NADmag Summer 2022 | PRIDE
VIDEO DESC AND TRANSCRIPT: Topher is in front of a rainbow background.
A green tag name pops up in the top left corner that reads, “Topher Ávila”, “he/él)”.
TOPHER: Hi! I’m Topher Ávila and I’m Latine Deaf Queer. NAD asked me to sign/write a piece on the importance of Queer interpreters. Why are Queer interpreters important? How important it is for sign language agencies and translation companies to consider queer representation? Well, these are great questions.
A photo of Drago and his dog Magnus shows up in the background.
TOPHER: To start this off, I will be dedicating this to Drago Rentería, one of my chosen familia, one of my role models, and the Executive Director of Deaf Queer Resource Center (DQRC), a national nonprofit organization. DQRC works to support, inform, empower, and bring more visibility to and awareness about marginalized Deaf LGBTQ communities. Now, why are Queer interpreters important?
Video cuts to Ny’Kel Best (she/her), a brown skinned woman standing in front of a beige wall.
A green tag name pops up in the top left corner that reads, “Ny’kel Best”, “she/her”.
NY’KEL BEST: “Because Queer people and interpreters can feel connected based on who is a part of and identifies as the LGBTQ community. It will bring a sense of connection, bonding, and strength. For Queer interpreters, it’s easy to connect.”
Video cuts to melissa kelley colibrí (they/them), a nonbinary trans mixed latinx femme in front of a white wall.
A green tag name pops up in the top left corner that reads, “melissa kelley colibrí”, “they/them”.
melissa kelley colibrí: “they’re a part of our Queer community too, and it’s easy to connect.”
Video cuts to Av Vilavong (she/her), a Southeast Asian female in front of a blue wall.
A green tag name pops up in the top left corner that reads, “AV Vilavong”, “she/her”.
AV VILAVONG: “Queer interpreters are important because of visibility, diversity, and the feelings of connection and empathy.”
Video cuts to Roberto Cabrera (he/él) from inside a room, with artwork hung on the wall behind them.
A green tag name pops up in the top left corner that reads, “Robert Cabrera”, “he/él”.
ROBERTO CABRERA: “I love them because the information conveyed to me is valuable and significant. It has an impact for me as an individual. For examples, marriage equality, health, insurance, HIV information, safe sex practices, all these are impactful for me as an individual. These information would benefit me and that is where the value is within interpreters who are Queer or a part of the LGBTQIA community.”
Video cuts to Idy Fass (they/them), a White Jewish Nonbinary person standing inside a room with string lights hung above. The room has a bohemian feel with some plants placed throughout the room.
A green tag name pops up in the top left corner that reads, “Idy Fass”, “they/them”.
IDY FASS: “Mirroring. You know, to see that the interpreter and I are the same. I would think about concerns as to how we could communicate, how to share my pronouns, how to come out, how to tell them not to do this or that, and discussing their approaches. With mirroring, these concerns are reduced and I could focus more. I could have smoother communication. Mirroring is important.”
Video cuts back to Topher.
TOPHER: Not too long ago, Rodney LeBon posted a custom “Lil Miss” meme where it reads, “This assignment validates my existence and I’m really happy I get to interpret this’ Interpreter.” Basically, this interpreter gets a specific assignment that validates their existence, which gives them joy to interpret this assignment. This meme brought me back to 2016, when I started working as a Deaf Interpreter (DI). That year, I was working for Deaf Action Center (DAC), a local non-profit organization in Dallas and Fort Worth. I first worked with them in 2015 and as an interpreter coordinator. I eventually dived deeper into the field and became a professional interpreter. I remember my very first assignment. It was a Pride assignment and it was right after I passed my first BEI certification exam. While I was out to a very few, I was still closeted to pretty much everyone else, especially my family. I was nervous to start interpreting, let alone interpreting a Pride assignment! I worked with a great Hearing Interpreter (HI) colleague and we made it work well. Following the assignment, I remember that there was a Deaf person, who is also BIPOC (Black/Indigenous/Person of Color) and they came to me asking for my name. We introduced ourselves to each other, and they asked me if I’m hearing or Deaf. I told them I’m Deaf. I then added that I’m Queer, too. I remember their facial expression: a pleasant surprise. It seems like they were happy to see not only a fellow Deaf person on the stage but a fellow BIPOC Deaf Queer person. That assignment became one of my favorite assignments of all time, easily. Both this consumer’s existence and my existence were validated in being BIPOC, Deaf and Queer. That’s why Rodney’s meme resonated with me. Queer interpreters are important because their existence is validation. Queer interpreters are important because their presence is resistance of white supremacy, cisnormativity and heterocentrism. Queer interpreters are important because they are. Interpreting agencies and companies, I ask you to consider not only Queerness but especially Blackness, Brownness, Disability, and so on. The Deaf communities are incredibly intersectional, and it is imperative that we have interpreters who understand our identities and lived experiences on an innate level. Otherwise, it can be a matter of life and death, whether it be in school, workplace, healthcare, courtrooms, jails or prisons. Please consider supporting and making a donation to Deaf Queer Resource Center.”
Topher ends the video by signing “muchas gracias” in lengua de señas mexicana (LSM).