Choosing to Remember: A Queer Disabled History of the COVID-19 Pandemic in England

Abstract

In this article, I draw on oral histories from the Queer Pandemic project conducted with queer disabled and nondisabled people in England about their experiences in relation to the process of “returning to normal” once COVID-19 precautions were lifted. I analyze their experiences through the lens of the disabled oracle, arguing that the wisdom gained from an oracle perspective allowed queer disabled people to prioritize their cripistemologies despite their devaluation from society and assert their rejection of the ableist norms promoted in England by engaging in different kinds of queer/crip negativity. Thus, this article provides insight into how queer disabled people navigate a landscape of increased ableism during COVID and establishes a framework for further research on COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19, Pandemic, oral history, disabled oracles, cripistemologies, crip negativity

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