extensive experience of more than 20 yeats in this field, do you think the situation of this group has changed over the last decade?

Fortunately, it has. Social groups for the LGTBI people and people with disabilities rights have evolved. At the beginning they could not come together; Instead of, they went in parallel claiming their rights without finding a turning point, without a crossroads in the future perspective. Fortunately, from 2005 (year of my first essay “Re-Inventarse, la doble exclusion”), to 2018 (year of publication of my second book “Sin Barreras, Sin armarios”), the points in common have materialized in solid and fruitful agreements that are promoting important advances in the equality and human rights area.

3. What are the most serious problems faced by LGBT people with intellectual disabilities?

From my point of view, in my talks or interviews, I always point out that there would be three: education, family and visibility. We must find spaces of confluence (starting with regulated education, and ending with social media), to spread the message of freedom, identity and sexual orientation that people with disabilities have. We are diverse. We are humans. We are people who live with people. And recognizing the multiplicity of that diversity, from the smallest to the largest, will make us more inclusive. Families are the first influence nucleus for boys and girls. If the family has the bases on the reality of being an LGTBI person and / or being a person with some disability, taboos, barriers, insecurity, ignorance (why not say it), which often leads to uprooting or family overprotection; if families had that nuance about that realities, they would make an effort for understanding all concepts related with identity. And this point converges with the previous one: if families had the opportunity to find, to participate, to receive this “training” on the “other realities”, the subsequent pedagogical work that, on some occasions must be promoted, would be greatly facilitated. If there are important references, models to take into account, who are the image and speaker of the LGTBI people rights and for the people with disabilities equalities, where are these references in this group of people who add exclusion ranges? They exist, and we know them. However, they have not gained the notoriety, so society cannot have them as references, models, influencers (call it what you want), that could be the image for those young people (and not so young), with disabilities who look for a referent who can be their hero.

4. What actions is CERMI taking to improve this situation?

CERMI has spent many years working for people with disabilities rights and equality, and tirelessly fighting for the collective freedoms and rights. The sexual diversity variable has also been a constant in its activism. It should be remembered that CERMI is the one who supports, promotes and publishes, together with the ONCE Foundation, my first book “Re-Inventarse, la doble exclusion”; and the diffusion of the documentary “El Sexo de los Ángeles” by Frank Toro, the first documentary in Spain and Europe that collected people with LGBTI disabilities testimonies, which had many awards and recognitions at the national and international level. Since then, CERMI has worked to create bridges between both groups, that are consolidated with a first collaboration agreement between the FELGTB and CERMI, and that is made visible with a large and varied group of people with disabilities participation at the 2017 World Pride demonstration in Madrid. It was really exciting! I had the privilege of coordinating that group with Luis Alonso and Luis Cayo from CERMI in the march (more than 4 hours to reach Plaza de Colón), and I will never forget the thunderous applause when we pass the welcome banner. There were a lot of people receiving the protesters groups. I still get excited when I remember it! Since then, CERMI continues to activate all its resources to attend people with mental disabilities who also are LGBTI collective member. Our presence in the Pride manifestation has been maintained in subsequent years. We have supported and organized conferences, talks, publications and communications in the media to achieve the full inclusion of double and triple exclusion people. Now CERMI, ONCE Foundation and FELGTB are working on the first study on the reality of LGTBI people with disabilities in our country, which will be published soon. The Commission on Sexual Diversities (LGBTI) with Disabilities work has been promoted and reinforced to find and open new connection points with society. We are going to start collaborating with ODA (Observatorio de Diversidad en los Medios Sociales) to jointly analyze the treatment of people with LGTBI disabilities in Spanish films and fiction series. We also have the privilege of participating in the II International Sexuality Congress with a presentation to publicize the reality of people with mental disabilities who also are LGBTI collective member. And many other actions that, over the coming months and years, are already being prepared and designed, with the goal of achieving a full inclusion, a identity of sexual diversity and, finally, to make understand our society the wide human diversity we really have.