At L’Arche, we believe that real community is built on celebrating the whole person—every gift, identity, and experience that makes someone who they are. Pride Month reminds us that inclusion must be intersectional. Here are six LGBTQ+ leaders with disabilities who are living that truth and widening the circle of belonging:
1. Aaron Rose Philip (she/her) – Fashion’s Vanguard of Visibility
Born in Antigua and raised in the Bronx, Aaron Rose Philip became the first Black, trans model who uses a wheelchair to sign with a major agency and to walk a high‑fashion runway for Moschino. Her presence in British Vogue, Marc Jacobs campaigns, and NYFW insists that the beauty industry include disabled bodies.
2. Barry Lee (they/them) – Art as Healing, Identity as Joy
Atlanta‑based illustrator and writer Barry Lee, born with the rare Nager Syndrome, fills murals, books, and the Gentle Reminders oracle deck with bright characters and mindful affirmations. Their work often celebrates community healing and connection, offering queer and disabled audiences art that says: you are worthy as you are.
3. Lady Francesca (she/they) – Drag That Dazzles & Disrupts
A star of the globally acclaimed Drag Syndrome collective, Lady Francesca proves that Down syndrome and high drag go hand‑in‑hand. From RuPaul’s DragCon to Vogue collaborations, her fierce looks and performances shatter old narratives and invite audiences to celebrate disability with sequins and sass.
4. Lydia X. Z. Brown (they/them) – Legal Firepower for Justice
Autistic, non‑binary, and Chinese‑American, attorney Lydia X. Z. Brown fights algorithmic bias at the Center for Democracy & Technology, teaches on race and neurodiversity, and founded a reparations fund for autistic people of color. Recognized by President Obama as a “Champion of Change,” Lydia calls policy‑makers to center those most often marginalized.
5. Rosie Jones (she/her) – Laughing Loudly at Limits
The British comedian behind Mission Accessible and the forthcoming Channel 4 sitcom Pushers turns life with ataxic cerebral palsy—and proud lesbian identity—into punch‑perfect social critique. Her humor invites audiences to question ableism and embrace intersectionality with a grin.
6. David Clark (he/him) – Community Builder & Willowbrook Survivor
Now in his 60s, David Clark survived the notorious Willowbrook State School and today leads Free With Pride, a social group he founded for LGBTQ+ people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at YAI in New York. Blind and proudly gay, David trains staff, educates peers, and builds spaces where queer adults with IDD can connect, date, and thrive—living proof that belonging transforms lives.
Why Their Work Matters to L’Arche
These six leaders show what happens when we celebrate the whole person:
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Visibility & Voice – They refuse to hide intersecting identities, ensuring disabled LGBTQ+ stories are told from the inside out.
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Creative Disruption – Through art, fashion, comedy, and community‑building, they dismantle systems that say “you don’t fit.”
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Shared Dignity – Each embodies the L’Arche belief that every life holds gifts the world desperately needs.
As we celebrate Pride, may their brilliance inspire us to keep widening the circle—until everyone, in all their complexity, knows they belong.
