Ugh, why must we sow division in our efforts to do disability advocacy?

I'm referring to using another group to make a point, such as, "you support LGBTQIAA rights, why won't you support disability rights?" Or, "you wouldn't support discrimination against Black people, why do you support it against LGBTQIAA, disabled, insert marginalized group here.

I used to be guilty of this, but as I've grown older, I've become mature and my views have changed. I've become aware of how divisive this tactic is.

When groups, particularly marginalized groups do this, the message is that the group that you're comparing your group to doesn't deserve rights, support or validation, but your group does, or, at the very least, your marginalized group deserves more consideration than others.

This is a form of Oppression Olympics, something that doesn't help or benefit marginalized communities.

I'm seeing this a lot within the disability advocacy and activist community. If someone points out that every 28 hours, someone Black is killed by police, inevitably, some disabled person will point out that half of people killed by police have some type of disability. That is a very valid point that needs attention and action, but bringing that up in the context of Black folks is erasing. That's a separate conversation.

The same goes for what's happening in Washington, DC this week. Disability activists (most of them are friends whom I love dearly) are demanding support for disability rights of the Obama administration, just as it, and the President, supports LGBTQIAA rights. With all of the compelling and valid reasons to support disability rights, there shouldn't have been any reason to bring another marginalized community's issue into the mix. The lack of support and action on disability issues and the profound harm it is doing to us is more than enough to make a point and demand action.

Most who know me know that I speak my truth and say the uncomfortable things. I don't always agree with those whom I love, but I try always to be respectful in my disagreement. Had I been with my friends, I would have shared my feelings with leadership, but I'm not with them, so this space is the only place that I can express my dismay over the strategy and tactics that were chosen.

Look, it's one thing for marginalized groups to demand of the dominant White, male, cis, straight, nondisabled society the same rights that those groups enjoy, but when those demands are made at the expense of other marginalized groups, all it does is pit us against each other when we should be united.

It has not escaped me that in the case of this week's activities, the decision to employ this tactic most likely was made by LGBTQIAA members with disabilities. That doesn't make the decision a good or correct one, just as it wouldn't be good or correct for Black disabled to assert that the Obama administration supports the rights of Blacks, so why doesn't it support disability rights?

As a Black lesbian with disabilities, I understand the desperation of our disability community. Because of policies and practices in place, many of us feel that no one gives a damn about us. We die of abuse and neglect every day in nursing facilities and other institutions. Programs designed to keep us at home are viciously cut. Laws that are supposed to protect us from discrimination are ineffective. I get that. I, and my family have gone through and been very negatively affected by all this. I can understand why some of us feel that our plight is the worst and that other groups have it better than us.

Still, we must not fall into that trap! When we do that, we hurt others. We Blacks see disability and LGBTQIAA as White, we LGBTQIAA see disability as straight, if anything, and we LGBTQIAA and disability see us Blacks as always pulling the "race card", which actually doesn't exist. Do you see how absurd this is and why we must come together and fight this and see the commonality within our communities?

We disability rights activists and advocates must denounce tactics that divide us from other marginalized communities, especially since many of us also belong to those communities. Our civil rights and support of them are no more important than the civil rights of other marginalized groups.

So, let's put an end to this, ok? We can do better than this! We ARE better than this!

My friends who are Black and people of color everywhere: if you plan on going to a Trump event, please be careful! You know he and his minions are violent! Trump canceled an earlier trip to Denver, but now he is coming today, July 1st. Some of my ADAPT sisters and brothers are going, but I refuse to go.

Yes, I understand that there are Blacks and people of color who are Trump supporters. I don't understand why, when Trump hates us and sees us as criminals. If you haven't heard the filth spewing from The Donald's mouth about Mexicans, Muslims and Blacks, your head has been stuck very deep into the ground!

Beware folks, Blacks, in particular, are not welcome at Trump events, even if we are peaceful. He has ordered us kicked out and beaten and even promised to pay the legal fees of someone if they beat up a Black man.

Even if Trump is nice to individual Blacks or has them do his dirty work, pay attention to his words and actions! Don't be fooled because he's saying nicer things or appearing to backpedal on statements he's made previously. He is the Republican nominee precisely because he said and did things that appealed to racists, bigots, xenophobes, homophobes, transphobes, ableists and misogynists. He has not changed his stance. He is the same mean, nasty ogre that he has always been!

If you think he likes disabled folks, think again. He openly mocked a disabled journalist at one of his rallies. I can't imagine what he'll do to disabled activists who raise hell at his events!

I understand for disabled activists, it's all about freeing our people and fighting for our civil rights, and if you want to go, that's fine. That's your choice, if you want to take that risk.

But, if chapters and leaders are forcing or shaming Black and POC disability activists to go to a Trump event knowing what he does and condones to Black/POC activists, you've proven that you care more about the cause than the people in it, and that is despicable!

I say this because I can see that happening in some places. Look, if you're White and disabled and feel strongly that you want to go, because you want to call him out on his stance on disability, feel free. If you are a White-led disability group and you want to have a meeting with Trump, go ahead. He'll probably be very cordial to you and say all the things you want to hear.

But if you, as an organizational or disability rights leader, expect Black disability activists to attend Trump events and shame them if they won't, you really need to rethink your role as a leader!

Look, I'm passionate about disability rights and social change and justice, but I am selfish - I'd rather live than die for a cause! I've been beaten and roughed up countless times by police and angry bystanders at ADAPT actions over the years and have been arrested 120 times. I would do anything for ADAPT and the cause, but I draw the line at Trump rallies. As I grow older, I have become far less reckless and place great value on my life and my safety because I want to be around for a long time to continue the fight with as little trauma as possible. Taking care of myself is of the utmost importance because as Wade Blank, one of the founders of ADAPT, used to tell me all the time, "Anita, you have to take care of yourself or you're no good to the movement!"

Besides, if you haven't figured out that Trump enjoys this; he gets his jollies off of being violent, you are truly unaware. Even if you don't get your butt kicked, you'll be totally and publicly disrespected for even showing your face in his space. Why be fodder for his goons? Why buy into their claims that they don't go disrupting Hillary or Bernie events so that they can justify jacking with protesters who come to Trump rallies?

So, you won't find me at any Trump events and I advise Black folks with disabilities, as well as people of color to stay away. If you want to go because you feel it's worth it for the cause or if you're a Trump supporter, please beware and be careful!

I'm aware that if Donald Trump or his supporters sees this, they'll brand me a terrorist and have the FBI at my door. Bring it on! I'm totally nonviolent and do not practice or condone violence of ANY kind. Besides, I've been spied on before for my nonviolent activist activities and have the redacted paperwork to prove it. I'm not afraid!

I'm glad that Hillary Clinton just announced her support of the Disability Integration Act, which would give people with disabilities the right to live in the community with the services and supports we need to remain independent.

Disability activists are rightfully ecstatic that she's taken this step but hold up a minute! I'm the Angry Black Womyn, so you know that there's something controversial that I'm going to bring up that'll put a stop to the clinking of the champagne glasses.

Yes, I'll be the Bitch who says it: if you as a Presidential candidate holds an event at a location that is inaccessible to people with disabilities, your support of disability legislation means NOTHING! It's not as if this is 1990 and you're saying, "huh, what's the ADA???

I'm referring to the fact that Hillary and Bill Clinton held separate campaign events (His was in support of his wife) that were inaccessible to folks who use wheelchairs. In fact, President Clinton's event was held in a stairs only venue!

It's cool that the Clintons acknowledged ADAPT and are in support of DIA, but if they truly thought about people with disabilities, they would have made sure that the venues they chose were accessible.

I understand that Presidential candidates depend on their staff to book their events but they, themselves, should check venues where they're booked and if it isn't accessible to EVERYONE (this means bathrooms too!), they have the power and authority to cancel the event there and have it elsewhere! Barring that, they should carefully and firmly instruct campaign staff on full accessibility and inclusion of disabled folks at their events and hold them accountable if they mess up.

I'm tired of our community giving these candidates a pass simply because they support disability legislation. Words, even on paper, mean nothing if you don't respect us enough to make sure that we can attend and fully participate in your events!

I've got mass respect for my ADAPT sisters and brothers and other activists and advocates for all the hard work that has been done, which makes me all the angrier because Presidential and other candidates must understand that action speaks louder than words and having events at accessible locations will go a long way to proving that you actually care about the legislation that you claim to support, and you're not just saying stuff to get a vote.

This isn't just about folks in chairs. Your events (and your websites and literature) must be accessible to EVERYONE - Deaf, blind, autistic, folks with mobility issues who don't use wheelchairs. If you're spending BILLIONS on your campaign, surely you can afford to hire interpreters for Deaf folks at your events, print literature in alternative formats, have your IT people build websites that are accessible to all and have seating at your events for everyone, because even those who don't use wheelchairs, walkers, canes or other mobility devices may still have mobility, fatigue or endurance problems.

I mean this for ALL the Presidential candidates, not just Hillary! I've got my eye on Bernie Sanders, too! I'm just as incensed to hear similar complaints that his events are sometimes inaccessible and that supporters have had bad experiences at his rallies.

Both Democratic candidates say that they have staff assigned to address disability issues. Why, then, has this happened and continues to happen?

Democrats and progressives must stop taking us for granted, feeling that they've automatically got our vote. You have to earn it! You have to really care about us as a voting bloc. You have to always talk about and profile and act on our issues and concerns as you do everyone else, not mention us here and there, if at all.

As for the Republicans, as I stated earlier, this means you too! Yes, I know that you hate us. Yes, I know that if one of you becomes President, you're going to make our lives a miserable living hell. At least you're honest. At least we know where we stand with you! Still, by law, you must make your events accessible to all. I'm watching you too!

Secretary Clinton, if you are a true friend to the Disability community, I expect not to hear any more complaints about accessibility at your upcoming events. Senator Sanders, I expect that you'll consider the complaint against you regarding this, also and address this. Oh, and thanks for supporting and co-sponsoring the Disability Integration Act!

There! I've got that off my chest!