A space for Black and Brown lesbian and queer women to come together and share their experiences navigating healthcare and serious illness.
In healthcare settings, the voices of Black and Brown lesbian and queer women are often overlooked. Racism, sexism, and homophobia within the medical system can overlap, creating a culture where their experiences are dismissed.
Our Bodies, Our Stories, exists to challenge this. As the next event in our Community Conversations series, we want to create a space in which Black and Brown lesbian and queer women feel safe and heard. Safe to share their experience of illness, of their bodies, of stigma, and to be in a room with other people who truly understand.
What will it involve?
The event will be split into two parts.
A panel discussion
This will explore what it means to seek care, to be believed, and to survive serious illness as a Black or Brown lesbian and queer woman in the UK today. We will think about whose pain gets taken seriously, and how bias shapes patient experiences in the system.
A talking circle
This is the most important part of the event. Participants will be encouraged to sit in a circle, and share their own experiences freely, and without judgment. A facilitator from the community will provide prompts, but participants will lead the discussion.