Join us for Diaspora Pride — a collective celebration of Black and Global Majority queer and trans brilliance, resilience, and joy. This day is dedicated to honouring our queer ancestors whose truths carved paths of freedom, and to uplifting the living legacies carried by their descendants today.
Queerness and transness are not modern imports to the Global South, they have deep, rich roots across continents that predate colonial rule. In many pre-colonial societies, gender and sexuality were understood in fluid and diverse ways until colonialism violently disrupted these knowledge systems, imposing rigid binaries and homophobic laws rooted in Victorian morality. Today, we celebrate LGBTQ+ individuals across the diaspora and honour the ancestors who lived fully in their truth—proof that queerness and transness have always been part of our story.
Through community, storytelling, and collective healing, we will gather to centre mental health, reclaim rest, and create space for our radical existence. Whether through art, ritual, or shared movement, Diaspora Pride invites us to be held, to be seen, and to be whole.
Come as you are. Leave recharged, reconnected, and reminded: we are never alone even when we’re far from home.
Workshop Programme
12:00-12:45 - Intuition Circle with Kim
Intuition is our ancestral birthright and a tool to cope with apocalyptic times. Through intuitive practice we can access more of who we are and receive answers to the questions that are on our heart. Join our circle for a gentle group practice that is accessible to all (including those who struggle with their intuition or who feel that they're not intuitive). You may want to bring a notebook or something to write on.
13:00-14:00 - Moving Towards Liberation with Sia
Calm your mind and move with the wisdom of your body. Stretch, shake, and soften into a playful, communal space, led by dance artist and movement psychotherapist Sia Gbamoi. Expect a focus on breath & sound, embodied authentic expression, and lighthearted exchanges in community. Comfortable clothing and footwear that allows you to move safely and freely is encouraged. All bodies, energy levels, and levels of movement experience are welcome!
14:30-15:30 - Reading for the Revolution! Black Feminist Books for Queer Resistance with Mercedes
Words have power and Black feminist authors have taught us how to get free through radical storytelling. Explore a selection of books that inspire, challenge and invite us to reclaim our Blackness and queerness in a world that is increasingly oppressive.
16:00-17:30 - Painting Feelings with José and Kim
Creatively processing feelings supports our wellbeing and invites us to express ourselves without having to use words. This workshop includes short guided exercises that will help us to liberate our creativity and nurture our mental health as we share space in a supportive and non-judgemental community. We actively welcome those who have never painted before or don't define themselves as ‘artists’.
18:00-19:00 - Blackness, Queerness and Mental Health panel
This panel brings together voices from across the spectrum of lived experience to unpack how systems of oppression impact our well-being—and how we resist, heal, and imagine new futures. Together, we'll center community care, cultural wisdom, and radical visibility in the fight for mental health justice.
Throughout the day you will also find:
- Community love notes sharing messages of care, resistance and solidarity
- Our ancestor wall remembering queer and trans ancestors from the Diaspora
- Stalls by groups/local organisations
- African and Caribbean food vendors
Diaspora Pride centres Black and Global Majority LGBTQ+ voices and lived experiences while also welcoming all backgrounds and identities including sexual orientation, gender, race, ethnicity, culture and faith, immigration status, age, sizes, and mental and physical abilities.
Accessibility
Our venue is on the ground floor and is wheelchair accessible and a quiet room will be available throughout the event. Masks and hand sanitiser will be available at the main entrance, but please note the event will be taking place inside. We encourage everyone to do a Covid test before attending and please do not attend if you have any Covid symptoms.
Practicalities
How to find us
We are located inside Pop Brixton, which is 4 minutes walk from Brixton tube station and 1 minute walk from Brixton mainline station. Once you arrive at the main entrance, you will need to walk down to the back of Pop Brixton. We are in a building called The Factory and look out for the Pride flags in case you can’t see us :)
Volunteers
Our event is free for everyone to attend and does not receive any corporate sponsorship or funding. To support the day to run as smoothly as possible we are looking for volunteers to be part of our team and if you would like to help out, please email info@blackpsychotherapy.org and we can provide more information. If you’re not able to help out, please consider donating as part of your ticket purchase.
About Us
Black Psychotherapy is a mental health service serving exclusively Black and racially minoritised communities. The team provides decolonial, intersectional and anti-oppressive therapy alongside education, training and consultancy on liberation and justice-based approaches to mental health and wellbeing. With a low-cost community clinic at Pop Brixton and sessions available virtually nationwide, Black Psychotherapy promotes an inclusive and culturally attuned approach to mental health that tackles stigma and directly addresses the impact of racial trauma on mental health and wellbeing.
You can find out more about their work on their website and social media.