Politics & Activism Work

I’ve been suspicious of politics as much as I’ve been fascinated with it, if I’m being honest.
As a disabled person, a queer person, it has always seemed like a system that promises to be the key. The solution to all the problems — the oppression and systemic hurdles that make life harder, less safe, and less accessible. But the closer you look, the more politics can feel like a charade. No matter who is where, or what people say, the status quo keeps on status quo-ing, and marginalized groups continue to suffer.

My biggest issue with politics is not only the double-talk and Old Boys Club-ness that so often takes place there, on a big and small scale, but also that the people who often need the help from their government the MOST are often the ones whose voices are NOT present in government. We are spoken FOR, sometimes, but we all too often aren’t even getting a chance to speak. And that’s not the same, and it’s not sufficient. It’s certainly not how we see real change happen.

So as skeptical as I can be of politics, of government, of all of it, I also feel like it’s still necessary. It’s also necessary that we keep working to actually represent the will of The People, not just the privileged few. As much of a headache as it can be at times, it’s important that people like me, and people like you, step up and do something, ANYTHING. Every little thing matters. If we keep sitting back, the entrenched privileged voices will continue to reign. And personally, I’m over it. So I’m doing something about it.

 

ways i’ve helped to affect change

Politics, Policy, Activism, Advocacy, State Work, & So On

  • I am honored to serve on the Connecticut State Independent Living Council, where we work to make the state of Connecticut more accessible and equitable, provide resources for disabled folx, and ensure that our politics continue to progress for disability rights, not stagnate or regress. My current term is from January 2023 - 2026.

  • I’m delighted to serve as the Treasurer for Nick Gauthier for CT State Representative for the 38th District.

  • I’m proud to work with the Center for Policing Equity. We’re working on a couple of projects together, one of which is CT bill H.B. 5324 (An act establishing secondary violations). I didn’t do too much on this bill as I found out about it later in the game at an amazing Policing and Driving Equity Meeting, but after meeting with a CPE leader and going over everything with them, and again on my own, as well as sharing what I know as a disabled and queer individual and an advocate and activist, I gladly testified at the Judiciary Committee hearing on behalf of this bill. I’m very excited for everything that is to come!

  • I am the 2024 chair of the Stonington Democratic Town Committee’s (DTC) bylaws committee. An effort to continue to make my community a kinder, more accessible place.

  • I’m humbled to have participated in the 2023/24 CT State DNC’s Affirmative Action Delegation Selection Committee. We worked hard to ensure that the delegates chosen to endorse the Democratic presidential nominee are a diverse and representative group.

  • In June of 2023, I co-founded Stonington Pride with Meg Blanchette.

  • Since April 2023 I’ve been a lead member of the CT Wheelchair Reform Coalition. We started as a working group, working with legislators and the Complex Rehabilitation Technology (CRT) industry to improve wheelchair repair and service times. From there, we’ve split off into a legislative task force and an advocacy group, which work hand-in-hand. We are working to help create brand new policy to ensure that wheelchairs are repaired quickly, and in-home. We’ve been featured on NPR, WTHN News 8, in CT NewsJunkie, and more. We also had a Wheelchair Protest at the CT State Capitol. Check us out here.

  • In 2023, I ran for the Stonington Board of Finance (and I won but was barred from taking my seat. It’s complicated. Read more here) on the platform of accessibility, diversity, & equity! #FarrahForFinance

  • In 2022 I was a delegate at the Democratic State Convention.

  • I was deeply honored to support Maritza Bond during her 2022 campaign for Secretary of the State.

  • In 2022 I co-chaired the Stonington DTC’s campaign committee.

  • Did you know there’s a Social Justice Pop-Up Library in Southeastern CT? There is! It’s called Beyond the Stacks and I’m really proud to volunteer with them.

  • I sat on the Stonington DTC from 2022-24.

  • I served on the Town of Stonington Plastic Bags and Straws Ad Hoc Committee for its duration from August 2018-October 2019. I joined to speak to the importance of plastic straws to the disabled community.

  • I’m grateful to have been a part of Rise Up Mystic since its founding in 2016, participating in canvasing events, letter writing campaigns, and even giving talks and lectures about disability activism. Rise Up Mystic is an incredible organization affecting real change that I cannot speak highly enough about.

Most of the work that I do in this arena is unpaid; it is work that I do because it matters deeply to me, impacts me personally, and absolutely lights my fire. That said, I would like to say that disabled folk, as much as anyone else, deserve to be paid for their work. My work should not be held up as an example of how disabled folk should work for free for causes we care about or that matter to us.

With that in mind, if you appreciate the work that I do and would like to support it and me, you can Buy Me A Coffee or become a Patron.