""For so long, disabled people were not represented anywhere. The thought of even being able to exist at an event like this... nobody even went there. To go from that to now, somehow finding myself there, I can't say how blessed and honored I feel attending.""
""I think that for a long time, it's been easy to see a disabled person in the public eye and label them an activist because we have no other choice but to speak up for ourselves in the spaces that we inhabit, because other people are not familiar with our bodies or how to accommodate us.""
""We're given the title of activist because we are challenging a social system. I think that people realize that there's no choice but to do that if you have a disability in a major public space, because we have been so historically marginalized and pushed aside.""
""However, it's also so important that we're showing disabled people as a part of society, not just as activists or victims, but as individuals who can thrive and contribute in various ways.""
Aariana Rose Philip made history as the first wheelchair user to attend the Met Gala in its 78-year history. She is an Antiguan-American model and musician with quadriplegic cerebral palsy. Philip has been a trailblazer in the modeling industry, being the first Black, transgender, and physically disabled model represented by a major agency. Her attendance at the Met Gala signifies a significant step towards representation for disabled individuals in high-profile events. Philip emphasized the importance of visibility and the challenges faced by disabled people in public spaces.
Read at PinkNews | Latest lesbian, gay, bi and trans news | LGBTQ+ news
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