A DISABLED artist will lead a discussion about representation of gay and disabled people in film.

It will follow an evening of short films exploring the subject at the Duke of York’s in Brighton on Monday evening.

The programme, An Unashamed Claim To Visibility, will include works on forbidden love in a care home, gay sex in disabled toilets and the problems of dealing with customer service agents when you are deaf and blind and trying to take your boyfriend to the theatre.

A Duke of York’s spokesman said: “Despite the higher prevalence of disability among LGBTIQA+ communities, disabled, deaf, visually impaired, learning disabled and/or chronically ill queers are often excluded from queer spaces and queer screens.”

Brighton-based Kyla Harris is a Canadian artist whose work stems from NHS appointments and her experience of restricted mobility. Her installations and sculptures are of surrealistic domestic objects made from primarily used or expired medical supplies.

She and disabled activist Charlie Willis will discuss the themes of the seven-film programme.

Yesterday she said: “The statement ‘Nothing about us without us’, rings true when it comes to representations of disabled people in film.

“Because of societal reasons, disabled people have rarely had the resources to create content and see themselves on screen.

“The age of ‘cripping up’, or non-disabled actors playing disabled characters is outdated and totally inappropriate.

“This is a very exciting, inclusive new era and I think it’s important now more than ever to encourage and support varied representations of disabled people on and behind the screen.”

The film screening will have closed captions, audio description and BSL interpretation for both the introduction and a Q&A.

Large print programme notes will be available on the night.

The venue is wheelchair accessible downstairs and there are removable seats in the auditorium. Disabled customers should let the venue know if they wish to reserve one of these seats when booking, by emailing dukeofyorks@picturehouses.co.uk.