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Who is Allowed in the Deaf Community
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Hi Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Interpreters and Hearing people who either do or don't know sign language,
I had a posting for a project called Peoples' Sign Language. Number one, I am an artist with disabilities and one thing I have learned about being an artist is the ability to promote new ideas, that can be talked about and used to give people different perspectives. I am hard of hearing who uses voice and asl to communicate. Ironically people in the hearing community consider me part of the "deaf culture," however on the other hand, people of the deaf community seem to see me as part of the hearing community and so I am not considered "deaf."
So what am I?
Yes, I admit, I learned asl later than most deaf people. but once I learned I embraced it. I love the language and think it is beautiful. Just because I learned late and socialize with many hearing people, doesn't mean that I am not a deaf person. As an artist I thought about sign language and when my friends and I were learning it we talked about how funny and old fashion it was that man was the top half while female was the lower half. We used to joke about it in sign language. I know that many people who learn sign language think about that, maybe not all people, but some do. I thought, what would happen if that wasn't true, if sign language showed a different perspective. Would we think differently about male vs. female or would we see our cultures differently? I thought of PSL. It wasn't a way to degrade ASL but just give an idea a "what if."
Ideas and concepts aren't bad. That is what makes life interesting. When you look at art, it is all about different perspectives and ways of seeing things. No, it isn't the only way and no you don't have to agree. I don't appreciate being told I am not part of the deaf culture because I did a performance art piece about sign language. I didn't go to Gallaudet and say okay deaf community, this is how we are going to sign now, forget all you have ever learned or appreciated. I am not that type of person. I love sign language it teached more than communication, but about how we see ourselves, how to love with hands and facial expressions. It isn't just the language of the deaf... but it is a language all people should learn.
It is funny because many deaf people discriminate against me more than hearing people. I find that ironic and it hurts my spirit. I don't want to be a part of a community that won't allow me to express new ideas. Or we will never move forward. I am deaf and I am proud of it.
I learned a sign that combined the signs "I Love You" and the "whatever" slang sign. You take both hands and make the love signs and put the thumbs together to imitate the whatever. It means "no matter what happens I will always love you." That was taught to me from a deaf friend. I love that sign and share it with all my friends, deaf and hearing. I embrace that meaning. That sign with facial expressions, says more than words. Please don't ever tell me, I am a shame to the deaf community. (less)
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