It Ain't Easy Being Green
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The first step, everyone agrees, is education. "Once a visually impaired or blind individual gets to be known, most barriers tend to disappear," Arnold asserted. "Educating the general public helps immensely with the acceptance of all disabled people."

Perry advocates integration. "I'm a firm believer in getting blind gay people out in the community, in both the gay and straight community, because if you put a human face on what the problems are, you help connect the discussion. The issue becomes tangible now. It's something people can relate to."

"Disabled individuals don't bite and our disabilities are not contagious," stressed Arnold. "People need to get to know us. As a visually impaired individual, I'm often perceived to be a snob when I don't see someone wave or make eye contact with me. If I don't know a person is attempting to communicate with me, I can't respond. I have lost several potential friends because of this. We all must learn to communicate better and simply do more communicating."

Perry reiterated the importance of eye contact and body language, especially in American gay culture. He reported that he found it easier to meet people in other countries because it seemed they valued conversation over the complex system of eye contact and flirting used in the US.

"Everyone must realize that visually impaired and blind people simply can't communicate with body language and such," Arnold pointed out. "We still say and feel the same things, but many of us simply can't communicate in a visual manner."

Another unique challenge is transportation. "Mobility seems to be of paramount importance," Perry said. "My friends like to go places and I don't drive, of course."

Then there's the common stereotype that, as Ken put it, "disabled people are not thought to be sexual." Perry added, "Whenever I hang out at a gay bar, particularly if I've never been there before and people don't know me, a lot of times people look at me as a casual friend, but not much else."
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