Roxanne Steel – most people call them Rox – is about to turn 35. They’re a facilitator, accessibility consultant, speaker, and wearer of many hats. But more than that, they are someone who speaks openly, honestly, and passionately about what it means to live at the intersection of disability and queerness.
Their story isn’t linear. It isn’t neat. And it doesn’t come with a perfect resolution. But it is bold, human, and deeply powerful. Roxanne shares their experience navigating a world that often misunderstands both their body and their identity – and how they’re using their voice to change that. Roxanne’s pronouns are they /she.
Early Queerness Without Language
Roxanne first recognised their queerness at a young age, though the language wasn’t yet there. “From a very young age, I would say five or six, when I can remember… I knew I was bisexual… it felt different,” they reflect.
Even then, Roxanne didn’t see the need for a big declaration. “I didn’t really feel there was like a need to come out, if you like, because it was just part of who I was. A bit like my disability. Like, it just is.”
But navigating school and sex education as a disabled, queer young person came with barriers. “To even explore a sexual identity is very barriered and very jarring,” they explain, especially when conversations about sex didn’t include disability, and conversations about disability rarely included agency, autonomy, or desire.
Pride and Disability: A Shared Struggle
For Roxanne, queerness and disability aren’t two separate aspects of identity – they inform and reflect one another.
And then there’s the tension of feeling “not queer enough” to speak up. “I felt – well, am I queer enough to talk in this space? Am I taking up space from other people? And does it make me a good or bad ally?”
But over time, Roxanne has claimed that space with confidence and care. “We all have a space in this journey – it’s just about understanding our space and making sure we’re not taking up someone else’s.”
Building a More Just Future
After being made redundant earlier this year, Roxanne made a choice: not to wait for another system to accept them. Instead, they’ve been focusing on work that aligns with their values – challenging surface-level approaches to equity and pushing for meaningful, systemic change.
“It’ll be about not just focusing on ED&I,” they explain, “but actually really speaking to the narrative that’s going on… and looking at it as organisational culture strategy. Having ED&I embedded in every practice and process – not as an add-on service, but as the strength and foundation for success.”
They’re also continuing research work around equitable access to smear tests, supporting disability rights projects, and working with communities to improve inclusion from the inside out.
And their efforts are being recognised: Roxanne has been nominated for the 2025 National Diversity Award for Role Model, with the shortlist set to be announced on June 25. It’s a timely acknowledgement of the meaningful work they’re doing to shift narratives and challenge systemic barriers.
Words for the Next Generation
When asked what they’d tell young queer disabled people trying to find their place, Roxanne offers this:
“What I would say is – it’s fine that you haven’t got it all worked out. It’s fine that you don’t have all the answers.”
They encourage curiosity, not perfection: “The best people in the world actually know the right questions and are confident to ask those questions and get them wrong.”
And most importantly: “Know you’re not alone. There are people out there like me, like UP, to support you.”