Members of Event First Party and Holiday-United (EFPH-U) denounced this week’s Disabled Pride Party for using what they describe as “outdated, discriminatory and just plain mean” language in the party’s description of itself.
Noting that they were “more than just their disability,” EFPH-U’s spokesparty expressed their disappointment and concern over how Disabled Pride Party chose to address itself. “The use of event-first language, or EFL, is crucial to seeing them as events, parties or holidays BEFORE their different abilities. Some calendars just can’t get beyond the disability, which is why we see parties like this sadly address themselves in such negative ways.”
EFL use has increased among researchers and other party professionals in the entertainment field over the past couple of decades, but it has yet to find its way into mainstream conversation. According to EFPH-U’s website, EFL was created by a national conference who hosts a meeting that has a disability. “Other conferences would call my sweet little meeting ‘disabled,’ ‘postponed’ or even ‘canceled’ — and it just broke my heart. As a hybrid they try so hard, but juggling both virtual and in-person functioning is really difficult for them. But it doesn’t make them any less of a meeting, and I wanted other, normal events to see that.”
Yet numerous admonishments and criticisms have failed to influence Disabled Pride Party to adopt EFL, and the party noted that many abled parties don’t use it to describe themselves. “Should Tea Parties call themselves ‘Parties with Tea’? Should Oscar Parties be referred to as ‘Parties that Celebrate the Academy Awards’? Should Political Parties be described as ‘Parties with a Special Interest in or Obsession with Legislative Activities’? Then why should I have to call myself a ‘Pride Party with a Disability’? It’s ridiculous!”
In response, EFPH-U’s spokesparty admonished, “Sweetie, despite what you call yourself, remember that you’re a party FIRST; people should see you for your pride, not your disability!”
Fat Tuesday, Black Friday and Thirsty Thursday refused to comment.