User:Bthert/Piss On Pity

"Piss On Pity" is a rallying cry for those in the disability-inclusive circles of world politics. It has primarily been deployed in protest of charities that fundraise by portraying disabled people as burdensome and helpless. The phrase first appeared on T-shirts, alongside other confrontation slogans such as "Blinded and Crippled by Tragic Disease."

Etymology and Use
The term was likely coined by folk musician, poet, and disabled rights' activist Alan Holdsworth (stage name: Johnny Crescendo) who regularly relies on vulgarity and bold statements.

Activists will often explain that a militant, provocative slogan of this type is better suited to convey their message. Their goal is to purge pity from worldwide social discourse on disability at both the governmental and cultural levels. Rather than instead fostering disability-inclusive practices and equal power politics.

History
The slogan rose to prominence during the 1990 and 1992 Block Telethon protests outside of ITV Studios in the United Kingdom, where it was seen printed on T-shirts, alongside others, like "Blinded and crippled by Tragic Disease"

The slogan was printed on t-shirts and thousands were sold. According to its proponents, the implication of the slogan is that pity, while seeming to be a positive, helpful emotion, actually is derogatory. According to them, it is based in conscious or unconscious aversion to disabled people and the ableism that that aversion consciously or unconsciously represents. According to Barbara Lisicki, an organizer of the Block Telethon protests, on the BBC show Network in 1989, "If you make a disabled person an object of charity, you're not going to see them as your equal."

Activists using the slogan will often explain that their ultimate goal in a militant, provocative slogan of this type is to get across the message that, like anti-racism and anti-sexism, they want to purge pity from worldwide social discourse on disability, at both the governmental and cultural levels, and instead foster disability-inclusive practices and equal power politics.

Legacy
"Piss on Pity" was the title of an exhibition by disabled artists, that took place in Wakefield, UK, in 2019. Their artwork reflected the antipathy of the disabled people's movement towards charity. The exhibition showed disabled artists challenging the widespread idea that charity is a force wholly for good.