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We’re sharing this round up of nine important leaders who are helping pave the way for greater intersex rights - as elected officials, artists, athletes and activists! There are still a lot of misconceptions about Intersex people, and what it means to be Intersex - even within the wider LGBTQIA+ community. We wanted to highlight a selection of Intersex people who are positively impacting the world we live in, as well as those whose legacy is still prominent today. 1. Christiane Völling Christiane Völling is the first intersex person known to have successfully sued for damages in a case brought for non-consensual surgical intervention described as a non-consensual sex reassignment. She was awarded €100,000 by the Regional Court of Cologne. Völling was born in 1959 with XX sex chromosomes, typically associated with being female, and likely also with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. She had ambiguous genitalia and was assigned and raised male. She had an early puberty with what was considered to be striking physical growth, including beard growth. During an appendectomy, at age 14, the teenager was found to have a full set of female reproductive organs, including ovaries and fallopian tubes. While no testicular tissue was detected, Völling was diagnosed as having a mix of both male and female organs. She was informed of the presence of female organs and told she was 60% female. Völling suffered mental health issues as a consequence. Her female-typical chromosomal pattern was detected in 1977, but the results were not shared with her. Völling continued to live as a man for a time, but later transitioned to live as a woman. In 2006, Völling obtained her medical records and discovered the concealment of her chromosomal diagnosis, and the nature of the surgery in 1977. The court determined that the surgery took place in the absence of any grave or acute health risks. The doctor had no good reason for failing to provide full diagnostic information, in particular as the diagnostic data showed that Völling did not possess mixed sex characteristics, with the potential to maintain one present sex, but actually involved the complete removal of her only present sex organs. Völling was both genetically and physically female. 2. Mark Weston Mark Weston was an intersex individual who was raised as a female named Mary Edith Louise Weston. Weston was both intersex and trans. Nicknamed "the Devonshire Wonder", he was one of the best British field athletes of the 1920s. He was a national champion in the women's javelin throw and discus throw in 1929 and won the women's shot put title in 1925, 1928 and 1929.Weston became increasingly conscious of feeling uncomfortable as a woman and in 1936 underwent a series of surgeries at Charing Cross Hospital in London to become male. When interviewed by the Western Morning News in May of that year Weston said he was delighted to be now “in my true element.”Weston’s life was touched by tragedy when his younger brother Harry Weston took his own life in 1942, aged just 26. Harry was also intersex and assigned female at birth. Born Hilda Margaret Weston he changed his name to Harry Maurice Weston after an operation to become male at the same hospital as his brother. 3. Small Luk Small Luk was determined at birth to be male. Following years of suffering and failed surgical procedures, Luk started the organisation Beyond the Boundary – Knowing and Concerns Intersex. She works with others to raise public awareness of issues faced by the intersex community, promote intersex rights and advocate for an end to forced genital surgery and conversion therapy. These procedures are commonplace that many intersex people been subject to around the world - both in the past, and in the present. As well as being an activist, Small Luk is a doctor of Chinese medicine, running a holistic clinic in Hong Kong. She is well-known as the first Hong Kong citizen to publicly acknowledge their intersex status. 4. River Gallo River is a model, activist and filmmaker. They won a GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) award for their short film Ponyboi. This was the film that they made for their Master's Degree, and was shown at the Tribeca Film Festival. - @rivergallo 5. Tony Briffa Tony Briffa is a Maltese-Australian politician who is notable for being the world's first known intersex mayor and public officeholder. Briffa was raised as a girl, then lived for a time as a man, and now chooses to live as both female and male. Briffa is one of the first people to be public about a chosen blank, indeterminate, birth certificate. Current co-executive director of Intersex Human Rights Australia, and Vice-President and former President of the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Australia. Take a look at Tony's website here. 6. Morgan Carpenter Morgan Carpenter is a bioethicist, intersex activist and researcher. In 2013 he created the intersex flag, and became president of Intersex Human Rights Australia. He is now a co-executive director. In 2015, he cofounded a project to mark Intersex Awareness Day. He learned he was intersex as an adult. 7. Betsy Driver Betsy Driver is the mayor of Flemington, New Jersey, and an advocate for intersex human rights and awareness. She is the first openly intersex person to be elected to office in the United States. Driver was born with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. In her mid-30s, she began learning about intersex people and the surgeries she went through at eight months old. She has stated that she and her mother had been told that she was the only one to have this condition. 8. Gopi Shankar Madurai Gopi Shankar Madurai is an Indian equal rights and Indigenous rights activist. Shankar was one of the youngest, and the first openly intersex and genderqueer statutory authority and one of the candidates to contest in 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. Shankar's work inspired the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) to direct the Government of Tamil Nadu to order a ban on forced sex-selective surgeries on intersex infants. In December 2017 Shankar was elected to the executive board of ILGA Asia. In August 2020 the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment appointed Shankar as the South Regional representative in the National Council for Transgender Persons. 9. Sally Gross Sally Gross was an anti-apartheid and intersex activist. A member of the African National Congress during the apartheid era, and the founder of Intersex South Africa, Gross acted as a mentor to intersex activists around the globe. In 2000, Sally secured the first known mention of intersex in national law, with the inclusion of "intersex" within the definition of "sex" in the anti-discrimination law of the Republic of South Africa. Since then, she helped to draft legislation on the Alteration of Sex Descriptors, and the Promotion of Equality. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here. We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Guest Writer Josh Rivers encourages us to question how we think about resilience and how communities can really unite to instil change. by Josh Rivers The mark of any queer person’s humanity appears to be indelibly linked to their resilience. Resilience is praised as one of our queer virtues, indeed the bedrock of our existence: in the face of increasing and persistent adversity, we keep getting back up, keep pressing on, keep surviving. But resilience is defined as the ability to recover quickly from difficulties, a specificity of action I’ve not understood the word to mean before this moment. Why quickly? Who decides how quickly is quickly enough? What if we don’t recover quickly, but keep moving forward anyway: are we still resilient? If we examine resilience up close and in the context of our lives in 2023, is resilient even a good thing to be? Other definitions of resilience include the ability to withstand immense pressure and the ability to bounce back and return to original form. The former is an exercise in rigidity in a world that always wants us to be something else. Bayard Rustin, a queer Black icon to whom I look for unending inspiration, withstood immense pressure and at great personal sacrifice. Throughout his life agitating for justice, he kept coming back to fight, despite being thrown in jail repeatedly for “lewd acts” (read: cruising), where he wrote heartbreaking letters about whether or not to deny his desires. Which leads us to the latter: even if we’re able to withstand the pressure, even if we appear to bounce back and return to form, are we not forever changed by the very life that demands so much resilience? To understand resilience, we have to place it in the context of its necessity. Resilience is at once a testament to an individual’s determination to survive and an indictment on a society that demands it. Perhaps my issue with resilience-as-virtue is that the pressure to be resilient lies firmly on the person who relies on their resilience for survival (for example, LGBTQIA+ people) and not on the systems, structures and societies that demand resilience in the first place. As Guiliane Kinouani writes on Race Reflections, “While some may argue that by focusing on [our] psyche, we stand a better chance at building our psychological or psychic resilience… such unbalanced attention actively locates the disturbance in [us].” I can’t help but feel that all this pressure and attention that is placed on resilience should actually be channelled into questioning why we have to express such resilience at all. In their new book, Healing Justice Lineages, community organisers Cara Page and Erica Woodland write that we must “address the ways events or conditions impact entire communities and movements, and envision ways for us to hold each other together”. We cannot only be called upon to withstand the pressure of the system, noble as surviving is. Our resilience must be oriented towards the wholesale transformation of systems and structures which are not designed to include us or allow us to thrive. To do this, Page and Woodland offer up a “healing justice” framework: “a political strategy [that builds] collective practices and spaces where healing shapes the culture in which we do our organising”. A resilience made possible through communal care and structural transformation then becomes a queer virtue because it moves us towards collective justice. To be resilient is also to be courageous. Courage is important because it assists us in the pursuit of our joy and our joy demands our courageous defiance. It was poet and human rights activist PJ Samuels who forever altered how I understand the tough work of joy-finding: “If I’m not finding joy in it, I’m going to find another way, which then frees me from the situation that was oppressing me and getting in the way of my joy.” My conversation with PJ Samuels and so many others are my demonstration of my commitment to creating spaces that offer the communities I love the opportunity – over and over again – to encounter reflections of their courage; and that they understand deeply that they are surrounded by communities of people, near and far, gone and with us still, who are dogged in their pursuit of what lights them up. Pursuits which, in turn, enlighten and enliven us all. Perhaps I want to exist within my own definition of resilience, one that isn’t ahistorical, but that acknowledges the time, place and context of its necessity, and one that doesn’t tell me my resilience is anchored to speed. Or perhaps I resent that resilience requires so much of me so often and nothing from the external pressures that demand it. Resilience in theory and execution is emotionally, mentally and physically expensive. Perhaps in using resilience to confer admiration, we should do so remembering that it all comes at such a cost; and that our decision to continue on trying to make positive change in our communities and to improve life for those around us, knowing what it will cost doesn’t make us resilient - it makes us courageous. Check out the Busy Being Black Podcast. Themes touched on in this article are explored further in the below episodes: PJ Samuels, “Black She” Zinzi Minott, “Ancestral Interference” malakaï sergeant, “I Sparkle When I Sleep” Travis Alabanza, “None of the Above” Danielle Brathwaite-Shirley, “Knowing Where to Dig” Josh Rivers (he/him) Josh is the creator and host of Busy Being Black, the podcast featuring cerebral and tender conversations with queer Black artists, activists and intellectuals. You can find more information about Josh's work here. If you would like to book Josh as a speaker for a workshop or panel event, please get in touch with us via email at hello@wecreatespace.co While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here. We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Looking back and reflecting on what we've achieved, the projects we've delivered, the events we've held, and most importantly, the impact that we've had over the course of the last year as an organisation, and as a collective. At We Create Space , it's our mission to equip our communities with new tools and practices for Queer Leadership, Allyship and Wellbeing. As a non-profit community-led social-enterprise, profits made from the work we do with corporations go back into the LGBTQ+ community ; providing free events, well-being solutions, resources and support to the wider global queer community. At the start of this year we set out our Community Action Plan , based on feedback from our global community, about what they wanted to see from We Create Space in 2022. Today we wanted to revisit how we’ve achieved those goals. So much of the work we do is 'behind-the-scenes', so our team have put together this little summary highlighting just some of what we have all accomplished as a collective in 2022. 1. We provided more FREE Online Learning and Leadership Development Opportunities for our Global Community. This year, we welcomed 1500+ global Queer Leaders and Allies to join us for on our FREE online Webinars and Panel Discussions. During our Queer Leadership 101 Series this year, we explored: How to Healthily Challenge Executive Leadership Shifting the Mindset of Others Nurturing Queer Leaders of the Future How to Grow Your Empathetic Leadership Skills How to Define and Affirm Our Values How to Avoid the DEI Comparison Trap How to an Anti-Racist LGBTQ+ Ally You can find recordings of each of these sessions and more on our Queer Leadership 101 YouTube Playlist . During our Queer Perspectives Series this year, we delved into: Being a Queer Leader of Faith Surviving Conversion Therapy Mental Health and Overcoming Addiction Navigating Male Privilege Intersectional Black Identities Migrant and Refugee Status You can find recordings of each of these sessions and more on our Queer Perspectives YouTube Playlist . "We Create Space gave me something I wasn’t aware I needed: support from a queer platform to help me achieve my dreams and navigate life. The dedication that all the team put in to make it remarkable is impressive." - Matheus P 2. We expanded our internal team, UK Advisory Board, and global speaker collective. We Create Space wouldn't be what it is without the inspiring individuals that make up our internal team, and our wider collective . All of this expansion means that we are able to dig deeper and provide increasingly meaningful and specialised consideration into everything we do. We can't wait to see what we can achieve in 2023! "Whenever I get the chance to be with my queer siblings on a WCS session, I always walk away with a full heart." - Bachul Koul 3. We developed our content platform and resource library. Content is a huge part of what we do at WCS , and it's the glue which connects all the different parts of our organisation together. It also connects us to you - our community and our clients. Through guest-written pieces and contributions from our Leadership Collective, as well as content that we put together in-house, we use our content as a way for those who are part of our community to get to know each-other better; provide inspiration for considered reflection on how we can all be better Queer Leaders and Allies to those around us; and best of all, let people know about our in-person Community Events. The statistics speak for themselves, with our website having hosted 7.72k unique users and gaining 30k page views this year. Here is some of our most popular content from 2022: Being both Non-Binary and a Black Woman Queer Perspectives on Being in Inter-able Relationships. Pronouns: Getting it right when you get it wrong. Queer Liberation, Intersectionality and Reclaiming Womanhood. My Ally & Me: Oli and Char. My Trans Role Models by Rico Jacob Chace My Non-Binary Role Models by Ben Pechey Trans Pride Photos by Bex Wade Click here to head to our Journal and read more... "A committed, fantastic and truly inclusive organisation - run by kind, intelligent and passionate individuals." - Jaqcui D 4. We organised more FREE in-person panels, workshops and events. While our online programming of workshops and webinars are important for bringing together our global LGBTQIA+ Community and our clients, this year, we have successfully partnered with venues in both London and Barcelona to organise 20 local in-person Community Events. These have represented meaningful opportunities to hear new perspectives, network and build relationships (and friendships), with Queer Leaders attending from across both our corporate and community activism networks . "This was such a fantastic event from start to finish. It felt like a very safe space and to have everyone there for the same reason was great. Well thought through, interesting with time for discussion and self reflection." - Miles Z If you would like to see what events we have coming up, check out our events page . Don't forget to sign up to our newsletter to stay up-to-date with the latest information. 5. We expanded our global corporate partner networks and consultancy services. A key part of how we encourage positive change for our community is by advocating for LGBTQ+ people within corporate environments; providing services and solutions to the companies we work with - whether this be: - DEI Training, Workshops and Webinars - Live Conversations, Panels and Discussions - Leadership Programmes and Retreats - Coaching and Consultancy - Community Insights and Research All delivered through our bespoke Event Packages and Annual Memberships . We are proud to say we now work with over 100 corporate partners and their ERGs. In 2022, we have also engaged with over 10,000 employees of these companies. If each one of these participants learns something from one of our sessions or speakers and applies it in their every day life, this means we are well on the way to making meaningful progress in how we work, as well as how we treat the people around us. You can find some case-studies and the clients we work with here . "One of the benefits of working with WCS is the tailored aspect – the team is able to make the sessions fit our specific needs as a client." - Lloyd T, YMU Group 6. We invested back into the community through creating hundreds of paid work opportunities for our collective. One of the most fulfilling parts of our work as a non-profit organisation is that we are able to provide members of our LGBTQ+ Community and Queer Leadership Collective paid work opportunities. This, in turn, enables them to continue the work they do in the community - driving change and inspiring others to feel empowered in their own identities. We are proud to say that we have been able to invest over £285,000 back into our fabulous community in 2022 alone. 7. We continued to support individuals through strengthening their role as change agents and allies within their own communities. Supporting our Queer Leaders and strengthening their roles as change agents is at the crux of all that we do. Without the strength and determination of these change-makers, our organisation wouldn't be what it is. Therefore, we understand the importance of doing everything we can to support them in their work, to ensure that they can continue educating others and making our world a better place. This means, regrouping, recharging and reenergising through collective learning and healing. Our Pride & Beyond Summit held in May, as well as our Queer Leadership Retreat in July, were two of the biggest stand-out moments in the year, where we really provided a tailored space to Queer Leaders, and their unique needs. We can't wait to host these again next year! "A taste of queer utopia! The Queer Leadership Retreat was so well organized and supported, and all of the programming (and space between programming) was thoughtfully planned. I left feeling more connected, rested and somehow also energized, and ready to take what I learned into my work and life." - Joshua L We would also like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone who has taken time to work with us this year. Everyone has worked so hard to get us to this point, and we are very proud of what we have achieved with your dedication and knowledge. We wish everyone a restful festive period, and we will see you again in 2023!

Jen Polzin and Mali Čačković from JTI share their Queer Allyship success stories; showing us how an intersectional, empathetic approach leads to stronger connections. Jennifer's Allyship story... Mali always listens and never judges. This is such an important skill when trying to accept everyone’s true authentic self. Mali became a close friend before we even started the queer journey at JTI. When we met as students, I immediately felt safe with Mali and knew that she is a person that takes one as they are. We share a sense for social justice and advocated for social causes and went to rallies long before we became LGBTQIA+ activist – and we still are. As we know what it means to be discriminated intersectionally, we are both passionate allies for all marginalised people. Whenever I have an unpleasant experience at work, for example whenever I undergo a microaggression, I know that Mali is there for me to comfort me, to build me up again and to give me new strength to continue educating colleagues. Mali always reminds me how important it is to do this repetitive and many times frustrating work of explaining, patiently teaching, and transforming unconscious biases into conscious inclusion – or at least into consciousness. I realised that Mali is a true ally when she applied for the role of PRIDE Germany’s Co-Chair. Leading the local chapter of our global LGBTQIA+ employee resource group (ERG) as a straight ally, she made it very clear that she wanted to support marginalized groups not only by talking, but with real woman power and practical help. Taking over the responsibility to organise campaigns and events immediately took off some heavy pressure from the German LGBTQIA+ community at JTI. Mali’s light shines bright into the company. With her taking up the co-chair role, she’s made her boss and close team understand what it means to be an active ally supporting the LGBTQIA+ community without identifying as a community member. She explains the concept of allyship by action every time she is performing within her team and the greater JTI realm. She is a walking demonstration for straight employees at JTI of why it is important to have allies outside the LGBTQIA+ community. She creates awareness with her presence. Mali’s allyship goes beyond the workplace. She understands what it means to be a true active ally and always supports the people around her. She has helped family members, friends, colleagues, and people that crossed her path equally providing a safe space to share and to discover their own identity. I hope she knows what important space she is holding, allowing people to understand and explore themselves with a friendly soul accompanying them on their journey. As many know, it is absolutely challenging to do that work alone. Mali's Allyship story... To me the key to being a good ally is listening and understanding. When I got to know Jen, I already thought of myself as an ally. But Jen showed me how much more there is to it. I learned a lot from them, and I still do. I really want to say that there is no such thing as a “bad ally”, but sometimes even well-intended actions can lead to a lot more discomfort. When I witness disrespectful behaviour towards a friend or colleague, I always let them take the lead to respond to this. I don’t want to speak for other people, I want them to feel that I am at their side and that I’m ready to act. How can you be your true authentic self, when you are constantly worrying about other people’s reaction or perception? Only when you feel comfortable and accepted in every way, can you reach your full potential. With founding the local PRIDE Chapter in Germany, Jen showed how passionate they are about educating others about LGBTIQ+ topics. In return, this helped me to find the courage to take an active role, also outside of the working context. With their great leadership skills Jen taught me what allyship truly means. With an open mind and a joyful spirit, they helped me to become a better ally and a better person as well. As a woman from a migrant background, unfortunately I have faced discriminatory behaviour in my life. Even though these were unpleasant experiences, they have helped me to understand what it means to be discriminated against. Through that I realised, how important it is, to have allies by your side and how difficult it is not to have them. When I joined PRIDE Germany, with Jen as the Co-Chair, I quickly learned how much fun it is to not only to learn more, but to educate others. After I took over Jen’s role of PRIDE Germany’s Co-Chair, I realised that through my support in this, Jen was able to spread their wings even further and pursue the goal to become a global Pride Co-Chair (in which they succeed magnificently, I might add). They really are thriving in what they do. This fills me with joy and motivation, not only as an ally but as a friend. There are countless situations in daily life, where people who don’t fit in the hetero-normative society face troubles, unseen by those who fit in this construct. What helped me to not forget this, is to constantly ask myself: How would Jen feel in this situation or about this comment? I believe you have to be aware of your own (unconscious) biases – because every single person has them. We tend to judge other people and even ourselves because of these biases. The learning never stops. Jennifer Polzin (she/they/Jen) Jen is the genderfluid and pansexual Co-Chair of the global LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Employee Resource Group (ERG), PRIDE at JTI. Their main objectives are bringing together queer employees, raising awareness for the LGBTQIA+ community and building allyship to maintain the global safe space – always acknowledging intersectionality. Based in Germany, Jen has launched and co-chaired the local ERG before moving into the global role. She loves to dance, sing, and teach. Malina Čačković (she/her) Mali is a heterosexual, cis-gender woman, who has always considered herself as an ally. When a family member came out to her, she could feel the weight being lifted off their shoulders. To transport this into her working environment, she joined the LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Employee Resource Group (ERG) PRIDE in Germany. Apart from being a proud ally, she also is a passionate gamer. About the 'My Ally and Me' story-telling series: At We Create Space we always aim to lift and amplify the voices of our global queer collective of change-makers. However with this story-telling series we wanted to give LGBTQ+ leaders the opportunity to bring an ally into the conversation and explain how their valued support has shaped their personal and professional journey. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here. We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

What are getting up to in 2023? Our plans for the year ahead. Incorporating all the valuable feedback and insights from our last Community Survey, we've now set out our plans and ambitions as an organisation, and as a collective, for 2023... 1. Strengthen the WCS intra-community network. We hope to strengthen the WCS intra-community network, connections and relationships through the hosting of more global events and experiences – bringing together both international community activists and corporate professionals in shared spaces, both virtual and in-person. We plan to host more free… In-person events in London and around the UK. In-person events in Barcelona. + Take WCS on a small World Tour hosting some community events in other cities. Expand our ‘Pride & Beyond’ Queer Leadership Summit activation. Explore a WCS Community Digital Platform to connect people beyond events. Sign up to our newsletter to ensure you receive invites to our events. 2. Ensure we're a progressive, inclusive and attractive organisation to work for, and collaborate with. As we expand our team and grow our network of queer talent, we will: Build out, train, and support the global internal teams, collective and advisory board. Improve representation from speakers across certain identity groups, age-ranges, languages, and continents. Continue to invest back into the LGBTQ+ community through the creation of even more paid work opportunities. Identify more Queer Charity Partners and Social Enterprises for WCS to support and collaborate with. Follow us on social to hear about any new job opportunities. 3. Continue to help LGBTQ+ people around the world access a sustainable path to Queer Leadership. We are continuing to: Build an archive of FREE reliable educational information for our global community members. Host more online webinars and panels (such as our Queer Perspectives and Queer Leadership 101 series). Produce more articles and videos on leadership development topics as well as wellbeing content to support individuals on their journey. Check out all our past webinars for free on our YouTube channel. 4. Enhance our DEI services and establishing longer-term partnerships with our global network of corporate clients. This will allow us to continue… Advocating for LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the workplace. Creating more paid work opportunities for our global collective of change-makers. Connecting grass-roots community leaders with corporate organisations; creating space for new perspectives and conversations. Raising money to fund all our free events, content, resources and development opportunities for our global community. + Produce a new WCS Workplace Report to provide LGBTQIA+ data and insights as we explore Queer Leadership across different professions, industries and sectors. Find out more about our consultancy services here. 5. Further develop our own online learning platform. We want to improve and develop our own online learning platform. We hope for WCS to remain a high-quality source for FREE Queer Allyship info and tools. We plan to... Be even more intentional and intersectional with our programming and Allyship content, covering topics that matter most to our community. Continue creating meaningful resources that support individuals with strengthening their role as change agents within their own communities or organisations. Continue to advocate for holistic approaches to activism and learning. Explore our Library and Glossary for existing Queer Allyship resources. If you have any questions please get in touch with us via email at hello@wecreatespace.co

Guest Writer Geffrye Parsons explains how inclusive Senior Management can promote organisational learning, to uphold and develop corporate culture and values. by Geffrye Parsons My name is Geff Parsons. I am a gay cis man, and I use he/him pronouns. Last year, I retired from a successful 35-year front office executive career in the financial services industry, based variously in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Amsterdam, to dedicate myself full-time to promoting inclusion in and through commercial organisations. From being a Managing Director at various banks, I am now the Founder and CEO of The Inclusion Imperative – an independent Diversity, Equity & Inclusion consultancy practice. I have long believed that a workplace culture that champions inclusion is the ‘secret sauce’ of sustained corporate success. To be robust, such a culture has to be underpinned by sound values which govern how everyone operates there every day. I had this ethos in mind when I set up my own organisation. Understanding the synergy of moral and business priorities (where ‘the right thing to do’ meets ‘the best thing to do’), when an organisation grasps and upholds the importance of an inclusive culture, led me to call it The Inclusion Imperative – because inclusion is fundamental, not just a nice-to-have, as we shall see. And for good measure, my conviction that empathy is one of the most critical ingredients in the recipe for a successful modern leader, led me to adapt the title of CEO to mean, in my case, Chief Empathy Officer. Culture underpins everything in an organisation; it is its DNA. As Shopify’s Brittany Forsyth has observed, the “behaviours and beliefs [you value as a company] should be so essential to your core, that you don’t even think of it as culture.” But what if that culture does not champion the importance of inclusion? History is littered with examples of toxic corporate cultures which have sparked spectacular collapses (Enron, anyone?) – failures of integrity which could have been avoided if the environment had been sufficiently inclusive to create the psychological safety necessary to allow doubters to speak up. For example, banks, like those I spent most of my career working for, are effectively paid to take risk, and so rely enormously on being able to identify and assess it – but markets and products are constantly evolving, so being open to new ways to spot and measure risks is critical to avoiding disaster for them. Arguably the most spectacular instance of a failure of learning caused by a flawed culture is not a corporate example, but involves the Space Shuttle ‘Challenger’, which exploded just after launch in January 1986. Serious doubts expressed by engineers at the time were met with such disdain from their bosses that they reversed their initial ‘no-go’ recommendation – with, of course, tragic consequences. Seven deaths, and irreparable reputational damage, arose because the workplace culture was not inclusive enough to allow the status quo to be questioned without negative repercussions for those involved. Inclusion = Innovation An inclusive workplace culture is far from being only about managing the downside. An inclusive culture creates organisational learning, which is the lifeblood of innovation. As management guru Peter Drucker has remarked, organisations must “innovate or die!” An inclusive culture, where staff feel a sense of belonging and trust, allows received wisdom to be challenged and mistakes to be seen as learning opportunities. A ‘Goldilocks’ zone, where high levels of performance expectation merge with high levels of psychological safety, therefore produces what Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter called “creative destruction” – an environment where creativity and innovation can, and do, flourish. This is where empathetic leadership matters most. A consciously inclusive Senior Manager encourages and embraces diversity of thought – ensuring that the skewing effects of biases like affinity bias (which effectively endorses established practices), confirmation bias (which blinds them to alternatives) and proximity bias (which favours the loudest voice in the room), are actively counter-balanced. How can a Senior Manager be “consciously inclusive”? This requires resisting the temptation to fill one’s team in one’s own image, or to continue with ‘business as usual’ unquestioningly. It also necessitates curiosity about alternative perspectives (and the lived experiences and cultures that have formed those perspectives) – through a willingness to really (rather than superficially) listen and learn, through active outreach (not just a passive ‘my door is always open’ mantra) and by self-educating, perhaps by enrolling as an ally of employee resource groups. Additionally, for Senior Management, it requires setting up the environment so that different views are able to be aired and respected in meetings and other forums, in ways which feel appropriate and safe to both extroverts and introverts in the team, so that the ‘usual suspects’ (usually the loudest, most extroverted) do not dominate the conversation. It also means that mistakes should be accepted and viewed constructively, as a source of future knowledge, rather than destructively; this is what it takes to ‘break the mould’. Similarly, it often also necessitates an ‘investment’ mindset, accepting a partial sacrifice of immediate term efficiency in order to promote greater success in the medium term and beyond. In turn, this of course requires buy-in from other stakeholders, allowing space and time for strategy to triumph over tactics. After all, staff are people, and people see the world differently. Those with minority characteristics (especially if those are not visible, which often includes being LGBTQIA+) may be inclined to play down their difference, codeswitching and withholding or limiting their contributions to the team environment, for fear of outing themselves or of being ridiculed, ostracised or punished. Those with multiple characteristics may feel even more marginalised as the barriers to their participation compound. Yet ultimately, ALL progress comes from difference. Difference, manifested in diversity of thought and perspective, should not merely be tolerated or even accepted; it should be celebrated, because it is core to successful decision-making. This is the Progress Paradox – that all progress relies on someone being ‘unreasonable’, i.e. refusing to accept that the status quo is necessarily optimal. But for that to work, a mutual sense of trust between Senior Management and team members must be created in the ways I have suggested. The role of corporate renewal, and how LGBTQIA+ People are well-suited to be inclusive leaders in corporate spaces. Integral to all this is managing the dynamic of corporate renewal. As we have seen, creative destruction spawns progress, but this must be managed to pollinate rather than erode the core values of the organisation, or its inclusive culture. Staff changes are inevitable and pose a challenge in this context. In this context, the company’s management – at all levels – take on the dual role of custodians and educators. They socialise newcomers to the organisational culture and values, while empowering them to contribute to its development in a bi-directional process of learning. Senior Managers who come from marginalised backgrounds themselves are often best-placed to embody an empathetic approach in everything they do with their teams from the start. They are more likely to understand the true importance of holding space for others, and in this respect LGBTQIA+ people are definitely well-equipped to lead by example. Conclusions By embodying and role modelling inclusive management practices every day, Senior Managers can leverage inevitable change to develop an organisation, without compromising its core values. Inclusive leadership is therefore critically important in upholding, developing and enhancing corporate culture. It is undeniable that working culture is a considerable factor in attracting the best future talent who will continue the cycle of corporate education and renewal, influencing others in the same way that others did before them. The greatest significance here though, is the often-unrealised potential of how inclusive workplace values can influence people’s thinking in their wider lives. If everyone upholds an inclusive, empathetic culture in every part of their world, this will enable our society to progress even further, making life better for everyone in the future. Therefore, inclusive leadership is critical for not just organisational robustness and success, but also educating others and passing along empathetic values across generations, borders and cultures. Geffrye Parsons (he/him) Geffrye's passion for promoting LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality has resulted in global recognition, including winning the award for ‘LGBT+ Inspirational Leader’ at the British LGBT Awards in May 2019. Outside work, Geff acts as trustee for two UK-based LGBTQ+ charities: GiveOut and Diversity Role Models. You can find more information about Geffrye's work here. If you would like to book Geff as a speaker for a workshop or panel event, please get in touch with us via email at hello@wecreatespace.co While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here. We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Oli Birbeck and Char Srahan from Dr. Martens share their Queer Allyship success stories; showing us how open conversations with colleagues can inspire trust. Oli's Allyship story... In February 2022 I started at Dr. Martens, joining as the only trans and non-binary person in the office. Navigating conversations about transitioning and my non-binary identity before my first day was a bit anxiety inducing, but welcomed by HR. I had a sense of safety in my manager to support me, as I had built a relationship with them over zoom. When I eventually joined, my manager left the business. I wasn’t sure whether I’d find the same relationship with someone who understood my identity, that I could talk to about my gender and related conversations. Meeting Char at DM’s completely elevated my experience at work. I get small compliments of “your beard looks sick” when 3 new hairs appear on my chin, to checking in on me after important healthcare appointments. Char acknowledges situations that might be uncomfortable and is thinking about my experience too. She makes time to chat with me when I’m having a rough day. I’m openly trans but that doesn’t mean I want to talk about it to everyone at work. Char is someone I can be completely open with - I don’t get questioned, only hyped up. We joke that someone needs to deflate my ego after I’ve hung out with Char. It’s comforting I can bring my true self into work when I’m with Char. Initially, Char put trust in me and we had more personal chats. It created an environment where I could be vulnerable, and I trusted her way of handling conversations. Her use of non-gendered and inclusive language was an instant connection and safe space for me. Asides from the deeper stuff Char’s always there for us to act completely ourselves and have a silly time. I think the gratitude for Char is felt by many people at our work. She listens and takes time to understand, regardless of her own experiences. She sets the bar high and is an example we can all learn from. I didn’t expect to come into the workplace and find this level of support. Starting as an ally at work, now a close friend in my personal life that I completely trust. Char's Allyship story... To me, being a good ally is about hyping others up and creating a psychologically safe environment in which they can thrive and show up entirely as themselves, no matter where they are in their identity journey. I’ve always been a mega ‘feeler’ or an empath, and this means that when others are happy, I also feel bursting with the joys of life. However, when someone else is low, I feel flat. So, for example, when Oli is feeling confident in themselves, I too feel really good, and it’s SUCH an honour to share in that. If I can even slightly create an environment for that feeling by being a good ally, then my work here is done! I’m not sure there’s such thing as being a bad ally. I think as long as you’re trying your very best to support the people around you, especially those that might need backing a little more than others, then you can sit tight knowing your allyship matters. I also think it’s important to say that as an ally, it’s really OK to make mistakes, be transparent about them and strive to do better next time (whilst encouraging others to do the same). By championing allyship at work, we’ve started to see the people around us trying so much harder to use gender-neutral and inclusive language and we’ve felt empowered to float the idea that one day, we de-gender our products. Of course, people have slipped up and made mistakes, but between us we’ve made a really concerted effort not to squirm at this, but to use it as a springboard to educate people. There’s nothing lovelier than feeling inclusivity spread like a wave across our colleagues. The best part of being an ally to Oli has been seeing them come out of their shell and gain confidence, allowing others to see in them what I get to see. It’s been so fun to see others experiencing their incredible and irreverent humour, fresh ‘hot takes’ and unreal style. I’m so stoked that many others celebrate them like I do… and they’ve become quite the office celebrity! That’s the thing about allyship, you get to play a role in exposing what is so magical about your friend to everyone else, and that’s priceless. It’s vital to say that our relationship is a total two-way street: I’ve tried to help Oli where I can, but their presence in my life has been a gamechanger. All in all, being a good ally is about radical openness, seeking vicarious joy through others when they’re at their best and even when it feels hard, doing your very best to love and support others around you, with all your might. Oli Birbeck (they/them) Oli is a trans & non-binary musician, activist and is currently working their first role in DE&I at Dr. Martens. They are actively fighting for LGBTQ+ rights and equality, as well as leveraging queer voices in music. As the drummer of headboy, they are currently working on releasing a new EP with their band. Char Srahan (she/her) Char currently works in the Culture space as a Culture Specialist at Dr Martens. In the last year she’s worked passionately on projects such as Pride, International Women’s Day, World Mental Health Month with a focus on sharing people’s unique perspectives, especially of those from minority or marginalised backgrounds. When she’s not talking about shoes, she also fiercely advocates for mental health and social justice. About the 'My Ally and Me' story-telling series: At We Create Space we always aim to lift and amplify the voices of our global queer collective of change-makers. However with this story-telling series we wanted to give LGBTQ+ leaders the opportunity to bring an ally into the conversation and explain how their valued support has shaped their personal and professional journey. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here. We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Your feedback is vital to us, as it informs everything we do. We always want to ensure we are serving our communities in a way that is both authentic and impactful. Take a look at what we've learnt from our community survey this year! Thank you to every single person who took part in our community survey. We're really excited for the year ahead and using this feedback to inform our work going forward. We plan to cover a broad range of topics throughout the year, with a particular focus on ensuring all corners of our global community feel heard and supported. With these insights, we hope to identify what we are already doing well, but also actively make continuous improvements in certain areas too. *Our 2023 Community Action plan to be published in the coming weeks.* 2022/23 Survey Results: " What concerns me the most going into 2023 is not having a legal identity as a non-binary person, and more broadly the impact on trans peoples' mental health due to daily attacks in media and government attempts to roll back LGBTQ+ rights." " The sheer range of subjects and speakers demonstrates your understanding that we, as a queer community, are neither monolithic nor homogenous - we are beautifully varied." " I would love to feel part of the community through a digital platform, alongside initiatives to connect with people in real life." " Always very accessible and welcoming." " I am constantly advising colleagues to refer to your guides to expand their viewpoints and ensure everyone is always looking at everything we do through an intersectional lens." " WCS provides a diverse pool of talent and experience that just doesn't exist within my organisation. I feel confident that when I sign up to an event that there has been careful consideration to include a range of intersectional stories." " More in-person events and networking opportunities throughout the year." Do you have any more recommendations or suggestions for us? If so, it would be great to hear from you. You find us via email at hello@wecreatespace.co or through our social channels! While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here . New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Dr. Paul Taylor-Pitt takes us through his thoughts on New Year's Resolutions and their potential effects on our mindset, encouraging us to reframe how we view our ambitions and set goals. by Dr. Paul Taylor-Pitt Apparently, January 17th is National Ditch The New Year’s Resolutions Day, so let’s gleefully tear up the post-its we wrote at 3am after a few too many gins on Hogmanay and celebrate the liberation that comes from freeing ourselves of guilt and failure. Feels good doesn’t it? I say this with some hesitation as I have a complicated relationship with New Year’s Resolutions. I think they’re both brilliant and terrible at the same time. They’re brilliant because it’s great to want to change and accept change, as it’s inevitable. We can’t stop it no matter how hard we try, so I encourage myself and others to surf that wave of change energy and put it to good use. That’s a tick in the column for ‘why New Year’s Resolutions are a positive thing’. On the other hand, New Year’s Resolutions may not be the best for us. Ironically they can end up acting as another weight on our minds rather than something which encourages us to pursue self-improvement and prioritise our wellbeing, as originally intended. The most common resolutions made on January 1st are: Lose weight Eat healthier Exercise more Now you could argue that there’s nothing wrong with prioritising our health, but I have little warning bells that sound when I see those things clustered together at the start of a year. Could they be motivated more by what society deems as attractive rather than a positive choice to make our lives healthier? When most of the evidence shows that these kinds of resolutions tend to fail horribly by the end of the first month, we can end up feeling even worse about ourselves than we did at the end of December. So that’s a big red cross in the ‘why New Year’s Resolutions should be banned’ box and ultimately that’s where I stand. They just don’t work. So let them go, enjoy the freedom and give yourself the opportunity to think about it differently. There’s neurobiological studies that show there can be a negative impact of setting goals too early in any venture. By that we could mean a project, an appraisal, a new year. Contrary to popular belief, SMART objectives do not inspire creative thinking. A combination of sympathetic nervous system activation and the adrenaline that kicks in when we set strict goals too soon means we actually limit our ability to achieve them because we get tunnel vision. We stop ourselves from imagining all the ways we can make them work, which makes it harder to actually succeed. We end up putting so much pressure on ourselves that we get in our own way. It’s not to say that goal setting is a bad thing, it just needs to come at the right time and place. Whereas when we invite ourselves to daydream, to imagine all the ‘what if’ possibilities, we encourage a different kind of biological response. We get all inspired and creative, from a relaxed easy frame of mind. It’s so much nicer and easier to make change happen from this position. We are more likely to reach and stretch further towards our goals when they come from a place of inspiration. So with this in mind - and body - here’s a little exercise you can try once you’ve ditched the resolutions. First, find a nice space to be in. For you that might be sitting on the grass in a park, or snuggled on a massive bean bag with a good scented candle going. For me it’s when I’m swimming, or as I call it working the Think Tank. You’ll know you’re in the right space because your body will soften and you’ll feel held. Now you’re there, if it works for you maybe close your eyes. Sometimes it can be easier to get images that way, but for others it’s just as fine to do it with your eyes open. You do you. Here there’s no need to create any kind of meditative stillness or inner peace. You don’t need to do anything at all other than breathe, and to ask this question: if I fell asleep right now and dreamed about X, what could that look like? Obviously, replace X with whatever you want to dream about. It might be “the best job” or “me at my happiest” or “making a difference” or “having confidence in that meeting next week”, whatever holds meaning for you. There’s no pressure here to come up with the answer in fact there probably isn’t just one. Instead, give yourself permission and encouragement to imagine as many possibilities as you are able to. Once you’ve given yourself some time to do that, grab a bit of paper or your notes app or a nearby wall and let yourself play. You might draw some pictures or write some words or make some shapes - this is just for you, nobody will ever see it. All you’re doing here is representing what your dreams look like. From here, there are lots of ways to move forward. Maybe that’s all you needed to do, or if you have the energy you might write one action you feel inspired to take. Maybe you could make a list of one or two people you want to have a conversation with about this. It might be that there's a decision needed so you could think about what the possible best outcomes could be. It’s your dream. Nobody can tell you how to realise it, but there are lots of ways you can get closer to making it real and they can come from the smallest of steps. The most simple action can have the biggest impact, so take it easy. I want to leave you with one more thought. What if we don’t actually need to make ourselves change? What if all I am today is all that I could be, and that is enough? Sometimes our resolutions can be a way of resisting celebrating who we already are, because we live in a world where our queerness or our gender or our race or our disability or our size or how much we earn or the colour or our hair are repeatedly diminished and stamped on. Having the faith in ourselves to champion who we already are is a radical act of rebellion. Fifty years ago, Arnold Bessier said people don’t change when they try to be something they’re not. People change when they become more themselves. I’ve adopted this as my own personal mantra when I, or anyone, is facing a tough situation. My response is consistently: Be More You. In 2023 I invite you to be more you, and ditch the resolutions. Dr Paul Taylor-Pitt (he/him) Paul is an award-winning Organisation Development Specialist, Mentor, Coach and Facilitator with three decades of professional experience to draw from. He was named one of HR Magazine's Most Influential Thinkers in 2022. You can find more information about Paul's work here. If you would like to book Paul as a speaker for a workshop or panel event, please get in touch with us via email at hello@wecreatespace.co While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here. We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

We explore the different factors as to why people might be feeling down following the holiday period, and offer a variety of tips which we can all use to provide effective support to those who may be struggling. Why might people may feel down over the Christmas and New Year Period...? 1. Navigating family dynamics: - For Queer people, this can often represent a more significant challenge than for a lot of people. For example, many find themselves masking or hiding parts of their identity to meet the expectations of others, or to avoid conflict. There may also be considerable pressure to spend time with others, and fit a lot in. Because these people are important to you, it can often be difficult to set boundaries and put your well-being first. - For those who are estranged from their family, who have been outcast due to their identity or orientation, the holiday period can be an incredibly lonely time, and therefore a strain on their state of mind for other reasons. - Equally, there are people out there who may be experiencing their first Christmas and New Year without a valued member of their family due to bereavement. This sense of loss can often be all-consuming and hard to tackle. - For those who have recently been through a breakup, Christmas can also be a challenge due to feeling the need to answer questions from others, and not feeling like being around others. 2. Triggers in the wider world: - For most people, Christmas means surrounding yourself with lots of people - the streets are full of shoppers, and people work celebrations, and sound levels are peaked. For those with social anxiety, and for those who are neurodivergent - these factors can add up to make the holidays really challenging. - Christmas and New Year Celebrations can often be synonymous with excess - in terms of eating and drinking, but also other substances. For those who struggle with eating, or are on a recovery journey, this time of year can often be incredibly triggering and represent a considerable test of resilience. - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or Seasonal Depression is something that people have become a lot more aware of in recent years. With the shortened daylight hours, a lot of people's mood and energy levels can sink, resulting in people feeling lethargic and unmotivated. 3. Other pressures: - It is expected that during the Holiday period, that everyone enjoys themselves. Sometimes, simply the pressure of feeling that you have to enjoy yourself makes it harder to be content, and in reality we can feel the opposite. - Financial pressures are another large contributing factor to our mindset at the end of the year. The process of buying, giving and receiving gifts can often be very stressful. While we may have an expectation on ourselves to spend a considerable amount on gifts, as well as the expectation of others, it can be hard when our financial situations simply aren't compatible. This can be especially hard-hitting in the New Year before people are paid, and when outstanding credit card balances are due. We may have just gone through a long list of factors which may be contributing to your low mood. However, it was by no means exhaustive. Everyone's experience varies, and you could be grappling with any combination of these, or even others that we haven't mentioned. The load can be heavy. So, how can we help others process and progress? As we speak about regularly at We Create Space, communicating with others we trust about things we may be struggling with is often the most important step in relieving pressure. Therefore, if we know someone is having a hard time, it is important we reach out to them to show them that we are present, and that they are in our thoughts. Equally, if we ourselves would like to speak to someone, there's absolutely nothing wrong with reaching out first. Even something as simple as having a catchup over the phone, or meeting up for a coffee, can be a great mood booster, then we can begin to ask non-loaded questions about how they spent their time over the holiday period, being careful not to push your experience onto them. For example, instead of saying "I had a great time at Christmas, how was yours?" you could simply ask "I know Christmas can be difficult for a lot of people, how did you find it this year?" In this vein, if you are aware of what someone close to you is being faced with already, it can be comforting to them if you are able to open up to them if you have been through - or are going through - something similar. Shared experience is powerful, and really does facilitate platforms of radical openness. If you know someone is struggling with something specific and traumatic (such as a bereavement), the best course of action can often be just being there. As mentioned in our previous article on ‘unpacking our worries,’ it is important that once we have established a safe environment for people to open up to us about what’s on their mind, that we try and determine what this person is looking for from the other person. Is it reassurance, or is it a solution? It can often be easiest to ask this in the simplest way possible. This way, you can helpfully provide the support they need. One thing from therapy that really helped me was reframing my definition of progress, especially around the pressure of changing things for the better at the start of a year. Progress isn't always going to be linear, it can take many paths and should shift as you redefine your goals throughout the year. - Jon-Paul Other “light touch” ways we can help… Equally, in some scenarios, it can be important to get the other person up and moving - to be active with them in order to take their mind off things a little. This is particularly true when thinking about the effects of Seasonal Depression / SAD: It is important to get outside during the fresh air and daylight to help balance your circadian rhythm. It may also be of use to help the person who is struggling to work through a daily routine with them - one that is easy for them to follow and stick to. Again, as we have discussed, every action has value, no matter how small. If we gently highlight and normalise these difficulties, it will help lighten the load for those who are faced with a lot to process. However, we shouldn't view this as something which is medically abnormal. Our circadian rhythm which regulates our wake and sleep patterns, is naturally responsive to light and darkness levels, and the environment we live in. Arguably, we feel down due to the fact that our working patterns and wider society is inflexible to changes in conditions which we experience throughout the year. A few years back, I’d landed into the New Year having recently quit my job to embrace this calling towards a radical career change. At first, I felt mentally ready, but in practice, my body wouldn’t budge. I remember feeling directionless, low, heavy, like I was sinking into nothingness. One day, a good friend told me to simply be, get myself out of the way to let whatever needs to emerge reach the surface. She reminded me that what is often easily reduced to ‘boredom’ or ‘couch potato moments’ can actually open space for profound noticing and creative reflections that can be repurposed in the future. And that’s exactly what happened. - Maylis As this is the new year, and a lot of people wish to instil good habits for the new year and make changes to how they live their lives, or simply inspire an influx of positive energy. One of the easiest ways to reinvigorate is to reorganise our spaces. Often, the idea of reorganising alone is a daunting task. However, if someone close to you is feeling down, why don’t you offer to help them rearrange their room to freshen things up? They could offer help in return! Feeling comfortable at home is one of the most important aspects of our wellbeing which we need to look after. So what can you do to change things up in a space? Discard unwanted items and papers (if it hasn’t been used or appreciated within the last six months, that is normally a good signifier that we can let go of something) For the documents we do want to keep, have a designated, organised space where they are kept. Re position furniture to make the most of a room Buy a few candles/incense or a vaporizer - scent and fragrances in your home can often help with a sense of calm. Adding a few plants into your room can help you feel more connected to the outside world. Taking care of them will also help you associate your smallest actions with a sense of value. Make sure you open a window for a little while everyday, to allow fresh air to circulate, making sure that the curtains and blinds are open during daylight hours. Consider how the room is lit - is the lighting harsh? Perhaps consider buying a small lamp - a simple, cost effective way to change the vibe of a room. Are there soft/tactile surfaces, perhaps consider buying a blanket, rug, or even a new pair of slippers. I always feel down in the new year. The pressure I put on myself to achieve things straight away can often leave me feeling deflated. A great way for me to feel like I am achieving something, being constructive, and gaining a new perspective on things, is by rearranging the rooms I spend the most time in. It also helps me feel like I am half way there to making sense of my thoughts and feelings about what might have happened over the Christmas break. - Ryan If there’s one thing there are three things that you take away from this article, use it to reflect on the vast array of strains that the new year can throw at people; don’t be afraid to ask people how they would like to be supported, and the most important: even the smallest actions hold significance - both in terms of what you do yourself, and also what you do for others. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here. We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

In celebration of International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, we wanted to spotlight some real queer trailblazers doing incredible work within and for their communities. N.B. - On this day in particular, it's worth noting that not all native or First Nation people resonate with the word ‘indigenous’ because of how it centers colonisation in defining their identity. It’s important to refer to people whenever possible using the name of the specific tribe or cultural group that they belong to, rather than using a blanket term. 1. Sharice Davids (she/her) Sharice Davids is part of the Ho-Chunk community. She is the first "out" LGBTQ Congress member from Kansas, and is also one of the first two Indigenous women in US Congress. As a politician, Davids is a strong advocate for mental health, LGBTQ rights, women's rights, BIPOC rights, and climate change. 2. Raykeea Angel Wilson (they/them) Raykeea Wilson is a musician from Detroit with Cherokee heritage, who has taught themselves Cherokee language. They identify as agender and pansexual. Their music touches upon LGBTQ rights, body image, and Indigenous rights. They are extremely proud of their multiracial heritage (their late father was African American). 3. Sydney Freeland (she/her) Sydney Freeland is a trans, Navajo filmmaker. She is writing and directing stories, and increasing the representation of Native American families on screen. She wrote and directed the short film Hoverboard and the feature-length Drunktown's Finest, which garnered numerous positive reviews after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. Her second film, Deidra and Laney Rob a Train debuted at Sundance and was released on Netflix in 2017. 4. Jenny Miller (she/they) Jenny Miller is an artist and Inupiaq (a native inhabitant of Alaska). While primarily a photographer, she also creates video, sound and sculpture works. Much of her art focuses on LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit people, as she immerses herself in Inupaiq queer community. 5. Barbara May Cameron (she/her) In 1975, Barbara May Cameron co-founded Gay American Indians (GAI) alongside her friend Randy Burns. Cameron viewed GAI as both a support group for Native lesbians and gay men, and a means to carve out space for them within the wider (and whiter) LGBTQ+ community. Although originally a photographer, her messages found traction through written essays - her words became a mouthpiece for the gay indigenous community. Cameron’s 1981 essay “Gee, You Don’t Seem Like An Indian From The Reservation” remains a searing snapshot of the struggle to survive marginalisation and thrive despite it. 6. Sherenté Mishitashin Harris (he/she/they) Sherenté Mishitashin Harris is an activist, dancer and cultural educator. They initially danced in the tradition of their father, a war dancer. After coming out as Two Spirit, they spent one year learning how to dance Fancy Shawl, a modern dance traditionally led by women, created during the women’s rights movement. 7. Aretha Brown (she/her) Aretha Brown is an artist, activist, comedian and screenwriter of Gumbaynggirr descent, currently living in London. Aretha takes heavy influence Melbourne's Western Suburbs where she grew up, as a queer person with indigineous heritage. She is also the founder of **KISS MY ART, an art collective for women and non-binary people. 8. Kiley May (she/they) Kiley May is a Mohawk and Cayuga from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. May is a two spirit individual who also identifies as trans, queer and genderqueer. They are a leader in the Two-Spirit community, as well is an actor, model, photographer, educator, writer. 9. Storme Webber (she/her) Storme Webber is a Two-Spirit Alutiiq, Black, Choctaw poet and playwright who creates blues-influenced texts exploring identity, race, class, and gender. Her poetry collections include Diaspora and Blues Divine. She has been featured in multiple anthologies and documentaries, including What’s Wrong with Gays These Days? and Living Two Spirit. 10. Chrystos (she/her) Chrystos is a Two-Spirit poet, artist and activist of Menominee descent. She has published many books of poems. As a lesbian with indigenous roots, in her writing, she aims to empower Native Americans to connect with their heritage and culture to break down stereotypes and expose intersectional issues that affect her community.

Any intimate relationship can be complicated. And being in an intimate relationship as a queer person often presents additional, nuanced challenges and considerations. This becomes even more complex when we introduce the topic of disability into our thoughts around relationships too. In celebration of Disability Pride Month as we explore identities and stories at the intersection of queerness and disability with added depth, Tatum Swithenbank (she/they), who has Muscular Dystrophy and Ryan Zaman (he/him), who has Cerebral Palsy, reflect on their lived experiences of being queer and disabled in the context of navigating a relationship - and how the dynamic between a disabled partner and a non-disabled partner can sometimes be different than a more conventional queer relationship. It is important to note that this topic is something that neither Tatum nor Ryan have spoken about publicly before, and have never really heard of anyone else talking about either. With this in mind, they hope their insight not only helps others gain a better understanding of this intersection, but that their stories can also resonate with others who share similar circumstances and lived experiences. NB: the term disability can be interchanged with neurodivergence/long-term health condition in this context NB: every situation/relationship is different, and we don’t have a defined answer for everything - please use the content of this article as prompts to consider how things may apply to you/your relationship/your partner(s). Bust the common misconception that disabled people are inherently non-sexual. “As a disabled person, I definitely feel there’s a societal view that disabled people are less sexual than non-disabled people. As a result, a lot of my internalised thinking around sex and relationships growing up was undoubtedly influenced by this perception. This, coupled with the internalised homophobia before coming out, was a cause of a lot of emotion when I was a teenager.” - Ryan “Society’s views of marginalised communities, especially the disabled community, has a massive effect on how we view ourselves. Through constant implications we see in our everyday lives, we are taught that disabled people are worth less, and therefore not as worthy of love.” - Tatum While we all know this view exists, we must consider where it comes from, and what we can do to combat it (not just disabled people, allies too): > Physical ability and appearance has always been at the core of how we view relationships, sex and their viability, since the very beginning of humankind, as we can see with the school of thought around ‘Survival of the Fittest.’ This is only intensified in the technology-led world we live in, and the demand for fast connection through the use of dating apps etc. that is based overwhelmingly on appearance and physicality. For non-disabled people out there: How do we combat this view? > Whilst some people might not be able to do some things the same way (for example, be physically intimate), it doesn’t mean that they don’t want to do them at all. Disabled people are very self-aware, and some of the most adaptive people out there. They problem-solve everyday, navigating a world that is not designed with them in mind. Therefore, if they want to do something, they will find a way (perhaps with the help of others). > The best way to combat the perception that disabled people are not sexual/less worthy of love, ask yourself: ‘If I was disabled, how would I like to be treated?’ The answer is: ‘With the same respect as everyone else!’ Our Leaders also wanted to add, not everything has to be about a deeper connection: disabled people can look for more casual relationships, too. When looking at the people that make up the We Create Space Queer Leadership Collective, a considerable number of people are disabled and/or neurodiverse - a nod to the fact that more than a third of the queer community are disabled - a significantly higher percentage than the straight community (around 22 percent). Recent studies have also found that between 70-80 percent of neurodiverse people identify as part of the queer community. This highlights that discussion on relationships is especially important, as part of the wider conversation on inclusion and accessibility within queer spaces. It takes a lot for disabled people to open their heart up to someone in order to start a relationship. Just like everyone else, disabled people make a lot of their decisions when making new connections based on past experience. The strong prevalence of ableist attitudes in our spaces quite often means that disabled people experience a negative reaction if they choose to disclose their disability to someone they are interested in getting to know intimately. “Because of my bad experiences, I always feel like I’m waiting for someone to let me down, and that stops me from opening up. In the past, I often hesitated to tell people because I didn't want them to make assumptions. My disability is a massive part of my life, and will continue to be, as I have a progressive disease - but I had a fear that’s all people would think about when they saw me. Now, at the age of 29, I don’t have time to hide any aspects of my person. But I am careful about how I communicate with people and picking my moment when I’m getting to know someone new. It’s hard to find that moment though, because society tells us not to give people with disabilities a chance - it takes a lot to open yourself up like that - it never gets easier.” - Tatum “Before I was in a long-term relationship, that fear of rejection from others because of my disability was very real for me. I’m sure a lot of people can relate to that, but the feeling was really strong for me. When I was younger, for the longest time, along with questioning my worthiness of a relationship, this was definitely something that stopped me pursuing any romantic connections at all.” - Ryan One of the most significant obstacles for disabled people is getting to the point where you can freely accept help when you know you need it, and it takes a long time to get to that place: “Even now we probably don’t do it 100% of the time when we probably should. Showing your vulnerabilities is a very hard thing to do for anyone, especially if you don’t know a person that well yet.” - Ryan Reframing mindsets: Disabled partners have as much to ‘give’ to a relationship as non-disabled partners. Again, because of ableist views, and the common depictions of disabled people in mainstream media, a lot of the narrative we see around disability and relationships (and disability in general) is centred around the idea that people with disabilities need a ‘caregiver.’ Of course, this can be the case for some people, however as everything exists on a spectrum, it’s not a case of ‘one size fits all’. Having the mindset that everyone with a disability encounters the same struggles out there can be damaging. There are so many different types of disability, and even when you focus on one condition, people’s experience and how they are affected varies massively. “I have worked so hard on taming my internalised ableism* to tell myself I am worthy of love. Just because I can’t do some things doesn’t mean I don’t contribute to a relationship in other ways. I think we need to move away from this preconception that it is really hard for a non-disabled partner in an inter-able relationship, and they carry a heavier burden - there’s difficulty for everyone involved, just in different ways. If we imagine a relationship as like the sky: sometimes it is clear and sunny - other times there can be a rainstorm. Deep, romantic psychological and sexual connections are complicated and ever-changing.” - Tatum *you can find a definition in our article on 'Helping our disabled friends feel seen, heard and supported' Disabled partners can teach non-disabled partners (and people outside of their relationship) so much over and above simple physical chemistry. Some examples of this are: > How to slow down (both in a physical sense such as when walking, but also in terms of more considered decision-making and forward planning). > The power of empathy in the everyday, and how this facilitates deeper connection. “As disabled people we know what it’s like not to be listened to, so we don’t want to put anyone else through that. In turn, we are great at showing others how to truly be a good listener, be compassionate, and holding space - just as we would like others to do for us.” - Tatum “Pulling your ‘weight’ looks different for each partner and a sense of equality could look different - just because one person does more things around the house, the other could show up differently, by arranging exciting activities etc. This is especially the case when a relationship is more established and you fall into a comfortable rhythm. This is when partners should use their intuition to tell what the other person needs.” - Ryan What are the qualities disabled people look for in their partners? The qualities disabled people might look for in potential partners can be considered as quite similar to what everyone looks for in relationships in general. From a disability perspective though, there is often emphasis on emotional intelligence as a first priority: > A partner who understands the emotional significance of a disabled person being able to open up, when society tells them to keep their struggles to themselves. > "When you have a disability it’s like a full time job - fighting for your rights, paperwork to get support, medical appointments - I need a partner who understands that sometimes I won't have the capacity to spend as much time with them as I want.” - Tatum > A partner who offers the same grace and space that is offered to them. For example, when a disabled partner is in pain, they might snap: “What we need is someone to say, it’s ‘OK, it’s fine - I won’t take it to heart, let’s take a breather.’” - Tatum > A partner who understands that the help goes both ways: “My partners in the past may have helped me carry my bags when I’m on my feet, but when I’m using my wheelchair and we’d go to the supermarket, we put all the bags on my chair, and they sit on my lap and get a ride in the chair if they’re tired.” - Tatum ‘Buffers’: How disabled people can protect their emotional capital when making new romantic connections - especially when using dating apps (we’re sure lots of non-disabled people do this too!). Everyone has different signifiers they use to determine their compatibility with a potential new partner. This could be something as simple as paying attention to how someone treats a waiter, or similarities/differences in political views. First impressions mean a lot and help determine whether we want to open up further to another person. Disabled people consider this when thinking about whether they feel comfortable disclosing their disability (if it’s not immediately visible), or if they want to discuss it further. “I don’t know why, but when you’re dating, especially for men, there’s a weird preoccupation with height - maybe it goes back to all of the physical aspects we’ve talked about. But, I would be open about my height (or lack of it). For people who were not OK with that, it meant I already knew that they probably wouldn’t be that accepting of my disability - something else that’s out of my control. This technique probably saved me a lot of hurt as I didn’t open up to many people who had a negative reaction. Even so, I was dating my boyfriend for a month before I told him about my disability. I also think that it’s worth mentioning for people out there that being short and having a disability doesn’t make me any less of a man.” - Ryan “I always use pictures where you can see my body hair. If someone isn’t into that, they can go ahead and swipe left. I rarely use dating apps - because of the areas that I work in I am privileged enough to be able to make a lot of new connections in-person - but if I do use dating apps, I use a picture of me holding my walking stick, and mention I work in accessibility and inclusion so people can perhaps come to their own conclusion that I have a disability. This way, if I do meet with them, hopefully they have an interest in that too. Yes, it makes them a better ally from the beginning, but you would hope that there would be more of an awareness and understanding from day one.” - Tatum “One of the best ways I would judge how viable a relationship would be or not was to pay attention to how someone I was dating would react if ableist behaviour pointed towards me in public. As disabled people, we are very strong at advocating for ourselves and trusting our judgement when we don’t feel something is right. We’re probably more self-aware than most other people. I also think we can apply this to how we conduct ourselves in our intimate relationships, too - to know when something isn’t how it should be and to be confident in our decision-making process as a result, whether this be breaking up with someone, or encouraging a reframing of boundaries within a relationship.” - Ryan How can non-disabled people show up for their disabled partners? When we are in relationships with a partner, a grand gesture every now and then can be great, but it is often the small things that mean the most. Learning about the little things that can really help your partner (if you are disabled or not) will make a relationship stronger and more meaningful. > Whether it’s paying more attention to the kinds of things to do on dates or the tasks you choose to do around the house, non disabled partners can make a massive difference to a disabled partner’s day to day through small choices/changes. A collaborative approach to things which considers abilities more mindfully is also a win-win! E.g.: “When me and my partner are doing laundry, I’m not that great at standing up and bending down for long periods of time, so I tend to load and unload the machine and hang it up to dry, but he will fold everything and put it away.” - Ryan > “[As a disabled person,] I’m not looking for pity, I’m not looking to be someone’s inspiration - all I’m looking for is some simple acknowledgement that some things are different for me - it doesn’t have to be a big thing. Normalisation is key.” - Tatum > Understand there is nothing sinister around someone cancelling plans if their capacity is limited. > Understand that a disabled partner may experience internalised ableism: “On bad days internalised ableism can overpower my headspace - this can make me think negatively (however non-valid) about if I am a burden on my partner/family. This is where small verbal reassurances are really the most important in a relationship, and understanding the role internalised ableism, either on a simple or more complex level, can play in the thought process of someone with a disability.” - Ryan How do their queerness/disabled identities interact differently with one another depending on who a disabled person is dating/spending time with? “When I’m dating a cis man, I have these very deep-rooted expectations of how I should behave. I don’t abide my gender norms, and I think this is why my relationships with cis men have fallen apart because they struggle with the fact that I dont live in these binaries. When I’m with queer people, all of those expectations already don’t really apply.” - Tatum “My attachment to prescribed gender roles have been stronger when I have dated cis-women. What that means for my disability is that I have noticed I am less willing to accept help from a woman (as that’s not “manly” to do). I know this is bad, but everyone is influenced by what society tells us to think. In my relationship with my boyfriend I am a lot more willing to accept help.” - Ryan Communication is key: Tips for those in inter-able relationships. ”One of the biggest causes of a relationship breaking down - no matter who you are - is lack of communication. I mean, we’re always learning and no-one’s perfect. But there’s something about being disabled (or being in a relationship with a disabled person): you’ve got to be forthcoming about your needs. You have to be radical in your communication and I think that’s a gift.” - Tatum When you are new to a relationship > If you want to know more details after someone has disclosed their disability to you, DON’T GOOGLE IT. They know themselves best. > If you would like to know more you could always send them a message a few days later - gives people room to reply in their own time. Ask out of interest without intrusion - give them a reason and say "I care about you and I want to know how best to support you." > Be patient - building a meaningful connection takes time - you don’t have to know everything straight away. > It is important to have a common understanding that severity of physical symptoms and state of mind are very interlinked. > Allow your partner to fully voice their feelings without interrupting or interjecting, even if they're saying something that is difficult to hear. > All partners need to recognise their privilege in different areas. > Acknowledge the difference between sympathy and empathy. > [For non-disabled partners] It’s good to understand external factors have a lot more of an influence on the mood/capacity of someone who is disabled/neurodivergent, so it’s always worth planning ahead where possible. Use The Spoon Theory to talk to your partner about fluctuating energy levels/capacity. When a relationship is perhaps more established > All partners need the emotional intelligence of knowing when to pick up a conversation about something, but also knowing when to drop it. > Nonverbal communication for support is key (if you’re a survivor or if you have a disability - someone could be non-verbal if they are neurodivergent for example) - not everything has to be spoken or heard. There is a lot of power in simply giving someone a look or a nod. > When you or your partner is stressed or struggling with pressure, understand the importance of framing things as ‘support or solution?’ - check-ins are important to see what that person needs. Sometimes people just want a hug (i.e. support), and need a second to process before they start thinking about what comes next (i.e. a solution). > [If you are a non-disabled partner] you need to intuitively switch between supporting someone where they need help, and just simply being their partner. Don’t lose sight of what should be at the core of your relationship, which is love and chemistry - if you lose sight of that, then that isn’t good for your relationship in the long run. So what does all of this mean? The most poignant discovery as a result of these conversations, is that most discussion, whilst centred around queerness and disability, are actually applicable to any relationship - no matter who you or your partner might be. If we see disability as a ‘layer,’ you could replace it with another element such as ‘long-distance;’ ‘difference in financial status between partners’ or ‘polyamory,’ for example. This shows that while we might have different life experiences, we are all human, and more similar than we might think at first glance…

As part of disability pride month, we asked a selection of our Queer Leaders: How do you think the intersection of your Queer and Disabled/Neurodivergent identities gives you strength? Here are the thoughts they'd like to share with you... 1. Coco (she/they) “I think they both sit side by side, [the intersection of these two parts of my identity] give me strength to be my authentic self and learn to love the real me. It’s also given me further strength to be able to share and inspire others; so that they can see their neurodiversity as a superpower, rather than something that’s negative, which is what society tells us.” 2. Char Bailey (she/her) “It gives me a unique experience of the world and therefore I have a different perspective. Being able to paradigm shift is a huge advantage. I simply see more and that gives me more empathy.” 3. Anick Soni (he/him) "Being Queer and Disabled are two parts of me that contribute to my wholeness. It wasn’t until I accepted them, and made my own adjustments that I was able to find my strength. Oftentimes, I would try and control or minimise these aspects of myself to fit in, but it was always to my detriment. Now I’m vocal that it’s our worlds that need reshaping, not me." 4. Tatum Swithenbank (she/they) "Being Queer and Disabled teaches me to live outside of the boxes which have been projected onto me, my identities guide me to be adaptable, creative and unapologetically me." 5. Mark Travis Rivera (he/him) “Before my queer identity entered my consciousness, it was my disability that taught me the power of resilience and resistance. At the intersection of both of those identities, I recognize that I am strong and unstoppable.” 6. Ryan Zaman (he/him) “Growing up, I think I had a lot of difficulties when it came to how the queer parts of my identity interacted with the disabled parts of my identity. Now I’m older though, I think these two parts of me work together to give me strength by how they afford me a high level of emotional intelligence, and allow me to consider several perspectives in all that I do.”

As Queer Leaders and Allies, we spend a great deal of our time helping others, often at the expense of our own wellbeing. While the holiday period can be a joyous time, it can also be filled with challenges too. We're here with a simple technique that you could use to help yourself before you begin helping others in the new year. There’s a variety of reasons why you, or other people may find the holiday period stressful. Statistics show that around 25% of people in the U.K. find Christmas and New Year hard on their mental health. For Queer people, this period can propose additional challenges. Many of us have complicated relationships with our families as a result of their rejection, misinterpretation or struggle with our queer identities. The pressure to be happy during the festive period can aggravate existing mental health issues, which already affect our community at higher rates than average. Often, the brunt of this strain is felt after the New Year - whether you're returning to where you live after spending the festive period with your family, or whether it's simply time to return to work after some well-deserved time off. Mid January represents a challenging combination of long periods of darkness, a return to looming work-based stresses, along with high expectations we subject ourselves to with New Year’s Resolutions. Everyone's experience vary - no doubt you are already very aware of what is playing on your mind - the load can be heavy… So, let’s see if we can go some way in helping you unload some of this weight. Sometimes it can be helpful to process our stresses by associating them in our heads with tangible object - especially when it comes to organising our thoughts. Why don’t you try this short exercise? 1. Imagine you're carrying a bag Head into a space where you feel most comfortable, such as your living room or your bedroom. Imagine you’re carrying a large, heavy bag which is filled with all of the things that are worrying you, or playing on your mind. Set the bag down, and take some time to decompress. Eat some food, have a shower, get comfortable and take a breath. Try your best to clear your mind a little. Let yourself fully experience the release you are feeling by distancing yourself from your stresses for a short while. 2. Make a short list of what's bothering you When you're ready, carefully take out each item of worry from the bag and make a note of what you are removing, one-by-one. Really take time to consider what each item means to you and why you might have packed it in the bag in the first place. Giving yourself space to download what has happened over the festive period, is important. Being careful not to overwhelm yourself, simple acknowledgement of each different factor which is contributing to your stress or anxiety allows you to validate your emotions. Laying everything out in a simple list will help you make sense of what you are faced with. 3. Categorising & Prioritising Once you feel like you have given yourself space to emotionally process things a little further, it is time to categorise what’s on your list and prioritise what you need to actively react to/deal with, the things that may not require your immediate attention. Why not try and group the “items from your bag” (i.e. the things that are worrying you) as follows? 4. What are you placing on your desk? The items from your bag (or things that are on your mind) which you choose to "place on your desk" are the things that you can deal with or resolve relatively easily and efficiently. It could be simple things like: Writing a shopping list for the week ahead Preparing your bag for your first day back at work Doing some laundry Meditating or reflecting to ground yourself / stretching out to help release physical tension Getting in touch with friends or your Chosen Family to let them know that you're decompressing, and maybe want to catch up on what's going on with them. Even the smallest of actions we take have value, and can go a long way to help us feel like we're being constructive, even if we are feeling low on energy and motivation. 5. What are you placing on your shelves? This is the space for the things that you're not quite ready to deal with, and need some more time to think about before you tackle them. Some examples of things that you could place on your shelves: Calling family Forecasting your spending for the month ahead Talking to someone about how they may have made you feel - for example, if they have made negative comments about specific parts of your identity. 6. What are you packing away into your cupboard/wardrobe? This is the best place for more significant worries, that you may need to think about more in the long term. That is not to say you are avoiding them or running away from them. Like we said, acknowledgement is the first step of processing emotions, which eventually leads to acceptance or resolution. Processing difficult or triggering situations you’ve faced during the holidays, such as arguing with your family, having your identity disrespected, being misgendered or facing isolation. Navigating your relationship with food and alcohol With everything that causes us anxiety, it is important to remember the following: Check back on the categories of your list regularly to ensure you continue to work forward. Employ tools such as journaling or moodboarding if you feel like you need to work some more to process the feelings that you are feeling. It is important to remember that everyone, no matter who they are, is faced with elements of uncertainty, pain (psychological and physical) and the strain of constant work in their lives. To remember that everyone faces barriers and difficulties can sometimes help us take the steps necessary to work forward and reach out to others. When you feel comfortable, it is important to get into contact with those who you are close to, who you can trust, to tell them about what you are struggling with. However, for these conversations to be helpful you should, in your own way, make clear to them that you are looking for either reassurance or solutions. Once you have had a go at this visualisation and prioritisation exercise and feel, if it helps you feel a little more balanced, maybe suggest to them to have a go themselves, by reading this article! When you are feeling calmer, you will have a stronger foundation which you use to can help others. When you are ready, take a look at our article on how you can perhaps be there for others. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here. We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

This Transgender Awareness week, we spoke with Jack López and Tate Smith to ask them about their journeys as Trans Men. They talk about the mental health challenges that come with society's expectations of what it is to be a man, as well as advice that they would offer other people. Jack López (he/him) and Tate Smith (he/him) Videography: Kiran Sodhi Kalsi-Ghatoure With thanks to our location partner, Locke Hotels. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here. We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

With so many terms being used interchangeably and inconsistently, we thought we'd unpack the often-missed distinctions between some of the more common labels attributed to individuals in the DEI space. Being members of the queer community, we are often subject to labels: labels we place on ourselves as markers to others which allow us to effectively communicate our gender identity and our sexuality for example; labels given to us by others to catagorise us into certain queer archetypes based on body types, or style choices; and labels given to us at birth - things like our ethnicity and heritage, which come from our family. Then there are labels that are given to us by society, which can be based on things like our socio-economic status, our level of education. All of these labels have varying levels of importance and significance on an individual, yet they all have a profound impact on an individual’s opportunities, as well as their approach to situations and decisions they are faced with. The same paradigms apply for those who work in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) space, whether from the inside of an organisation, or self-employed / as a freelancer. There are very personal choices individuals make when considering the labels they attach to themselves, when they decide to become more vocal about a particular cause, issue or community that they care about. The two main labels here are ‘ACTIVIST’ and ‘ADVOCATE.’ There is a common misconception that these two words are synonymous. However, in reality, there are some very clear distinctions. Let’s explore those: ACTIVIST Someone who labels themselves as an ‘activist’ is typically more grassroots and can be (to an extent) anti-establishment. Often, an activist’s lifestyle can be heavily steered by their stance on a specific issue. Furthermore, activists spur on wider political and systemic change through their actions and words. ADVOCATE Similarly to an ‘activist,’ an advocate also wants to make change and support a cause or community that matters to them. However, they work within existing systems to raise awareness about issues and injustice, selectively considering when they are vocal about a specific issue - amplifying discourse taking place in society, and bolstering the efforts of activists. Then we have labels which are given by others: ALLY We in the queer community and the DEI space are all aware of the label ‘ALLY’ and their importance on our lives. Yes, someone can easily label themselves an ally. However, a sign of true allyship is when someone else can give an example of when someone has helped them and stood in solidarity with them, showing how they have helped in closed environments during a time of need. The positive effect of an ally is most often a bond between individuals or a small group of people. AMBASSADOR An ambassador (in terms of DEI) is normally someone who an organisation or brand partners with. Normally, this ambassador will be part of a marginalised community who is vocal on societal issues and injustices. The rise in partnerships being forged in this way is down to companies wanting to show support to marginalised groups, and to illustrate to clients and customers that their company ethos is aligned with an ambassador’s values. So, what label do you think most applies to you? Most importantly, people who have these labels attributed to them are ALL needed to enact positive societal change. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here. We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Scott Sallée and Beth Freedman from Dentsu share their Queer Allyship success stories; showing us the importance of showing up, and how simply 'feeling seen' and supported can change so much for a person's career trajectory. Scott's Allyship story... Beth always supports with the personal and the professional. The way our work/life overlaps these days makes this level of care so important. Beth supported me through a chapter where I was navigating both corporate politics and an inner exploration of identity, expression, and self. She cares intensely and her support is compassionately incisive – which matched my needs and the situation perfectly. She has a powerful way of reminding me of my power, resilience, agency, and strength, emboldening me to get moving and realigning me on my path. Beth shows up. I can’t really put it any more directly than that. Beth shows up. Whether it’s with her physical presence, her emotional intelligence, or the focus of her attention when she’s with you, she’s fully there. Compassionate focus is rare in a world of fractioned attention spans and it’s something I treasure about her. Allyship is a verb. It’s active. Beth embodies allyship by proactively checking in and she’s one of those special people that asks twice – thrice even – to learn how you’re really doing. It’s a simple practice I would encourage everyone to adopt: ask, and if you feel hesitation, ask again. Make the space for people to share how they really are. What a gift we can offer to a fellow human to be able to drop the masks, the covering, the weight of having to be OK all the time! Beth’s genuine, honest, and direct energy creates psychological safety, essential for a high performing culture. She also acts as a strong ally for others in our organisation, by being the senior sponsor of our LGBTQ+ network, Beth continues to create exponential change through advocacy: internally with our leadership and externally in our wider industry. When one part of your life is proving challenging, it pulls energy and focus from other areas – we only have so much to give at any one time. The support I received reignited my flame and I honour Beth by paying it forward to others. One of my favourite quotes by Ram Dass is “We’re all just walking each other home.” – when I’m with Beth, I truly feel what it means to be witnessed, valued, and respected; I feel cheered on to use my gifts for good. I am grateful to walk this path with her. Beth's Allyship story... The desire to be an ally may be organic but the reality of being a good ally is an active commitment. It’s more than simply being a good friend or a good boss. Being a good ally requires commitment to on-going education. It requires acceptance that you will make mistakes and the humility to quickly own up to them. It means a commitment to never making that same mistake twice. I would like to believe that no one claims to be an ally with a lack of good intent. But if you don’t do the work, if you don’t commit yourself to learning, if you simply think being an ally is about being a nice person, then you’re not really an ally. Positive intent is a starting point, but active allyship is an on-going journey. As a leader, it’s my responsibility to make space for others to shine. People did this for me throughout my career, and it’s my turn now. As a human, the same applies. I am so lucky to have had so many amazing people who empowered me, made space for me, and most important, taught me key lessons throughout my career. They all had one thing in common – they never saw my success as a threat or challenge to them, simply a validation of their own achievement in leadership and management. That is my inspiration every day, and the bar to which I hold myself accountable. Scott reflects the energy he receives from you back to you in such an incredibly powerful way. Investing in him is like investing in the sun as a power source – it just continues to give and give, not just back to me but to everyone around us. I believe that if we all invested in each other this way, then our individual lights would burn brighter, enriching those around us and inspiring them to actively practice this in their own lives. When thinking about what advice I would offer to others, a few things come to mind: Do not be afraid of what you don’t know, or to admit what you don’t know. Humility and honesty are critical as a part of this journey, as important as any positive intentions. Scott Sallée (he/they) Scott is the Social Impact Manager for the UK at Dentsu. He dedicates his time to equipping the next generation of talent with the skills they will need to thrive in the digital economy, creating more diversified leadership, and transforming the role of brands in society. A neurodivergent advocate for neurodiversity, he is passionate about intersectionality, psychological safety, and sustainability. He co-Chairs the Wellbeing Committee, is on the Steerco of &Proud, leads the all-company Meditation Mondays, is a board member of the @ipa (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) Creative Pioneers, and is an ambassador for NABS, the industry’s wellbeing charity partner. Beth Freedman (she/her) Beth is the CEO at dentsu x. She oversees the UK operations ensuring the agency’s clients benefits from its unique set of capabilities in media, technology, creativity, and data. Beth boasts more than 20 years’ experience and has held senior roles at renowned agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Arnold and Fallon operating across several disciplines including media planning, client servicing and creative. Beth is dentsu's executive sponsor of &Proud, the agency’s LGBTQ+ network, recognised by Stonewall as 59th in the Top 100 of the 2022 Workplace Equity Index as well as receiving a 2022 Gold Award for bi and trans inclusion. About the 'My Ally and Me' story-telling series: At We Create Space we always aim to lift and amplify the voices of our global queer collective of change-makers. However with this story-telling series we wanted to give LGBTQ+ leaders the opportunity to bring an ally into the conversation and explain how their valued support has shaped their personal and professional journey. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here. We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Guest Writer, singer and songwriter Pritham Bhatia, takes us through his personal song-writing and creative process; exploring how his connection with music and his queer identity continues to inspire growth and motivate his work. By Pritham Bhatia The world of Music and it’s unruly little sister - the dancefloor - has for centuries been a haven for queer expression. Our leading queer artists of today such as Sam Smith, Troye Sivan and Lady Gaga not only owe gratitude to original LGBTQI+ icons such as Madonna, Cher, George Michael and Boy George who paved the way - but even further back to the queer Greeks and Romans who used music to express non-straight desire. As a modern songwriter, I have long been inspired by these brave artists turning their pain and life stories into art, and viewed going into songwriting sessions as the ultimate act of self-creation. The idea of a ‘songwriting session’ provided me with the armour of performing as an ‘artist’ - giving me an ability to be vulnerable and to look at the world and observe, whilst creating a safe space in which to do so. If done properly, sessions left me feeling connected or having learned something about my true self. When I was trying to write a ‘hit’ - I felt empty, disconnected, pressured and stressed. A select few times, I would have written something about myself that would become true in the future, or would not make sense without a few years hindsight. Listening back to old songs, it’s astounding to think ‘how did I know that was going to happen?’, or even ‘how did I get myself through that?’, leading me to believe that songwriting is a powerful source of self-knowledge, healing, identity and even fortune-telling. After writing over 200 songs, some for myself, some for famous bands and singers - I know first hand that great songs can be written by anyone, regardless of previous success. You may just need a few tips, tricks and practices to find the magic. Here are a few steps and processes that I hope you may find helpful in your writing practice: 1. Structure & Storytelling. One of the joys of leaning into your Queerness is that there are no rules. If you equate your essential queerness with songwriting: you can literally write or sing about anything. Yet structures are helpful - sometimes limits can help you become more creative, and formulas and templates help when you are stuck. There are two major components to a great song, and they are structure and storytelling, but can also be known as aesthetic and content, music and lyric. When you listen closely and widely to a variety of songs, you will learn the traditional structure which is: verse-prechorus-chorus, verse-prechorus-chorus, middle8, chorus - and I recommend using this structure at first as a template. But a great song is nothing without a story to tell. If the whole world is a stage, as Shakespeare said, then we must all play our own parts. Which story do you want to write? Let’s start with the basics: 2. Writing to a title. This is a helpful and quick way of writing songs, and assists you in getting a cohesive set of images in your lyrics. I have a notes section on my phone where I jot down interesting words, images, associations, things I notice or phrases my friends say - and use them as titles to write a song from. Sometimes it’s fun to join the dots or see common themes in what you write - and these can become great ideas for album titles. I also recommend keeping a journal to source things from. When I settle on a title, I write a whole list of images, words or phrases related that I can use in the song, and use these to start writing verses. Metaphors and Similes can also make great titles and serve as great images for songs, eg You’re My Flashlight, We’re beautiful like Diamonds in the Sky etc… The trick is to understand what the metaphor can relate to in the human experience, or to find a title, phrase or image that encapsulates your emotion or experience. I’ve found this can be therapeutic, as it helps you see your situation in a new light, or offer profound perspectives on life-long patterns. 3. Verses. Verses are the main script of your song, and nowadays sound conversational and natural in terms of cadence, lyrical content and tone. This really is your chance to play around with images and structure, and to create moods and pictures that are uniquely yours. Play around with mood boards and Pinterest to paint a picture of a world that you want your music to live in. I’ve found that we spend so much of our lives as queer people trying to assimilate and survive, that writing authentic verses can be difficult but is ultimately liberating. In the queer experience, we have often taken a backseat to others in life, or played secondary roles, sometimes hiding in the background. Through songwriting, you now have the opportunity to be the main character - and to find and voice your own narrative. 4. Chorus. I would say - too many people worry about writing loads of hooks in a chorus and making it catchy. Although these things are important, the key thing in chorus writing is to nail the heart of the song's messaging. This can be a process of discovery - what is it about your story that is the headline? A great technique that I learned was that if the verses are explaining a problem or an obstacle, then shift the perspective for the chorus so that it comes from a friend offering you advice - what would they say to you? Or flip it - what would you say to someone else in the same situation? 5. Finding Your Voice. Artists can be driven crazy by searching externally, far and wide, in torture to find their voice. But the secret is, it’s always been there. Your true voice may be buried deep under fear, hiding, or trauma - but you do not need to travel the world or go through years of therapy to find it - though both of those have their healthy place of course! We all have a deep instinct that constantly guides us towards our authenticity. If you don’t know where to start, I find it helpful to play with style, genre or identity - and to treat music like a dress up box. If I ever got stuck, I would try to mimic one of my favourite artists, and I would find that in the process I would naturally start changing melodies or words to sound more like what I like - and this is how I started to ‘find my voice.’ Sometimes you can trade the word ‘voice’ for ‘taste’ - and see yourself as a curator of beautiful words and melodies. And it is important to note that it is of far more merit to create something ‘authentic’ than to downright copy or purely write what is in ‘style’ as the world is already filled with far too much noise. We all need real art - that comes from the real you - more than ever. Another magical thing is that the more active listening that you perform to other people’s music, the more you seem to learn to listen to yourself and learn what you like and dislike. Developing your muscle for noticing and filtering what resonates with you brings you closer to your true self as well as an increased ability to ignore the noise. 6. Removing All Obstacles. Don’t play an instrument? It doesn’t matter. I know some amazing songwriters who have crafted UK and US number 1s who cannot play a single note. Your innate musicality is what matters and storytelling and messaging is king (or queen!) This is your chance to truly be creative. If you don’t play instruments or have access to musicians, then download backing tracks, find producers to send you beats, or type Beyonce style instrumental (or whoever your current inspiration is) into YouTube and improv melodies on top. Queer Magic is not about being perfect, but being true to yourself and present in the moment, and you always want to speed up your process to make it more immediate and expressive, rather than worrying about playing the right notes. Luckily - we all have a studio quality recording device on us at all times now - our phones - and those voice memos of hums from your morning walk to work can turn into full songs. Also, don’t forget to share your work. Music is meant to be heard, and it makes you a better songwriter to get constructive feedback on what you’re doing from circles that you trust. If you want to take your career further - play local open mic nights, upload your music to SoundCloud and find a digital distributor like AWAL to release on Spotify etc - and use the social platforms to promote your music and to connect to other creators. It’s all about creating community. 7. Context is Everything. One of the pillars of Queer thinking is that if everything is a construct, then we get to decide how we show up in the World, as well as our right to break stereotypical conventions. I love nothing more than a song that has devastating lyrics, but euphoric dance productions - or vice versa. This is Queer Magic at its most powerful - the power of subversion. I dare you to challenge the musical templates and experiment with the context and symbolic meanings of your music. Write that joyful declaration on top of melancholic chords. Or if you need some inspiration, just listen to Robyn’s ‘With Every Heartbeat’ for the ultimate example of ‘crying at the disco.’ 8. Focus on Quantity, then Quality will follow. When starting on your journey of songwriting, the important thing is to just get writing. The rest will follow. Writing good songs is like turning on a tap that has been closed for a long time. As Queer people living in a straight-majority society, we all have a deep well of emotions and experiences that need to be excavated and processed, and sometimes if that well has been stagnant, it may take a while for the water to run. Writing songs can be a powerful way of spending quality time with yourself, getting to reconnect with your true self - either in solitude or with a songwriting partner. Practice patience with yourself and be consistent, but don’t force yourself to write if you don’t want to. But above all, remember that writing is supposed to be fun, and that we all have access to our own Queer Magic, all the time. Thank you for reading, and if you enjoyed this, I’d love you to check out my own music, or to hear from you over at one of my socials: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/prizmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prithambhatia/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/itspritham While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here. We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

In this instalment of PLACES, FACES, SPACES, Lo Lo No shares with us some of their favourite people, projects and venues that are making a positive impact on queer culture and queer people's experience in Margate right now. We hope these examples can highlight to you the possibilities of fostering in-person queer community, and encourage you to think about how you could contribute to building queer spaces local to you, as well as be a strong Queer Leader in your local area. In addition, if you're thinking of visiting Margate for the first time, we hope this round up will help get you inspired about what aspects of queer culture you could explore. If you live in Berlin or know it well, you might even learn about something, somewhere or someone that you haven't come across before - you never know! First, here's a little about Lo Lo No, and their connection to Margate's queer culture... I’m Lo Lo No, artist, curator and Queer Cuntry drag act Pretzel Cage. I moved from my home city of London to Margate in 2017 and haven't looked back, seeing it grow from seasonal summer town to all year round cultural melting pot with an ever expanding LGBTQIA+ community being an integral part of that, bringing music, performance, art and cuisine to Margate. I started working with Margate Pride in my first year here, we are arts led and have projects running year round with no corporate sponsorship. Pride continues to expand and is now a two week festival which includes PAM (Pride Art Map) festival which I direct, PAM includes the unique queer artists residency BRINK. Margate is a small town doing big things and that is very much its spirit, with other organisations alongside Pride like People Dem Collective and Rise Up Clean Up working towards making Margate an inclusive and progressive home and destination. @queerc.untry @margatepride @peopledemcollective @riseupcleanup #PAM #brinkresidency And now on to Lo Lo No's picks! 1. Margate Queer Writers Founded by local writer and drag queen (Bettany Bay) Liam O’Driscoll, MQW runs annual projects including 2021’s Memory that give local writers an opportunity to workshop, book club, perform and publish work in Anthologies and exhibitions. The approach is multi disciplinary, inclusive and collaborative and has seen texts and photographs narrating queer life go up all around Margate in cafes and shops. 2. SouthEast Trans+ Social Run by Trans+ advocacy charity Not A Phase and held at the wonderful queer run safe space Margate Arts Club, the social is a place for the trans+ community to meet in a safe and encouraging environment. The trans+ community in Margate is small in visibility and the meet ups are so important in empowering the community and building its resources. 3. Snug Club - Queer Short Film Night Nestled into the cosy, queer-friendly Tom Thumb Theatre, Snug Club is a relaxed sharing of short films by Queer Margate based creators. Launched by performance artist, film maker and neuro-queer clown An(Dre)a Spisto, the club shows short films from all levels of filmmaking experimentation and experience and range from documentaries, dramas, comedy, art film, music video and there are relaxed talks and introductions between films. 4. NBE Fitness Founded by Pride team member, facilitator, dancer and gamer Kanndiss Riley, NBE FITNESS has a unique and inclusive approach to wellbeing and has grown to create sessions for queer families, outdoor/indoor group sessions, and tailored access points for individual access needs. The goal is for providing inclusive, holistic wellness services for Every BODY. The space is built to be inclusive and support carers, disabled and chronically ill people to enjoy life. 5. Neurodivergent Friends in Thanet Founded in 2022 so local neurodivergent adults can meet their peers in safe spaces. Their mission is to bridge the gap in local resources and support for neurodivergent adults, working for positive change in mental health, well-being, community, belonging, self- acceptance, self-advocacy, breaking bias and isolation, and building peer support. We provide a monthly social meetup, a monthly creative workshop, and other community Projects. 6. Pink Suits + Queer Cuntry Political punk act Pink Suits bought their love of Country music to Margate and launched Queer Cuntry, a bimonthly event at Olby’s Soul Cafe. The whole audience dons pvc chaps and diamante cowboy hats to play games, line dance, watch guest drag acts and the Northdown Rodeo nine piece band. Queer Cuntry birthed yours truly Pretzel Cage. Pink Suits work hard to create an accessible and inclusive space for people to come together and express themselves freely and sing along to Dolly Parton and Orville Peck. 7. Queer Swim Founded by artist Brogan Bertie, Queer Swim is a trans-centred, fat positive and anti-racist swim (or not) club and provides a vital opportunity to folx to meet up in a 100% welcoming and non judgemental space. I remember first seeing the group's house rules like ‘avoid commenting on people's appearance and enquire on someone's pronouns if you are not sure’ and feeling like this was massively progressive for Margate’s future. 8. Camp Run by a queer quintent made up of two partners and a pair of siblings, Camp is the new Queer Bar in Margate, more than just a bar it hosts community events, pole dancing show cases, pop up restaurants and Drag Race screenings. Margate has been running at a minimal in terms of queer devoted and run spaces and Camp is like a beacon, proudly nestled into the eclectic Northdown Road, I am so glad young people are growing up in the town able to see proud venues and people that will become their own hang out spots. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here. We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. You can find out what events we have coming up here. New ones are added all the time, so make sure you sign up to our newsletter so you can stay up to date!

Unique challenges are faced by bisexual people - having their identity flattened into either gay or straight, being perceived as unfaithful, non-commital, or hypersexualised against their will. We asked Queer Leaders from our community to share their experiences and where they would like to see progress for bisexual people and how they are seen in wider society. Whilst there has been progress made in recently which improves the perception and acceptance of cis, white gay men in heteronormative society (which is undoubtedly positive, and absolutely needed), there are some parts of the LGBTQ+ which have not yet been afforded the same privilege. One part of this community is that which is made up of bi people, who tend to be caught in-between the judgements of both straight and queer communities. What would you like to change about others' perceptions of bi/pansexual people in wider society? Anick Soni (he/him) I hope that when bi/pan people are represented in stories (film/TV/books) that we exist as bi/pan people. More often than not, we tend to see characters who are closeted or with an mixed gender relationship, struggle with their sexuality and it is linked to being lesbian or gay. It's almost as if even in a fictional world, bisexuality is too 'confusing'. Bi/pan people need to be able to exist in all their various forms. We're not secretly lesbian/gay, we deserve to be openly bi/pan. - @AnickWrites Christopher Kenna (he/him) In the Media - I often find the way I am portrayed by media is very much sexualised or negatively portrayed as being 'greedy' or 'undecided' Personally - it's been my experience that especially when dating Gay Men - that it is 'not believed' or strangely 'not liked' that you are bi-sexual and often dismissed as the female partnerships were a phase. I have personally stopped arguing the point and just concede. Professionally - Whenever I have explained my sexuality with peers it is often met with more questions than I wish to answer - I would therefore say I often remain in the “Bisexual Closet” and have been straight or gay professionally, dependant on who I'm dating at the time of discussion. Jolinda Johnson (they/she) When it comes to my own bisexuality, the thing I'd love for people to understand is that even when I'm in a straight passing relationship, I'm still queer. That's always something for me to know, not anything I should ever have to prove. Sometimes you can't help who you fall in love with, but your relationship status doesn't determine your sexual orientation. I've been attracted to both men and women for as long as I can remember, and lately I find that expanding as I continue to explore gender identity. At the end of the day, it comes down to who I feel an emotional and energetic pull towards, and of course how receptive they are to me. Bisexual just happens to be the label that fits me best. Vaneet Mehta (he/him) I'd like to change the idea that bisexual people have it easier, that we don't have issues, or that the issues we're dealing with are the same as gay or lesbian people. Biphobia and bi-erasure exist throughout society and even in the LGBTQIA+ community. This isn't the same as homophobia and it has a detrimental effect on our journey of coming out and self-acceptance which impacts our mental well-being. Bi people are more likely to have anxiety, more likely to self-harm and more likely to have suicidal ideation than gay people. We have to talk about that, talk about why and tackle that! - @nintendomad888 Tatum Swithenbank (they/she) I’d like people to know that fluid sexuality is a part of nature and we’ve always existed. Being queer is about living beyond binaries yet even within our communities we as bi people are still questioned. I count my blessings every day that I’m bisexual. It’s joyful, creative and an epic adventure. - @tatumkarmen Emily Horton (she/her) In the media, bisexual people are often portrayed as promiscuous, overtly sexual and dangerous. Historically, this demonisation can be linked to the AIDS crisis. Bisexual people found themselves excluded not only from straight communities but also queer communities as well. This exclusion, bi-negativity and hyper-sexualisation have led to bisexual people, women in particular, being disproportionately impacted by sexual violence. These negative attitudes and harmful stereotypes have real-world and violent consequences. This needs to change.