Who am I? / What do I do?
That’s a really tough question for me to answer these days. If we are defined by our work (which we aren’t, but capitalism really, really wants us to believe the opposite), then I used to be a cripsex agitator, disability activist, educator, patient advocate, and writer who focused on topics that make most people uncomfortable: advocacy and accountability; sex and kink; pain, disability, and illness; death and poverty; accessibility and technological security.
I’m on medical sabbatical during 2023 to have two neurosurgeries (those are now done) and two back surgeries (those are still to come).
If I can’t connect with you now, I hope to do so in 2024, when I’ll have hopefully figured out who and what I want to be when I grow up.
Currently…
- I have a chapter about preserving the stories of disabled sexuality in archival work coming out in a book by Litwin Books ↗ in January 2024
- I have a rarely updated Substack newsletter, Fucking While Being Fucked Over ↗, about disability, caregiving, and sex under late-stage capitalism.
What else have I done? – The work edition.
I have participated with multiple radical leftist and feminist cooperatives, organizing groups, and conferences since 1999. Prior to 2023, my focus had been on accessibility and inclusion, particularly within the sexuality industries.
For more than a decade, I had assisted as peer support for disabled individuals, a consultant for nonprofits and solopreneurs, and an advocate for individuals in need regarding accessibility, disability awareness, supportive services, health insurance, vocational rehabilitation, economic stability, and diagnostic support.
As a writer and storyteller, I began “blogging” in the 1990’s, providing me with over twenty years of experience with professional over-sharing in the style of the chaos-to-quest narrative. Using a variety of monikers and platforms, I have written publicly and extensively on issues of sex, relationships, disability, and mental health since before I was old enough to know better. Over the last twenty years, I have appeared as an author, interviewee, or performer in multiple media formats relating to disability and/or sexuality.
From 2017-2022, I presented workshops and guest lectured to graduate and undergraduate students on subjects including sadomasochism in relation to chronic pain, sex and disability, kink and disability, and disability as a general topic. I also taught about accessibility, poverty, disability, and technology to wide audiences, from activists and organizers to sex workers and tantra practitioners to business-focused professionals.
In my spare time I advocated for technological rights / freedom and provide training to those interested in increasing their internet security.
But who am I, really? (Enter the identity labels.)
In Slavic, “Caz” means “the famous destroyer of peace,” but “Caz” is also an abbreviation of my first name, hence the name “Caz Killjoy” – which started out as a joke and now I’m stuck with it.
I’m a white, genderqueer, queer person who practices non-monogamy as a relationship anarchist. I am also an abolitionist, an anarchist, an atheist, and an anti-Zionist; lumpen-precariat; formerly unhoused; a former sex worker; a proud GED recipient; and multiply disabled. To paraphrase, my disabilities are the least interesting thing about me.
To learn more or get in touch, find me here at ConnectWithCaz.com.
A Much Needed Thanks
I would not have made it this far without direct support from many people when it’s been most needed. A great deal of thanks goes to:
Aaron K., Adam M., Aida M., Akio S., Alexandra B., Alison B., Aly F., Amani L., Amber D., Ananda B., Anthony H., Antigone A., Arielle R., Arvin C., Avery H., Ben K., Betty B., Bianca P., Bree D., Brett A., Brian G., Bryan P., Brian U., Bryan S., Catherine A., Charlotte M., Chris R., Chrissy H., Crista C., Dan L., Danila A., Darrien D., David W., Debra S., Diana H., Dolores C., Eli G., Elizabeth F., Elizabeth P., Emily F., Emily V., Faith S., Françoys V., Grayson S., Greg S., Gregory J., Gwen W., Hannah H., Helen F., Holly M., Ilde S., J.J. G., Jade L., Jamie G., Janet T., Jenn J., Jennifer J., Jennifer R., Jesse F., Jessica Y., John B., John C., John E., John G. John K., John O., Jonathan G., Jordan B., Joshua S., Joshua J. Juan C., Julia Sa.,, Julia Sh., Julie B., Justin K., Karen D., Karen W., Kate A., Kate C., Kiki S., Kwasi B., Leighton C., Lisa B., Lisa F., Lisa H., Maggie O., Marla S., Mark A., Mark E., Mark WB., Mateo W., Melina A., Michael B., Michael O., Michelle L., Nadine T., Nancy M., Nat V., Nicholas F., Nikki R., Paul D., Reid M., Ren G., Ricardo V., Rick T., Rob B., Rob Z., Robin K., Rose D., Rynn M., Sandra F., Sara B., Sara L., Sara P., Sarah W., Scott V., Sheena W., Sonia Z., Tonya W., Trista W., Vanessa R., Victoria R., and Zachary M.
A very special thanks to Akio S., Anthony H., Bianca P., Crista C., J.J. G., Jessica Y., John C., Jordan B., Leighton C., Nat V., Nicholas F., Nikki R., Rob Z., and Rynn M.