 "Photo:")
Next time you see someone in a wheelchair, consider their state of sexiness, rather than dwelling on the fact that they are in a wheelchair for the rest of their lives.
These encouraging words come from, Gary Karp, a renowned public speaker, who has been in a wheelchair since the age of 18. He encourages everyone to consider disabilities to be sexy.
On Tues., Oct. 28, Karp came to Sonoma State to present a lecture featuring the benefits of being disabled compared to what people assume about the social concepts surrounding disabilities.
Karp's main focus on presenting about disability and sexuality is the stigmas people have about disability and how he and his wife have lived to become sexual with each other.
"My wife gets a lot of ooh's and aah's, but our relationship is about our relationship, not about my disability," said Karp.
Karp was 18 when he became disabled. He was climbing a tree to cut down a few branches, when the one he was standing on collapsed under his feet. As soon as he hit the ground, Karp immediately lost the feeling to his legs. His spinal cord was injured in the spot where sexual feeling hits every person.
At the age of 18, Karp mentioned that his one desire in life was to feel sex, but knew that he would not be able to for the rest of his life.
"We [me and my wife] found alternatives to intercourse," said Karp. "You find parts of the body that nobody knows about to be intimate. The slow stuff [alternatives to sex] is immensely human."
Aside from missing out on sexual intercourse for the rest of his life, Karp had to learn to adapt to not using his legs.
"My relationships had to be focused on the person, rather than the intimacy," said Karp.
Karp emphasized that disability is an identity, yet does not define who the person is. It took him a lot of work to get over the fact that he was going to be disabled for the rest of his life, but his biggest achievement was realizing that he doesn't have to walk to be valuable in this world.
Although it takes a lot of work for him and his wife, Karp has found that sexuality between the two of them has strengthened their relationship.
"You really get to know your body through disability," said Karp. "Sex gets acquainted with porn star athletic intercourse, but it isn't about that and it's not a necessity in a relationship."
Beside just lecturing his audience, Karp entertained by juggling for them as well. His reason for learning to juggle was to make this statement: "How many balls have you got, Gary?"
Throughout the lecture, laughter ensued, yet many statements regarding disability and how people that are disabled should be treated were mentioned as well.
After being asked if he missed his legs, Karp mentioned, "I don't remember my legs as much as you don't remember how to fly."
Be the first to comment on this article!