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UNLOCK is an immersive two-day summit designed to equip current and future LGBTQ+ Leaders with new tools, knowledge, and support networks to thrive in business. It’s an invitation for change-makers to unite for a transformative journey, addressing the unique intergenerational and inter-cultural challenges faced by the global queer community. @unlockworld.co unlockworld.co THE QUEER LEADERSHIP NETWORK Powered by UNLOCKWORLD.CO Unlock a World of New Opportunities. A community-led learning platform and network supporting Queer Leaders in business, and in life. We create spaces for individuals to learn, grow and connect - unlocking their innate potential. Get in touch Register your interest WHY Our Story. "We’ve all overcome many personal and professional challenges on our journeys as Queer Leaders. Thankfully this led us to discover powerful solutions - including the innate strength of community , the importance of wellbeing , and the unique ability that comes from being queer in business . That’s why we created UNLOCK. We believe the journey towards Queer Leadership isn’t just about individual success, but fundamentally about thriving together and inspiring others ." Our Co-Founders. Sevi Koppe (she/her) Michael Stephens (he/they) Alex Dominguez (he/him) @unlockworld.co unlockworld.co WORKSHOPS RETREATS NETWORKING RESOURCES AND MORE COMING UP... The Queer Leadership Summit 2025 The UNLOCK Queer Leadership Summit is a three-day immersive experience designed to empower emerging queer leaders to co-create inclusive futures. Through hands-on workshops, ideation challenges, mentorship, networking and real-world leadership experiences, participants explore wellbeing, communication, teamwork, innovation and community. Find out more WHEN Our Events. Masterclass | Consciousness, Breath & Leadership Thu 11 Sept Online More info Register Now Finding Balance | 4-Day LGBTQ+ Retreat in Barcelona Fri 19 Sept Barcelona, Spain More info Register Now Queer Author Journeys | Dr Paul Taylor-Pitt Thu 23 Oct Online More info Register Now WHO Our Network. UNLOCK serves these key business community member profiles: LGBTQ+ Future Leaders LGBTQ+ Professionals LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs LGBTQ+ Leadership Experts HOW Our Approach. We don't claim to have all the answers, but we certainly have strategies to move us forward. We understand the power of shared stories, education, and collective wisdom to inspired change. We provide collaborative spaces to receive tools, guidance and expert support - helping leaders ideate, influence, and lead with more impact. Interactive sessions with subject matter experts Peer-to-peer coaching and mentorship Collaborative cross-cultural environments Strategic networking opportunities Evidence-based wellbeing tools and practices Insights into leveraging innovation for growth Our Library. UNLOCK: The Queer Leadership Podcast | Episode Ten UNLOCK: The Queer Leadership Podcast | Episode Nine UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Roxy Murray View more Queer Leadership resources here . @unlockworld.co unlockworld.co BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE UNLOCK THE OPPORTUNITY YOU SEEK POWERED BY We Create Space is a queer-led organisation driving social change by educating society on the topics of LGBTQ+ Inclusion, Leadership and Wellbeing since 2020 - providing tools, resources and knowledge to a international community through a global network of change-agents. 180+ corporate partners 30k+ community members 300+ speakers and experts Join Us We believe every Queer Leader has something extraordinary to offer the world - and through our community leadership network and learning experiences we're here to help you unlock that innate potential . UNLOCKWORLD.CO HELLO@UNLOCKWORLD.CO @UNLOCKWORLD.CO

We Create Space is a global Queer-led platform, consultancy and collective on a mission to improve the lives of under-represented groups of professionals around the world by connecting our communities and allies with tools, knowledge and a support network for personal growth, leadership development, allyship and self-care. Learn. Connect. Grow. WE CREATE SPACE We're a community-led learning platform, network, and consultancy focused on culture change, community building and social innovation. Welcome to CSR Our Events Our Services Our Resources Our Collective Our Platform Our solutions - 1 - Our Resources. Recent Articles Get in touch WCS | Recognising 5 Years of Creating Space. Learn how We Create Space is improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people across the globe. INCLUSION 2 min read Pride Gala | WCS LGBTQ+ Awards 21.06.25 Take a peek into our fabulous Pride Gala at The Social Hub in Barcelona. EVENTS 2 min read WCS LGBTQ+ Awards 2025 | Introducing the Awardees. Recognising 100+ Queer Leaders serving their communities. LEADERSHIP 3 min read Fostering trans community care amidst anti-trans legislation. Allyship, care, resources and strategies for the trans community as we navigate political uncertainty. WELLBEING 3 min read WCS x VistaPrint: LGBTQIA+ Community Sponsorship. How we worked with Vistaprint to celebrate Queer Leaders making a difference. CASE STUDIES 4 min read Community Building 101: Our Top 30 Considerations. Our guide to build, grow, and engage communities through the principles of inclusion, wellbeing and leadership. LEADERSHIP 8 min read DEI Insights & Trends in 2025. A qualitative research study providing actionable insights and strategies for DEI practitioners in 2025. REPORTS 5 min read The World Needs More LGBTQ+ Leaders. Why we need to educate, inspire and empower more professionals to become LGBTQ+ Leaders. REPORTS 4 min read The Business Case for DEI in 2024. The continued importance of building diversity, equity and inclusion principles into the foundations of any company’s business strategy -... REPORTS 13 min read WCS | Recognising 4 Years of Creating Space. Learn how We Create Space is improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people across the globe. LEADERSHIP 2 min read - 2 - Our Services. Discover our range of bespoke corporate solutions, bringing powerful community-building solutions to the heart of your business. Corporate Solutions Get in touch Allyship Programmes Leadership Programmes Resources & Content Talks & Panel Discussions Event Packages Annual Membership Consultancy & Guidance Workshops & Webinars - 3 - Our Community. Follow us on social to receive all our latest free content. - 4 - Our Events . Sign-up to our newsletter to receive all the latest information and updates, including invites to our free events as they get announced. A Space for Dialogue | Online Wed 10 Sept Online More info Register now Masterclass | Consciousness, Breath & Leadership Thu 11 Sept Online More info Register now Queer Leadership 101 | Online Mon 15 Sept Online More info Register now Finding Balance | 4-Day LGBTQ+ Retreat in Barcelona Fri 19 Sept Barcelona, Spain More info Register now Community Catchup & Stroll | LDN Sun 28 Sept Yurt Cafe More info Register now Queer Speed Networking | Online Wed 08 Oct Online More info Register now Load More Upcoming Events Get in touch WCS x The Festival of Consciousness 2025 Bringing Queer perspectives to an international audience. EVENTS 2 min read Pride Gala | WCS LGBTQ+ Awards 21.06.25 Take a peek into our fabulous Pride Gala at The Social Hub in Barcelona. EVENTS 2 min read Pink Carpet at WCS LGBTQ+ Awards 21.06.25 Check out these photos of our glamourous pink carpet guests at the 2025 WCS LGBTQ+ Awards at The Social Hub in Barcelona. This year's ... EVENTS 2 min read Awardees Dinner | WCS LGBTQ+ Awards 20.06.25 An intimate evening of connection at Soho House for our 2025 awardees. EVENTS 2 min read 'Reclaiming Joy' Queer Retreat 18.04.25 A four day retreat nurturing joy, strength and health. EVENTS 3 min read Half-Day Queer Retreat 08.03.25 A day of rest, release and reconnection in Barcelona. EVENTS 2 min read WCS España Launch Event at The Social Hub 26.03.25 Launching our non-profit organisation in Spain. EVENTS 2 min read WCS x Barcelona Expat Life Building connections at the Barcelona Expat Life Job Fair. EVENTS 2 min read WCS x The Festival of Consciousness 2024 Bringing Queer perspectives to an international audience. EVENTS 2 min read Pink Carpet at WCS LGBTQ+ Awards 22.06.24 Check out these photos of our glamourous pink carpet guests at the inaugural WCS LGBTQ+ Awards at The Social Hub in Barcelona. This year... EVENTS 1 min read - 5 - Our Collective . Our Global Speaker Collective is comprised of inclusion specialists, therapists, certified coaches, consultants, mental health professionals, activists, senior execs, legal experts, and corporate change-makers. Meet our speakers Get in touch - 6 - Our Campus . WCS | Campus is our new digital space where you can connect with other like-minded people from our community - engaging in meaningful discussions, workshops, events and online courses - at a global and local level. Join the Campus Get in touch

UNLOCK is an immersive two-day summit designed to equip current and future LGBTQ+ Leaders with new tools, knowledge, and support networks to thrive in business. It’s an invitation for change-makers to unite for a transformative journey, addressing the unique intergenerational and inter-cultural challenges faced by the global queer community. THE QUEER LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2025 Powered by UNLOCK | SUMMIT | 2025 Empowering Future Queer Leaders in Business. A three-day immersive experience designed to empower emerging queer leaders to co-create inclusive futures. Through hands-on workshops, ideation challenges, mentorship, networking and real-world leadership experiences, participants explore wellbeing, communication, teamwork, innovation and community. Get in touch Register your interest Want to take part? 1. REGISTER YOUR INTEREST 2. JOIN AS A PARTICIPANT 3. VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME & SKILLS 4. MENTOR, FACILITATE OR COACH AT THE SUMMIT More info & FAQs UNLOCK | QUEER LEADERSHIP SUMMIT | 2025 24-26 October | Barcelona | The Social Hub Sign up to our newsletter to find out when we release tickets. WHAT Empowering Queer Leaders for New Futures. This immersive three-day is designed to equip queer-identifying students, emerging queer leaders and LGBTQIA+ young professionals with tools, resources, knowledge, and support networks for business. It’s an invitation for participants to unite for a transformative journey and an opportunity to connect with a vibrant global network, collaborate on real-world challenges, gain visibility with inclusive employers, and develop the skills, confidence and connections to lead with impact in any field. WHY The World Needs More Queer Leaders. Despite many businesses valuing diverse talent and leadership, LGBTQ+ workers remain underrepresented and underserved . The global average of adults identifying as LGBTQ+ is approximately 9% (with up to 30% of Gen Z), LGBTQ+ individuals are still disproportionately underrepresented in the workplace , especially in leadership roles. (Ipsos) HOW An Embodied Methodology for Effective Solutions. This interactive and immersive experience develops leadership skills through workshops, ideation challenges, keynotes and masterclasses, mentoring, wellbeing sessions and professional networking. Our approach centres on embodying knowledge through experiential learning - doing, listening, debating, and testing ideas - so participants can immediately apply what they learn with a focus on shared experiences and creative engagement. HOW Unlocking Possibilities through Collaboration. Our Innovation Hub will provide a collaborative space to receive tools, guidance, and expert support - helping participants ideate, debate, and present innovative solutions for more inclusive organisations, collectives, and businesses. ✓ Workshops with subject matter experts ✓ Inclusive coaching & mentorship ✓ Scenario-based, hands-on learning ✓ Collaborative cross-cultural environments ✓ Strategic networking ✓ Evidence-based tools and practices ✓ Career & internship opportunities ✓ Wellbeing activities for balance & creativity UNLOCK | SUMMIT | 2025 The 5 Keys to Unlock A Leader's Potential. The 5 Keys represent areas of development that are essential for nurturing well-rounded, holistic leaders. Each key symbolizes a different aspect of leadership growth that, when fully developed, equips queer leaders to excel both personally and professionally - unlocking their potential. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Wellbeing Communication Team Work Innovation Community JOIN US Benefits for Participants. ✅ Accelerate Professional Development ✅ Develop New Leadership Skills ✅ Solve Real-World Challenges ✅ Explore Design Thinking, AI & Social Business ✅ Direct Access to Career Opportunities ✅ Connect With Inclusive Employers ✅ Intergenerational Networking ✅ Bespoke Resources ✅ Expert Guidance Get in touch Register your interest Powered by WCS We Create Space is a global community-led platform, consultancy and collective on a mission to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ people and other under-represented groups of professionals around the world by connecting our community and corporate partners with tools, knowledge and a support network for personal growth and leadership development. We do that through shared experiences, content, research and consultative work. Read more about our impact within the community. Michael Founder Alex Founder Sevi Summit Director Neil Events Manager Our Partners JOIN THE MOVEMENT Partner with UNLOCK Summit 2025. Showcase your commitment to inclusive leadership and connect directly with young queer talent . As a Summit Partner, your organisation can: ✓ Host a booth in our dedicated Career & Opportunities Hub ✓ Create a unique brand experience or interactive activity for attendees ✓ Send a keynote speaker to inspire our audience ✓ Host or join a panel discussion alongside industry leaders ✓ Pitch a real-world challenge for participants to solve during the Summit’s ideation An opportunity to connect with the next generation of leaders, foster high-value relationships, and position your organisation as a champion of global queer leadership. Get in touch Download partnership guide bring the unlock queer leadership summit to your city Could your city be the next global stage for queer innovation, leadership, and community power? We’re opening the bid to host the Queer Leadership Summit 2026, and we’re looking for bold, visionary cities ready to champion inclusion on an international scale. As a Host City, you’ll: ✓ Welcome hundreds of queer leaders, LGBTQIA+ innovators and change-makers from around the world ✓ Showcase your city as a hub for diversity, creativity, and economic growth ✓ Partner with us to co-create an unforgettable 3-day leadership experience ✓ Boost local tourism, talent attraction, and global visibility Get in touch FAQs 1) A bout the Summit 2) P rogramme & Experience 3) Taking Part 4) Careers & Opportunities 5) P racticalities about the summit What is the UNLOCK Queer Leadership Summit? The UNLOCK Queer Leadership Summit is a three-day immersive event bringing together LGBTQIA+ students, young professionals and emerging Queer Leaders from around the world to co-create inclusive futures and develop their leadership skills. Participants will Unlock futures through the 5 keys: wellbeing, communication, teamwork, innovation, and community. Participants engage in hands-on workshops, ideation challenges, recruitment opportunities, and collaborative community-building, stepping directly into real-world leadership. UNLOCK Ideathon: Leadership in Action This challenge invites local and international participants to build inclusive tech solutions. With expert training in design thinking, AI, and social business, teams tackle real-world challenges and pitch ideas to industry leaders scouting future talent. Recruitment & Internship Hub: Where queer talent meets opportunity Organisations scout future leaders in real time through teamwork, mentoring and pitch sessions. Networking Arena: Community in motion Meaningful connections happen here across generations, industries and identities. Fuelling support, growth and collaboration. Learning Platform: Workshops, mentors and tools that stick Led by queer experts, workshops bring the 5 Keys to life, blending theory and practice in a hands-on learning space. Discovery Market: Showcasing queer innovation A space for brands to share bold ideas and immersive experiences with the community at the center. Who can attend? The Summit is open to LGBTQIA+ students, young professionals and emerging queer leaders with an interest in leadership, innovation, and creating positive change. Whether you are studying, starting your career, or looking to expand your network and skills, this is your space to connect, learn, and grow. Do I need to be queer to join the UNLOCK Summit? Yes. The Summit is designed first and foremost as a dedicated space for queer people to explore leadership, share lived experiences, and connect with others in a safe, affirming environment. By centering LGBTQIA+ voices, we ensure the programme, conversations, and opportunities are grounded in our community’s realities and needs. While we collaborate with many allies and partners in other contexts, this gathering prioritises creating an intentional space where queer participants can lead, learn, and thrive together. When and where is it happening? The UNLOCK Queer Leadership Summit will take place 24–26 October 2025 at The Social Hub in Barcelona, Spain, a vibrant and inclusive venue designed for collaboration, creativity, and community, allowing participants to immerse themselves fully in the Summit experience. Fully accessible and committed to diversity, The Social Hub also offers on-site housing solutions for students and young professionals. Why should I attend? What will I gain? By joining the Summit, you will: - Work in diverse teams on real-world challenges set by partner companies - Gain hands-on leadership experience in an ideathon format blending innovation and collaboration - Learn from global queer leaders, industry experts, and experienced mentors - Access the Career & Opportunities Hub with internship and recruitment possibilities - Take part in wellbeing activities to support balance, creativity, and resilience - Earn recognition of your skills through our CHOICE ID credential system - Build a lasting network of peers, mentors, and allies across cultures and industries programme & experience What happens over the 3 days? Across three immersive days, you will take part in a rich mix of activities designed to build skills, spark ideas, and grow your network. The programme includes inspiring keynotes, hands-on workshops, the UNLOCK Ideathon, expert-led masterclasses, panel discussions, and mentoring sessions. You’ll also enjoy vibrant networking opportunities, community tables, activation breakfasts, and wellbeing activities to keep you grounded and energised. What is the Ideathon? The UNLOCK Ideathon is a collaborative challenge where participants work in diverse, cross-cultural teams to propose tech solutions to real-world problems submitted by our partner companies and organisations. With guidance from expert facilitators and mentors, you’ll use design thinking, AI tools, and social business modelling to create innovative, inclusive solutions. Teams pitch their ideas to a panel of industry leaders, with opportunities for recognition, career pathways, and further development. Will there be wellbeing & mental health activities? Yes. Wellbeing is at the heart of our 5 Keys approach to leadership. Throughout the Summit you’ll have access to movement sessions, reflective practices, and grounding activities such as mindfulness, journaling, or sensory spaces. We recognise that not all activities work for everyone, so neurodiverse-friendly and trauma-conscious alternatives will be available to ensure different energy levels, sensory needs, and comfort preferences are respected. Our aim is to offer supportive options so you can recharge, spark creativity, and maintain balance during an action-packed weekend. Who are the speakers and mentors? Our speakers and mentors are global queer leaders, industry experts, and change-makers from diverse sectors including business, technology, arts, activism, and wellbeing. They bring lived experience, professional expertise, and a commitment to inclusive leadership. Many are recognised voices in their fields, ready to share tools, stories, and strategies to inspire your growth. Will I get to choose the sessions I attend? Yes. While some sessions are designed for all participants to experience together — such as the opening keynote and final pitches — you will have the opportunity to choose from parallel workshops, masterclasses, and wellbeing sessions. This allows you to tailor your Summit journey to your personal interests, learning style, and energy levels. taking part How do I register? You can register your interest by completing the form on our website or by asking your university or business school for a referral. We collaborate with various international business schools, and some may nominate or sponsor students to attend. Can I join for just one day? The Summit is designed as a full three-day experience, with each day building on the previous one. Single-day attendance is not recommended and may only be possible in exceptional cases, depending on availability. Do I need any specific skills or experience? No. All you need is curiosity, openness, and a willingness to learn and collaborate. The Summit is designed to welcome participants from different fields, backgrounds, and levels of experience. Will I work alone or in a team? You will be part of a diverse, cross-cultural team throughout the Summit. Your team will work together on real-world challenges, supported by mentors, facilitators, and experts. careers & opportunities Will there be recruitment or internship opportunities? Yes. Both the Career & Opportunities Hub and the Networking Arena at the Summit are where inclusive employers and organisations connect directly with participants. You’ll have the chance to explore internships, graduate roles, and other career pathways, with some companies actively scouting talent during the event. How do I connect with companies at the Summit? You can meet employers through multiple channels: networking events, employer booths in the Career & Opportunities Hub, and pitch challenges where your team’s ideas are presented to industry leaders. Many company representatives also take part as Mentors or in the Feedback Committee, giving you direct access to decision-makers. Will my participation be recognised? Yes. All participants will receive a certificate of completion for the UNLOCK Queer Leadership Summit. This recognition can strengthen your CV, portfolio, and future applications. practicalities How much are tickets and what’s included? Ticket prices vary depending on whether you are booking as an individual, through a partner organisation, or via a group/school package. All tickets include access to the full three-day programme (keynotes, workshops, the ideathon, mentoring sessions, wellbeing activities, networking events, activation breakfast and community tables) plus entry to the Career & Opportunities Hub and Discovery Market. Materials, resources, and some refreshments are also included. Are there scholarships or discounts? Yes. We offer scholarships to help make the Summit accessible to participants from diverse backgrounds. We also work in collaboration with international business schools, which may sponsor or nominate students. Discounted tickets may be available for early registrations and partner organisations. Where should I stay? If you’re traveling from abroad or from other cities in Spain, we recommend The Social Hub, our Summit venue, which offers on-site accommodation ideal for students and young professionals. This ensures you are close to all activities and part of the community atmosphere. We can also provide recommendations for nearby hotels, hostels, and budget options. What should I bring? Bring a laptop or tablet for working on challenges, a notebook and pens, comfortable clothes for active sessions and wellbeing activities, and an open mind for learning, connecting, and creating. Is the venue accessible? Yes. The Social Hub is fully accessible, with step-free access, lifts, accessible restrooms, and facilities for different mobility needs. We are committed to ensuring the space works for all participants and can provide additional accommodations if needed. What’s the dress code? Be yourself. We recommend a comfortable professional style that allows you to feel confident while also moving freely during activities. Will food and drinks be provided? Meals are not included in the ticket price, but affordable food options will be available on-site at The Social Hub throughout the Summit. A variety of choices will cater to different dietary needs, including vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly meals. Light snacks and refreshments may be provided during breaks. FAQs (FAQ) About the summit (FAQ) Programme & Experience (FAQ) Taking Part (FAQ) Practicalities (FAQ) Careers & Opportunities UNLOCK: The Queer Leadership Podcast | Episode Ten UNLOCK: The Queer Leadership Podcast | Episode Nine UNLOCK | Queer Leadership 101 with Roxy Murray Explore more resources Any questions? For any more information or enquiries please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Contact us

Guest writer Zee Monteiro explores how grief has informed their transition as a non-binary person. I used to think that to love my body I had to change it quickly without looking back, but I quickly realized a few months into starting testosterone, that I had to deal with the intense level of anger and grief that was located in my body. I was so focused on the external side of my body and thought the faster I could escape the shape I was given, the sooner I could arrive at peace. I was still unclear about how my body would look and apprehensive about whether I wanted top surgery or radical breast reduction. I had a connection to womanhood that I wasn’t ready to let go of, or so I thought I had to at that time. I was annoyed at my own grief, and did not understand the anger it held. I was surprised by the way it would show up in every corner of my body. I realized that my grief was not just about gender, it was layered: grief for the years I spent trying to make peace with a body I did not feel at home in; grief for the younger version of myself who did not have the words for this; grief for failing to be a ‘daughter’; and grief for how my masculinity has always been overlooked or dismissed my my family. I also felt grief around what I was leaving behind, my shape, my softness, the comfort others found in the version of me that I was no longer willing to maintain. Even if those things weren’t fully mine, they were still parts of how I survived, how I was loved and how I was recognized. The anger also surprised me, it was during times quite explosive but most of the time, it wasn't. It was often quiet and slow burning, it showed up in muscle tension, extreme exhaustion and irritability. I didn’t know what to do with this at first but the gym and therapy helped a lot. I thought transition would make things better, cleaner. Instead it brought everything to the surface. But even in all of that, something in me did began to soften. I started to feel more at home in my body than I ever did, more settled and although this wasn't happening all the time, it was enough to notice it. Enough to trust that if I kept going, something would open up and I would be able to lean into it and eventually it did. I grieved immensely during the first four years, but also felt more aligned and realized that grief wasn’t a barrier to my transition, it was the transition. It made space to choose what my transition would look like for myself. Colonial thinking made me believe that bodies must be definite, that healing must be linear, that gender must resolve. Although I still scoured the internet for black bodies that looked the way I wanted mine to, it was also clearer about what it did not have to look like. My trans body did not have a beard or an extremely low voice, it did not walk more ‘masculine’ or wear a packer, it did not need a new name and it was allowed to connect to all the parts of the Black womanhood that I was raised with and connected to. I did not know it then, but by grieving openly, slowly, I was making space for something bigger than myself. I was remembering the body as an archive, a testimony. I am honoring the mess and the grief. I honor that my transition took the length that it took, that I chose to first start testosterone before having top surgery. I honor that I allowed myself to feel completely broken, confused and angry, that I trusted the grief enough to make space for it. I am honoring that I did not rush the process. That I let the mess teach me and allowed my spirit to come home in its own time. Zee Monteiro Zee (they/them) is a highly skilled writer, host, facilitator, and consultant with a focus on advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, anti-racism, intersectionality, and neurodiversity. They have extensive experience in facilitating, speaking, and hosting for prominent companies such as Dr. Martens, Burberry, Verizon, Consortium, Culture Shift, and others. Zee's work has been featured in notable organizations such as Stonewall UK, WCS, POCC, WMN Zine, and BINADW. 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 Zee Monteiro lets us in on how Queer iconography has shaped their journey of self-understanding and acceptance. by Zee Monteiro As I worked to unlearn and relearn my identity in light of the cis-gender heteronormative expectations placed upon me, I found that iconography was instrumental in helping me understand my fluidity. Iconography refers to the use of symbols, images, and themes in art to depict movements, beliefs, or ideas. I remember being 23 years old and coming across the term and various symbols for ‘Two-spirited,’ which really resonated with me. The symbol was a visual representation of the Two-spirit Indigenous identities across Native America. It was a term used to explain how one person could have two spirits, one male and one female. The term as I have understood has now been recognized as an umbrella term to describe the fluidity of an individual, depending on the tribe and personal/spiritual relationship to themselves that sits outside of the understanding of the western and colonial understanding of the gender binary. There were different types of symbols I came across; one was shown in the form of two arrows pointing in opposite directions, the other the symbol of a double headed figure, with one head representing the female and the other the male spirit. I remember this clearly as it was not only a term that related to how I felt, but it showed that my feelings, my energies existed. I remember continuing my research to find specific West African symbols that represented the similar but no luck. I do not identify with the term ‘two-spirited’ as a way to define myself as it is not my heritage or history, but it became a way for me to unravel more about my gender and opened a door to further curiosity and understanding. In the following years I became focused on finding more about the history of queer culture and it led me to America. I learned about the internationally famous rainbow flag designed by Gilbert Baker in 1978. It served as a symbol of resistance against discrimination and a demand for change, as well as the pink triangle, used originally by the Nazi Regime to identify homosexual men but reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ community and transformed into a symbol of resistance and pride. Although these symbols impacted me in understanding the strength that ran within the LGBTQ+ community. The identity that I was sitting in, which during 2016, was still that of a Black Masculine presenting woman, I could not find the symbols that represented my intersections of race and gender. In 2018 I set out to create a Black Queer Library, Qingsland became a website focused on Black and Brown LGBTQ+ people and their experiences, with a focus on Masculine presented identities. I came across an amazing archive called Lesbian Herstory, Black Lesbians in the 70’s and before ’. It showed the diversity of gender nonconformity within the lesbian community. It became clear that, even though scattered on the internet, the archives still existed and they became a place where I was able to find myself. Within the recent years I have seen the changes of what I found in these archives becoming mainstream. The international sensation of RuPaul's drag show, and the creativity around Lil Nas X music videos allowed for conversations around self-expression through the context of entertainment. Drag shows on-and-off television showed a form of political activism and resistance surrounding the gender binary. Shortly after, the rise of the Black Lives Matter Movement, created space for change where conversations and actions about the treatment of not only Black people, but Black and Brown LGBTQ+ and specifically Trans people became mainstream. The marches in the UK, EU and US were filled with the original pride flag made by Baker, but joined with two adapted flags, one being the flag introducing the Black and Brown stripes, created by Amber Hikes and the other the progressive Pride flag made by Daniel Quasar. It sparked the global LGBTQ+ community to stand up, with unfortunately losses of people within the global LGBTQ+ community. Sarah Hegasi’s powerful photo sparked the hashtag #RaisetheflagforSarah on social media which extended the understanding of LGBTQ+ lives under threat in the Middle East and continued to steer the debate on LGBTQ+ rights and the freedom to live. Social media quickly became the tool to see and understand the conditions of people and how to support the global movement of LGBTQ+ lives. In hindsight it is surprising that in the midst of all of this, I felt ready to come out as non-binary, I accessed private Trans care and started my journey with Testosterone; or maybe it wasn’t. The push for the freedom and existence of LGBTQIA+ lives around the world, allowed me to push myself out of the fear and step into the existence of my transness. It gave the understanding that I should not wait or be weighed down by the expectations of the gender binary and move with the understanding of my energies and trusted that the people who understood my energy would simply come along. I wonder if without the uproar and fight of the global movement, and the use of social media, there would have been no change for me. Today we are still seeing the continued fight for liberation for the LGBTQ+ community, with more and more allies in our corner, learning how to use their privilege to engage in the movement and utilize their power, showing various athletes like Chris Eubank, Harry Kane and Hamilton showing their support through armbands and their social media. With the impact of the internet and social media with the use of symbolism and iconography, the understanding of how cultures around the world includes transgender, gender fluid and non-conforming individuals in their history and their present, means that there has always been and will always be a place for us in the future. Zee Monteiro (they/them) Zee is a writer, host, facilitator, and consultant with a focus on LGBTQ+ rights, anti-racism, Intersectionality and Neurodiversity. Zee is dedicated to promoting inclusion and equity, and is well-regarded for their ability to engage and educate diverse audiences on important social and cultural topics. You can find more information about Zee's work here. If you would like to book Zee as a speaker for a workshop or panel event, please get in touch with us via email at hello@wecreatespace.co While you're here... Did you know we consult with 100+ Businesses, ERGs and Change-Leaders providing bespoke corporate solutions? Through consultancy we design shared learning experiences, produce DEI insights and craft bespoke content that support individuals with strengthening their roles as change-agents within their communities and organisations. Find out more here . We also organise FREE community events throughout the year! We offer a variety of ways to get involved - both online and in person. This is a great way to network and learn more about others' experiences, through in-depth discussion on an array of topics. 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Living with multiple identities that challenge the norms of a cisgender straight heteronormative society can present a labyrinth of emotional and behavioural conflicts. Our guest writer Zee Monteiro reflects on the influences of race, gender and spirituality on their journey to a deeper sense of self. I identify as non-binary, but I will always be a Black woman. by Zee Monteiro It's been a year and a month since I have been on low dose HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy). Six months into my journey when the changes became more apparent, I noticed a worry, a concern in my body. Don’t get me wrong, I was enjoying the lowering of my voice and the muscle growth - but I was worried that I was losing something. Yet I couldn’t really place my emotions with the language to work out what that something actually was. Around the same time, a friend sent over a link to the Black Trans Foundation as they opened up therapy services for Black trans and non-binary individuals. This came perfectly timed, as I was needing to hash out the feelings I was experiencing, and knew that I wanted to do it with a Black Trans therapist who could support me in understanding my emotions holistically - on a personal, spiritual and professional level. A couple of sessions in, during one of our conversations around how my family raised me and the ideas of gender, Blackness, and spirituality, I mentioned something along the lines of “I am non-binary, but I am a Black woman, it's a spirit I cannot and do not want to lose.” My therapist, a Black trans man, nodded. I took a deep breath and realized that this was that something that I was afraid of losing - the spirituality that I received through my Black female body and the womanhood I was brought up in. ''Womanhood has always been denied to Black women, therefore they had to carve their own space.'' I was raised as a Black woman, and my family is filled with Black women who are open, loud and very much present. I remember, as a child, the Sunday morning ritual of being sat between the legs of Black women whilst they braided my hair. Even though I hated it and could never sit still, it was at the same time my most sacred place. I remember being welcomed within the warm hands of Black women. As they held my small face between their hands and looked at me with joy as I grew year by year, I felt their pride through the warmth of their hands. By holding my face, they would let me know that I was safe with them, and that I could see myself in them. There is no other group of people or race that could make me feel as safe as a Black woman would. The older I got the more I understood why, and a lot of it changed around the time that I myself became ‘a young Black woman.’ During puberty I dealt with being adultified by non-white and white women. Men, both Black, white and all in between hypersexualized me and I was a subject of misogynoir. Simultaneously, I felt that I didn’t fully understand what I had been thrown into, and my brain did not grasp the full scope of growing up - but still I pretended as best as I could. I did understand that my experiences were different from women and that I only felt safe in spaces with Black women, yet the way I expressed myself even within Black spaces was not quite ‘the right way.’ I had assumed this was because I was brought up in specifically white spaces during my adolescent years, but in hindsight this conflict around expression was in fact often because of feelings rooted in gender. ''Living in this Black female body and having been subjected to racism, misogynoir, sexism and homophobia, I have performed and conformed my way into femininity and the heteronormative ideas of gender as a means of survival, to fit in and belong. This meant code switching not only in white hetero places, but also Black hetero spaces.'' The reason why I use women, Black women and the notion of womanhood as separate is because they are. Womanhood has always been denied to Black women, therefore they had to carve their own space. You do not have to go as far back as colonialism to see this. In fact you don’t need to look back at all - it is a very current, very visceral reality. Even very recently, shocking videos have surfaced from the Ukrainian borders of Black women and children being denied access on buses attempting to flee a live war zone . While Ukrainian soldiers made sure women and children had access to safety first, Black women and children were left behind. Amidst war and the aftermath of the Black Lives Matter movement, the dehumanization of Black bodies still very much exists. Before I continue, I need to state that when speaking on the self-identification of non-binary, I am referring to the unlearning of European societal standards on gender that has been internalized, and I also believe that there is a difference between race and spirituality in relation to this. There is a lot of debate and theories on what gender is, from theories stating that gender is created through interactions and performances, to other theories that dive into gender as feelings. On theories written on gender, I must constantly be aware that I live within the intersectionality of multiple identities and most theories are written through a white Eurocentric lens, where often spirituality and ancestral memories are yet to be included. On one hand, yes, gender is external and focused on performance and on the other hand gender is a feeling. Both can be true, and even more theories can exist. ''The marginalization and traumas that I have faced and still feel to this day, through the bodies of other Black women, is felt in my body. I feel what they feel, I stand where they stand, I laugh and cry with them. Yet some of them deny me my queerness, some deny me my gender-fluidity. Even though their erasure of my identity hurts me, Black womanhood is my spiritual and cultural safe haven.'' Living in this Black female body and having been subjected to racism, misogynoir, sexism and homophobia, I have performed and conformed my way into femininity and the heteronormative ideas of gender as a means of survival, to fit in and belong. This meant code switching not only in white hetero places, but also Black hetero spaces. I am not alone in this dynamic or the discussion about it. Popular TikTok creators @oujib ug and @annikaizora have mentioned that identifying as non-binary and a Black Woman is indeed possible as they are not mutually exclusive identities - a sentiment I feel aligns and resonates with my own feelings. There is an assumption that I must choose the binary and because I cannot fully align with my Black female body and its energy, I must therefore hate my current body. I do not. I am merely adapting it to align with the multitude of energies I feel. Black trans author, poet and educator J Mase III articulates it well: ''I was not born in the wrong body, I was born in a society that refused to see the capacity of this body.'' I identify as non-binary, but I will always be Black woman, as my experiences that I have are that of Black women. I was raised to be a Black woman and I cannot separate myself from these experiences. The marginalization and traumas that I have faced and still feel to this day, through the bodies of other Black women, is felt in my body. I feel what they feel, I stand where they stand, I laugh and cry with them. Yet some of them deny me my queerness, some deny me my gender-fluidity. Even though their erasure of my identity hurts me, Black womanhood is my spiritual and cultural safe haven. It's not all of me, but a very crucial part of how I make sense of my being and move through the world. ''With the multiple energies I have, as I came to explore and understand my identity, I knew I needed to live within and respect the energies I had been given.'' Again, it isn’t all of me. See, even when they held my small face in their hands as a child and made sure I saw myself in them, I wonder, looking back, if they were able to see all of me? They themselves had the experiences of being a Black woman and I understood the struggles that I was about to face, without yet fully yet understanding the full scope of them. I was raised with the understanding of the Eve Gene, the start of civilization through the African female body. The Ankh, creating a unity amongst Black women and tying their spiritual roots of the female body and femininity to Africa. Yet in understanding and co-existing in these spaces, my masculinity felt as powerful, it was an energy that was separate. Not one that overpowers the other but to co-exist with it, similar to the functions of our muscles and bones. Where bones shape and help us stand straight, whilst muscles, which are attached to our bones, help us walk, smile and run. One cannot function without the other, they must work in unity to move. ''Psychological, emotional and psychosocial warfare has, and still is being waged amongst Black bodies and specifically Black women. I cannot conform to this reality - as it will not save me, nor do I want it.'' The masculinity I speak about here should be seen as separate to the ideas of masculinity that society puts on Black women. This type of masculinity is described through the White supremacy lens and set towards the hatred of Black women. The energy I speak about exceeds the patriarchy, as energy itself is older than it. Our bodies hold onto energies that are older than we might be aware of, epigenetic research has shown that intergenetics and ancestral memories have more of an impact on our bodies than we realize. With the multiple energies I have, as I came to explore and understand my identity, I knew I needed to live within and respect the energies I had been given. The article The splendor of Gender non-conformity in Africa states: Shaman Malidoma Somé of the Dagaaba Tribe of Ghana says that that gender to the tribe is not dependent upon sexual anatomy.“It is purely energetic. In that context, one who is physically male can vibrate female energy, and vice versa. That is where the real gender is.” Often in villages it was not your sex that determined your role, but your skills, your energy and ultimately what you were able to contribute to the village that determined who you were. ''Each part has a role to play in my existence in this body. One cannot exist without the other, just like the sun cannot live without the moon.'' Psychological, emotional and psychosocial warfare has, and still is being waged amongst Black bodies and specifically Black women. I cannot conform to this reality - as it will not save me, nor do I want it. I cannot let the western societal norms, which have also been taken over by many Black individuals, tell me how to move within my own body. Especially the norms which deem women as lesser than, are centered around anti-blackness, or where there is hatred towards LGBTQ+ individuals. My spiritual and emotional experiences with Black womanhood and with my gender nonconformity fuels one another. Each part has a role to play in my existence in this body. One cannot exist without the other, just like the sun cannot live without the moon. References: Butler J (1990) Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity. (Abingdon: Routledge) Langer S.J (2018) Theorizing Transgender Identity for Clinical Practice: A new model for understanding gender. (JKP) Wolynn M (2017) It didn’t start with you. (Penguin Books) Photography by Ayahtah Ayahtah About Zee Monteiro: Zee (they/she) is a writer and poet. Both in their writing and poems they challenge the reader to reflect and engage on topics relating to Blackness, Spirituality, Transness & Female Masculinity. Explore Zee's work: qingsland.com alignedpurpose.co Connect with Zee: @qingsland