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Moments and Memories: Disability Pride Philly · Living Loud and Proud: Disability Conversations

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Welcome to the Living Loud and Proud podcast,
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brought to you by Disability Pride Pennsylvania.
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If you need a link to the transcript for this
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episode, please visit our accessible website
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at www .disabilitypridepa .org slash podcast.
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And now, here is your host. Hey folks, welcome
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to the Living Loud and Proud podcast. Today's
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episode is Moments and Memories, Disability Pride
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Philly. I'm your host, Phil Rosen. I've been
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thinking about what's been going on in the Disability
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Pride Pennsylvania universe for the last month
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or so, and it has been Disability Pride season.
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It starts off every year with Disability Pride
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Harrisburg for us. It's been about a month or
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so since that, and we're about to go into our
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big celebration here in Philly, down on the parkway
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on the 13th. And I was thinking, oh, wouldn't
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it be perfect to have on some people who've been
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involved with Disability Pride Pennsylvania in
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various roles, various planning stages for Disability
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Pride Philly events over the years? I decided
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to sit down and have a chat with our board president,
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Izzy Kaufman, and friend of the show, Ray Decahorton,
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both separately. And, you know, we had a great
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time. I asked them a little bit about what they've
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done over the years, how it's changed over the
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years, highlights, all that good stuff. But to
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just kind of... give a little bit of an introduction
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to Disability Pride Philly real quick. We have
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been doing it for about 14 years now. I believe
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the first one was planned in 2012, was thrown
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in 2012 by Alan Holdsworth. He organized it.
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And this was at the National Constitution Center
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down on Arch Street, about a block away from
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Independence Mall. And if I recall correctly,
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the first celebration coincided with the unveiling
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of Justin Dart's wheelchair being put on display
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at the National Constitution Center that year.
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So it was part, you know, celebration and part,
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you know, protests and part unveiling of an exhibit.
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the National Constitution Center that is a big
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part of disability history. We've talked about
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him on the podcast before, and I'm sure we'll
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talk about him again at some point, but Justin
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Dart was integral to the disability rights movement
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and advancing big legislation like the Americans
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with Disabilities Act in the 1990s. So over the
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years, Disability Pride has evolved from being
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this really kind of very small gathering to something
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that's a little bit bigger. Now we have an event
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that we block off the parkway, two blocks of
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it, and have a parade from City Hall down to
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where we do everything. And there's been a lot
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of little... Interesting little iterations throughout
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the years. You know, back in 2020 and 2021, we
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had to go virtual because of COVID. And that
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was a really interesting year, too. So without
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further ado, let me introduce my interview with
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Izzy Kaufman. I'm here with Disability Pride
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Pennsylvania Board President Izzy Kaufman. Izzy's
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been involved with Disability Pride Pennsylvania
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for the last 10 or so years helping plan Disability
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Pride celebrations, volunteering at events, and
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helping with making decisions on the board of
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directors. Izzy, how's it going today? It's going
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great. Oh, that's excellent to hear. It's great
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to have you on. How long have you been going
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to and involved with Disability Pride celebrations
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in Philly? I know I said 10 years or so that
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you've been involved in actually planning, but
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like it... Is there a little bit earlier? Yeah,
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I attended an event as part of grad school, a
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grad school class on disability. And I met Clark
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Matthews there. And he showed me, he was like,
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you need to, you should go to this event. And
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our professor was like, yeah, let's do it. Let's
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all go and join the event. And it was at Independence
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Edge Studio. Yeah, I wonder if this was like
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2015, I think, when it was. But it was at Independence
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Edge Studio on Market Street. And that was my
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first experience at Disability Pride. And I was
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still walking on crutches at the time. So I was
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on my crutches, hobbling around. And normally
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I feel really kind of uncomfortable in new spaces
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with my crutches. It happened to be just a place
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where I could be myself. And I realized pretty
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quickly that this was a place to celebrate disability
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and who we are as disabled people and just come
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together. And that studio was amazing. And it
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had so much awesome artwork. And I was just taking
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it all in. And I remember meeting Vicky very
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briefly. And she gave me a job to sign people
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in for the event. So that was like my first kind
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of entry into volunteering for Disability Pride.
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So that was a lot of fun. And I remember watching
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performances by Gooch and The Motion and Anami
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and I can't remember who else. Anami, that's
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Anami Fatal? Yes. Yes, there we go. And yeah,
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so seeing like performances and... I remember
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eating some hoagie, some of a giant hoagie. It
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was great. It was really great. And I got to
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meet people there who became friends later on
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in my time in Philly. So yeah, that was my first
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real entrance into Disability Pride. But I was
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simply an attendee for a few years. I don't think
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I really... I was just attending and enjoying
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it and not really kind of volunteering for a
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few years. But I started to work with Disabled
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in Action on a project called Disability Equality
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in Education. And that project, we ended up kind
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of partnering with Disability Pride to do a few
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different things. And so I ended up being invited
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to one of the planning committee meetings. And
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this was like eight years ago, nine years ago.
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I don't even remember exactly. My memory is a
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little bit hazy. So take this with a grain of
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salt. Well, you're talking about your own experience.
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So we really shouldn't be taking it with a grain
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of salt. But I got invited to go to a planning
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committee meeting in City Hall. in Philly and
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it just it felt so important and exciting for
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me just like professionally but also personally
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and I was sitting around a table with a bunch
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of other people who were representing different
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organizations and Vicky was there leading the
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meeting and I just remember thinking like wow
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this is this is so cool like we're we're really
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getting together to make this happen and I remember
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there were times where Like, we were deciding
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on what themes Disability Pride was going to
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focus on and what anniversaries were going to
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happen at the time. So, yeah, I just, I sort
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of phased up from there. Spending more time with
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Vicky and realizing how awesome she is and how
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much I wanted to spend time with her and be like
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her and her and just learn a lot from her as
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like a mentor. So I ended up joining the board
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and I think I've been on the board for quite
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a few years now, like six -ish years. It was
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definitely pre -pandemic times that I was on
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the board. And so my involvement got a little
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bit further and I would help kind of spread the
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word about Disability Pride to the general community
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and to my professional networks. And then I started
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to like... on the board actually making decisions
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around the organization itself. We became a 501c3
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while I was working on the board. And that was
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like a huge process for us, but it ended up allowing
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us to apply for more grants and funding. And
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so that was something that I started helping
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out with too, was applying for grants and funding.
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I started providing, let's talk about disabled
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sex. And because I'm a sexuality educator and
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I really care about people's wellness and health
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as disabled people, I really wanted to kind of
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offer that as another option as a part of the
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disability pride kind of events. So, yeah, it
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exploded. Right. And so you've kind of talked
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a little bit about your like. with planning Disability
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Pride celebrations, at least previously. But
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how have you participated on the day of, since
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the first time that you volunteered for your
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class? Oh my gosh, so many ways. I've volunteered
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signing people in, helping organizations figure
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out what tables they were going to. I'm trying
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to remember. I think there was one year where
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I was signing in musical guests who were supposed
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to show up or I was like given a clipboard and
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like, here you go, sign up musical guests to
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come. Just let us know that they were there so
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that we can register them. Trying to deal with
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the chaos. Yeah, a little bit of it. A little
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bit. I mean, it is organized chaos and that's
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just how it is. I mean, any event is in a way,
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right? And I remember it being at different venues
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too, which I think made it interesting because
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there was one year we were like in the middle
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of City Hall in that like... courtyard area and
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i thought that was really cool but it was like
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really crowded and not a lot of place to move
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so we kind of learned from that experience it
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was really hot that day too which i think made
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everyone feel a little more miserable because
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it was kind of hard to stay in the shade it was
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it was so we ended up moving venues and i i i've
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tabled for disability pride um when we were Alongside,
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I think it's the Municipal Services Building
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where the game pieces are. Yeah, the building
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right across from City Hall. Yes, yes. So we've
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had Disability Pride there as well. And that
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was also with mixed reviews, as always. With
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any events, there's going to be mixed reviews.
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But part of my... I think one year was to go
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around and just ask people how they were doing,
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if they needed anything, kind of just being a
12:15
general face of disability pride. But the tabling,
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I really like doing tabling, to be honest. I
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enjoy having a headquarters spot to be and just
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yapping along and talking to people with the
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gift of gab. Um, so that's a lot of what my,
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my job is with disability pride. Um, and just
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kind of like making sure people are having a
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good time. Cause that's the whole point of disability
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pride is to like, have a good time, celebrate
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who we are, show, um, our visibility as a community.
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So, yeah. Yeah. And of course, uh, being on the
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parkway as it's been for the past few years,
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it's, it's all about getting the parkway set
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up. as well in the beginning of the day too yes
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you know directing traffic putting people in
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the places they need to be for whatever table
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they have um so yeah that's that's also something
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i think that kind of has changed over the years
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as well that's still relatively new for us too
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because we um Yeah, for a few years, we were
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doing at different venues and then COVID happened.
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So we moved online for a few years. Actually,
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online was sort of ideal just because of the
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people were immunocompromised. You know, we were
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trying to really just. Yeah, keep it safe as
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possible. So we ended up having more events.
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And I remember introducing different events.
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I think there were like poetry events. There
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were events on intersectionality and disability,
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queerness and disability. I've hosted a few of
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those events as a part of Disability Pride. There
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were definitely some discussions on like... you
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know, health care and the state of it and how
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it affects the disability community as well as
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housing trusts and funds and whatever as well.
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And remember, June 2020, really nobody was able
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to have events in person at the time. And in
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a lot of ways, I think Disability Pride Pennsylvania,
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I think we were called Disability Pride Philly
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at the time, kind of. put on this event and it
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sort of revolutionized a little bit the idea
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of having an like a virtual event on zoom for
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people across the state yes exactly and we were
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able to reach more people across the state and
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it was also international too that's true that's
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true people would and we host international day
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of uh people with disabilities and that's another
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part of like outside of like the main disability
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pride philly day there are other events that
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we do That I've been involved in over the years.
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And I think also some of the events that have
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been happening that we've been involved with
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across the state kind of were born out of the
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reach that we were able to have from the 2020
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and 2021 virtual events. Yes, absolutely. That
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is. Thanks for bringing that up. Because you
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and I have gone to Disability Pride Pittsburgh.
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And we volunteered there. That was a lot of fun.
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That was cool. Let's see. We've been to Harrisburg
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a couple of times. I remember going to Williamsport
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last year, I think. Yeah, you've definitely been
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to a few more of the ones out in the state that
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I have. There was the one that was near Scranton.
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Or was it in Scranton? It was nearby. It was
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nearby, that's right. Yeah, so yeah, I've been
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to quite a few events across the state, and I
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really appreciate the experience that I've gotten.
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So we've kind of talked a little bit about some
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of the different things that have happened over
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the years. What are some of the highlights? What
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are some of your favorite things that have happened
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during Disability Pride celebrations over the
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years? So many things. performances by certain
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bands. Uh, I remember, I think his name was Ryan
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Gilfillian. Ryan Gilfillian. Yes. So good. So
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good. And I just remember like, he he was riffing
16:33
off the cuff at one point and just kind of improvising
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and singing and i just was like yeah our community
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is real talented yeah it was literally you know
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michael mcdonald's song like live on stage while
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performing which is really impressive and like
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black cat habitat we've had them on quite a few
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times like different artists um i also think
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just the highlight is like that people that I
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would see people there that I wouldn't see pretty
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much all year. So it'd be like an event where
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I'd be like, oh my God, how are you doing? Like
17:09
we just reconnect at this event because there's
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transportation to it. It's like, you know, a
17:16
lot of people save up their energy so that they
17:18
can actually come to Disability Pride Philly.
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And so, yeah, it's like, I think it's just connecting
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with people. A lot of my friends who I used to
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go to Disability Pride with have moved away,
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but I remember those moments too of like going
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to Disability Pride and then afterwards like
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going to hang out and have dinner and relax and
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just connecting with the community and feeling
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like a part of something and not so alone. So
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would you say that's part of the magic of these
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Disability Pride celebrations is kind of the
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social connection that it helps to foster within
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the community? Yeah, I definitely think it's
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all about connections, honestly. And connections
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with different organizations has also been a
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highlight, to be honest. I didn't know about
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Inglis before I went to a Disability Pride event.
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I didn't know about a lot of these organizations
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that offer different services. nonprofits as
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well. So I think like, yeah, the connections
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that I've made over the years have been just
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really important and great for me, both personally
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and professionally. So there might be some people
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who are listening who've never been to a Disability
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Pride celebration before. What can they expect
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if they come on the 13th? So this year, well,
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something we started last year is actually using
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a dj instead of hiring multiple bands because
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we realized that just accessibility wise it's
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hard to have a proper stage that's really accessible
18:58
for everyone and this the setup and cleanup time
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is very hectic and a little bit um Yeah, it can
19:06
just be a lot. It can be a lot for the organizers
19:08
to have to round up so many people. So we're
19:12
actually going to have a DJ and our DJ last year
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was really great. It was very like chill, but
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also a little bit of dance music, kind of like
19:20
house music. So you can expect more of that.
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It'll be out on the parkway. Hopefully the weather
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will be nice and it won't be too hot or too cold
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or raining. Oh God, I don't want to say it. The
19:34
last few years we have been seeing rain, I think.
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I don't want to say, I don't want to jinx it,
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but hopefully the weather will be nice. And you
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can expect to connect with different organizations.
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We also have activities. There'll be like games
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to play. There'll be art to make. There'll be
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different artists selling their products. And
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yeah, like different organizations from across
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the state, honestly, they come to Disability
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Pride Philly. So like medical organizations,
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assistive technology organizations, the organization
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I work for, which is Institute on Disabilities
20:18
at Temple University. always tables at Disability
20:22
Pride every year because we have a real connection
20:25
with Disability Pride and have had many opportunities
20:33
to connect in that way. So I think, yeah, and
20:39
I believe there will be some food trucks. And
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since it's on Ben Franklin Parkway, like you
20:44
can leave and go to quieter spaces. Um, there's
20:48
always like an area where we kind of cordon off
20:50
to just for people who need like a time to chill
20:53
out and like be out, be out of the way of the
20:56
crowds. Um, but yeah, it's supposed to be a lot
21:00
of fun and it's going to be, I think there, we're
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going to have our speeches as we typically do.
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We have speeches from different leaders of different
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organizations like Liberty Resources. They're
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a big part of Disability Pride and have been
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for many years. That's also another highlight
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I wanted to say is like learning about Liberty
21:19
Resources and the community around Liberty Resources.
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So really appreciate them. So you definitely
21:26
get to see representatives from there. Let's
21:30
see, what else might we have? Well, there's the
21:33
parade every year. The parade, right! I think
21:36
it's from City Hall down to where we're going
21:38
to be having it on the parkway. Yes. That's what
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it's been for the past few years, I think. Yeah,
21:42
it starts on the north apron of City Hall. Thank
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you for reminding me, because last year I wasn't
21:47
really in the parade. I was, like, helping out
21:49
on the parkway itself. And I've done the parade
21:54
quite a few times. And now that you're reminding
21:56
me, I don't know why I didn't say that as part
21:58
of my highlights too, is the parade going down
22:01
Market Street from the Constitution Center. Yeah,
22:06
I'm going back to highlights. In the past, yes.
22:08
In the past. Amazing. Amazing. So I think the
22:12
parade is a lot of fun because people from the
22:15
community will like stop. Just people out walking,
22:19
doing their thing, walking their dogs or whatever.
22:21
They'll stop and they'll look at us and they'll
22:24
take pictures of us and smile with us and we'll
22:27
start cheering. I know Tony from Adapt is always
22:31
giving such good energy and he gets us to chant
22:35
things. And just... yeah like that energy you
22:41
can expect that again as usual uh the Philadelphia
22:44
Freedom Band usually performs with us and they're
22:47
awesome and um they have a small marching band
22:51
for the summer that comes and joins us so like
22:54
it's just gonna be a party it's gonna be a party
22:56
but also a celebration of just the history of
23:02
people with disabilities just because it's like
23:04
the 250th anniversary of the United States this
23:08
year so um you know there's a lot to to remember
23:12
and a lot of people paved the way for us to to
23:15
have these this celebration this year yeah and
23:19
I think that is kind of the magic of having it
23:21
on the parkway too is like there's a lot of people
23:24
that are out for their morning runs as we're
23:25
setting up and they're like oh what's going on
23:27
like well, what is this? You know, is it free
23:31
and open? And it's like, yeah, we're, you know,
23:34
come by, have a good time, come check us out,
23:37
you know, and they're like, oh, Disability Pride.
23:40
Well, why Disability Pride? What does that mean?
23:43
Yes. And it's like, you know, it's just about
23:47
celebrating ourselves, celebrating our community,
23:49
enjoying company. Yeah, because there's so much
23:54
ableism in the world that we have to deal with
23:56
on a daily basis that this is this place where
23:59
we can really just like let loose, be disabled
24:02
in whatever way we're disabled and not be apologizing
24:06
for it. Not even a little bit because we don't
24:09
need to. So I guess that kind of leads right
24:12
into my next question perfectly. What does disability
24:15
pride mean to you? Like, does it mean anything
24:18
beyond what you just said or like what? What
24:21
are the exact parameters? My gosh, I'm still
24:24
figuring out what disability pride means to me.
24:27
But I think... Yeah, I grew up for years kind
24:33
of believing, not really wanting to call myself
24:36
disabled and using like terms like handicapable
24:40
when I was in college, like trying not to associate
24:44
with other disabled people because I was being
24:46
internally ableist and being like, oh, I don't
24:49
want to be, you know, associated with them. Like,
24:53
and now I can't even imagine. I can't even imagine.
24:57
Every time I see a disabled person out and about,
24:59
I'm like, hey, I want to say hello to them and
25:02
invite them to Disability Pride. So I think it's
25:07
just positivity around being disabled and positivity
25:11
around accepting our bodies as they are, our
25:13
minds as they are, but also acknowledging that
25:17
there's systemic... oppression that people with
25:21
disabled disabilities face all the time and we
25:24
have to fight against that oppression by being
25:26
visible and out in the community because there's
25:29
a lot of uh powers that be that kind of want
25:32
to shelter us away and kind of like hide us out
25:36
from society so i think it's really important
25:39
to show up and represent and it's it's a political
25:44
act in a way but it's more of a like personal
25:49
personal identity that I think it's more powerful
25:55
than I thought so I didn't so now I kind of embrace
25:59
it as like this is my body and I'm gonna do things
26:03
that are accessible for it and it's all about
26:06
accessibility it's not about me trying to change
26:09
myself to fit whatever normal looks like because
26:13
there is no normal and that's another part of
26:16
disability pride is like Normal normality doesn't
26:20
really exist. It's about being who you are. We're
26:23
all unique human beings. We're all biological
26:26
human beings with bodies that are going to inevitably
26:29
break down one day because we live for a long
26:33
time. And like you listening might end up being
26:37
disabled, too. So I would I would call everyone
26:40
who's not disabled temporarily non -disabled.
26:45
And you can join our group at any moment. And
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you know what? I think Disability Pride shows
26:52
that it's not so bad as people think. And we're
26:56
a lot stronger because we have to work through
26:59
obstacles creatively. And obstacles could be
27:03
like attitudinal obstacles, but also just physical
27:06
barrier obstacles that I'm always working against
27:10
all the time. Something something sidewalks.
27:14
Something something, yes. Yes. Also like public
27:20
transportation. I think I remember some people
27:25
who joined Disability Pride events every year
27:29
were in like the first protests for accessible
27:33
transportation here in Philly. So it just kind
27:36
of like reminds me of all the people that came
27:38
before us that have. helped build this foundation
27:42
for us to have these big events like disability
27:45
pride and like for me um just joining the event
27:50
makes me feel proud to be a part of the organization
27:54
but also like just just to be proud to be myself
27:58
and like like yeah just unapologetically disabled
28:03
so Would you say that maybe another highlight,
28:06
going back to an earlier question, another highlight
28:10
of Disability Pride itself is the community building
28:13
that happens every year? Yes, I definitely think.
28:16
And with community building comes power, comes
28:20
wisdom. And I remember when I first was going
28:24
to Disability Pride events, like I had mentioned,
28:26
I was still walking on crutches a lot. And I
28:29
was... I was in a lot of pain walking on crutches,
28:33
and there were years where I debated, like, I
28:36
see all these people in wheelchairs living their
28:38
lives, like, having a good old time, and I want
28:41
to be like them. So I eventually did research,
28:45
and I learned through disability pride events,
28:48
like, who I should call about getting assessed
28:50
for a wheelchair, like, where I should go, what
28:53
kind of wheelchairs I should look into. And that
28:57
truly changed my life because now I feel like
28:59
I have a lot more freedom of movement and I'm
29:02
like not, I'm honoring my body in the way that
29:07
it needs to be. So yeah, community building is
29:10
a big part of, it's a big highlight of Disability
29:12
Pride. And like, I would say for anyone joining,
29:17
especially if it's your first time coming to
29:18
Disability Pride, like... Just soaking up the
29:21
wisdom of other disabled people and learning
29:24
from them is priceless. So, yeah. All right.
29:30
Well, I think that brings our time to an end
29:33
here. It's been great to have you here, Izzy.
29:36
Thanks for coming on. Thanks for having me. Thanks
29:40
again, Izzy, for coming on our show. Now, I want
29:44
to bring it over to my interview with Ray Deca
29:47
Horton. Hey, folks. I'm here with friend of the
29:51
podcast, Ray Deca -Horton. Ray's been involved
29:54
with Disability Pride Celebrations here in Philly
29:57
since pretty much the very beginning. I think
29:59
year two, if I recall correctly. That's correct.
30:04
Okay. He has helped with planning and running
30:07
the live entertainment, as well as performing
30:09
on the day of the celebration several times over
30:11
the years. Welcome to the show, Ray. How's it
30:13
going? All right. How's it going now, Phil? Not
30:16
too bad. Not too bad. So, yeah, you said since
30:21
the second year, so what's that mean, like 13
30:24
years now? Wow, has it been that long? I think
30:30
it would be, right? Wow, and get my age time
30:32
flies. I think, yeah, the 10 -year anniversary
30:35
was 2022, if I remember correctly. It was the
30:38
first one we came back to doing it in person
30:40
after the pandemic. Oh, wow. Yeah, I suppose
30:45
so. I mean... you know who knows maybe i'll uh
30:49
get some angry messages from people being like
30:52
you're wrong you're going too far but i i think
30:55
it's been 14 years no i mean that that does sound
30:59
about right yeah i just never ever thought about
31:02
that yeah so um what was going on in your life
31:07
when you started getting involved at first with
31:09
disability pride celebrations like how did you
31:13
come to be i'm pretty sure there had only been
31:16
one celebration under their belt, the committee,
31:21
you know, by the time I was introduced to it.
31:24
And this year, which I'm pretty sure was the
31:32
second year of them doing it, I could be wrong,
31:35
but I'm almost sure it was the second year of
31:37
it being done. It was being held at the National
31:40
Constitution Center in Philadelphia, down there
31:43
on Market Street, you know, in the old city historic
31:46
area. You know, and this was a big event, you
31:50
know, I mean, they had the whole Constitution
31:53
Center and everything. And at that time, I had
31:58
just got involved with Liberty Resources and
32:02
they sponsored an art studio that was being ran
32:09
by my good buddy, Rick Burkhart. The gentleman
32:16
who was running Disability Pride started it and
32:20
was running it. Everybody, his stage name is
32:26
Johnny Crescendo. Real name is Alan Holdsworth.
32:29
He's a musician also, so I guess you understand
32:31
why he had to choose a stage name. Since his
32:34
real name was already taken by another famous
32:36
English guitarist. Johnny had approached Rick
32:42
and I. Asked us if we could help out, you know,
32:46
with activities and, you know, other things,
32:52
you know, with this here celebration that was
32:54
being done at the Constitution Center. So, you
32:56
know, we, the art studio, we, you know, had a
33:00
huge table set up at the very, you know, front
33:04
of the main staging and event area inside the
33:09
Constitution Center. that was done by people
33:16
with, you know, all various disabilities that
33:19
we chose to display on the table, you know, prints,
33:23
arts and craft, sculptures, you know, and like...
33:35
On the second floor, you know, that's where they
33:38
would have the ceremonies and the live performances.
33:42
Now, like I said, I wasn't there for the first
33:44
one. But this was a perfect formula for having
33:49
live performances being done, you know, by people
33:52
with disabilities or people who were close to
33:55
the disabled community, you know, or an amalgam
33:59
of both, you know. It was amazing. It was really
34:04
amazing. You know, it's so funny because like
34:07
before the actual event, you know, we got to,
34:10
you know, take tours of the Constitution Center,
34:14
got to be close with the staff, you know, and
34:16
the executives there, you know. So, you know,
34:21
there was quite a few times where, you know,
34:23
we came over there, you know, just the art studio,
34:25
you know. And they took us on tours of the place,
34:29
told us all about it. So I was already psyched.
34:33
And to be honest, I got even more psyched the
34:36
day of because it was really amazing. The energy,
34:40
you know, the smiles. It was just great. It was
34:45
an amazing thing. And to be honest, at that time,
34:49
I was like, it can't get any better than this.
34:50
But it actually had, you know, over the years,
34:54
you know. Well, I mean, you know, things that
34:58
start out real small tend to grow. That's what
35:01
they often do. The thing is, it's funny because
35:03
compared to, like, events that we had after,
35:09
you know, the following ones, yes, maybe the
35:13
one at the National Constitution Center could
35:16
have been considered small. But to me, it was
35:19
an extravagant thing because there were so many
35:21
people that came to visit. It was during the
35:23
summer, so it was already a tourist attraction,
35:26
you know, the National Constitution Center. But
35:28
it was just all about the event of Disability
35:34
Pride that day. Right. And was this before or
35:38
after Justin Dart's wheelchair was put on display
35:41
in the National Constitution Center? Do you remember?
35:44
I think it was that year. Oh, it was that year.
35:47
So it was kind of to help celebrate and commemorate
35:50
it as part of the whole thing. That's even cooler
35:53
to me. If I remember correctly, that was the
35:56
same. Yeah, that definitely was that year. So
36:00
yeah, there was that big part of the celebration.
36:03
I wound up missing most of the commemoration
36:06
because we were so busy setting stuff up. And
36:09
I could only see parts of it because of where
36:12
we were located at. But yeah, boy, I hate getting
36:17
old. Yeah, it was that same. It was, I'm pretty
36:21
sure it was that same year. Okay. So anyways,
36:26
what are some of the things that you've done
36:28
with regards to planning and participating on
36:30
the day of the celebration, like in the years
36:33
since your first year coming? Well, that's that
36:36
first year. Myself and the members of the art
36:42
studio were always the extra bodies and volunteers
36:46
for the help set up and dismantle. Definitely
36:51
members of the art studio start becoming. the
36:57
main people who were guaranteed to come and perform
36:59
also. Because remember, I told you, that was
37:01
an amazing formula for it, having live musical
37:05
performances. So for several years, each year
37:11
I always put together a group of disabled artists
37:13
for it to do some kind of musical performance
37:16
or some kind of actual physical performance accompanying
37:20
it. Sometimes it was hectic, sometimes it went
37:25
very, very smoothly, you know. Oh, I know. You
37:32
know, but basically being an all -around volunteer,
37:35
then a couple of years, I was stuck having to
37:39
do the stage managing. As a matter of fact, that
37:43
was the first year that you became involved,
37:46
and you were the co -stage manager, you know.
37:52
And it's so crazy. But I think my most favorite,
37:58
without any kind of crazy complication that I
38:04
ever had with the whole, you know, running the
38:07
shows aspect of it, was the one that you and
38:12
I did during the pandemic, the virtual one. Yeah,
38:15
it was 2020, right? Yeah. The first one we did
38:18
virtually. Yeah, that was a fun year, actually.
38:23
Yeah. I mean, for everybody else, you know, being
38:26
stuck inside was miserable. But for us, it was
38:29
so great because we got to meet all these different
38:31
artists, not just from around the city, but from
38:35
around the world. And we got to be friends with
38:39
them. I mean, good friends with them. You know,
38:42
they still ask about Ray and Phil all the time,
38:45
you know. Some of them have become our best friends,
38:49
you know, like the leader of Black Cat Habitat,
38:53
Rachel, you know. Yeah, so it was, yeah, that
39:01
one was my most favorite because we had no technical
39:06
problems considering this was the first time
39:07
this was ever being attempted by anyone. Because
39:10
that's another thing, too. A lot of people don't
39:13
know we were the first ones to do that. During
39:16
the pandemic, you know, and, you know, coincidentally,
39:20
I'm going to say coincidentally, other, you know,
39:23
people started doing that, you know, in the entertainment
39:26
industry and all that other stuff. But we were
39:29
the first ones to do it. And at that magnitude,
39:32
you know, because not only was it, you know,
39:34
local, but it was worldwide. So to me, that is
39:40
always the feather in my cap, you know. Our performances
39:45
that we did, you know, the way we combined live
39:48
and video and all that other stuff went out without
39:51
a hitch. You know, our engagement with the audience,
39:55
I loved it. I loved it. It was so perfect, you
39:58
know. And if I haven't, you know, given you an
40:02
applause on that task that we took on, I... Give
40:06
it to you now. I know I have, but, you know,
40:09
just so everybody else knows. I appreciate it.
40:12
I appreciate the flowers. But, you know, I also
40:16
think that that year was actually a really interesting
40:18
one, too, in the sense that I honestly think
40:20
that all of the different celebrations that have
40:22
been happening around the state of Pennsylvania
40:24
kind of came out of having the virtual one. You
40:30
know, I know there have been talks with a lot
40:32
of different places about it, but I think people
40:34
started to get serious after they saw what we
40:36
did with the virtual. Yeah, that's what I'm saying.
40:38
Which is great. You know, some people, you know,
40:41
like I said, I'm not saying that I think that,
40:43
you know, some people were directly, you know,
40:45
copping off of us. That was just coincidental.
40:47
But because, yeah, I mean, it seems like it would
40:51
be just a common sense thing to think of to do.
40:54
during that time but we were the first ones to
40:57
pull it off and like i said it was worldwide
40:59
and we had you know not only local artists but
41:02
we had you know artists from around you know
41:05
the united states as well as others you know
41:07
from other parts of the world right you know
41:10
well what i what i i guess what i'm trying to
41:13
say is like our our celebration in pittsburgh
41:15
that we've been helping to put on for the last
41:18
few years. I'm talking about some of the physical
41:22
things that have come out of having that sort
41:25
of reach. I think it may have inspired some people
41:31
in the state who may have had the thought of
41:34
doing this but didn't know what to really do.
41:36
They decided to reach out. There were other parts
41:38
of the state that were already giving up or had
41:42
actually done something. That just made us be
41:46
recognized as the go -to organization to either
41:52
help out or advise on how to do what to do. Right,
41:58
exactly. And I'm also sure that on some level,
42:03
the virtual one that we did that year may have
42:06
been your favorite because of what our group
42:08
did as part of our performance and how that all
42:10
kind of came together all in about a week. in
42:15
time for putting it out there as well. So, but
42:22
yeah, that was a fun year. I really enjoyed that.
42:24
I really thought that, you know, it was a smashing
42:28
success. So I, I guess what I also want to ask
42:37
is what can people who haven't gone to a disability
42:41
pride celebration anywhere really, Expect if
42:45
they come on the 13th to our celebration here
42:49
in Philly on the Parkway. Well, now this is going
42:55
to sound crazy. Oh, you want to sound crazy?
43:00
Yeah. Come on. But believe it or not, even with
43:03
me being one of the performers, my favorite part
43:07
are all... of the vendors the people the different
43:12
organizations that are there tabling and I'm
43:16
not gonna lie I love how like everyone always
43:19
has you know grab bags of all kinds of you know
43:25
free stuff you know and also talking to them
43:30
you know like I mean they're there like All the
43:36
different people from the different organizations,
43:38
I'm not even going to try to name, like, all
43:40
the different ones, but trust me, if you're someone
43:42
who, you know, if you have a dealing with, you
43:46
know, an organization that deals with either
43:48
health or disabilities, you know, or services,
43:53
90 % of the time, they're going to have a table
43:57
at a Disability Pride event. And they, you know,
44:01
and... Yeah, so between like just, you know,
44:05
great conversation, also information that you
44:09
can get that you probably weren't even aware
44:11
of, you know, services or whatever. And then,
44:14
like I said, also there's all of the swag that
44:17
each table has, you know, to give out for free,
44:20
you know. And this year is, unfortunately, there's
44:28
not going to be. any live bands there will be
44:31
music but it'll be you know being done by a dj
44:35
our our friend ricky uh what what's his radio
44:39
show's name again oh um silver connection oh
44:45
oh okay yeah um is that the right name i think
44:50
so it's on uh on the public access right yeah
44:54
you know ricky will be uh this year, you know,
44:58
DJing, so that'll still be exciting, because
45:00
Ricky is an amazing DJ and personality, you know,
45:04
but, yeah, I always loved the live band aspect,
45:09
especially in the early years, I mean, we had
45:12
some energetic, you know, folks doing stuff,
45:17
you know, like Anami, Anami Fatal, and, oh, God,
45:23
I can't think of their name right now, Group
45:27
of young guys. I can't believe I can't think
45:31
of their name right now. But anyway, but I mean,
45:34
it was just amazing. You know, it was really
45:36
just amazing. And yeah, and also there was the
45:44
whole atmosphere. I mean, there were people who
45:47
weren't volunteers, who weren't tabling or anything
45:50
that just came from the beginning of the day.
45:53
I mean, not were, are people that just. come
45:56
at the beginning of the day or whenever they
45:58
get there and they stay till the very end because
46:00
it is also such a social party, you know, not
46:06
socialist party, social party, you know, like
46:08
you're, you're there, you're, you're, you, people
46:11
are having, you know, sitting down, talking,
46:14
conversating, you know, and it's so crazy because
46:18
Once we moved to the Parkway, you know, Benjamin
46:21
Franklin Parkway, you know, where all the major
46:23
events are held, you know, in Philadelphia, you
46:26
know, for events that are like, you know, magnets
46:29
for all over the country and the world, you know.
46:35
Yeah, just sitting there like it's one of the
46:37
other major events, you know, just chilling out,
46:40
relaxing and, you know, just having a good time.
46:45
Yeah. And I, you know, I always get the sense
46:47
too, that there are people who are just out for
46:49
the run and they, they see this going on. They're
46:52
like, Oh yeah, check this out. And that's been
46:54
really, that definitely always was always is
46:58
a factor. Yeah. And, and it's always interesting
47:01
because people will be like, Oh, what's going
47:03
on? What are you doing? And it's like, Oh, well,
47:06
this is disability pride. Here's what we do.
47:08
And come on, hang out, have a good time, whatever.
47:12
Yeah. And, um, Yeah, so that's always been kind
47:17
of a fun thing. And, you know, the party's always
47:21
a fun time. You know, there's a parade, you know,
47:24
as well. And, you know, the food trucks. Some
47:27
people are really into the food trucks. Yeah.
47:31
Now, oddly enough, I have never been able to
47:34
watch or participate in the parade ever. Why?
47:38
Because I will always have to be stuck. They're
47:43
setting up, you know, setting up tables, chairs,
47:47
doing pre -rehearsals, you know, when I was doing
47:51
the performances, you know. So I always would
47:55
catch it once they arrived to the main part of
47:59
the event. But unfortunately, I have never once
48:03
watched the beginning of the parade and definitely
48:07
not participated in it, the parade slash march.
48:13
So, Ray, I'm asking this of you and also Izzy,
48:17
but what does disability pride mean to you? You
48:23
know what? It's not even something I have to
48:27
think of, you know. I mean, from day one, you
48:31
know. Now, first, let me explain myself. I'm
48:37
the type of guy who... If there's something that
48:41
I like and even if the rest of the world doesn't
48:45
like it, I don't care. I'm going to still, you
48:49
know, show that this is my interest. This is
48:52
why I love, you know, if I'm not saying that
48:55
I'm in the polka dancing, but if I want to be
48:59
a polka dancer, guess what? I'm not keeping it
49:02
hidden. I'm not keeping it secret. You know,
49:05
I'm going to let you know I'm a polka dancer.
49:08
You know, it's a fun time. Look at Weird Al.
49:14
And once I realized I was going to be involved
49:20
with the disabled community, you know, and part
49:24
of it, you know, not, you know, just, you know,
49:28
involved, but actually be someone with a disability,
49:32
with an acknowledged disability, you know, there's
49:35
always the stigma. You know, but guess what?
49:39
I don't see that. I don't feel that. And then
49:44
for to have, you know, this event or these events
49:48
all over the world that are disability prides.
49:52
I'm like, yeah, you know, I mean, I'm already
49:55
self -empowered, but it's good to see everyone
49:58
else being empowered, too, because they had this.
50:02
And I've seen it, you know. A good friend of
50:06
mine who was part of those events, he since has
50:10
passed on, Mitchell, he became more and more
50:15
proud of his disabilities. And he had, you know,
50:17
very visible and somewhat severe disabilities.
50:22
But after the Disability Pride celebrations,
50:25
he just came even more out of his shell and was
50:32
being more sociable. He wasn't so self -conscious
50:37
anymore, you know? So that's what it did to me,
50:42
you know? I mean, I already had my own self -empowerment
50:47
and like, I'm not letting this be, you know,
50:49
a thing, you know, a shame or anything like that.
50:52
But it made, like I said, after that first time
50:58
me getting involved, I was like, yes, it has
51:01
landed. Even if there are still problems, as
51:04
far as I'm concerned, it has landed, and that's
51:07
it. Pride. Take pride in who you are, why you
51:13
are what you are. Forget about the where you
51:18
are. Not in time, but the place. Because there's
51:24
always going to be someone in the city that wants
51:26
to have a problem. It's just jealousy. Because
51:32
they can't be strong like you can, strong and
51:37
proud of who you are. Wow. That's actually a
51:43
really great sentiment. I really like that. And,
51:47
you know, that really highlights, I think, what
51:49
makes these celebrations so important is just
51:53
how easy it is for a lot of disabled people to
51:58
kind of be, you know, stuck without kind of a
52:02
social group or social connection as easily as
52:04
many other individuals and having a day like
52:07
this just gives everyone a chance to come out
52:11
of their shell yeah i really like that well right
52:17
it's been wonderful having you on thank you always
52:21
for being here always love to have you on and
52:24
uh you know Maybe at some point in the future
52:27
we'll have another episode where we're just chatting
52:29
again. But of course. And, well, thanks for coming
52:35
on. Thank you for having me. All right. All righty,
52:41
Phil. Thanks again, Ray, for coming on the show.
52:45
It was wonderful to have you. All right, folks.
52:49
Well, that's about all we have for this episode.
52:53
I hope... We see you guys at Disability Pride
52:57
Philly on the 13th, if you're listening and you're
53:01
available. And otherwise, if you enjoyed the
53:05
show, please, you know, give an upvote, like,
53:10
subscribe, write a review wherever you're getting
53:14
this podcast episode. And we'll hopefully see
53:18
you on the 13th. All right. Until next time.
53:23
Please visit our accessible website at www .disabilitypridepa
53:29
.org. You can find us on social media at Disability
53:34
Pride PA on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.