WWDA LEAD Intersections: LGBTIQA+ and Disability Webinar

On May 17, International Day Against LGBTIQA+ Discrimination, WWDA LEAD is bringing a webinar to you about the intersection between LGBTIQA+ and Disability! 

The webinar will include speakers TBA with different, intersecting identities about their experiences of being disabled and LGBTIQA+ (and maybe more). 

The discussion may cover a number of topics, including experiences of being a woman or nobinary, LGBTIQA+ and  having disability.

The webinar will include captions and Auslan.

Introducing our Host and Panelists:

Akii Ngo - Host and LEAD PSC Member

[Image: Light purple tile with pastel waves at the top with a LEAD logo in the top left and a picture of Akii standing behind a floral arrangement, with light brown skin, long pink hair and pink lipstick. Text reads: "Host and LEAD PSC member: Akii Ngo, Intersections: LGBTIQA+ and Disability".]

Akii Ngo (they/them) is a proud young disabled, neurodivergent (Autistic and ADHD), chronically ill and LGBTIQA+ queer, non-binary trans, person of colour who is deeply passionate about intersectionality, non-tokenistic representation, and intersectional co-design. A fierce and international multi award-winning disability and gender equity advocate. Akii has over 12 years of extensive and varied experience in health promotion, community development, stakeholder management, capacity building and engagement. 

Akii is a first-generation Aussie from a refugee background, who lives with many complex chronic illnesses, chronic pain, and various disabilities. Akii is an intimate partner (IPV) and family violence (FV) survivor-advocate and activist, Board Director & Company Secretary of Disability Justice Australia. Akii sits on several advisory committees, expert panels and working groups nationwide within the health, LGBTIQA+ and disability advocacy sectors. In addition to advising and consulting for LGBTIQA+ rights, gender equity and trauma-informed violence prevention.  Akii is the recipient of the 2020 Australian Disability Leadership Awards in Social Change, a 2021 and 2022 7News Young Australian of the Year VIC Leadership Semi Finalist , the 2021 D-30 International Disability Impact Leader and was recently, shortlisted as the inaugural finalists for the 2022  Future Directors of the Year Award.

Akii is currently the Manager – Sustainability and Impact at Disability Sport & Recreation, working to ensure increased inclusion, diversity, and accessibility for people with disability to be active. A public health practitioner and nutritionist by trade, Akii is a seasoned public speaker and writer across local, national, and international forums. Akii is also an agency represented and internationally published model – working to challenge the perception of and provide positive representation of queer, trans nonbinary, gender diverse and disabled people as well as appearance diversity (i.e. scars etc.) in media, fashion and beauty industries.

Ruby Allegra - Panel Member

[Image: Light purple tile with pastel waves at the top with a LEAD logo in the top left and a picture of Ruby, with white skin and short pink hair wearing a black shirt and clear rimmed glasses. Text reads: "Panel Member: Ruby Allegra, Intersections: LGBTIQA+ and Disability".]

Ruby Allegra (they/them) is a white, autistic, trans queercripple who lives and works on unceded Kaurna Land in so-called Australia. Working as a multidisciplinary artist, model and writer, Ruby draws on their lived experience as a disabled trans person to inform their work, with intersectionality and accessibility being at the forefront of their practice. Ruby aims to use their platforms and privilege to support and uplift other multiply marginalised people, and to encourage conversations about ableism, transphobia, privilege and white supremacy through their art and writing.

You can find more of their work on Instagram: @rvbyallegra / @rvbytheartist. Ruby is passionate about Disability Justice and is a proud member of the Disability Justice Network (@disabilityjn) , donating 10% of their presenters fee to the network.

Basahr Phanthapangna - Panel Member

[Image: Light purple tile with pastel waves at the top with a LEAD logo in the top left and a picture of Bisahr, with light brown skin and long brown hair, wearing delicate gold dangling earrings. Text reads: "Panel Member: Bisahr Phanthapangna , Intersections: LGBTIQA+ and Disability".]

Bisahr Phanthapangna (she/they) A 22 year old person of colour, she is a binary trans femme fashion model based in Naarm.

Bisahr lives with various neurodivergent diagnoses inclusive of ADHD, ASD and dyscalculia. She has had lived experiences navigating fashion and media spaces from her late teens as a full time model who is internationally published and agency-represented. She has appeared in numerous publications nationally and internationally including and worked for brands including Bonds, Nike, Dior, Commes Des Garçon and has walked for countless Fashion Festivals, Fashion Shows and Fashion Weeks across Australia! They are actively making space and showing solidarity and representation, with other community members in modeling, beauty and fashion spaces as an established model.

Luna Rybak - Panel Member

[Image: Light purple tile with pastel waves at the top with a LEAD logo in the top left and a picture of Luna, with pale skin, long brown hair, glasses and a multicoloured hat and blue t-shirt. Text reads: "Guest Speaker: Luna Rebak, Intersections: LGBTIQA+ and Disability".]

Luna (they/she) is a queer, non-binary trans woman with disability living on the land of the Cadigal people of the Eora Nation. Although Luna has lived with disabilities throughout their life, her disabilities were only recognised in adulthood, currently through a combination of clinical diagnosis and self-diagnosis.

Luna is intent on raising awareness towards the inequalities experienced across intersections, from diagnosis to support, for women and gender diverse people living with disability.

Having previously studied psychology, this year they are hoping to further their education through a research degree. They are also eager to continue to support and engage in activism, advocacy, and research.