Queer and in a wheelchair – double offside?

Life in a wheelchair entails physical and social hurdles. Being queer means positioning oneself outside heteronormative expectations. If both applies, the “outsider role” is intensified—often pushing affected individuals to the margins of society. Or is that necessarily the case? We are exploring this question...

A minority within a minority

According to the Swiss Agency for Accessible Construction, around 40,000 people in Switzerland rely on a wheelchair. A study by Ipsos shows that a total of 13 percent of the population identify as LGBT+ — the third-highest rate among the 30 countries surveyed. Among them, 6 percent identify as transgender, nonbinary, genderfluid, or outside the male and female categories — Switzerland ranks first in this regard. Based on these figures, over 5,000 people are both in a wheelchair and queer.

Role models – queer across Switzerland

Ursula Eggli (on the right) is considered a pioneer for non-heterosexual people in wheelchairs in Switzerland. (Photo: Helga Leibundgut: Bern/F 5110-Fc-103 / Occasion: Disabled demonstration in Bern, June 20, 1981 / Source: Swiss Social Archive)

Ursula Eggli (1944-2008) was a pioneer of the disability as well as lesbian and gay movements. The Swiss writer was lesbian and relied on a wheelchair due to muscle degeneration since childhood. In 1977, she published her first book titled “Herz im Korsett” (EN: Heart in Corset). Additionally, she appeared in the multi award-winning documentary film “Behinderte Liebe” (EN: Disabled Love) in 1979 — the first Swiss film to address the sexuality of people with disabilities.

There are currently many Swiss role models. Here are a few representatives briefly introduced:

Taz Keller (27 years old, from the canton of Aargau, living in St. Gallen) describes themselves as a “whole package” that does not conform to any norm. (Bild: Patrick Frauchiger)

Taz Keller is trans-nonbinary, polyamorous, and pansexual. Due to the hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, Taz can only participate in social life using a wheelchair. Taz studies psychology and sociology, is part of the queer-feminist art collective Vulvadrachen Kollektiv, and performs with UNAPOLOGETIC, a dance piece about beauty norms and queer self-empowerment, including at the Lila Queer Festival. Taz is involved in various activities—“Thanks to ADHD”, as Taz self-phrases—and also outside the queer community, for example with the ocean conservation organization Sea Shepherd.

“What my queer identities and my illness have in common is that I used to normalize both. I inferred from myself to everybody else. For example, I thought that every person always had back pain and that everyone was unfamiliar with the terms man and woman. Only through conversations did I discover that this is not the case. With my diagnosis and my labels, I found a name for it—and I found myself”.

Taz Keller

It was only when Roger Seger ran as a candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SP) in Lucerne that he came out as gay — in retrospect, his best decision.

Due to a nerve disorder, Roger Seger relies on a wheelchair for the most part. Born in Lucerne and residing in Würenlos AG, he has been living with his partner for 33 years. After his political commitment to the inclusion initiative, Roger Seger is passionately involved in the queer community, including for Pink Cross (see below). He also volunteers as a hospice companion.

“As a gay wheelchair user with ulcerative colitis and a small bowel stoma, I represent four minorities — which in my view are not so different from the majority. We all want to be integrated and to actively participate in society.”

Roger Seger

Selma Mosimann proves: Those who take their needs seriously and are open will find their way to themselves — even via detours.

Selma Mosimann was born with cerebral palsy. The 36-year-old from St. Gallen shares her experiences as a lesbian wheelchair user in numerous organizations: since 2022 on the board of Netzwerk Avanti, as a member of the Swiss Lesbian Organization LOS, and in the Cerebral Schweiz Association, particularly in the CerAgility network and in training programs by CerAdult. For St. Gallen Pride, she advises the organizing committee on accessibility, and she initiated the translation of speeches into sign language.

“As a lesbian woman in a wheelchair, I want to raise awareness of the queer community and the disabled community and bring them together. Because I believe that both worlds can and must work together.”

Selma Mosimann

Iwan (on the left), as the most important source of support, and the lively dog Sami give Franz Rullo joy of life and energy.

Franz Rullo's life story is incredible: his mother was killed in a traffic accident, he spent his childhood with an aunt who despised homosexuality, he suffered a brain hemorrhage, partial paralysis after brain tumor surgery, complete paralysis due to a brain lesion, as well as dizziness, vision problems, impaired swallowing and bladder function, among other challenges. But giving up is not an option. As an active member of this online community, he shares his experiences and motivates others through his story.

“We exist between worlds – queer, disabled, but not broken. Our bodies carry stories; our love breaks norms. A society that overlooks us misses its own humanity.”

Franz Rullo

Edwin Ramirez encounters prejudices against “non-conforming” people with profound humor, public appearances that attract attention, and strong commitment within the community.

Edwin Ramirez is non-binary, neurodivergent, and uses a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy. They have Afro-Dominican roots. Edwin became known as a stand-up comedian and in 2020 co-founded the queer-crip theater collective Criptonite with Nina Mühlemann as a performance artist. As an activist and co-leader of the organization Netzwerk Avanti, Edwin combines anti-racist, anti-ableist, and queer struggles and regularly speaks about these issues in interviews and podcasts.

“It disturbs me greatly that it's always implied that being queer is something completely new. In reality, queers have existed for as long as humanity has.”

Edwin Ramirez

Queer role models around the world

Marissa Bode is a queer American actress. As the first wheelchair-using actress, she portrayed Nessarose Thropp in the musical films “Wicked” (2024) and “Wicked: For Good” (2025). This role also led to real-world changes, including an accessible film set and a Mattel doll in children's rooms.

Dutch Para wheelchair basketball player Bo Kramer openly lives with her homosexuality. She won bronze at the 2016 Summer Paralympics and gold at the 2020 and 2024 Summer Paralympics.

The queer American psychologist and activist Danielle Ann Sheypuk is known as Ms. Wheelchair NY 2012 and as the first wheelchair user to participate in New York Fashion Week. She describes herself as a “sexpert” focusing on topics such as dating, relationships, and sexuality of people with disabilities.

The pansexual Melody Powell from England shares her experiences as a queer person with a disability and advocates for the rights of people with disabilities and for LGBTIQ+ rights. She works with the Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) to make the UK education system and its schools more inclusive.

Sandy Ho is a queer Asian-American wheelchair user and hard of hearing. She is the founder of the Disability and Intersectionality Summit and co-partner of the “Access Is Love” campaign. In 2015, she was recognized by the White House as a “Champion of Change”. Currently, she leads the Disability Inclusion Fund at Borealis Philanthropy.

YouTuber, artist, and activist Annie Segarra, also known as Annie Elainey, advocates for accessibility, body positivity, and media representation of marginalized communities. She is queer, Latin- American, and uses a wheelchair.

American actress Jillian Mercado, who has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair, challenges conventional beauty standards and advocates against the underrepresentation and ongoing stigma of people with disabilities in the fashion industry. The Dominican-American model publicly came out as queer on Instagram.

... many other public figures are added to the list.

Queer and paraplegic: multiple coming-outs

Coming out about one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity can be challenging. Due to fear of further marginalization, non-heterosexual people with disabilities often come out much later than those without disabilities.

Thomas Rattay, who was then a youth disability advisor at the German queer youth network Lambda, confirmed this in an interview with EnableMe: “Generally, for youth without disabilities, coming out occurs between ages 15 and 17. For young people with disabilities, they usually come out in their early to mid-20s.

“I was with a man for eight years—until my “second puberty”: after a long process of self-discovery, I came out as a lesbian in 2016. Connecting with women’s groups and organizations helped me a lot and showed me that I am not alone.”

Selma Mosimann

Roger Seger revealed his homosexuality only to his family and close friends at the age of 18. It wasn't until 2018, during his candidacy for the municipal council of Schlieren, that he went public with his sexuality—so that voters would know who they were dealing with, and which issues he is passionate about. It is completely okay for Roger that his long-term partner chooses not to come out due to personal reasons and circumstances.

“Looking back, coming out was my best decision. In the past, inventing stories took up a lot of energy — now I feel completely liberated. I believe people should be braver and openly embrace who they are.”

Roger Seger

Taz Keller also came out at the age of 20. At that time, Taz described himself as “the cool cis-iater”—until Taz had his first sexual experience with his best friend. A key event that led Taz to his true self. “I fall in love with a person because of their character or feel sexually attracted to them, regardless of gender or gender identity.”

I was influenced by the idea that many think people just want attention. However, the reactions after coming out are often not very positive. Finding oneself and admitting that you are different is challenging, but also very beautiful. If necessary, you have to distance yourself from people who do not accept this. In the “chosen family", however, you are welcomed.

Taz Keller

Between ableism and queerphobia

Disability and sexuality are not mutually exclusive. So far, so good. However, if a large part of society still assumes that people in wheelchairs are asexual, infantilized, or “dependent”, it’s no surprise that queer people in wheelchairs are often ignored or fetishized.

“Most of the time, I am reduced by strangers outside the community to my wheelchair, and often also to my being a lesbian — but I just want to be Selma. When others see my hairy legs at the swimming pool, I can almost read their minds: they probably think I’m unable to shave. Sorry, guys, which is a conscious decision!”

Selma Mosimann

Queer wheelchair users often report experiencing multiple forms of discrimination. They feel the need to explain themselves twice in every new situation: why they are in a wheelchair and why their sexual identity does not conform to the norm.

Obvious discriminations—through acts of exclusion and hatred—are only the tip of the iceberg. Less visible but equally painful forms of discrimination include, for example:

• Invisibilities or ignorance: Ignoring and dismissing sexuality, exclusion due to lack of accessibility, ending dates after coming out.
• Curiosity or fetishization: intrusive or sexualized questions, voyeurism, sexual objectification (“exotic taboo fantasies”).
• Pity and patronization: Viewing disability as a “tragic fate” and queerness as a double burden, perceiving the person as inferior, and infantilization.
• Discrimination through social marginalization on multiple levels: Ableism and queerphobia stemming from lack of understanding of queer and physically diverse life realities.

“What we do not know, we do not understand. The insecurity and therefore also the resistance are strongly linked to the lack of corresponding education or awareness.”

Taz Keller

Even within the queer community, some affected individuals experience ableism: clubs are not wheelchair accessible, dating apps automatically filter out disabilities, and Pride events are not always designed to be inclusive.

The “gut feeling” that queer people with disabilities are double stigmatized is confirmed by this study. Those affected experience discrimination more frequently, including in areas such as education, employment, finances, health, and intimate relationships.

Fortunately, there is progress in this area. Projects like «Queer & Behinderung – Ja, uns gibt es!» (EN: Queer & Disability – Yes, we exist!) by the Initiative Future Inclusion promote the visibility of affected people. The Zurich Pride HAZ magazine highlighted queer people with disabilities in one issue. And at the political level, queer people are speaking out more loudly, partly thanks to the author and National Councilor Anna Rosenwasser.

“I am pleasantly surprised by the respectful attitude in the queer community. Help is offered to me, but never in an intrusive way. And I am amazed at how direct the questions are — I think that's great!”

Roger Seger

Are queer people discriminated against in Switzerland?

A study from 2024 showed that the population is generally open and supportive towards the LGBTIQ+ community. According to an even more recent, representative survey conducted in April 2025, 83 percent of the Swiss population support the LGBTIQ+ community. This majority advocates for equality, protection against discrimination, and an end to queerphobic violence.

Nevertheless, LGBTIQ+ individuals are observing an increase in intolerance and violence driven by political stirring, particularly targeting trans and intersex people. Behind the verbal or physical attacks are prejudices or false assumptions.

According to the Hate Crime Report from May 2025, affected individuals face violence and discrimination almost daily. Those who are multiply marginalized, such as being both queer and disabled, are particularly impacted.

“As a 19-year-old, my friends and I were attacked in front of the Regenbogenhaus Luzern. More than ten people struck us and kicked us; we were completely defenseless. Luckily, a strong man came to help us.”

Roger Seger

Since 2020, reports have increased fivefold. In 2024, 309 hate crimes were reported against LGBTIQ+ people—almost six per week. The incidents include physical assaults, verbal violence such as bullying and cyberbullying, sexual harassment, as well as ignorance and discrimination in the workplace, contact with public institutions, and in healthcare.

The media (in)visibility

People in wheelchairs are significantly underrepresented in the media—queer people in wheelchairs even more so. Others, especially young people, need opportunities for identification to cope with their own situations.

The good news: the media are becoming more colorful. Spain’s award-winning documentary “Yes, We Fuck!” showcases six people with “functional diversity” and openly and explicitly explains that people with disabilities can also experience sexual desire and live actively.

The documentary “Picture This” by Jari Osborne profiles Andrew Gurza, who describes himself as a “queer cripple”. Andrew shares his coming out, self-perception, and activism.

“I'm not bothered by looking female, but by how others see and categorize my body. If being trans is accepted, more people will be able to stand proudly for being different – similar to what happened with left-handed people. I think you don’t need to be able to explain how the speed of light works, but you can still accept it.”

Taz Keller

Conclusion: The rainbow movement is gaining momentum

Even though more and more queer people in wheelchairs are coming out or participating in Pride events, they still face multiple and often overlooked discrimination in Switzerland—both because of their queerness and their disability. Affected individuals actively fight for greater visibility, sexual self-determination, and accessible environments. While specific figures are lacking, the community is becoming more visible and vocal - and they are calling for political and societal change.

What experiences have you had as a queer person in a wheelchair? Where do you see urgent areas for improvement, and what particularly delights you?

(Translation of the original German article)