Deaf News in 2021
I will share highlights of Deaf News stories that we covered in 2021 in chronological order.
A Coda fire captain from Georgia, Andrea M. Hall, signed in ASL the Pledge of Allegiance at the inauguration of Joe Biden.
The White House announced they would provide ASL interpreters for all of its press briefings, but there was controversy because the interpreter in the PIP screen, Heather Mewshaw, was a known moderator of a conservative, pro-Trump page.
The film “CODA,” starring three deaf actors, was released at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival to positive reviews. Apple would later purchase it for a festival-record $25 million.
Deaf musician and actor Warren “Wawa” Snipe performed the ASL version of the national anthem for Super Bowl 55.
Old Navy printed t-shirts and babywear with a “V-V” handshape under the slogan, “Love One Another.” The store would later pull the items from its shelves.
Abigail Heringer became the first deaf Bachelorette. She was eliminated but would appear in “Bachelor in Paradise,” where she met her current partner Noah Erb.
Two films that featured deaf or DeafBlind actors and storylines, “Sound of Metal” and “Feeling Through,” received Oscars nominations.
Google Chrome launched its “live caption” feature, which provided automatically generated real-time captions.
Mavrick Fisher was released from a California prison after serving time and getting half-time credits in his conviction of involuntary manslaughter of his former business partner, Grant Whitaker.
The “Godzilla vs Kong” film, featuring deaf actress Kaylee Hottle was released.
Netflix releases “Audible,” a short documentary film about deaf Maryland School for the Deaf student Amaree McKenstry-Hall.
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“A Quiet Place II” starring deaf actress Millicent Simmonds is released.
Donna Summerlin was found guilty by a federal jury of defrauding about $1.2 million from over 100 deaf people.
Israeli lawmaker Shirly Pinto became the first deaf member of Knesset, the Israeli Parliament.
Ritchie Bryant was elected as the first Deaf, Black Deaf president of the Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf.
Marvel’s film, “The Eternals,” which had deaf actress Lauren Ridloff as one of its stars, is released.
Students at the Atlanta Area School of the Deaf protested the selection of its new superintendent over concerns about her ability to sign and work with BIPOC students. The superintendent would later resign.
Neil McDevitt won a mayoral election in North Wales Borough Pennsylvania, making him the first known deaf person to win a mayoral election in modern times.
Troy Kotsur won a Gotham Award for supporting performance for the film, “CODA.” He was later nominated for a Golden Globe award.
Alaqua Cox became a star as Echo on Disney+’s “Hawkeye”
The CSD Riverside 8-man football team made it into the sectional state championship match and captured national media attention.
British deaf actress Rose Ayling-Ellis won the British dancing competition “Strictly Come Dancing”
That’s the highlights of Deaf News in 2021. Have a Happy New Year’s Eve celebration and may we create even more news in 2022.