Event: Our Lives Matter Too
Pride Month, occurring each June, is an annual opportunity to promote self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of the LGBTQIA (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual) community. The month also serves as a reminder of the positive impacts LGBTQIA individuals have had on history and culture, and highlights the continued efforts of LGBTQIA individuals, advocates, and allies for equal rights.
This year’s Pride Month is being celebrated differently due not only to social distancing restrictions but to the heightening history of violence against LGBTQIA people in the United States. 2020 alone has given rise to the assault and/or death of several LGBTQIA individuals – including two Black trans women, Riah Milton and Dominique Fells – emphasizing that conversations about racism and reform needs in America that fail to highlight the hatred toward LGBTQIA individuals that has historically plagued our country are problematic.
Join Trap Therapist, the Transgender District, and the Center for Black Equity (CBE) as we confront selective activism and identify how heterosexual, cisgendered mental health practitioners can create safer spaces for Black and POC LGBTQIA clients.
Our panelists' perspectives as LGBTQIA community members and mental health professionals will be helpful for counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers who want to create safe spaces for Black and POC LGBTQIA individuals but feel ill-equipped to, and for people around the nation who long to serve as advocates and allies but may unknowingly be doing more damage than good.