Loving in a Polarised World - Building a trans and non-binary inclusive community
A Loving Men+ evening of information-sharing, insight and inspiration about trans and non-binary experiences within the LM+ community. Everyone from the wider LM+ community is welcome.
Loving Men+ is a community that welcomes and includes trans men and non-binary people. Trans men and non-binary people have been part of LM+ since the beginning. This evening is not a space to talk about whether or not trans men and non-binary people are welcome in Loving Men+. They already are. It is an invitation to help cis community members to inform themselves, increase their understanding and know more about what trans men and non-binary people need to feel welcome and safe within our diverse community.
Have you got questions about trans and non-binary experiences? Do you ever feel challenged by these issues, and not feel fully informed and on board? Are you sometimes confused by the polarisation and controversies around trans issues going on in the world?
Or are you a trans man or non-binary person and want to be part of the process in this LM+ facilitated, reflective space?
Come and join us for a pot-luck dinner and to help build a more inclusive community!
We recognise that trans people have been under attack in the UK and the wider world through a campaign of misinformation, scapegoating and bullying. As a diverse collective, we stand in solidarity with the trans and non-binary members of our community.
This event is part of a series of initiatives to help make Loving Men+ a truly safe space for our trans and non-binary community members. Come along and help us make that happen!
This event is supported by the Loving Men+ Community Fund.
Schedule
6:00 - 6:45pm Pot-luck dinner- please bring something to share.
7:00 - 9:45pm Facilitated workshop - Loving in a Polarised World - Building a trans and non-binary inclusive community
Ground Rules
We'd like the space to be one where people feel safe enough to express what they want to in relation to the subject and for cisgender (non-trans) LM+ members to learn more about the lived realities of trans and non-binary members, in an effort to diversify perspectives, and build understanding and community.
We are very aware that safety is both an individual and collective experience.
With that in mind, we have developed the following ground rules in the spirit of supporting a deeper conversation
- We’d love the discussion to be as honest and caring as possible.
- Come with the intention to have a respectful learning experience.
- Show respect to everyone in the room in the way you speak and express yourself.
- Share your feelings using I statements (ie I feel angry…) rather than You statements (ie You are stupid).
- Use active listening. Try to put yourself in the shoes of the person speaking.
- Take time to breathe, regulate and de-escalate if feelings run high in the group.
- There will be facilitation throughout and also ask for help from the facilitators and other group members if you are struggling.
- No verbal attacks.
For any queries please email info@lovingmen.org .
Loving Men+ welcomes cis & trans gay, bi & queer men and non-binary people, from all walks of life who want to develop their capacity to love. We particularly encourage participation from black and ethnic minority, HIV positive and negative, young and older, trans and disabled men and non-binary people. In 2023 we added the + to our logo in recognition that non-binary people have also always been a valued part of Loving Men+ since we began in 2003.