Page 42 - Essence of Beauty April May 2021
P. 42
Sex and Disability
interview with AnDrew Gurza & Heather Morrison
EOB: Please tell us a little bit dork who likes 80s and 90s TV EOB: Sex and people with
about yourselves. and 80s and 90s pop music. disabilities is not something
that is talked about very
Heather: I’m co-founder and EOB: Can you tell us about much. What do you think
CEO of Handi, my background That’s Handi and what people can do to further open
is in advertising and innovation prompted you to start this up this discussion?
but I’ve always wanted to use my company?
powers for good. Never in my Heather: Handi was born from Andrew: I think people need to
wildest dreams did I imagine one recognize that everyone will
day I'd have founded a sex tech a simple and surprising fact - become disabled at some point,
There are hundreds of millions
company with my brother, but I and when they become disabled
couldn’t be more delighted to be of people worldwide who cannot in whatever capacity, they’ll also
doing what we’re doing and to self pleasure due to hand want, and deserve, to have great
limitations. And shockingly there
genuinely see the positive impact are no toys on the market that sex, so we need to start talking
we’ve been able to have on the have been designed with this in about it now. We also need to
disabled community and societal mind. Given sexual pleasure has confront our own sexual ableism
perceptions. I’m lucky to be and consider why are we afraid
living in Sydney, Australia so in been declared a basic human to discuss sex and disability. Is it
my off time, I’m generally hitting right by the World Health because we are scared of illness?
Organization it seemed like a
the outdoors and being as active We don’t wanna say the wrong
as I can! problem that needed solving and thing? Or is it because we
so we, somewhat naively,
Andrew: My name is Drew decided to give it a go. We believe that disabled people
aren’t sexual? Once we explore
Gurza, and I use he/they all these questions within
pronouns. I am 36 and am a “I think people need to ourselves, we can open up the
Disability Awareness Consultant recognize that everyone conversation.
who has Cerebral Palsy and use a will become disabled at
power wheelchair. I have been some point, and when Moreover, instead of asking
working for myself and in the they become disabled in disabled people, “How do you
disability space, talking about whatever capacity, have sex with a disability?” one
queerness, disability and sexuality should ask, “How does sex and
for the better part of a decade. they’ll also want, and disability feel?” This will give
In 2018, Heather and I formed deserve, to have great disabled people the agency and
Handi and I took on a role as a sex, so we need to start opportunity to share so much
co-founder and Chief Disability talking about it now.” more about their experiences if
Officer, a role that is the first of they are able to. Those kinds of
its kind, that puts a disabled believe that everyone regardless questions will open things up.
person in power to ensure that of their ability has the right to EOB: Even though there can
disabled voices are heard ‘get off’, so we’re on a mission to be a great deal of sharing and
throughout Handi. I am a big put sexual pleasure in reach… openness in our current times,
for everyone.
42
