Etta Bollinger - To Be Frank Research Consultant
Photographer - Roxy Coervers
Kia ora! I’m Etta (they/them).
I’m a queer disabled person. I have a literal lifetime of experience living in a disabled body and navigating our disabling world. As part of getting what we need from life disabled people are often asked to explain our bodies and minds - we are asked what’s wrong with you? I believe disabled lives would be more joyous and pleasurable if we were asked who we are and what (or who) we want more often.
I bring not only my own story to the work at To Be Frank but also my academic, advocacy and artistic background. My academic interest in disabled people’s sexuality was first sparked when as I high school student I took part in an Auckland University of Technology study of disabled sexual identity participant and co-author alongside a group of young disabled people and established academics.
After finishing a degree in Sociology and German at Victoria University took I undertook research through the Public Health Department of Otago University Wellington about disabled young people’s experience of sexuality education and the impact on identity. I have published and presented on this work.
Since leaving university my focus has been broadly in disabled and in rainbow communities working in a number of ways to uphold the rights, dignity and autonomy of my communities.
Themes of disabled and queer identity also occupy my creative work in theatre, film, poetry and prose. I have written for a number of mainstream and disability specific publications. My theatre work has been staged in Aotearoa and overseas.