{"id":1226,"date":"2026-06-15T11:45:42","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T10:45:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/creatingconnections\/?page_id=1226"},"modified":"2026-06-15T11:45:42","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T10:45:42","slug":"lgbtq-identities-and-disability-focusing-on-world-aids-day-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ncl.ac.uk\/creatingconnections\/lgbtq-identities-and-disability-focusing-on-world-aids-day-2\/","title":{"rendered":"LGBTQ+ Identities and Disability, Focusing on World AIDS Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Top 5 tips for inclusive PPI with LGBTQ+ disabled communities (by Isaac Samuels).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

See the whole person, not a single label. People are never just LGBTQ+, disabled, HIV-positive, or any one identity. Start with the person and with what matters to them, how they see themselves, and what helps them thrive. Avoid reducing individuals to the identity most visible or most convenient for the service. Labels are for jars, not for people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Be curious, not cautious. The biggest barrier is people being afraid of getting it wrong. Ask respectful questions, invite conversation, and allow space for people to share openly. Curiosity builds trust, while silence or assumptions create distance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Recognise intersecting experiences of discrimination. LGBTQ+ people who are also disabled, racialised, or navigating poverty may face overlapping barriers that shape how they engage with PPI. Acknowledge how racism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, and classism can compound, and adapt your approach to reduce these pressures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Use relational, not tokenistic, co-production. Involvement isn\u2019t about recruiting \u201cone person from each group\u201d. It\u2019s about building genuine relationships, offering flexible and accessible engagement, and sharing power in decision-making. Meaningful PPI comes from dialogue and partnership, not box-ticking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n

Create spaces where identities can coexist comfortably. Don\u2019t force participants to fragment themselves. Design PPI environments that welcome all parts of someone\u2019s identity \u2013 spiritual, cultural, sexual, social, health-related, and emotional. This includes being open to varied communication styles, respecting pronouns, and adjusting support to meet each person\u2019s broader life context.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Key learnings from Isaac\u2019s session based on attendee feedback:<\/p>\n\n\n\n