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Over two parts, a selection of our Queer Leaders share their experiences and tips on how to healthily challenge someone inside your workplace. In this Q&A we discuss 'How to [healthily] challenge Executive Leadership' to identify and implement policies and practices that support the growth and development of LGBTQ+ employees. The actions we take today, will make tomorrow's history. Watch this webinar to... - Discover new methods for creating more inclusive cultures at work. - Feel empowered to help and support others. - Become more intuitive and empathetic with the decisions you make as a leader or change-maker. - Increase the positive impact you could have in the world. - Understand better your actions, thoughts and beliefs as an Ally of the entire LGBTQIA+ community. - Use the safe space to discuss, learn and get curious. Learn more about Zach Ames's work. Learn more about Polo Lonergan's work. Learn more about Bachul Koul's work. If you would like to discuss booking one of these speakers for your own session, 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!

For US Black History Month, guest writer Ashley Marshall reflects on the labour demanded of Black change-makers during this time and makes the argument for rest as a radical act. I usually keep a very low profile during February, as it is my time for rest and to be one with my ancestors, my skin, my culture, my hair, the poetry that tells me that I am phenomenally myself. I felt moved to write this because there are far too many other Black people who still get up, do more, march, and perform other modes of free labour under the pressures of "I am not allowed to be tired." I write for them: we are all tired, and so please give yourself permission to set better boundaries than the "work ourselves to death" mentality that has been passed down to us epigenetically and from generational socialization. I write so that it is written, and hopefully from there our regeneration will have more power. I am a professor of communications, with a Master’s in English. My lived experience is definitely a form of intelligence – one that comes with a skillset that we on the margins are called on to implement every day at work but are never compensated for. I grew up poor, the last child of a single-mother, myself a first generation in a colonized country, unambiguously Black skinned and afro-haired, Queer, tall, and smart. "Fitting in" was not in the cards for me, but standing out was. Too often Black people will do whatever it takes to “fit in,” even if the frame we have to contort ourselves into is racially ignorant, culturally insensitive, and reduces over 400 years of our liberation struggle, movements for abolitionism, fights for freedom, and celebrations of our indelibility to “Read a poem by a Black Canadian author.” Being Black comes with a rich mix of cultural joy, expression, community, rhythm, style, and more. My Blackness is never the hard part. Being Black in predominantly white spaces is where danger, discomfort, surveillance, and the pressures to fit stereotypes come into play. Here are two examples of this from my own personal and professional life: 1. After presenting my research at Harvard’s annual Black Portraitures conference, I founded the Black Student Success Network at my job. This additional duty was born out of necessity, not because it came with a pay raise. Part of our guiding principles is that as Black people, we face unique challenges, and this goes for the classroom, the corporate office, and any other facet of our lived experiences. As Black faculty, we are skilled with guiding students who face these unique challenges, in a way that no-one else can, as is the power of culture and community. Again, no pay increases, yet a demand for this work, and an expectation that of course we volunteer. Five years later, diversity has made its way into the Strategic Business Plan - as a recruitment tool. As we all know from contemporary corporate speak: the standard is not that racism is bad, it's that racism is bad for business. 2. In the region where I live, a suburb not far from Toronto, Ontario, there was a very embarrassing Black History Month controversy in 2021 that made national news. The Region of Durham, the body responsible for municipal politics and services, issued a company-wide Black History Month “Scavenger Hunt” that included tasks such as “Have a conversation with a Black employee and name them,” “Spend a few minutes to learn about Africa,” “Dance to a reggae song,” and more trivial, offensive tasks. The child-like activity was sent to all staff employed by the Region of Durham. Soon after, Desmond Cole, a prominent Toronto-based journalist, took to social media to call out the racial ignorance of such an activity. The “Scavenger Hunt” was cringe at best, and completely downplayed the contributions and experiences of Black people, as usual. As news outlets approached Desmond for comment, he called me, passing the media contacts my way because I live and work in the region and would be better suited to give voice to these concerns. I had my interview criticizing The Region of Durham for its tone-deafness with regards to anti-Black racism at noon, and had an interview with a senior member of The Region of Durham to act as a reference for a very respected colleague of mine – a brilliant, Caribbean woman - to become the leader of their diversity team at 12:30. It was an uncomfortable afternoon, to say the least. “This workplace does not know anything about Black people,” then “I recommend this outstanding Black woman to be hypervisible in this workplace because you are in desperate need of reform, and she is the best one for the job. I recommend her for this uphill battle.” Just one of the many concessions and ethics-checks we need to make, every day. And before we get to thinking that this ignorance could only possibly have been done by a white person, it is important to acutely realize that when Black people have been socialized into knowing they are alone, ostracized, hyper-surveilled, stereotyped, and typically called on to speak for an entire continent of people and its diaspora, such a phenomenon as code-switching can be expected. I say all of this to arrive at the commonplace experiences of Black people while employed at companies that give too little regard for knowledge, expression, upskilling and furthering education, and otherwise creating safety for employees to do their jobs. As Cole aptly wrote in 2021, “an activity like this really shows how desperate workplaces are to avoid talking about Black people’s real issues.” This Black History Month, I offer you a list of some timeless strategies to take into the workplaces that often get it wrong: 1. Develop a deeper understanding of intersectionality – and act accordingly. Instead of seeking those with specialized knowledge to perform free labour for you, do your own work. That work might include fundraising to hear the wisdom of a Black expert, community-member, or employee. They do not owe you their trauma, their resilience, their immigrant story, their radical strategies, or any behavioural sugar that makes racism seem more “nice.” Remember that race, gender, class, access, ability, and a host of other identity politics operate at the same time. “If they want freedom so bad, why don’t they educate us” is a blame-shifty non-starter. I turn to the work of James Baldwin to make this point clear: “It took many years of vomiting up all the filth I’d been taught about myself, and half-believed, before I was able to walk on the earth as though I had a right to be here.” 2. Build community – and know how to be in community. The idea of the individual is a construct, a technology of control if you will. Black people know that we are stronger together. Release the idea that YOU have to. If you don’t know, or if you can’t, knowing how to find the organizations who do what you seek is key. Make sure you know your local Indigenous elders, journalists you can call on, graphic designers you are friends with on social media. What local organizations do you know, and who knows you? Oftentimes there is pressure that we need to help everyone but we are stretched too thin. Do YOU need to give the Black History Month presentation, or can you recommend BWIM (Black Women in Motion), your local chapter of the Black Women’s Collective, or amplify the work of ongoing abolition? Make sure to be in good rapport with the organizations who do non-profit work full-time, and always be in a position to support them, recommend them for gigs, promote their wins, and be in good, reciprocal community. 3. The Black mundane is radical – and necessary. It is politically different when Black bodies are at rest. So used to constant strain, it is an act of radical self-care to rest, because our lives, and our future generations depend on it. All too familiar is the internalized pressure that we need to be twice as good, because often, we do, only to get half the opportunities, recognition, or advancement. So find moments to recharge, and take that ancestral prize seriously. Hustle culture will have us believing that “I’ll sleep when I die” is commendable. Businesses can support this by realizing what is their work, and not the work of the community experiencing pain or tragedy. Grant requests for time off in a timely manner, realize the ontology behind oppression, and that seeing it done to one of us affects all of us, and just let Black people grieve or be in grief when once again we are the targets of a hate crime without calling on us for free labour or encroaching on us to hand out ally cookies. Be just as militant about doing for yourself and your community what it takes to stay alive. As adrienne maree brown says, “a rested body is a strong body.” Having us broken and busy is a cornerstone to our oppression. There are thousands of years of Black history. What we do with it today makes an impact on our futures. Rest, and hold firm to your “no’s.” Ash Marshall (she/they) Ashley's research critiques how power, economics, and politics influence social change, while advocating for imagination and creativity as alternatives to neoliberal market logics. As a full-time professor of communications, Ashley is continuing to develop projects rooted in place-based pedagogy, urbanism, public intellectualism and equity. You can find more information about Ashley here. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 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 Choon Young Tan discusses the cultural significance of Lunar New Year for ESEA people and the complications LGBTQ+ people face while celebrating it. Lunar New Year is celebrated by 2 billion people globally and for many people of ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) heritage, it is the biggest cultural celebration in their calendar. Known by many names, including Chinese New Year or Spring Festival in the People’s Republic of China, Tét in Vietnam, Seollal in North and South Korea, Tsagaan Sar in Mongolia, and Losar in Tibet, the diversity of Lunar New Year across Asia and the world is often overlooked and homogenised. Across the many countries and communities that observe Lunar New Year, both similarities and differences are abundant, ranging across cultural attire, taboos and superstitions, food, the Zodiac cycle and more. In Chinese and Vietnamese cultures, wearing red and yellow or gold is popular as they are the most fortuitous colours - symbols of wealth and luck - while black and white are the most unlucky, signifying death and the mourning. Giving money to children by elders and married children giving to their elders is a tradition in most cultures, often in red envelopes in Chinese and Vietnamese culture or money pouches in Korean. Worshipping and paying respects to ancestors as well as cleaning the house and warding off evil spirits prior to the first day is a common activity across all Lunar New Year celebrations. The New Year is rooted in the appreciation of or desire for a number of things: family, good fortune, and positivity; everything links back to them, so this time of year can be tough for many who are estranged from their family and cultural background, especially those who are part of the LGBTQ+ community - whether they are out or not. Despite a long history of homosexuality, bisexuality and transness existing in East and Southeast Asian art, literature and legends, being LGBTQ/queer is still often considered a taboo subject. This then poses the dilemma for some: how do you celebrate Lunar New Year or overcome the barriers you may face when seeing family during this auspicious festival? Especially, when in Chinese culture for example, arguing with people at the beginning of the New Year is believed to bring bad luck and troubled relationships for a whole year. For many people, celebrating with their families can be fraught with tension and so spending the holidays without them has become their norm. I spoke to a few LGBTQ+ people who celebrate Lunar New Year about their experiences and they kindly lent their stories - some anonymously - for this piece. My friends Siu Kee and Jensen, who both identify as British-born Chinese and gay, are out to some immediate and extended members of their family. However, both still do not feel fully accepted by their parents, which has led to feeling disconnected from their sense of “family” and thus rarely spending time with them during Lunar New Year. “These last couple of years I have celebrated LNY over a meal or attending some event,” Jensen says, “in the past my social circles didn't really celebrate it but I have found more friends who appreciate LNY and so I have felt more of an incentive to do something for it.” He added that not being fully accepted by his family after coming out has, “stained my image of what family is, it can be difficult to believe that family is everything when they do not fully accept and support you.” Siu Kee also didn’t celebrate the festival as much growing up as his parents ran a Chinese takeaway and to this day finds it hard to celebrate it properly due to being unable to take time off so close after Christmas and New Year. But when celebrating he’d rather spend the holidays with those that are comfortable with who he is and wish him good luck and fortune for the life that he has chosen. On seeing family and the topic of him being gay, Siu Kee says “it quite simply doesn’t get addressed or discussed” whether he is single or dating. While concrete statistics don’t currently exist, it is widely acknowledged that LGBTQ people from non-White backgrounds are disproportionately affected by some degree of familial rejection in relation to their sexuality or gender identity. A study by HRC Foundation found that just 19% of Asian American and Pacific Islander LGBTQ youth said they could “definitely” be themselves at home. And a simple Google search about the ostracisation and even violence people of Asian heritage face - both in and out of Asia itself and at the hands of their own family - reveals shocking and sad stories. Another person who spoke with me, who only wishes to be known as K, is a lesbian originally from South Korea and has lived in the UK since 2017 but since the pandemic has only returned home once and not during Seollal. She came to the UK for university and has since explored and come to terms with her sexuality, but believes her conservative parents would not approve due to a gay cousin whom they and other family have previously shown disdain for. “I’ve managed to use the pandemic as an excuse for not going back for three years, except for one holiday I combined with my grandma’s funeral. I really wanted to tell my parents then, but I couldn’t,” she told me. She says when they ask whether she has a boyfriend she tells them she is too busy with work.. A non-binary Vietnamese person who does not wish to be named, also told me their story. They still live with family and therefore coming out and being themselves is difficult. “I mostly love celebrating Tét as we have a big extended family living in the same city or nearby, but I do sometimes get comments from older relatives about my androgynous appearance which can be a little uncomfortable and overwhelming,” they tell me. “In the last couple of years this has led me to grow my hair out longer before the New Year and dress slightly more feminine just for those occasions.” These are just a handful of experiences by some of the queer ESEA community but hopefully they illustrate the pressures and push and pull many queer people go through when juggling both parts of themselves. 3 Tips for LGBTQ+ People Celebrating Lunar New Year: Celebrate with your friends and other people who are close to you - create a safe space you feel comfortable in. Remember that chosen family can be just as important as biological family. If you are celebrating with biological family, don’t feel afraid to step away for your own psychological safety, even if you can’t say the reason why. You can cleverly deflect questions and statements relating to your love life or the way you look or behave - succeeding in work is often as important to family as being married with children, so a lot of people find this an effective topic to move conversation along. If you have an active ally in your family, ask them for support. Do and wear what feels most comfortable and safe for you in family environments - some queer ESEAs have often felt at odds with both sides of their identities, with a desire to express themselves but not pull too far away from traditions or family expectations. If you can’t wear what you want around your biological family, why not create an opportunity with your chosen family where you can wear it? If you’re celebrating Lunar New Year, we hope you have a prosperous, healthy and above all, safe and happy one! Further Resources: British Asian Queer Community for East and South East Asians NYC Lunar New Year for All Voice ESEA Pink Dot London Queer China UK Choon Young Tan (he/him) Choon is a wearer of many hats. From being an accomplished marketing professional and versatile writer with more than 15 years experience in those fields to a workplace culture specialist with a deep passion for ED&I (equity, diversity and inclusion), he is always striving to make a difference in the world. If you’re an organisation wanting to celebrate the diversity of Lunar New Year at work, you can contact Tan here. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 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!

Prioritising wellbeing is extremely difficult in a world built on prejudiced hierarchies. Living at the intersection of Blackness, Queerness, Womanhood and Neurodivergence, our guest writer Almah La Von Rice uses Artmaking as an empowering tool for self care; to manage her anxiety, understand her trauma and explore the dynamics of her identities through a blank canvas. The Art of Black, Queer, Neurodivergent Survival. Artmaking as a tool for Self-Care by Almah LaVon Rice (she/her) It is the only time, reliably, that I am free of Them. Not when I log on to social media and am greeted with the latest mass shooting, plague, or fascist ruling. Not when I get on my laptop to start the day’s work only to be stalled by performance anxiety. Not even when the day is done and I am waiting for sleep (cue the parade of “what ifs”). And definitely not when I sleep (hello, nightmares). Who are “Them”? They are the anxiety gremlins that are always with me, in my face or in the background, prowling. I have the bona fides, the diagnoses: generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Not to mention living in a society hostile to what is Queer, Black, woman, fat, poor, neurodivergent, and survivor in me. ''I find abstract mixed media to be the ideal vehicle for all my intersections. With its emphasis on the non-figurative, I am released from the reductive demands of “representation.” But I get a respite from those anxiety ghouls when I make art. Mixed media collages and assemblages. Paintings. Monoprints. Hand bound journals. Embroidery. Whimsical drawings on envelopes that I send to my friends, mostly queer. And soon my studio wall will be jungled, lush with a monstera mural that I have made with my own hands. If I was in charge, the entire unjust world would be painted-over, just like this: a fantasia of color, pleasure, and peace. ''Black neuroqueer womanhood is not a curse but a whole universe - and the indeterminacy and expansiveness of abstract art point to how I am various, irreducible, and free. In a society dead-set on putting me in its demographic cages, art gives me a way to slip through the bars, if only for a moment.'' Making art tends to be the only time the anxiety ghastlies fall silent, as if fascinated as I cut, stitch, glue, and paint. They are quieted as we enter the cathedral of process and presence together. This is my favorite church, big enough for my Black queer neurotic multitudes. I find abstract mixed media to be the ideal vehicle for all my intersections. With its emphasis on the non-figurative, I am released from the reductive demands of “representation.” Indeed, I can represent myself and my vision in bold strokes of color and gesture rather than readily recognizable objects and scenes. Black neuroqueer womanhood is not a curse but a whole universe–and the indeterminacy and expansiveness of abstract art point to how I am various, irreducible, and free. In a society dead-set on putting me in its demographic cages, art gives me a way to slip through the bars, if only for a moment. Per the songbird in Black poet Rita Dove’s poem, “Canary,” If you can’t be free, be a mystery. Art is a place I can explore the unknowns in myself, even if the wider culture has determined it has me and my intersections all mapped and figured out. ''I am recovering my queer girlhood by playfully crafting the life I want–which, incidentally enough, happens to include sketching out a series of wobbly line drawings of vulvas.'' Mainstream science even supports my art-making madness. Ilan H. Meyer’s minority stress model asserts that stigmatized minority groups face adverse health outcomes due to oppression. Sexual and gender minority people, according to research findings recently published in The Annals of Behavorial Medicine, must deal with “structural stigma, including both community policies and community attitudes, [which] has been shown to be related to cortisol function, a biochemical measurement of stress.” And what has been shown to help lower cortisol, the body’s chief stress hormone? Artmaking. Various studies indicate that making art is salutary, no matter your experience or skill level. ''There is something incredibly grounding about working in my preferred mode of mixed media. Instead of getting lost in my sometimes catastrophic thoughts, I lose myself in materials.'' Studies are great but my own experiential knowledge has already convinced me of the sa(l)ving power of making things. As a recovering perfectionist–and as someone who has to be at least twice as good, according to oppressive structures–visual art is where I get to revel in my messes, my “mistakes.” I get to fail, exuberantly. Don’t like that painting? I can gesso it with a new layer and start again. Don’t like that drawing? I can remix it, cut it up and rebirth it as collage. When I was a little girl, I drew voluptuous women in pencil and with abandon. One day a little boy at church pointed to the curvy girls traipsing across my notebook, and pointing to their breasts, asked, “Where did you learn to draw those?” I knew, without him saying another word, that there was something untoward about a girl drawing other girls that way. So I stopped. But now, decades later, I am recovering my queer girlhood by playfully crafting the life I want–which, incidentally enough, happens to include sketching out a series of wobbly line drawings of vulvas. ''When the world feels like it’s ending, I can try beginning with a blank piece of paper or canvas.'' There is something incredibly grounding about working in my preferred mode of mixed media. Instead of getting lost in my sometimes catastrophic thoughts, I lose myself in materials. A rusty scrap found in a parking lot. Sun-blanched bird bones on the beach. A crab claw, a feather–so many found objects, so many chance gifts of place. I’ll pick wildflowers and use a hammer to pound their pigment into fabric: an art therapy textile and tactile. When the world feels like it’s ending, I can try beginning with a blank piece of paper or canvas. I spill acrylic ink on cotton rag and I stain muslin with tea, coffee, beet juice; I make my mark and I let materials remind me that life is more than dire and disaster. What anchors me as much as closing my eyes and breathing deeply? The stream of emerald ink from my fountain pen, the weight of watercolor paper. ''I smiled conspiratorially as I pressed my carving in the printing ink and then on to a hanky square, remembering all of the people and systems that have told me that my desires were against nature.'' So many of us have been called “unnatural,” avatars of deviance. I know I have been. Over and over again–like that hammer pounding flowers–it has been impressed upon me that I don’t belong here. Queer in too many ways, too many directions. Yet this year I was invited to participate in the Queer Ecology Hanky Project, a traveling exhibition of wearable art dedicated to exploding cisheteronormative notions of the natural world. In my case, I carved a block print depicting desert grassland whiptail lizards, the all-female reptile species of the North American desert. Dubbed “lesbian lizards,” they reproduce via parthenogenesis–without males–and are known for their female-female courtship and mating rituals. I smiled conspiratorially as I pressed my carving in the printing ink and then on to a hanky square, remembering all of the people and systems that have told me that my desires were against nature. These lizards–and my own artmaking practice–say otherwise. What could be more natural than the countless ways we create? The injustices are legion. This is no defense of a single, individual response to the forces arrayed against us. Personal artmaking may not be able to account for all of the losses, all of the structural subtractions, but I’m grateful for what this restorative practice gives to me so that I may survive this world. About Almah (she/her): Almah is a mixed media artist and writer at work on her first book. Connect with Almah: Website: www.AlmahLaVonRice.com Instagram: @agentsubrosa

Our guest writer Nick Virk explores the intricacies of community culture, friendship and chosen family in London's queer South Asian spaces. "Hum Aapke Hain Koun?" "Who am I to you?" by Nick Virk It's 2018. I am attending my first Hungama - a Bollywood hip-hop night in East London, founded by Ryan Lanji. I walk in, a nervous wreck, to the sounds of 90s Bollywood. My heart soars. It’s not just nostalgia for me. I am hearing what I listen to on the daily through the sanctuary of my headphones, blast out on speakers in a queer venue where my Brownness is placed front and centre. I see queer South Asian talent on the dancefloor and feel simultaneously inspired and intimidated. My imposter syndrome kicks in and I watch on as a wallflower, wondering if this community will embrace me. There are those I have seen on social media and in magazines, ambassadors of the queer Brown experience - the people I think I should aspire to be. I watch them, but they do not notice me. There’s a Bollywood lip sync contest and supportive non-Brown friends push me to join. They know my capabilities, even if I do not. I dance to Le Gayi Le Gayi and Dola Re Dola. I am alive. I am no longer hidden; I am seen. I win. People come up and introduce themselves. The adrenalin subsides and is replaced by me feeling ashamed of my vulnerability. I have fifteen minutes in the spotlight where people ask who I am. Did I just prove my worth? Overwhelmed, I ran out of the club riddled with anxiety and cry. Fast forward to the present and I am a regular at Hungama. I know Ryan and I know the people who, like me, are now part of the furniture. We are a family, one that is as dysfunctional as any other. We celebrate each other’s queerness - something I have not found is encouraged at alternative gay, and often femmephobic South Asian spaces in London. Looking back at who I was in 2018, when I felt like such an outsider, I wonder how I evolved to where I am now. I feel safe, I feel included, but in truth and with hindsight, it feels important to acknowledge and speak openly about the compromises I made in order to be accepted. As I reflect, I also know I am not always proud of who I had to become in the process. I could simplify my journey to finding a chosen family into a twee narrative about acceptance and representation, but I know in doing so I do not do justice to the people who, like me, are now coming into these spaces for the first time. ''Our experiences have formed psyches in which we are justifiably hesitant about what families are and what they could be.'' There are certain entry requirements to being accepted into the queer South Asian family. What I once thought were simply my own insecurities, are actually in part, grounded in reality. I speak to people entering the queer South Asian space and their worry resonates with me. The most illicit thing happening in the toilet cubicles at Hungama are in fact the panic attacks no one wants to admit. When I speak about my journey with others embedded in the community who are aware of the issues, they themselves have either decided to move away from queer South Asian spaces or to consciously play the game. It is clear that commonality in our experiences is linked to our fear of judgment. Our understanding of family has been constructed by our own toxic experiences as children of South Asian culture. We recognise the tropes of the gossiping aunts and uncles and have all seen Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham to know how families let you down. As queer people, we experience the fear of being disowned and abused, which for many of us has become a lived reality. Our experiences have formed psyches in which we are justifiably hesitant about what families are and what they could be. But unfortunately, a great number of us have not done the work needed to be able to redefine our perceptions of family. And so too often, this learnt toxicity infects the spaces where our chosen family gather. ''While living authentically in our queerness liberates us and can enable us to find celebration in our heritage and melanin, our understanding of family culture seeps into spaces where we should be at most in solidarity with one another.'' Growing up, family events were gatherings where social capital was flaunted and our flaws dissected and debated by others wanting to prove themselves superior. We find this as the status quo, and something that is regularly mocked in comedy sketches and on-screen portrayals of the South Asian experience. It is rarely understood with sincerity, because it is trivialised. The establishing of worth and hierarchy goes far deeper than just gossip about whose children are thirty and still unmarried. It’s key that we ask why such competitiveness is normalised and that we openly explore its insidious consequences. It’s fine to laugh as a way of processing that trauma, but we must also consider with sincerity how the capitalist mindset of who was deemed worthy has been embedded in our upbringing. Pair that with internalised racism wanting to be aligned with whiteness and rampant casteism, and you have a culture - specifically Indian culture - that seriously needs challenging. While living authentically in our queerness liberates us and can enable us to find celebration in our heritage and melanin, our understanding of family culture seeps into spaces where we should be at most in solidarity with one another. Instead of the car park of the wedding venue where barfi boxes and value judgments on others are exchanged, it is the smoking area of the club where fake how are you’s are spoken and we end up bitching behind people’s backs. ''In conflict with the freedom that our queerness provides, our need to be valued manifests in superficial ways.'' There are also prerequisites to being accepted. You must be able to offer something to someone in order to be welcomed. Regrettably, I remember mentioning my job and place of work each time I met someone - hoping it was enough to get the attention of the Instagram famous and those with clout in these spaces. It was enough for some, but seemed that once they had what they needed from me, they disappeared. I was guilty of measuring my success and worth through the metrics my parents used as migrants in the West. The dynamics of the relationships I was finding myself in were the same. I was speaking to the new generation of aunties who called our mums under the guise of inquiring after the children, only really wanting to know where she had got the good barfi she served last week. Brown people are very good at creating hierarchies. We have thrived off anti-Blackness by establishing a status between white and Black communities to lessen our own burden of racism. The modern Indian government’s Hindu nationalism and Islamaphobia is indicative of a culture obsessed with superiority. The roots are clear. Colonialism has indoctrinated us to see ourselves as inferior, and in our independence we have tried to climb the hierarchy rather than abolish it all together. In conflict with the freedom that our queerness provides, our need to be valued manifests in superficial ways. Just look at the social media feeds that platform Brown talent. They are all too often elitist, creating inner circles that enjoy exclusive party invites and boast brand endorsements, publishing them on their channels to signify who is deemed worthy in South Asian culture today. The most publicly prized contributors to our culture are curated and chosen by the hosts of these spaces. Platforms are allocated to influencers, while the rest are thereby placed as an audience of fans. ''I do not want my chosen family to be like my biological one. Perhaps, the chosen family is a concept we should stay away from applying to Brown communities. This structure means that each of our contributions as queer Brown individuals is all too easily ignored or disregarded simply because we do not offer a similar social status. I myself have been ignored by people because they do not see me as a worthwhile asset, but I too have ignored others because I have framed them as ‘basic’. I grew up hating the fake behaviour of my extended family and so while I shy away from being inauthentic with people, I struggle to give people the time of day unless I think they have depth. I find socialising to be anxiety inducing, and so have created a hierarchy in my head that directs who I want to make an effort with. It’s not behaviour I am proud of, but I understand how important it is to be conscious of it and to speak directly about it, because of how widespread the lack of solidarity is in our spaces. As much as gatherings like Hungama are safe spaces, the reality of them being welcoming can only be dictated by the energy we as a community infuse into them. For myself, I know that I want to be kinder and more open to others in order to help break this perpetual hierarchy. I also know that I do not want my chosen family to be like my biological one. Perhaps, the chosen family is a concept we should stay away from applying to Brown communities. Who am I to you? What do we truly mean to each other? I think that we should work on being friends before we become a family. About Nick Virk (they/them): Nick is a filmmaker, producer and writer interested in platforming the queer South Asian experience. Explore Nick's work: nickvirk.com Connect with Nick: @harnick_virk

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! We would like to thank every single person who took part in our community survey this year. We'll be using this feedback to inform our work throughout this year, making We Create Space bigger and better than ever! As an organisation, we are committed to continuous improvement, and it has been both heart-warming and insightful to hear your feedback. We have plenty planned for 2024, so make sure you stay up to date by subscribing to our newsletter. Check out our 2024 Community Action Plan. 2023/24 Survey Results: "Personal and collective wellbeing, having enough energy to advocate and protest." "How queer and trans people's existence will be used to influence the general election, and the hate that will come out of that and the impact on mental health that will have." "I think it's hard to see yourself represented regularly when you tick a lot of boxes (I'm queer, Black, non-binary and neurodivergent) but WCS does amazing work to represent different identities in all the events that I see." "I think WCS events are mindful of different identities and experience and try to make sure everybody feels comfortable." "Sometimes my viewpoints or my privilege are challenged, but that's a good thing. So I think it's natural to not feel 100% calm or relaxed when that's happening, it's worth it of course and in general the community is very compassionate and kind." "I actually do recommend you regularly to friends and colleagues!" "My workplace is not very supportive of queer people specifically or of our staff led group's general EDI work - so you are a useful resource and I try to use some of your content as examples." "Actual in person queer community and events that are actually joyful and interesting!" "(My) workplace is rather performative when it comes to DEI... You folx are serious about DEI, committed, smart and beautiful." 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!

What are we getting up to in 2024? Learn about our goals and how we plan to support the LGBTQ+ Community throughout this year. 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 2024... 1. Build Networks & Strengthen Relationships We hope to grow and strengthen the WCS global intra-community network - building connections and relationships through the hosting of more FREE networking events and experiences – bringing together both international community activists and corporate professionals in shared spaces, both virtual and in-person. - In-person events in London, UK, Barcelona and other cities. - Casual meet-ups and fun-focused meet-ups. - Q&As, debates and interactive learning sessions. - More workshops and skills development events. - Launch a WCS Community Digital Platform to connect people beyond events. 2. Improve LGBTQ+ Wellbeing & Mental Health Organise wellness-oriented classes, and activities to enhance the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of community members. As well as provide smaller group settings for people to get to know each other better. 3. Increase Diversity & Representation As we expand our team and grow our community networks, we want to make sure that WCS is a progressive, inclusive and attractive organisation to work for, collaborate with and be a part of. - Even more representation from speakers and community members across certain identity groups, age-ranges, languages, and continents. - Events inclusive of a wider / older audience demographic. - Identify more Queer Charity Partners and Social Enterprises for WCS to support and collaborate with. 4. Nurture Queer Leaders & Change-Agents We will continue to help LGBTQ+ people around the world access a sustainable path to Queer Leadership, career and professional development. - Build an archive of FREE reliable educational information for our community members. - Host more online webinars and panels (Queer Perspectives and Queer Leadership 101). - Organise leadership workshops to upskill and develop community members. 5. Develop Meaningful Commercial Partnerships We’ll be further enhancing 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. 6. Build Intra-Community Connection & Allyship: 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. - Be even more intentional and intersectional with our programming and Allyship content, covering topics that matter most to our community, and 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. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 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!

Discover how to foster a psychologically safe workplace for LGBTQ+ employees, prioritizing queer mental health in high-performance cultures. High-performance cultures are known for their relentless pursuit of goals, tight deadlines, and competitive environments. While these traits can drive innovation and productivity, they can also contribute to mental health issues among employees. From our recent Community Check-In, where we surveyed our global network of 30k LGBTQ+ professionals, Mental Health emerged for another year running as the number one concern expressed by queer people going into 2024. We’ve outlined three practices you can start today to make a difference in the mental health of your LGBTQ+ employees and maintain cultures of high performance. Tip #1: Create Spaces for Barriers to be Discovered. Whether it’s conducting an anonymous survey, hosting a roundtable discussion with a neutral party, a fireside chat with a senior leader, or workshops, discovering what obstacles your employees face is crucial so you can meet them where they are. For example, making virtual events centred on mental health anonymous to attend may invite more people to join without the risk of feeling shame or auditing your health benefits to check for LGBTQ+ inclusive policies/options and reducing the Trans Tax. Common barriers can include but are not limited to: Not having role models who prioritise mental well-being. Work cultures/policies not allowing for flexibility to schedule appointments either in person or remote during work hours. Benefits that are not inclusive of digital/remote healthcare. Fear of judgement or weaponization of mental health disclosure by managers. Long wait lists from a provider. Scarcity of therapists who have training in LGBTQ+ topics or are part of the LGBTQ+ community themselves. Moving states or countries and having to find new providers. As a clinician and therapist, I show up to my clients struggles more effectively when I show up to my own struggles with the same level of intention. As I become more aware of the barriers to my own wellness, it allows me to more intentionally listen to and appropriately empathize with the struggles of my clients while remaining cognizant of the differing contexts to our identities. That, therein, gives me the capacity to think critically about the care I offer them and what kind of skills, knowledge, structural changes, and/or intentional conversations may need to be had, made, learned, or employed to empower them toward their growth. As an organization, your job is to do the same. Those who have power to impact policy and practice within the organization should be utilizing their wellness services and prioritizing their own care to model and make the culture of the organization for those with less influence; and to make themselves aware of barriers that anyone seeking access to those resources might find. They should also make space to be present, listen, and be receptive to the voices of those members of the workplace community with less influence when they are brave enough to dialogue with them about those services and their perceived barriers." - Obella Obbo Tip #2: Be Humble and Intersectional Creating a supportive workplace culture that prioritises mental well-being involves several important elements. Firstly, it's crucial to acknowledge that we may not always have all the answers and that asking for help is perfectly okay, especially when developing programs to support others' mental well-being. Continual learning is also essential in high-performance cultures. Raising awareness of intersectional identities is essential to avoid a one-size-fits-all approach, recognizing that people have different lived experiences and may have experienced prior trauma. “For as much as ‘intersectionality’ has become a HR buzzword, very few people outside of these lived experiences curate a space where it is safe to be intersectional… As an openly trans and gay man, I’ve embraced the responsibility of representing and educating others through my company's only employee resource group. However, the decision to disclose other aspects of my identity, particularly my disabilities and neurodivergence, remains challenging and one I’m still hesitant to take… Creating a truly inclusive and safe work environment that embraces authenticity remains a significant challenge that can only be solved with our continued collective commitment.” - Yujx Smith “Mental Health America’s annual work health survey helps determine the current state of worker mental health and well-being in the U.S. and workers who do not feel that leadership values their identities perceive their organisation as either complicit or harmful in cultivating a psychologically safe workplace.” (Source) By prioritising mental well-being, we can foster a culture of allyship and increase our awareness of others' needs and intersecting identities and stories. To build rapport between employees, activities such as team-building exercises, support groups, and learning techniques like EFT tapping that can be done at your desk or home can be implemented. Social events can also create a sense of camaraderie, leading to a more supportive workplace culture. It's crucial to emphasise that seeking help for mental health concerns is a sign of strength, not weakness. Tip #3: Make High Performance Results the Outcome of Psychological Safety Leadership plays a key role in creating a psychologically safe environment, and providing leadership training and mentorship opportunities is crucial. These programs should focus on skills like vulnerability, active allyship, and compassion, alongside job-specific training. To truly foster an inclusive high-performance culture, upskilling employees must incorporate mental health support and well-being. And there is compelling data to prove the effectiveness of making these types of changes. "Research in recent years from Gartner, Gallup and Harvard Business Review found that the benefits of a high psychological safety at work include: 27% reduction in turnover 50% more productivity 74% less stress 26% greater skills preparedness since workers learn at a faster rate when they feel psychologically safe 67% higher probability that workers will apply a newly learned skill on the job.” (Source) It is clear that pushing for high performance while not prioritising the mental wellness of employees is likely to result in costly employee turnover and reduced productivity. By building robust support systems into the workplace, we can create high performance organically and in a sustainable manner. “In my experience of workplaces that were not psychologically safe, energy has been wasted on hiding, editing, pretending instead of using that energy to perform at your best in a role. In larger companies or organisations, the approach could be that ‘you should’ feel safe and secure to share, however this may not always be felt in specific areas/teams within a business or organisation. Different teams within the one business/organisation can have very different experiences because of their specific line manager. In my experience there have been few line managers able to listen comfortably and support if required, so in the past I have chosen colleagues, friends and family over most line managers.” - Erica Rose Final Thoughts: If leaders aren’t trained in how to have these types of conversations and/or if you’d prefer to have trauma-informed facilitators/consultants lead them, using an external partner like We Create Space to support all levels of employees and develop an action plan for you can kick start making positive long term impact. When organisations model behaviours like ones we have outlined to create psychologically safe workplaces within high performance cultures, we are able to place more value on our complexities as humans than our productivity as workers while still achieving our personal and professional goals. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 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!

Download our free cultural calendar resource to keep you right when planning DEI events across the year. Looking to fill out the dates in your DEI diary? Look no further that the We Create Space Cultural Calendar, which highlights key events throughout 2024 for the LGBTQIA+ Community, People of Colour, Disabled and Neurodivergent Communities and more! Click below to download it for free! Are you looking to supercharge your DEI strategy in 2024? We Create Space is here to help! To enquire about our consulting services, annual membership and event packages, email us at hello@wecreatespace. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 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 were delighted to sit down with nutrition specialist and queer health coach, Dr. Sunni Patel, to talk about his relationship with food, what drives him, and why he's so passionate about supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Who are you? Tell us a little about your journey. I’m Dr Sunni – a health coach with a PhD in risk factors for disease and a specialist interest in Gut Health. I started off in research and academia working around the world before I started a corporate journey in global and UK management. A series of life events made me reevaluate my purpose and passion before deciding to leave the comfort of a corporate role to create my own business. I retrained as a culinary medicine coach and also use my previous qualification as a personal trainer to educate, entertain and spread the power of food, nutrition and wellness. My life has been built up with a series of life-affirming and life-changing events. Growing up as one of the only Asian families in a extremely racist area of the West Midlands in the early 90’s meant my family and I became accustomed to daily tirades and abuse (verbal and physical). Going into my late teens I developed an eating disorder over a number of years that involved obsessive fasting and purging that dominated my life for quite a while. In my late 20’s, I was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease which knocked me for six. In between all this I focused on my ambition to do well professionally, and put aside my own needs of discovering my queer journey and managing my mental and physical wellbeing. The last few years have been difficult but also empowering, as I have had to navigate my issues around disordered eating and body dysmorphia as well as having serious issues and flare ups with my health (including being hospitalised twice during lockdown). On top of that, at the tender age of 35 I decided to come out to my family after spending 2 years of finding myself battling depression and suicidal thoughts. Fast forward to today, I use my lived experiences to coach people and organisations on holistic interventions to promote well-being, productivity and happiness. I use my rediscovered passion for food to develop recipes for clients and companies, and cater for retreats as well as do cooking demos and cook-a-longs. I want to show everyone that food science can be sexy, informative and life-changing. My business and platform also helps me to tap into my creativity to showcase food, fashion and lifestyle, and I bring that creativity to everything that I do. How has getting to know yourself better evolved your relationship with food? I have had a tumultuous journey with food, to say the least. I grew up as a passionate foodie that cooked from age 12 and I'm grateful my parents allowed me to explore cooking with food at home. But I have also had to go through a number of restrictive diets to help control my health condition, but also navigate the hangover of bulimia which has limited my experience with food. I have had to take each day at a time, and cope with the daily toil of whether it will be a good or bad day with food. This has allowed me to understand the dark side that food can sometimes bring – the physical and emotional triggers and how to navigate around that and bring a practical approach to it. Nonetheless, I have always been a host and enjoyed what food can bring to life. The power of community, the sense of nourishment and the beauty of creating memories and emotions. My life journey and milestones, from the dark times to the joyous moments of coming out, getting engaged or getting positive results and feedback from clients have also been celebrated with wonderous foods and meals. That's what I want to focus on with food – the sense on celebration it brings, and making food the centrepiece of life. What inspired you to start sharing nutritional plans and health tips? It may sound like a cliché but I became inspired because I couldn’t relate to content or the people delivering information out there. As a queer person of colour living with a chronic illness, there are aspects of health and wellness that I want to find relatable. Though my food and health tips may be similar to what many know, I try to deliver it through my voice and medium so that it not only provides an outlet for me, but also for others to look to and feel inspired and educated. The hope is that, over time, I can show how positive nutrition can be to people and companies. I constantly get inspired by the feedback which drives me to continue doing this on a daily basis, and being able to work with media outlets like the BBC to give regular health tips with a sense of humour and approachability helps me to keep going. Why do you think the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ people requires more focus and close attention? What challenges and trends are we seeing emerge within the community? I think it's firstly important to recognise that queer people face some of the same health issues and risks as everyone else, and it's so important to focus on long term health outcomes and reducing the risk and burden of disease overall. There is some literature suggesting that our community may be at an increased of obesity, heart disease and cancer, and that definitely requires the building of more inclusive educational spaces working with queer professionals. What is of critical importance when we consider the queer community is that access to health care, approachability of safe spaces within the health care space, and affordability of treatments and services are specific issues that need to be addressed. Marginalised communities have historically had less investment on interventions to navigate these issues, and so we not only need more money for these health programmes, but people to advocate and rally the change and improvement. In regards to challenges and trends, there is growing literature showing the disparities and issues our community face in regards substance abuse, physical abuse, bullying. It's a struggle to find support due to low quality care as a result of stigmatisation, poor awareness from health care providers, and insensitivity. And even with all that, the education and awareness around specialised niches like gut health, immune health, skin health are still under-served. How has your chronic illness and living with IBD affected your own career path? Any tips for individuals struggling to navigate corporate life? Initially, it was extremely difficult. I spent a lot of my corporate life hiding my illness as I felt it could be perceived as a weakness. I also didn’t want constant sympathy or accommodation to my condition. When I did decide to let my colleagues and teams know about my condition, it was met with mixed response. The stresses of climbing the corporate ladder and leading larger teams eventually caused more issues with my health. Some were empathetic to my issues, whilst some took advantage to undermine my abilities. Either way it made me the leader I wanted to be – authentic, open and approachable. But what I didn't realise at the time was that by coming to terms with my condition, it meant I was realising I wanted to be authentic to my self as well as others. That led me to make a change to my own career aspirations. For those struggling, I would say prioritise yourself and your health. It is important to be selfish before going on the path of becoming selfless – especially when health is concerned. Secondly, be open in the workplace so that the right allowances can be made for you. At the same time, use the opportunity to educate your workplace about your condition. Thirdly, you can still realise what you dream as long as you practically approach your goals and don’t see your condition as limiting but rather affirming. Don’t ever dare to believe or dream. It is so easy to have imposter syndrome or let yourself feel that you're on the back foot compared to more abled colleagues. That's not the case, and your own hard work and determination will pay off. As a queer leader of colour living with a disability, taking care of your mental health is vital. How do you create space for yourself? I have to admit that sometimes I am not great at this, but I recognise that as a human not everything has to be perfect. However, I am incredibly luck that some of my mind space techniques stem from my passion which has now become my business! I create space by cooking and developing recipes, by working out (an intense spin session is so liberating for me), but I also invest in my self reflection by having my own therapist and life coach, making time to socialise with those who add worth and meaning to my life – incredible friends, family and my wonderful fiancé. A hug, a meal, or a chat and laugh with any of those incredible human beings just resets me and gives me the space I need to detach from the pressures of my life. Want to learn more about Dr Sunni Patel? Find out more here or get in touch to learn more about his speaker sessions, live demos, workshops and coaching programs. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 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 asked four We Create Space team members to openly talk about their own experiences and struggles with self-image as members of the LGBTQ+ community. The body-positivity movement is a wonderful force for change, but queer people’s body image issues continue to be overlooked. With this in mind, we asked a few of our We Create Space team to talk about their own journeys towards self-acceptance and coming to terms with their queer bodies. We also discussed the LGBTQ+ community’s expectations of our own people, and how the intersections of identities can affect how we perceive ourselves. About our contributors: Ajay Pabial (he/him) Ajay is a London-based queer artist of South-Asian heritage on a mission to shine the light on other creatives from culturally diverse backgrounds and LGBT+ intersections. He runs his own social enterprise, Art Clubbers CIC, and he's a Civic Futures Fellow for the Mayor of London. He’s also on our Board of Directors at We Create Space. Freddie Lewis (he/him) Freddie Lewis is a songwriter and poet. He believes in the healing power of writing and communicates his love for life and living as a queer trans man through his songs. We’ve had the pleasure of speaking to him about his creative process and queer journey as part of our “My Story, My Way” workshop series. River Solace (they/them) River is a nonbinary songwriter and poet currently based in London. They use their music and artistic process to express not only their queer identity, but their own struggles with mental health and self image. They’re also the creative director of “The Soft Approach” zine. Yassine Senghor (she/her) Yassine identifies as a queer gender-nonconforming woman, and is the founder of Confronting Change, specialising in diversity and inclusion services. Yassine also works as the Inclusion and Equity manager for Impact Culture, and sits on the board for both Marlborough Productions in Brighton and the Streatham Space Project in London. She is also an avid culture writer and “occasional” model. Corporate Solutions: Did you know that we organise educational and informative webinars covering topics such as LGBTQ+ History 101, Body Image, Intersectionality, LGBTQ+ Women in the workplace, LGBTQ+ and HIV and Addiction in the Queer Community. Get in touch to find out more.

Tolu Osinubi, Julie Veluz, Hunter McCance and Marion Bentata explore how to facilitate intersectional conversations and strengthen collaboration in service of our most marginalised populations. In this challenging socio-political climate, with rising conflict surrounding ideologies and beliefs, it can feel overwhelming for multiply-marginalised employees (who are often called to fight and advocate on several fronts) to also face ‘competing’ agendas across their resource groups. To create effective structural, legal, and systemic change within our organisations, it is crucial to reimagine the role of our resource networks and prioritise partnerships and synergies that help scale connection and impact. Tune into this session to learn how to effectively build and leverage intersectional networks. Learn more about Tolu Osinubi's work. Learn more about Hunter McCance's work. If you would like to discuss booking one of these speakers for your own session, 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 2023. 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 review highlighting just some of what we have all accomplished as a collective in 2023. "The We Create Space team understand that every team has different needs, and manages to work with us to adapt while still bringing clear expertise and empathy to the topics. Every event hosted with WCS has generated great conversations and pushed us to think harder about the way we as individuals support one another." - Laura Larcombe, Performance Coaching and Development Manager at American Express. 1. We organised more FREE in-person panels, workshops and events for the Queer Community.. This year we've expanded our in-person programming, bringing We Create Space to venues in London, Barcelona, Manchester and Berlin for a total of 21 in-person community events with 2500+ registrations. From insightful panel discussions on queer careers, art and activism to performance nights and speed networking, we've created meaningful opportunities for the international Queer Community to learn, be inspired and forge new connections. As always, we have continued to create spaces where corporate leaders can come together with community activists, promoting mutual knowledge exchange and collaboration. 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. “This session has made me think we need to constantly check in on our progress on this topic. We should have it at the forefront of our team culture." - Participant feedback from our 'Mindful communication and inclusive language' session with Garnier. 2. We hosted ten FREE Online Learning and Leadership Development Opportunities for our Global Community. Our online programming of Webinars and Panel Discussions have continued to be an important space for bringing together our global LGBTQIA+ Community and our clients. Queer Leaders and Allies from across the globe tuned in for our FREE online Webinars and Panel Discussions this year. We launched two new webinar series, DEI 101 and Queer Allyship 101, as well as expanding upon our existing Queer Leadership 101 and Queer Perspectives series! We explored a range of impactful topics: Navigating Data & Intersectionality. Psychological Safety. Intersectional Networks. Leadership Beyond the Binary. Bodily Autonomy. Intergenerational Wisdom. Financial Wellbeing. LGBTQ+ Anti-Racism. Turning DEI Talk into Action. Strategic Budgeting as an ERG Leader. You can find recordings of each of these sessions and more on our Youtube. “Really wonderful session. I think I had a very limited definition of what bodily autonomy meant before this webinar, and the conversation really helped me reframe my understanding of bodily autonomy and how autonomy can be impacted even in non-sexual or non-physical interactions.” - Participant feedback from 'Queer Perspectives: Bodily Autonomy'. 3. We developed our internal team and global speaker collective. 2023 has been a rollercoaster year for our team, as we have adapted to the evolving needs of the business and built out internal processes so we can work more efficiently, providing better support to each other and our wider collective. This year we have onboarded over 50 new speakers, further diversifying the range of experiences and identities represented under the We Create Space Global Collective and allowing us to bring even more fresh and nuanced perspectives into our work with clients. "Really loved the information sharing and positivity of the presenters. As someone who is very new to the ERG world, it was a great way to become more familiar with all the potential of these groups." - Participant feedback from 'Strategic Budgeting as an ERG Leader'. 4. We supported the Queer Leadership journeys of our community members with FREE educational content. This year we created 66 new articles, providing education on everything from active allyship and sustainable ERG budgeting to holistic perspectives on self-care, queer identity and intersectionality. We've worked with an amazing selection of talent from within our collective as well as working passionately in house to deliver insightful articles that speak to our community's actual needs. We launched the Queer Allyship Lexicon, a glossary of over 365 terms relating to queerness, activism, DEI, wellbeing and identity. This educational resource is completely free to use and combines insights from across the We Create Space team to ensure a balanced and intersectional perspective. We also launched our Pride & Beyond podcast, bringing you thirteen episodes of insightful conversation between members of the WCS Collective on impactful topics like Intergenerational Wisdom, LGBTQ+ Anti-Racism, Bodily Autonomy and Psychological Safety. You can listen to the Pride & Beyond podcast on all major streaming services or on our website. Here is some of our most popular content from 2023: Queer Role Models Making History: Past and Present. 7 Powerful Steps to Becoming an Active Ally. Pride Month: What it is and isn't. Queer 365: How to progress LGBTQ+ Initiatives Beyond Pride. What's in a name? An exploration of Transparenting by Jack Lopez. Inclusive Leadership: The Key to Organisational Success by Geff Parsons. How to interrupt microaggressions in the workplace. The Cost of Being Trans. Click here to explore our full content library. "We didn't want to half commit to Pride, we really wanted to meaningfully establish ourselves in this space and through the work with We Create Space that gave us a lot more confidence to do that." - Maddy Lewis, Senior Advocacy Brand Manager at Garnier. 5. We expanded our global corporate partner networks and consultancy services. At WCS we are passionate about provoking change in the corporate world so LGBTQ+ people can bring them full selves to work, enjoying fulfilling careers unencumbered by prejudice or discrimination. We do this by providing a range of services including: DEI Training, Workshops and Webinars Live Conversations, Panels and Discussions Leadership Programmes Allyship Programmes Consultancy Bespoke Resources and Content All delivered through our bespoke Event Packages and Annual Memberships. This year we've had the pleasure of delivering a range of exciting projects for our clients, such as consulting on Garnier's UK Pride Campaign, developing culturally competent pronoun resource guides in a range of languages and aiding JTI in expanding their PRIDE employee resource group internationally. We are also happy to report that we have a 93% overall satisfaction rating from our clients! You can find some case-studies and the clients we work with here. We Create Space has been an invaluable resource to Omnicom Group and our OPEN Pride ERG. The organization has provided thoughtful and powerful insight to programming across our global network. We have utilized this partnership to add exciting voices to our panels, enlighten audiences with important conversations, and help shape the way we build our relationship with the LGBTQ+ community and its allies at Omnicom. - David Azulay, EVP, Client Lead and Omnicom OPEN Pride LGBTQ+ ERG Global Co-Chair. 6. We invested back into the community through creating 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 £430,000 back into our fabulous community in 2023! We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has worked with us this year, whether you're a client, team member or part of our wider community. We couldn't do what we do without your continued support and passion! 2023 has been a transformative year for We Create Space and we are so excited to continue this journey with you all into 2024. Have a restful festive period, and we will see you again in 2024! While you're here... Did you know we consult with 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!

The We Create Space Team share their top tips and strategies for managing their mental health during the tumult of the holiday season. The holiday season is supposed to be a joyous time of year, but for some of us it can also be a difficult and stressful period, especially in the Queer Community. Whether it's the density of social commitments, complicated relationships with our family or discomfort with food, alcohol and other excesses, there are plenty of reasons why the holiday season can put a strain on our mental health. We spoke to members of the We Create Space team and Global Speaker Collective to hear how they manage this tricky time of year and have compiled their advice into some helpful tips! 1. Be attentive to your feelings and create space to reflect. While it can be tempting to simply suppress negative emotions, this will be a disservice to yourself in the long run. Understanding why you're having an emotional reaction to something and being compassionate with yourself about it will go a long way to making the situation more tolerable. "Pay close attention to your mind, body and emotions. Create space to understand your thoughts, actions and behaviours. Intentional moments of self-reflection can help us all approach the holidays with a little more self-compassion and kindness." - Michael Stephens Recognise that you are human and have your limits - there is nothing wrong with withdrawing when you need to! "It can be overwhelming or tiring to have to engage constantly, especially in environments or conversations that can be triggering. Recognise when it becomes too much, and it's okay to remove yourself from a specific situation or conversation." - Gurchaten Sandhu 2. Embrace kindness. Consider your internal monologue: how are you talking to yourself during this time? Let go of self-criticism and try to speak to yourself as though you are your best friend. Embracing positive self-talk will have a big influence on your mindset. "We put so much energy into the year, it makes sense that by the end we can be tired or less enthused. My top tip is kindness. Being gentle with myself, talking nicely to myself. And sometimes just a little mantra like 'you deserve rest'." - Char Bailey 3. Carve out time for yourself and honour your needs. The holidays disrupt our normal routine and while this can provide much needed time to unwind and rest, it can also throw us off and stop us from engaging in constructive behaviours and grounding habits we use throughout the rest of the year. "I journal every night, particularly during the holidays as a way to carve out time to process any sense of overwhelm. As an introvert, I make sure to have quiet moments on my own to recharge, away from family and festivities." - David Kam Try and make time to do something by yourself every day that brings you joy or grounds you, whether it's journaling, meditation, listening to music or moving your body: "The festive break doesn’t always give us the rest we need after a busy year. It’s important to respect & honour our own needs, boundaries & enjoyment during the season of giving & sharing. So I try to create moments where I can do that. Even on Christmas morning, I’ll take myself out for a run before everyone wakes up. That way, I get a bit of personal headspace - & physical space - and I’m charged up ready to enjoy the day with loved ones!" - Neil Hudson-Basing 4. Embrace your chosen family. As queer people, our chosen family may be just as important to us as our biological family. If you have a difficult relationship with your biological family or feel like you can't be your true self in front of them, remember to lean on the queer connections that keep you centred. "My very existence goes against the typical binary narrative and therefore I'm not looking to fit in with society's 'normal'. I am surrounded by chosen family and that's what makes me happy. Knowing that I am surrounded by acceptance and love really helps to drown out anything that would otherwise disrupt or de-rail my mental health." - Eva Echo If you can't be with them in person, organising regular time to call and debrief can be a great way to get the support you need in a challenging home environment. 5. Choose your battles. Spending time with family or old friends who don't fully understand or embrace your identity can bring up a host of difficult emotions. How you decide to manage moments of conflict is up to you and should be based on what will best serve you. You have every right to confront microaggressions and prejudice, but it is also okay to simply remove yourself from the situation if you are not in the place to deal with it. "Finding the balance between standing up for myself and knowing when I need to let things go for my own mental health has been crucial for me. For example, I don't have the energy to correct people every time they misgender me, but if someone says something that truly upsets me, I know I need to pull them aside and attempt to remedy that situation rather than stew in it." - Jua O'Kane 6. Affirm and remind yourself of who you are. As queer people, being in our hometown or surrounded by extended family can make us feel like the odd one out. Ground yourself and be confident in who you are, perhaps recalling your favourite moments of queer joy. "Remind yourself that you are comfortable in your own body, that other people's opinions or negativity take nothing away from you. Your strength is not threatened by other people's dominance or assertion of validity. It can be tough but affirming your own sense of self works for a reason." - Ben Pechey While you're here... Did you know we consult with 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!

Our in-person event in Barcelona on the 24th May was a night full of stimulating conversation, music, connection and queer joy! Our panel of speakers lead a discussion on "Queering Your Culture", exploring how reclaiming traditions can lead to healing and community building. Our Speakers: Jolinda Johnson (she/they) - Host Yeison Forero (he/him) Kali Sudhra (they/she) Shimar Guyo (she/her) Special thanks to The Hoxton Hotel for their support and allowing us to use their space in Barcelona for this event. Photos by Emiliano Del Piccolo. 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 closed out Pride Month in London with an evening of queer performances, conversation and community in collaboration with Locke Hotels and Effevescent Sounds. Video by Kiran SKG Our Pride month closing party in London was a night of beautiful performances by queer singer-songwriters, highlighting the importance of spaces for genuine queer expression and creativity. Our identities don’t disappear when the rainbow flag comes down, and neither do the needs of our community. As an organisation WE CREATE SPACE are committed to championing the importance of queer spaces and queer voices 365 days a year - it’s the essence of who we are! Our Performers: Akin Soul (he/they) Leo Lore (he/him) Queen Kaltoum (she/they) Bestley (they/she/he) We'd like to extend a special thanks to our partner for this event Effervescent Sounds, to Locke Hotels for providing the space and Luv Jus for providing drinks! While you're here... Did you know we consult with 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 celebrated Pride Month in Barcelona with an evening of queer performances, conversation and community. Video by Raymon Rivera We closed out Pride Month in Barcelona with a powerful panel discussion and performance showcase! Our speakers discussed the topic of being "Unapologetically Visible" as queer people, a salient topic as we transition through and out of Pride Season. Our identities don’t disappear when the rainbow flag comes down, and neither do the needs of our community. As an organisation WE CREATE SPACE are committed to championing the importance of queer spaces and queer voices 365 days a year - it’s the essence of who we are! Our Speakers: Barry Brandon (any pronouns) - Host Lupe Guerra Garcia (she/her) Jayce (they/he/she) Diwata (she/her) We'd like to extend a special thanks to The Social Hub for their support and allowing us to use their space in Barcelona for this event. Photos by Emiliano Del Piccolo While you're here... Did you know we consult with 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!

A wonderful evening of queer conversation and community in Barcelona. Video by Raymon Rivera Our in-person event in Barcelona on the 24th August was a night full of conversation, connection, dancing and queer joy! Our panel of speakers lead a discussion on "Queering Your Career", exploring how we can navigate new paths forward in both our personal and our professional lives. Our Speakers: Sanjukta Moorthy (she/her) - Host Kevin Hawkins (he/him) Jen Keawphaisan (she/her) Gonzalo Parra (he/him) Special thanks to The Hoxton Hotel for their support and allowing us to use their space in Barcelona for this event. Photos by Emiliano Del Piccolo. Did you know... We 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! While you're here... Did you know we consult with 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.

Art, Activism and Queer Conversation in Barcelona. Our in-person event in Barcelona on the 21st September was a night full of connection, intimate conversation and learning! Our panel of speakers lead a discussion on "Art, Creativity and Activism", exploring the power of Queer artistic expression to connect our communities, world build and facilitate activism. Our Speakers: Jess Brough (they/them) - Host Sevi Koppe (she/her) Ashtar Alahmad (she/her) Jossy Jaycoff (she/they) Special thanks to The Cover Club for their support and allowing us to use their space in Barcelona for this event. Photos by Emiliano Del Piccolo. Did you know... We 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! While you're here... Did you know we consult with 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 discuss LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace and the impacts of intersectionality on career advancement. A live panel on "Queering Your Career", exploring how we can navigate new paths forward as LGBTQ+ people in both our personal and our professional lives. Our Speakers: Sanjukta Moorthy (she/her) Kevin Hawkins (he/him) Jen Keawphaisan (she/her) Gonzalo Parra (he/him) In this session we discuss... - Building and fostering community as Queer people. - Intersectionality in professional environments. - Navigating migration and changing career. - Barriers to LGBTQ+ inclusion in workplaces. - Challenging organisational leaders to address issues facing the LGBTQ+ community. - Developing leadership skills. Special thanks to The Hoxton Hotel for their support and allowing us to use their space in Barcelona for this event. While you're here... Did you know we consult with 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!