The model says he sees his condition as an ‘advantage’ when it comes to Trump’s ‘rants’.
Nyle DiMarco says he does not see his deafness as an “obstacle”, especially during this “turbulent political year.”
The America’s Next Top Model and Dancing With the Stars winner says being deaf is not just part of his identity, but also an “advantage”.
“I don’t find not being able to hear an obstacle or a boundary,” he told the crowd at the Human Rights Campaign National Gala over the weekend.
“For me and for many of us, it is an advantage and it’s a part of my identity in fact. It’s a huge part of who I am,” he added.
“In this very turbulent political year, trust me, don’t you want to sometimes just turn the volume off completely when Donald Trump starts to rant?”
The model went on to say that he is proud to be identified as “a sexually fluid deaf man.”
“I know that embracing all our identities is the way to thrive and to overcome the limitations and prejudices that surround us,” he said.
“There is no doubt in my mind that human diversity is what colours our world.
“For all LGBTQ Americans, we know from experience that labels can’t hold us back.
“We can change the world one person at a time simply by being our true selves.”
DiMarco came out as sexually fluid last year during a casual chat with one of his Twitter followers.
He recently revealed he will be joining Las Vegas strip show, The Chippendales as a guest host.
Watch his speech below:
