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Mark Travis Rivera, Char Bailey, Max Marchewicz and Stewart O'Callaghan share their experiences as Queer, Disabled Leaders. Learn more about Mark Travis Rivera's work. Learn more about Char Bailey's work. Learn more about Max Marchewicz's work. Learn more about Stewart O'Callaghan'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 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!

Empowering communities through conversation. At We Create Space, we like to view the world through an intersectional lens; encouraging open conversation with people whose experience of life differs from our own, and allowing them the space to articulate that unique perspective. Through this, we can work together in our safe, online spaces to generate fresh new ideas, and uplift more diverse, rounded voices. This is what we look to achieve through our webinar series, Queer Perspectives. These live panel discussions feature some of our global queer leaders; digging deeper into their compelling lived experiences, whilst also addressing some important issues facing the global LGBTQ+ community. This series of conversations will cover an eclectic mix of meaningful topics and is designed to help inspire people across the queer community, empowering them to create positive change in their own communities; both online and offline. Our second seminar in the series focused on queer parenting, with our speakers Chloe Davis, Jani Toivola and Jack Lopez sharing their inspiring parenting stories and personal lived experiences through the lens of their intersecting identities. Learn more about our panelists' work: Maylis Djikalou (She/Her) - Facilitator Chloë Davies, (She/Her) Jani Toivola (He/Him) Jack Lopez (He/They) To keep fully up to date with our Queer Perspectives webinar series, sign up to our newsletter or follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn. The third installment of the series: Queer Perspectives on Nonbinary Leadership, takes place on October 7th. Register for free here.

Ajay Pabial is a London-based queer artist of South-Asian heritage on a mission to shine the light on creatives from culturally diverse backgrounds and LGBT+ intersections. He recently joined one of our 'Who am i?' virtual retreats, and has kindly agreed to share his experience. Who are you? My name is Ajay, I’m what you call a multi-hyphenate who’s constantly spinning several plates. I’m an artist, Managing Director and Cultural Strategist! When I’m not developing my artistic practise as a portrait painter, you can find me delivering culture-led programmes and activities across London. I founded my own not-for-profit Arts Organisation in 2018 – Art Clubbers CIC - to support under-represented young Londoners with accessing the creative sector, as well as consulting businesses to embed diversity and inclusion at the core of its activities. How did you find yourself doing what you are doing? After graduating from university in 2016 with a BA in Fine Art, I found myself hitting a brick wall when trying to find work within the sector. I discovered that in fact many art graduates were left navigating the sector on their own. It was clear that we needed to start equipping graduates with employability skills and tools to establish themselves as artists, designers and makers – artpreneurs! In 2018, I set up Art Clubbers CIC, a not-for-profit Arts Organisation. I wanted it to act as stepping stone into the industry, providing opportunities and support to allow young Creative's the chance to develop and build their skills, as well as put in to practice their talents by taking part in community focused activities and projects. What have you learnt along the way? Honestly there’s some many things I could list here it would be endless! The one thing I’ve learnt over the last two years is to always just go for it. When it comes to my career, I never thought i would have been running a company at 24 years old. I’m glad I went for it now, I’ve loved all the work I’ve done, the people I’ve met, and I'm thankful for the experience. It’s allowed to me mature at a pace I wouldn’t have otherwise. Personally, I’ve learnt how much I held myself back whilst in the closet. Since coming out, I’ve regained a sense of self pride, and that really shows. Friends and family around me have seen me grow into a much happier place. Finding my voice was so important. I know this can be easier said than done, but trust the people around you. Give them a chance and give yourself a change. I’ve been surprised to see such beautiful support around me. Why did you get involved in the ‘Who am i?’ programme? I finally came to terms with my sexuality as a gay man in 2018, at that time I had little knowledge of the LGBTQ+ community, what it meant to be part of it but more importantly where do I fit in. Coming out felt like the clocks got reversed, and I could now 're-live' my younger self authentically. However, looking back I really didn’t know what authentic meant for me. In 2020, I found myself reflecting more and more on my journey, questioning who I am as an individual, how or does my sexuality define that. The 'Who Am I' programme allowed me to explore those questions. For me the biggest eye-opener about coming on such a programme was that I was connecting with other gay men who I wouldn’t necessarily have met through my normal channels and that despite being who they were, what backgrounds they came from we felt the same! It was comforting just knowing that there were others on the same journey I was on, and that I wasn't an anomaly. Defining my identity is a life process. Did you make any changes off the back of the retreat? The programme allowed me to learn about what it means to be present. As someone who is constantly spinning multiple plates, it’s always been rare for me to stop and savour the moment, to appreciate and acknowledge the work I’m doing. Since the programme I’ve learnt to become more present within the moment, this has been from small acts as leaving my phone in another room whilst I spend time with family to taking to listening to what my body needs and giving it just that whether, a proper meal or sleep. I’ve made it a goal to celebrate every milestone. 2020 for me was all about emotional, mental and physical change. What relationship do you have to the LGBTQ+ community? I identify as a gay South Asian man. Having worked within the creative sector and witnessing the barriers those from minority backgrounds, I made it a personal mission to shine a light on individuals from culturally diverse and LGBT intersections to ensure visibility and community within the creative sector. My situation is current, and a journey that I've only been on for the last two years. A Capricorn by birth, my natural behaviour is very process driven. I’m a minority within a minority and sometimes it’s quite hard to talk about my experiences as I navigate through my own queerness, my faith and culture. My relationship with the community is finding where I fit in the most, when you find individuals or groups who you complete relate to and have faced or are facing similar life experiences, empathy comes naturally in circumstances like this, relate-ability becomes encouragement and creativity becomes ambition. What’s the biggest challenge you’re working through? I want to continue to challenge every aspect within me, my perceptions, my perspectives, projections, anxieties, phobias, what I see as self-destructive patterns and my sense of failure and success. I know as time goes on I will find myself coming in conflict, or harmony with them. The challenge here I guess is to always remain open minded, to learn, to educate and reconcile. Have you learnt anything new about yourself since the retreat? I would describe the retreat as a raw confrontation. Our worlds changed in 2020 due to the pandemic and many found themselves in a similar position to myself - on my own and with no escape. The retreat really allowed me to prepare for what’s coming. It highlighted my relationships, and the fact my identity has gone through a metamorphosis. I believe that will continue to evolve, and that it’s okay to embrace that going forwards. How do you ‘Create Space’? Through my own organisation I’m always creating space for those who need it the most, I’ve made it my mission to; create an inclusive Cultural Experience, champion Creative Innovation, break down barriers by Creating Opportunities and connect communities through Cohesion and Consultation. Self-care, self-discovery and personal development will always remain a priority for me. The retreat has taught me to take time for myself, to focus on the mind and body. I found this through regular physical training and taking time for myself for reflection, sometimes a simple breathing exercise is needed, inhaling the noise of the world and exhaling in peace and stillness. @ajay_pabial ajaypabial.com/ artclubbers.com/ To stay updated about upcoming workshop and retreat dates, please subscribe to our mailing list.

Mufseen Miah speaks candidly to Ahmed Al-Mullahi about intersectionality; the impact that race, religion and sexuality has had in shaping his life and identity. About Mufseen: Mufseen is a passionate LGBT+ activist. He was raised in Brighton but lives in London. He works with LGBTQ+ colleagues and organisations to raise awareness of issues that affect Queer People of Colour (QPOC) and works to create inclusive spaces for all LGBTQ+ individuals. “Throughout my life my skin colour, my culture and my sexuality have pushed me down to the fringes of ‘mainstream’ society making everyday battles harder to win. I am a walking contradiction, but I am definitely not the only one.” mufseen.com @mufseen About Ahmed: Ahmed is life coach and facilitator based in Oman. His background in Internal Family System Therapy has led him to explore therapeutic methods such as Inner-Child work, Sub-personality Dialogue Therapy, Compassion Inquiry, Psychoanalysis and much more; based on personal interaction. @mullahi Follow WE CREATE SPACE on social: @wecreatespace.co View upcoming workshops. Join our community for free to hear when we release new workshops.

Rico Jacob Chace speaks to Dr Paul Taylor-Pitt about his personal transformation journey as a trans man and how his gender struggles have shaped his life and identity. About Rico: Rico is a videographer, writer and vocal activist, fighting avidly for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people and Black people. As a board member of TransActual UK, he continues to strive to change UK legislation for non-binary equality and raise the Black Queer intersectionality question in all forums. He continues to speak out about the complexities of sexuality, gender and racial perceptions. And has also launched ‘Against Racism’, a nine-part show exploring the various forms of racism and how we collectively can make a difference. @rjchace About Dr Paul: Paul is an award-winning Organisation Development Specialist, Mentor, Coach and Facilitator with three decades of professional experience. He is passionate about queer culture and sharing his passion for life with the world. He also enjoys writing and photography as well as cuddling up with a good book. Paul lives in London with his husband and their growing family of plants. @drpaultaylorpitt Follow WE CREATE SPACE on social: @wecreatespace.co View upcoming workshops. Join our community for free to hear when we release new workshops.

Freddie Lewis talks a little about his own process and journey as a trans man. He also performs one of his early songs that he wrote during the early stages of his transition. Freddie was part of the team delivering ‘My Story, My Way’, our self-empowerment workshop series introducing playful methods of artistic expression as powerful tools for self-care and story-telling. Here’s a short clip from the workshop. About Freddie: Freddie Lewis is a songwriter and poet. He believes in the healing power of writing and has a unique philosophy surrounding the writing process, which he sees songs as his way of best communicating his love for life and living as a queer trans man. @freddielewiss Follow WE CREATE SPACE on social: @wecreatespace.co View upcoming workshops. Join our community for free to hear when we release new workshops.

This month we've teamed up with LGBTQ+ youth charity, Just Like Us, on a series of live conversations and events. We'll be asking some of our ambassadors what life was like for them growing up queer as a person of colour in the UK. We Create Space is all about sharing the unique, lived experiences of queer people to a wider audience and using stories for change. That’s why, for the next four weeks, we’re partnering up with the LGBT young people’s charity Just Like Us to host a series of powerful conversations with queer people of colour on our Instagram. Just Like Us recruit young queer people and train them to become queer ambassadors, championing LGBT+ equality in schools. They hope that, by increasing queer visibility in the education system and giving students a relatable voice to talk to, they can help tackle homophobia and improve the lives of young LGBT+ students. In these three livestreams, we’ll be talking about experiences growing up as a person of colour, the journey to find your queer identity, and using your voice and story for change. This all leads up to one insightful discussion event on October 13th with our very own Maylis Djikalou, where she will be discussing not only her own experience in growing up queer, but why queer representation and visibility is so important. This event is hosted on Zoom and completely free to attend - if you’re interested, you can register for a place here. justlikeus.org @justlikeusuk Our livestream guests Chris Kenna (he/him) - 22nd September @ 4pm Chris is CEO and found of Brand Advance Group, a company which connects brands with diverse audiences globally. Chris is also a member of the WFA Diversity Board - as a mixed race, out gay father, he is a strong advocate for diversity and representations within media and advertising. He was recently given the Media leader 2020 Judges award, named on EMPower’s 100 LGBT Executives and Ethnic Minority Executives lists in 2020. Eva Echo (she/they) - 29th September @ 4pm Eva is an activist, blogger and educator who campaigns for trans equality and acceptance. They founded the Pass It On campaign, aimed at challenging body image and expectations imposed on gender diverse people by a cisgender society, whilst giving a platform to those who may be overlooked. She is also a brand ambassador for the London Transgender Clinic, part of Gendered Intelligence’s GIANTS programme and a member of the Crown Prosecution Service’s hate crime panel. Sabah Choudrey (they/them) - 6th October @ 4pm Sabah is a public speaker, writer, “psychotherapist in training” and trans youth worker since 2014. They are the current Head of Youth Service at Gendered Intelligence, trustee of the Inclusive Mosque Initiative and co-founder of Colours Youth Network, dedicated to supporting LGBT+ young people of colour in the UK. Maylis Djikalou (she/her) - 13th October @ 4pm Maylis Djikalou is transformation coach and consultant who has worked at the intersection of creative and mental health industries, curating international events and promoting wellbeing in professional spaces. She is one of the co-founders of We Create Space, and currently the programme director.

Guest Writer, Emily Horton, describes how her relationship with the label 'bisexual' has changed over time. She also tells us about the history and etymology behind some of the labels we use within the Queer Community, and the importance of personal choice. By Emily Horton When you don’t fit into what society tells you is “normal”, it's natural to start searching for things that make you feel seen. So, like many queer people, I’ve spent a significant amount of time exploring the labels that best describe my identity. So far the ones that have stuck are bisexual, femme, she/her/they. Words bring things into existence. They legitimise and empower the people using them. They create boundaries around concepts that previously may have been felt, but not seen. However, our relationship to these words can change over time, as we evolve and society evolves around us. They can also restrict identity and put you into a box, which might be the exact opposite of what someone wants from their identity exploration. New words may challenge our perceptions of the previous ones. This journey can be exciting, but it can also be incredibly confusing and destabilising, especially when you thought you’d found your “identity”. Bi was not the binary I thought it was… I was incredibly excited when I found the word bisexual in my late teens. Finally, something that normalised not just being attracted to heternormative men! At the time, I assumed the “bi” or “two” in binary meant “male” and “female”. And for quite some time, I didn’t interrogate the word any further. But the more I found myself in queer spaces and the more people I met with different sexualities and genders, my understanding of the breadth of the gender spectrum grew and so did my attraction to multiple gender expressions. “Wait a minute! Am actually I bi?” A mini-identity crisis ensued. It had taken me almost ten years to really see myself as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. This was what I later realised to be a symptom of bi-erasure - a lack of bisexual representation that wasn’t hypersexualised or framed around the male gaze; and my own internalised biphobia. All of this was compounded by the fact that I had only been in long-term romantic relationships with men. I feared I would have to go through this process of belonging all over again. So I started to read more about the history of the word bisexual and was relieved to find the definition did encompass multiple gender expressions. “Someone who is attracted to more than one gender, someone who is attracted to two or more genders, someone who is attracted to the same gender and other genders, or some who is attracted to people regardless of their gender.” “Phew!”, I thought “I’m still bisexual!” However, during my research journey, I came across another word - pansexuality - “the attraction to multiple genders, attraction to all genders, attraction to people regardless of gender”. This piqued my interest - am I pansexual? Why are there two words that basically mean the same thing? Do they mean the same thing? Which one came first? Do people not feel seen or represented by the word bisexual? Why? A very short history of bisexuality and pansexuality... Being attracted to more than one gender has existed since the dawn of society. Ancient Greece, Japan, and China all show historical evidence of bisexual relationships. However, the term “bisexual” - which was popularised in Western science and psychology - was used for the first time in the 19th century and has had many different applications and meanings over its lifetime. Its first use in 1859 was similar to what we understand to be intersex today, ie the possession of ‘male’ or ‘female’ physical characteristics. In the early twentieth century, it was used to refer to having a combination of ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ gendered characteristics - which in today’s LGBTQIA+ dictionary would be understood as androgyny. But it wasn’t until Alfred Kinsey's spectrum of sexuality in 1948, that a rated attraction to the same or different genders along a scale of 0 to 6, did the modern understanding of bisexuality emerge. Under this definition, although “bi” means “two” it is not referring to a binary “male” and “female”, but refers to the combination of homosexual and heterosexual attractions. The term pansexual has an equally interesting origin story. The word “pansexual” itself was derived from the Greek prefix pan- which means all. The first recorded use of the term 'pansexual' was in 1914 as the word 'pan-sexualism' in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, according to the Oxford English Dictionary - over 50 years after the term bisexual was first recorded. The word was used by doctor J. Victor Haberman to explore one of Freud's theories of sexuality. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that the term pansexual started to take on the meaning that it does today - ie “the attraction to multiple genders, attraction to all genders, attraction to people regardless of gender”. This definition grew out of a queer activist movement aimed at reclaiming identity in one’s own terms as awareness and understanding of trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer identities grew. Biphobia and transphobia... Although well-meaning and born out of a desire to be more inclusive than the current definitions (aka bisexual) on offer, some see the creation of the term pansexual as both biphobic and transphobic. Critics argued that this “alternative” to bisexuality comes with the implicit suggestion that it doesn’t encompass trans people and the misunderstanding that bisexuality means attraction to the “same and opposite” genders. A possible explanation for this is a lack of understanding of the term bisexual, which is understandable given that the word bisexual has shape-shifted its meaning and that the literal meaning of “bi” is two. But biphobia is real, as is bi-erasure and this could be viewed as yet another attack on an identity that has historically been ostracised and or outright denied. However, when having these discussions we need to be careful not to promote the misconception that identifying as pansexual is transphobic or biphobic. “One of the biggest misconceptions about pansexuality is that pansexual people are somehow being transphobic by stating that they’re attracted to trans people while bisexual people aren’t because they don’t see trans people as men or women,” wrote Prishita Maheshwari-Aplin (they/them) for Stonewall. “This is a dangerous and untrue myth! Pansexuality is attraction regardless of gender, so a pansexual person’s attraction to someone has nothing to do with whether they are trans or cis” they wrote. From my understanding of this debate - it's not intrinsically biphobic or transphobic to identify as pansexual, but there is an argument to say that the creation of the word is - if it was created in response to an assumption that bisexuality was only about two genders. It all comes down to personal choice... But ​​etymology and history aside, if someone relates to the term pansexual more than bisexual because it literally means “all” then that is their choice. Ultimately someone can choose how they identify, depending on their own personal preferences and experiences. If it brings you joy, if you feel seen and represented, then use it! Labels are useful, but they can also be limiting. So just do what feels right to you. I currently feel attached to the term bisexual. It’s been part of my identity for over a decade, but this may very well change. And actually, when I think about it the thing that excites me the most is that I’m open to this change. Yes, labels are useful and liberating, but they also can also box you in. I will call myself bisexual so that others can see that it is a thing as that might help them understand more about themselves, even if I don't want to be limited by the term itself. Here are a few from my personal circle of lovely bisexual/pansexual humans: “Around the age of 14 or 15 it slowly dawned me that the way I admired the women around me was quite different from my straight female friends. Since then it’s led me to meet incredible people. Engaging with the sexuality of all genders makes me feel free, open, alive to the possibilities and beauty of everyone around me.” - Georgina (she/her) “As someone who identifies as non-binary, my fluidity of sexuality also aligns with my own gender in that I am able to love people for who they are from where I am, and there is no label required other than queer.” - Genevieve (they/them) “I grew up thinking women to women relationships involve competition and envy, but once I opened up as a bisexual, I suddenly saw women as someone I want to impress and seduce, and not outcompete. This has changed my outlook and approach with half of my human interactions overall and I am glad I can now fully cherish and champion my fellow ladies. And yes, sometimes I really fancy them.” - Anaïs (she/her) Most importantly though, what brings me the most joy about this entire journey, is seeing other people blossom into themselves and realising there are alternative ways of living your life. Emily Horton (she/her/they) Emily is a writer, speaker and the founder of the inclusive communication consultancy More Diverse Voices. She helps create and deliver anti-oppressive and inclusive communication strategies that build trust, educate and empower. You can find out more about Emily's work here. If you would like to book Emily 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. 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 Jamie Lowe provides insight on Queer Financial Wellbeing, and how we can all employ planning techniques to make our money work better for us. by Jamie Lowe I’ve heard a number of rumours about LGBTQ+ people’s spending habits. Apparently, gay couples spend more on luxuries because they have two incomes and no children. Can you imagine my eyes roll?! Although it might be true for some people, couples might decide not to have children no matter what their relationship preferences are. The truth is that despite being part of the same community, we have a diverse range of lifestyles, and our experiences can differ greatly. The one thing that unites us is the need to break free from societal norms, as most of us were raised with the expectation of being cisgender and heterosexual. Sadly, this often means that queer individuals are accustomed to feeling uncomfortable, which is devastating. This is why I am reaching out to other queer people to discuss finances. Here are some key factors that can influence the financial situation of queer professionals: 1. Lack of Education. There has been a lack of teaching in schools about managing money. If you were never taught about all these areas of finances it can cause us to feel shame. Moreover, the media's primary motive is to generate revenue, which can exacerbate the confusion and leave people feeling overwhelmed. This, in turn, can have a negative impact on their mental well-being. Despite the legalisation of same-sex marriage, queer individuals still face numerous social challenges that differ from those of cisgender heterosexual couples. 2. Property Prices and Location. There is safety in numbers, so we tend to live in queer-friendly places like Brighton, London and Manchester. Property prices are higher than average in these areas so if we have more of our money tied up in property, we could have less disposable income to put savings aside for an emergency or as a retirement fund. 3. Career Progression & Work Culture at an Employer. Family issues and discrimination at work can prevent us from fulfilling our career aspirations. You might not be able to go into higher education without support. Don’t get me wrong, there are Alan Sugars of the world who find a way without education but his story is powerful because he’s overcome challenges. Another way queerness can impact our careers is discrimination at work. From daily microaggressions like being spoken over, to lack of suitable healthcare policies, as well as direct discrimination linked to longer-term development opportunities and promotions. If our careers don’t progress at the same rate as non-LGBTQ+ people, we simply won’t earn as much. 4. Self-employment. I’m both queer and neurodivergent, and after a year of self-employment, I don’t think I could see myself working for someone else again because I really value the flexibility it gives me. Self-employment comes with challenges though, especially financial ones. It’s hard to manage instability if your earnings aren’t consistent, not everyone will be able to adjust their budget from month to month easily, or put money aside in good months to spend when their income isn’t as high. If you’re starting a family, neurodivergent and/or transitioning there are a variety of reasons why you could spend money on private healthcare. This is another reason why we might not have as much disposable income as cishet people. Solutions for Queer Professionals and Manageable Financial Health: When we put something on the to-do list and have it sit there, looking at us and taunting us, it takes a toll. Instead, we should proactively be working through our lists, and if we need help from other people to do this, that’s fine, too. Have you ever heard that phrase, ‘how long something takes is the amount of time you have to do it in’? You could give yourself a date to get these things done. Make it a very manageable date when you know you’re less busy. To me, health and wealth go hand in hand. If you don’t feel in control of your finances, it can weigh heavily on your mind and affect your mental health. In 2022 40% of UK employees said that financial concerns were their biggest worry and 24% said that they worry about money every day.¹ So please take time for self-care and look after your financial well-being today and tomorrow. Queer or not, families come in all shapes and sizes. Our legal system was built on the assumption that people are married and have children. Legal structure favors traditional family structures, consider legal options for non-traditional families. Pay attention to bills and manage debts to avoid future consequences.. Do you know where your money is, what it’s doing for you, and are you ensuring your debts are manageable and you can look forward to a comfortable future? Can you do anything to make them better to avoid late fees or high-interest rates? Also, things like retirement planning and life insurance are things you have to proactively seek out or you can miss out on them completely. What Can We Do To Make Our Money Work For Us? Know what benefits you might be entitled to. Places like the Citizens Advice Bureau can help. Do you have an emergency fund? Having some cash put aside will do wonders for your mental health. It usually makes people feel safe and independent which improves confidence. Financial experts generally recommend having 3-6 months' worth of living expenses. Most people have pensions set up by their employers. If you're still unsure whether you can retire when you want to, you can explore options to consolidate or move your pensions to a better place. Having your own place has pros and cons but one big advantage is that most people will have a mortgage that’s designed to be paid off before you’re retired so you don’t need to worry about paying rent when you’ve stopped working. That puts less stress on saving for retirement because you won’t have to pay rent. Making sure you have a Will means you can be clear on who has control of your finances and other important things i.e. any dependents when you’ve gone and insurance policies have options for this too. If you’re long-term single or choose not to share finances with your partner(s) you need to think about your independence. If you are reliant on your income, what happens if it’s not there? There are insurances that you can put in place to insure your income in case you are ill or in an accident such as income protection, accident, sickness and unemployment insurance and private medical insurance to get you back on your feet asap. People who help with money haven’t always been the most approachable for queer people. Older cis-men in suits who traditionally work in financial advice don’t generally give off the most diversity-friendly vibes. Seek out more diverse financial advisors to help you feel more at ease and access the financial support your need. The Importance of LGBTQ+ Inclusivity in Financial Services. It wasn’t too long ago that a gay couple applying for a mortgage could only apply as friends, take an HIV test and give details on their personal life that their straight counterparts wouldn’t have had to. And getting life insurance would have been a similar experience. But we’re starting to see a shift so it’s getting easier to find help. I’m happy to say that people living with HIV can get life insurance now. And I know some insurance providers are looking at how they can make applications more user-friendly for trans and non-binary people. We’ve still got a way to go in some areas but the more we use services and are able to feedback on our experience to providers, the more we can demand change. Take advantage of the progress we've made and explore financial services that are LGBTQ+ inclusive. Jamie Lowe (he/they) Jamie is a financial planner providing specialist help to the LGBTQ+ community. He is on a personal mission to encourage people to take charge of their money. Find out more 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!

Microaggressions negatively impact our workplaces every day, but we can all contribute to eradicating them. We've come up with five powerful steps for allies to take action. Microaggressions are defined as ‘subtle, often unconscious acts, words or behaviours that can communicate negative messages’ - often directed towards minority or marginalised groups. While they may seem like small, throwaway comments or innocuous statements, microaggressions can have a big impact when you are on the receiving end of them. These individual prejudiced comments accumulate over time and contribute to minority stress, where being part of a marginalised group impacts a person’s mental health and well-being. Left unchecked, microaggressions will negatively impact a workplace’s culture, creating an environment where employees from marginalised groups don’t feel psychologically safe or able to bring their full selves to work. In this guide, we’ll discuss some tangible advice on how to spot, interrupt, and speak up against microaggressions - as we strive towards creating a more inclusive, respectful and welcoming workplace for everyone. “I’m trying to be open and honest about the micro-aggressions and barriers that I may face within the workplace… If we don’t have these conversations in the workplace, then I can’t show up for myself, which then will allow me to show up for others. So I have to bring [all of my intersectional life experiences with me, as much as I possibly can.” - Chloë Davies 1. Spotting Microaggressions Microaggressions can come in various forms, such as jokes or comments that rely on stereotypes, exclusion from group activities or discussions, or using language that makes assumptions about someone’s identity. These can be directed towards individuals or groups, and are often said by people who are ignorant to the fact that what they are saying is harmful or discriminatory. “[My allies at work always remind to do this] work of explaining, patiently teaching, and transforming unconscious biases into conscious inclusion – or at least into consciousness.” - Jen Polzin 2. Self-Reflection Creating a better work environment starts with ourselves: we must reflect on our own conscious and unconscious prejudices. Take some time to think about your past actions and language and identify times where you may have been insensitive to a colleague or contributed to a negative working culture. Having noted these instances, you can mindfully correct your own behaviour in the future and notice when others make the same mistakes. Let your experience shifting your own mindset inform how you address inappropriate behaviour in colleagues. “No one is perfect, and we all have a duty to continuously learn and educate ourselves by considering how others may feel in specific scenarios. While we may not get it right every time, instances where have got it wrong present incredibly important learning opportunities.” - Ryan Zaman 3. Upstander Strategies Interrupting microaggressions can be challenging, but there are several upstander strategies that you can use to speak up effectively: Try being direct by speaking up and addressing the issue head-on. When using this strategy you should be mindful of your tone and delivery. If the person saying the microaggression feels judged or called out, they are more likely to react defensively and not take on board what you have to say. You can reference our calling in examples to ensure that being direct results in a teachable moment. Distracting involves changing the topic or using humour to redirect the conversation. While this can be a useful method to stop harmful conversations in the moment, it is important that some further action is taken to address the behaviour afterwards, whether it’s calling in the person yourself or asking the victim if they would like to report the situation to HR. Discussing invites others to engage in the conversation to share their perspectives. Inviting in additional external perspectives will also lend credibility to your criticism of a microaggression. You can also delegate the responsibility of addressing the issue to someone else. This strategy may be necessary if you don’t feel well enough educated on an issue to speak about it or if the comment has personally affected you on a personal level. Having allies you can rely on in your workplace allows you to spread the weight of responsibility for addressing bigoted behaviour. Sometimes you may want to delay and take time to reflect on the situation, before addressing it later when you feel ready to do so. 4. Using a catchphrase Having a catchphrase prepared can make it easier to jump in and neutralise a harmful conversation quickly. There are several different approaches to catchphrases you can try: Ask for clarification. e.g. “What leads you to that conclusion?” Create a learning opportunity. e.g. “Let me offer some perspective on why that language can be harmful…” Refer to company values. e.g. “That type of behaviour doesn't align with our company culture.” 5. Deescalating While upstander strategies can be effective, they may not always work, and people may react negatively to being called out for their behaviour. In such instances, try to respond thoughtfully and with compassion. Stay Calm: Remain calm and professional when someone reacts negatively to your intervention. Getting angry or defensive may escalate the situation and make it more challenging to resolve. Refusing to meet their anger may also help to diffuse their emotional reaction more quickly. Validate Their Feelings: Listen to what they have to say and acknowledge their feelings. Even if you don't agree with their perspective, making them feel heard will encourage them to take on board what you have to say. “No matter how we ourselves feel about a situation, there are always the feelings of others involved too. In the same way that you want to be heard, it’s important to show them that you’re making an effort to see their side, and not responding purely from a place of emotion.” - Tolu Osinubi Circle Back Later: Offer to discuss the issue further at a later time. This allows them to reflect on their behaviour and may lead to a more productive conversation. Seek Support: If the situation becomes too tense or the person continues to react negatively, seek support from a manager, HR representative, or another colleague. Conclusion Everyone has the power to shape and influence the dynamics and culture of their workplace. While it may require some practice, interrupting microaggressions is a valuable skill that allows you to support your colleagues from marginalised communities and ensure they feel safe and respected at work. If you’re looking for more ways to create an inclusive workplace why not check out our guide on how to better your pronoun skills or 7 steps you can take to become an active ally? 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!

Coco (from Talk to Coco) and Michael Stephens discuss the intersection of sexuality and mental health as well as the delicate process of managing major change in life. About Coco: Coco, from Talk to Coco is a non-binary, mental health activist and writer, who has created a safe space for so many people all around the world, to have someone to talk to and share their experiences, feelings and thoughts with. To be a person people can relate with, who suffers from both mental and physical disabilities. Talk to Coco, have been published in books and also, writes articles on mental health and lgbtq topics for magazines, as well as visual contributions for the BBC. Mental health and lgbtq advocacy is the key root of all her work, working with universities, dance collectives and also one-to-one - giving support, advice and mentoring; on self-acceptance, self-love and breaking all stigmas attached to mental health and not feeling alone - for all people that need it so, that they feel they have someone who listens and understands them, with no judgment, just pure love and transparency. Talk To Coco's Linktree @talktococo About Michael: Michael is a mental health and LGBTQ+ advocate. He's also the founder of WE CREATE SPACE, promoting the importance and value of self-care, specifically within the creative and LGBTQ+ communities. michaelstephens.co @michaeledwardstephens Follow WE CREATE SPACE on social: @wecreatespace.co View upcoming workshops. Join our community for free to hear when we release new workshops.

We sat down with diversity, equity and inclusion specialist Natasha Porizkova, an attendee of our Who Am I? LBTQ leadership retreat and now We Create Space team member, to hear about her experience and how she's used our teachings to drive change in her own life. Who are you? My name is Natasha Porizkova and I am a queer, Latinx woman with hidden mental health disabilities and a love for humans. We are all deserving of compassion and kindness, and I am a firm believer in the idea that what you put out into the world is what you will receive. I’ve always joked that I have “nothing going for me” because I’m not a man, not white, not straight, and grew up low income. Despite having “nothing going for me,” I have had a remarkable life. For work, I am in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion with an emphasis on disrupting systems that do not serve underserved communities. With a background in marketing and content creation, I shifted from one industry to the other with a mission to bring the two together; maximising impact and change. Detaching from work completely is vital for me and my well-being. I believe that we're not on this planet to work. We are on this planet to live and embrace our passions and loves. I love my family, dancing, building with LEGO, beach time, doing puzzles, gardening, and traveling–to name a few! And while I love traveling, I love most being at home with my fiancé and our sassy pup Kody in our home in Boston, MA, or back home in my parent’s cozy abode in Dallas, TX. How did you find yourself doing what you're doing? I’ve always been a big music fan and wanted to work in the entertainment industry growing up. When I went off to school, I successfully worked in the music industry, which led me to an incredible job post-college working for a performing arts centre. Working at the centre was an exciting experience, and I loved my time there, but it was during that time that I discovered DEI. I had no idea DEI was a career path. I thought the work of DEI was a moral imperative, a passion project. Once I saw the work of DEI, I could not un-see it, and I decided to shift my career path. What have you learnt along the way? I have learned even in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion, there are people just trying to make a dime. I realise income in the for-profit (even non-profit) space is key to continue to function, but I don’t believe profits should be the sole focus. This work is about lasting change. Disruption. It’s not about what is industry standard and what everyone else is doing. It’s about being the change you want to see for the betterment of all employees. Not everyone is in the space for the same reason or has the same beliefs. Just because someone may claim to be passionate about the work of DEI, it may not always be the same in practice. While I know that now, it was a difficult and important lesson for me to learn and experience. Why did you join the "Who am I?" programme? Michael and I connected via LinkedIn in late 2020. He and I decided to meet one another for a virtual coffee because I was interested in the work he and We Create Space was doing, and when I met him, I instantly became a fan. He was (and is) genuine, working to make positive change for the LGBTQ+ community. When I heard about the “Who am I” programme, the experience sounded impactful and exhausting in the necessary way for self-growth. Not long after that, I met Maylis and knew that I personally needed to be a part of the programme. Did you make any changes based off of the "work" you did? After my retreat, I decided to invest in myself again by returning to therapy. I had been in therapy before and wanted to return but hadn’t taken the leap. My retreat was the push I needed to invest in myself in that way once again and continue to work on maintaining a healthy mental health. What relationship do you have to the LGBTQ+ community? I identify as lesbian or queer. I’m not that fussed about the labels; I know that’s not the case for all, but as a straight-passing individual, I'm most keen on people knowing that I'm a proud member of the queer community. For my fellow LGBTQ+ community, I find it is a breath of fresh air to realise you're not alone. There is comfort in community. For those who are not in the community, it’s imperative for me to share because representation matters. In the U.S., 59% of non-LGBTQ+ employees believe it’s unprofessional to discuss sexual orientation or gender identity in the workplace (data from CATALYST). I strongly disagree. Without representation, this belief will never change and society will continue to expect LGBTQ+ individuals to look a certain way. There isn’t just one-way to look queer, be queer and live queer, and I want to show that. What's the biggest challenge you're currently working through? Currently, I have been working through what are my next career steps. I'm in a beautiful limbo at the moment with endless possibilities. There are several doors opening and opportunities presenting themselves. I feel wildly lucky for all that the universe is bringing to me, but I need to sit and decide what I need and the right path to take. I will say it’s a very fortunate challenge to work through! Have you learnt anything new about yourself since the retreat? For me, the retreat reaffirmed an important piece about myself. A necessary reminder that I need to trust myself. I have always been a confident person, and I wish I could spread the gift to others. It’s a beautiful gift to have, but I wasn’t owning it as much as I should have. The retreat reminded me of my confidence and that I know what I need. I need to listen to myself and believe in myself; exactly the same thing I need to do to decide the next steps in my career. How do you continue to "Create Space"? The retreat was a truly spectacular experience for me because it brought to the forefront the need I have for movement. Zacha’s somatic movements and flow from movement to drawing to writing was a beautiful experience that left me uncomfortable and enlightened. Movement creates a space for me to express myself, let go, and be one with myself. After the retreat, I continue to practice moving. Whether by myself in the living room or a dance or yoga class, I let myself move as I need. linkedin.com/in/natashaporizkova @natasha.paige Are you interested in joining one of our retreats? Our 'Who Am I?' retreats take place throughout the year. We have tailored iterations of the programme to suit the needs of differing identity groups. Each person can attend the group that feels right for them. To stay updated about upcoming workshop and retreat dates, please subscribe to our mailing list here.

Our panellists discuss how they see bodily autonomy impacting the future of inclusion in the workplace. In this panel discussion, we explored what organisations can do to champion bodily autonomy and what support and resources are needed to meaningfully carry this out. Overview of Session: Bodily autonomy is an umbrella term which describes the freedoms and informed choices that each person has the right to make about and for their body at any time. For many LGBTQ+ people, currently, it not only speaks to the freedom to explore and express gender in a way that affirms who they are, or the freedom to choose how to form families, it also considers freedom from all forms of state repression, to move within and across borders, as well as the freedom to access necessary care and services to sustain their wellbeing. How these freedoms are perceived and understood today is critical in (re)defining inclusive behaviour and policies that make our workplaces safer, thriving spaces, for LGBTQ+ employees locally and globally. Watch this session to... - Understand bodily autonomy and how to support the freedoms of others - Contextualise global legal restrictions on gender identity and sexual orientation - Reflect on the impact of these issues on LGBTQ+ mental health - Apply an intersectional lens in building safer workplaces for LGBTQ+ employees - Learn to model inclusive behaviour and share tools for colleagues to do the same - Use the safe space to discuss, learn and get curious Learn more about Lisa Marie Hall's work. Learn more about Jude Guaitamacchi's work. Learn more about Doug Graffeo's work. Learn more about Jolinda Johnson'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!

Polo Lonergan writes about the importance of accessibility being built-in from the ground up to improve the workplace experience and inclusion of all employees. by Polo Lonergan In my first two years of university, I survived. I partied, but nowhere near as much as my housemates as it took me many days to recover my energy each time. I routinely fell asleep mid-conversation, head on the table. My housemates were used to it and continued without lowering their volume, knowing it wouldn’t wake me. I was always, always in pain. At some point it became untenable and a doctor suggested that I should see about getting help as a disabled student. It had never occurred to me. Within a couple of weeks I received an extra monitor, a table to work on my laptop from bed, and free taxis to lectures. Life-changing: my grades shot up within a month. Before that, I hadn’t realised that I was navigating an environment not designed for me. As I continue through my career with fluctuating but ever-present chronic health problems, that feeling has never quite left me. Who are our offices designed for, and why do we shape our days in the way we do? Why do so many of us have the perception that being present in an office is the optimal choice for everyone’s careers? With the corporate world in flux, I’m convinced we can use this time to change the way we create and adapt our working culture so that no one has to feel out of place, no matter how their bodies and minds function. My body has been through a lot. As a child, I had malfunctioning kidneys, mild incontinence, and epilepsy, so I was already familiar with crusty hospital food. At the age of eleven, I broke my leg femur twice in four months - once in a road traffic accident, and then again when the leg refused to heal properly. Then in 2011 I spent a week bedbound with the worst headache I could ever have imagined: the urgent care doctor told me it was sinusitis, then my GP told me it was stress. Thankfully, I asked an optician to check why I couldn’t see properly, and he sent me to the hospital immediately. Turns out I had an uncommon, incurable disease which accounted for many of the issues I had faced before. Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) is an excess of cerebro-spinal fluid in the head/spine that results in headaches and other pain, difficulties with vision (and vision loss for some), pulsatile tinnitus, and intense fatigue. Though weight loss helped me manage some symptoms, I still have numerous difficulties with my eyes and deal with pain and fatigue to varying levels every single day. All this makes my experience in the office space much harder than it needs to be, and easier than it once was; having spent ten years in retail and call-centre environments, I want to stress that I know office workers are already fortunate compared to some environments. Last year I had surgery to give me a better chance at getting chronic severe anaemia under control. Six weeks off work felt terrifying; I would return to find my role unnecessary, I thought, or people would judge me for needing it at all. I realised I was afraid because I had done such a good job at hiding how chronically unwell I was that this was a form of ‘coming out’ as disabled. My own internalised ableism was harming me: it was easier being out as non-binary and queer as at least then I didn’t have to worry about (most) people assuming I couldn’t do my job. Disabled people navigate a world not designed for us, and while no one is designing our work spaces with the intention of limiting access, that’s still the end result. It’s time to open up our idea of work beyond presenteeism to give more people the space to thrive. There is no one right answer. Sharing space with others while working has its clear advantages: our quick chats can put energy and connection into your day. That connection can often facilitate collaborative work more efficiently than online professional communication. For some, working in an office provides a social outlet and a way to build morale to get through the more difficult or mundane daily tasks. I enjoy larger events where I can connect with my colleagues face-to-face, and it has made important relationships much smoother. However, did we learn enough from three years of many corporate spaces moving to a work-from-home model? When we saw our workplaces adjust immediately to a virtual environment, many disabled people realised that those accommodations were already possible in practice, and only impossible through culture. To return to the previous style of work without these discussions can feel discouraging and ultimately alienating. We have designed our office spaces and working arrangements with only abled people in mind. This is not good enough. In the last few years, we have had the opportunity to expose opportunities to change the way we work. Many of those adjustments would make it much easier for some people to thrive. Imagine a workplace where each person can be trusted to uncover the best option for themselves. Instead of being required to be present in the office a certain amount of days per month, we could assess our own health and abilities day by day without the assumption of laziness or “quiet quitting”. I have consistently worked hard through these strange years; arguably I have been more productive as I can reduce the effect of pain and fatigue on my work. I can sit in the dark when I’m having difficulties with my vision. I can wear earplugs or turn down the headset volume when I can’t handle noise. I know I’m not the only one, and none of this means I’m less invested in doing well in my role. In fact, all of this makes me much, much better at my job than when I dragged my painful, overstimulated body into the office five days a week. While we’re at it, what other futures can we imagine? What if accessibility became a moot point? We could build offices with it as standard, so that few accommodations are needed for people with various needs. We could bring disability activists into the planning of these spaces and look for opportunities to create a new standard. We could provide screen readers, braille signage, and low-light spaces. We could uncover new models of workdays, bending the hours around our needs as well as the needs of the company. We could encourage remote work when it’s the best fit for an individual, no matter the reason. We could normalise and encourage virtual connection between colleagues and provide mentoring opportunities to avoid any stagnation of career due to less physical presence in the office. This conversation is an important first step, and what matters now is using this unique opportunity to change the shape of our office culture before it becomes solid and unchangeable once again. Together, we can shape a future where no one feels out of place, and where the true measure of success lies in the fulfilment and well-being of each person, rather than conforming to outdated norms. Polo Lonergan (they/them) Polo is a queer, non-binary person navigating the intersection of activism and corporate culture. With years of experience as a queer community builder in their area of Canada, Polo is focused on bringing the same enthusiasm and support to the workplace as an out(-spoken) agender/non-binary person. You can find more information about Polo's work here. If you would like to book Polo 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 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!

Roxy Murray shows us how fashion continues to be a valuable form of self-expression in light of their experience living with Multiple Sclerosis. By Roxy Murray In a world that often and prioritises certain standards of beauty and normative identities. It can be challenging to identify as both queer and disabled and to express one’s true identity. My name is Roxy Murray, and I always knew I was queer from an early age but I never knew I was going to add disabled to the list of my identities. I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2014. Multiple Sclerosis is a disease that affects your nervous system and brain. Living with MS can bring unique challenges to one’s life including symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty walking, vision problems, mental health struggles with self perception and bladder issues to name a few. It’s known as a snowflake disease as no two individuals deal with the same effects. As someone who is living at the intersection of multiple marginalised identities it has brought a list of unique experiences into my life and many obstacles that I've had to learn to navigate. Through my personal journey, I have discovered style can be a powerful tool in embracing my identity and reclaiming my sense of power through my style choices and how I choose to adorn my body. I studied fashion styling at university, but after I became disabled I had to stop working within an industry that wasn’t accessible and although they did embrace queer individuals to a certain extent I had not seen many queer disabled individuals gracing a catwalk or the pages of my fashion magazines. Let alone working within the wider industry itself . However I could not predict how at least learning the skill of styling was going to play such a transformative role in my life, allowing me to empower my queer, disabled identity and navigate the world with confidence. Ultimately, defying the obstacles posed by my MS and celebrating my true self. Through my exploration of my own style I’ve learned that we can showcase our queer disabled identities with pride, challenge societal norms and create space for representing ourselves authentically. The act of intentionally curating our appearance allows us to defy societal expectations and demonstrate that queer disabled individuals are not defined solely by our disabilities or limited by certain fashion choices. We can assert our unique, personal style that transcends conventional boundaries and breaks the barriers of societal deems normal. By being visible, we contribute to a greater sense of community and provide role models for others who may be searching for their own identities. Choosing clothing that reflects our authentic selves allows us to feel more comfortable in our own skin and it becomes this statement of self love, reminding us that our bodies and identities are worthy of celebration. As a disabled individual, this is so important to me. Every morning, I would wake up feeling disconnected from myself, unable to dress in the way that truly expressed my identity and brought me joy. Numbness and tingling would course through my left side, while my leg began dragging behind me, a stark reminder that my body was changing and limiting my mobility. Accepting these changes and the loss of my previous range of motion was an incredibly difficult process. I was entering a new stage in my journey, so I needed to embrace my new normal. I started to find myself in bland lounge clothing that didn’t speak to my queer identity or my personal style. And when I needed to move around I had to use grey NHS style crutches. This wasn’t filling me with joy, and as an individual who feels so much empowerment through my style choices. I honestly believe it wasn’t helping my healing or mental health either. Living with MS has necessitated constant adaptation to accommodate my changing abilities, and style has played a crucial role in this process by allowing me to choose fashion to meet my specific needs. I took to the internet to look for clothes that would better suit my identity. I needed fashion that brought me joy but that I could afford to buy especially living in the UK. This is where I first came across adaptive fashion and mobility aids. My journey started online, where I came across a Canadian invention, a really cool bright yellow mobility aid that looked like a bike. It helped to ease my pain and filled my Pansexual body with joy–yellow being one of my happy colours. From there, I began to explore other mobility aid brands, and one of my favorites is Neo Walks—a small company that creates mobility canes designed to infuse disabled individuals' lives with a delightful blend of disability pride, fashion, and queer joy.They have recently appeared in Vogue UK and on the Hollywood red carpet with celebrities such as Selmar Blair and Christina Applegate championing the brand. With the rise of adaptable clothing, lines and inclusive design, we’re finally starting to find stylish options that prioritise comfort, accessibility and functionality for everyone but especially queer disabled individuals. From easy to wear fabrics to adapted closures and adjustable fits, these clothing options allow us to dress with confidence, accommodating specific needs that we have without compromising our style. This is both refreshing and acknowledges disability, but also embraces the intersectionality of our queer identities. It recognises that queer disabled individuals exist within a complex web of identities and fashion, becoming a means of expressing the multifaceted nature of who we are. Through adaptive clothing lines that cater to different body types, gender expressions and styles, we can celebrate our intersexuality in showcasing the beauty and diversity within the disabled queer community. My journey didn't stop there, though. When I delved further into adaptive fashion, I discovered that there were only a handful of brands owned by disabled individuals. Most of them focused on selling essential items like underwear and workwear, which, while beautiful and necessary, highlighted the urgent need for increased funding and support to push the boundaries of stylish, adaptive design. I believe that style and a focus on being stylish will play a crucial role in navigating this transformative change and ushering in a new era of fashionable adaptability for the next generation. So I started to use my voice as a trained stylist to talk about what needs to change and how including queer and disabled voices in the creation of this would mean better branding and clothing options that connected with us as consumers especially when statistics predict more than a third of the disability community also identifies as LGBT+. I do feel designers and the industry professionals in the space are listening and trying to shape the adaptive revolution to be more of an empowering disabled-led community. Designers like Victoria Jenkins from Unhidden clothing put on an amazing show at London Fashion Week this year. They had individuals with a range of disabilities and sexual identities grace the runway to showcase their designs which were both functional, colourful and fashionable. I was lucky enough to be one of the chosen few to have this honour to represent our community. As well as British Vogue's May cover special series and article which featured an array of disabled icons, such as Aaron Phillip Rose, Selma Blair, Fats Timbo, Sinead Burke and many more. This powerful feature aimed to redefine the limits of fashion, demonstrating that one can be disabled, fashionable, and queer. When I embarked on my journey with MS and sought to redefine my personal style, I could never have imagined the remarkable transformation that would unfold within the fashion industry itself in just a few short years. It is truly awe-inspiring to witness the evolution of an industry I believed was forever out of my reach, now actively carving out spaces that not only embrace my queer identity but also honor and accommodate my disabled identity. This profound shift not only validates my own experiences but also paves the way for a more inclusive and diverse fashion landscape. Roxy Murray (she/they) Roxy is a fierce advocate for disability rights and sex positivity as a pansexual person living with Multiple Sclerosis. She's the founder of The Sick and Sickening Podcast, sharing unfiltered stories about living with disability and illness. Roxy's mission is to empower disabled and chronically ill individuals using fashion as a tool of activism - creating space and pushing for visibility for people from ethnically diverse backgrounds and the LGBTQIA+ community. You can find more information about Roxy's work here. If you would like to book Roxy 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 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!

Mark Travis Rivera writes about his experience with Cerebral Palsy, and how it intersects with his Queerness in all parts of his life. by Mark Travis Rivera Crippled at Birth. While some people become disabled, others, like myself, are born disabled. My mother gave birth to me at five and a half months, extremely premature and weighing in at one pound, my mere survival was a miracle, and I would grow up as a child with cerebral palsy. While my physical disability has become less apparent, partly because of surgery, over 15 years of physical therapy, and my dance career, my cerebral palsy will not stop being a part of who I am and how I navigate life. Long before I discovered my queerness or understood the concept of race, ethnicity, or socio-economic class, being born premature and living as a disabled child taught me what it meant to be “othered.” Being othered at such a young age taught me how to develop tough skin and gave me the audacity to be seen and heard for exactly who I am in all areas of my life, including how I show up professionally. Crippled at Work. As a full-time creative entrepreneur, I’m proud to exist at multiple intersections as a queer, disabled, Latinx femme man. While I have had many successes in my career, I can’t help but think of how my intersectional identities and outward expression of my authentic self have prevented me from entering certain rooms. Due to anti-discrimination laws, companies didn’t tell me this was why I was passed over for a job or didn’t get a promotion. Still, it was the microaggressions and sometimes overt aggressions that I experienced that reminded me that who I was and how I showed up was an issue for some people. During the interview process for my first role after graduating from university, I had to make many decisions to ensure how I showed up didn’t negatively impact the prospect of getting the job. At the time, I opted to wear a suit and tie, which is the norm, though the societal stance on professional attire is evolving. I kept my nails on but painted them nude to prevent them from being too distracting, and I chose not to wear makeup. While transgender, gender nonconforming, and non-binary identities were just beginning to emerge in the lexicon of conversations in everyday life during the time of my interview at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, many people were and continue to be uninformed, misinformed, or confused about what those identities mean. The woman responsible for hiring me, Rosann Santos, an Afro-Latina from the Bronx, admitted that she didn’t know what gender nonconforming meant as it related to my attire and that she hired me because of my professional experience and skills. After explaining that I wore dresses, heels, and makeup, she responded, “You can wear whatever you like. There is no official dress code policy, as long as your body parts aren’t showing…wear what you want.” On my first day on the job, I wore makeup but dressed more conservatively because I was not convinced she or the school was genuinely ready for a person like me working at the college. Later that day, I told her about my identity and how I express myself through clothes. She assured me that I was supported because she doesn’t believe people can do their best work if they can’t be their authentic selves in the workplace. The next day, I showed up in a dress and heels. When I had to use the bathroom, I expressed my anxiety about using the men’s room when I was wearing dresses because of the anticipated stares and remarks that guys may say as they saw me entering the men’s restroom. Upon expressing my concerns, she gave me access to the all-gender, single-use bathroom in the wellness center. I would spend the next three and half years working at John Jay because I was supported and encouraged to be my whole self. I didn’t have to suppress, alter, or deny who I was. I just had to be true to who I was so I could do good work. Crippled and Proud. We live in an unprecedented time–for marginalized people worldwide. We aren’t simply fighting for equality or a more equitable society where we all have the same fundamental human rights and liberties; in some countries, we’re fighting to maintain the freedoms we were guaranteed. For instance, when the Supreme Court decided to go against precedent and overturned the Roe V. Wade decision in the United States, we started to see the rolling back of reproductive rights. Returning the reproductive right to abortion to the states to decide has led to a handful of states passing some of the most extreme abortion bans. This ruling also made other marginalized people worry about their human rights, leading to the US government codifying marriage equality. President Biden signed the bill to ensure LGBTQ+ Americans don’t lose the right to marry who they love. While I have had many successes in my career, I can’t help but think of how my intersectional identities and outward expression of my authentic self have prevented me from entering certain rooms. As an openly disabled, queer, femme Latinx man, none of this surprises me. In the US and around the globe, there has been a dramatic increase in anti-LGBTQ+ laws that aim to dehumanize, restrict fundamental rights, and in the most extreme cases, kill people who are LGBTQ+. It is no wonder that these attempts to roll back civil liberties and human rights have led to increased suicide attempts and mental health challenges for LGBTQ+ youth. For many trans people in the US, unemployment rates are higher, and studies indicate that many trans people are underemployed and more likely to experience workplace discrimination. Through My Lens. If workplaces want to be equitable, they must examine how their culture fosters discrimination against marginalized people. Despite disabled LGBTQ+ people existing, more often than not, disabled people are dehumanized and desexualized. The work ahead is plenty, and while it can be frustrating at times, I am hopeful that a more inclusive and equitable workplace is possible if we all commit to doing our part to dismantle systems that aim to keep us oppressed. I am a proud Latinx man. I am a proud queer man. I am a proud disabled man. I am a proud femme man. I am all of who I am, and I don’t plan on altering my authenticity to “fit in and belong.” To quote researcher-storyteller Dr. Brené Brown, “True belonging doesn’t require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.” Mark Travis Rivera (he/him) As a professional storyteller and consultant, Mark Travis Rivera focuses on intersectionality through the lens of a person who is a Latinx, queer, gender non-conforming, disabled man. He has addressed audiences at various institutions of higher learning, including Harvard, MIT, Rutgers, and NYU. As a diversity, equity, and inclusion professional and facilitator, he has spoken to corporate audiences virtually in the UK, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, Israel, China, and India, just to name a few. You can find more information about Mark's work here. If you would like to book Mark 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 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!

Voices from our global leadership speaker collective share the We Create Space queer manifesto. WE CREATE SPACE is committed to championing the importance of queer spaces and queer voices 365 days a year - it’s the essence of who we are. We've created this video manifesto with the help of our global speaker collective as a reminder that Pride is not just for the month of June, but is a year-long commitment and endeavour. Will you commit to taking up space with us? The We Create Space Manifesto. Taking Up Space: Queer 365. Queer spaces have always dared to creatively challenge ‘what’s possible’ - places where we are able to express ourselves freely, learn and grow as a community, and as individuals. They are essential for us to thrive personally, professionally, and fundamentally help pave the way for a more sustainable queer-inclusive future. Pride must signify Progress. And, in order to evolve the movement’s legacy, we too, today, must continue to fight emphatically. We must cause cultural commotion, be engaged, be visible and vocal. When we take up space, we empower ourselves and model a way forward for other Queer people who haven't seen themselves reflected in media or society. In doing so, we honour our queer ancestors and carry the torch of progress forward. We know that our Queerness doesn’t disappear when Pride season ends, or when the rainbow flag comes down. We deserve the space to be ourselves 365 days a year, not just for the days that society publicly celebrates our identities. Now more than ever we need queer spaces - ones that allow us to rest and recharge, to self-reflect and centre ourselves, to propagate community and solidarity. As part of the We Create Space Queer Leadership Collective, we’re committed to taking up space, this month and every month - to create a world that is just and equitable for all LGBTQ+ people. A world where individuals lead with love and influence positive social change. And a world where we can shine as individuals, celebrating and embracing our unique gifts and perspectives. Will you join us? A special thanks to Yassine Senghor, Erica Rose, Michael Edward Stephens, Taofique Folarin, Shawn Aaron, Jennifer Polzin, Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, Andre Johnsen, Marley Conte, Ale Rebon, David Kam, Andrew Seedall, Calvin Stovell, Christopher McDonnell, Sophia Emmerich, Dr. Christopher Owen, CK and Bekky Harrison for contributing to this video. 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!

Jua O'Kane shares with us their experience of polyamory and how it has helped them develop as a more self-aware, independent individual. by Jua O'Kane I felt my first inclinations towards polyamory when I was a teenager and struggling to commit to a closed relationship with my then potential boyfriend. I’d only been with men up to that point and I wanted the freedom to explore my sexuality if the opportunity arose. Caught between my affection for him and my desperation to explore my queerness, I wondered why it had to be either or. It’s been almost eight years since then and I’ve spent the majority of that time in a mix of open relationships, having multiple committed partners and solo poly dating. The optics of talking about polyamory as someone who is bisexual or attracted to more than one gender can be complicated. I’m wary of feeding stereotypes of the greedy, unfaithful bisexual, unable to satisfy their sexuality while in a monogamous relationship. I’ve been monogamous in the past and I probably could be again in the future - my choice to practise polyamory has infinitely more to do with embracing the joy of human connection than it does “satiating” my attraction to multiple genders. Polyamory has also been a vital tool for my own personal growth. I’ve struggled with codependency throughout my life - I’d fall into a relationship, get deeply attached and then forget how to take care of myself or be my own person. Getting intentional with how I practise non-monogamy and navigate romantic relationships in general is what broke the cycle for me. It started with my long-term girlfriend breaking up with me a month before Christmas in 2021. We were long distance and I wasn’t seeing anyone else at the time, which manifested as intense codependent behaviours on my side that were tearing us apart, as much as we loved each other. She told me, in a metaphor I’ve repeated countless times to other people in similar situations: “You’ve been drowning for a while now, and I keep trying to hold you up but now I’m starting to drown too. It’s time to stop treading water and focus on getting to shore.” I travelled home for Christmas, cried countless tears and tried to explain to my mum that no, this wasn’t like my last break up, this was different. By January I had channelled my sadness into determination, resolving to build a better life for myself, find independence and end this cycle of blowing up relationships with my mental health. I returned to Plymouth and kept myself busy, forcing myself to spend time with friends, practise DBT skills, go on dates and attend local queer events even when I didn’t feel like it. I realised I had a rich network of people around me and that codependent urge to dump all my woes on a single partner gradually diminished. ‘Taking care of yourself does not mean “doing it all alone”. Creating a good relationship with yourself is not done in a vacuum, without a relationship to other people… It is important that we are able to be alone, of course, and some people do need to withdraw from outside relationships to a certain degree, until they feel really comfortable with themselves. Sooner or later, though, we need the reflection that a relationship gives us.’ (Shakti Gawain, Living in the Light) In monogamous relationships we often expect a partner to satisfy a significant range (or all) of our needs. Consciously rejecting this notion has opened up a much wider range of potential partnerships to me. There are plenty of people I have dated who I couldn’t have sustained a monogamous partnership with, whether that be down to incompatible life goals, sex drives, interests or values. But being able to pursue multiple intimate relationships relieves the pressure on a partner to fulfil my every need - I’m more able to appreciate relationships for what they do give me, rather than what they lack. There’s great pleasure in finding mutual understanding over where my compatibility with a date lies. They might not be the kind of person I’m going to text daily or see every week, but that doesn’t mean that the time we do spend together is any less valuable to me - it’s just a different type of partnership, one that has a lower time commitment but is still highly emotive and caring. To me, polyamory is not just about having multiple partners but about bringing intention and thoughtfulness to how you carry out those relationships. Non-monogamous dating tends to have more up front communication about desires and boundaries than monogamous dating does; non-monogamous people are used to being explicit about the existing partnerships we have and what we’re looking for in new connections. I try to approach dating intuitively and without expectations, allowing the relationship to unfurl as it sees fit. Embracing the natural ebb and flow of romantic relationships feels much less scary when you view them not as solid, defined entities but as energies that are in constant flux and negotiation. When we try too hard to label and control relationships, we destroy them. Then, we spent a lot of time and energy fruitlessly trying to bring them to life again. We must be willing to let our relationships reveal themselves to us. (Shakti Gawain, Living in the Light) I’m friends with most of my exes, because generally we’ve been able to recognise when we have outgrown our romantic relationship and it is no longer serving our needs. There’s a very cishet, monogamous adage that all relationships either end in marriage or break up. It positions break ups as a unilateral defeat, a failure of both parties to make a relationship work. But break ups can be a tender undoing, a celebration of growth, an admission that you can love a person deeply and no longer be right for them. Queering traditional relationship structures enabled me to embrace this fluidity. I don’t need all my relationships to last forever or be transcendentally perfect. Being present and embracing the expansive connective possibilities of the people around us, without setting expectations or trying to control the form those relationships take, has brought me the most fulfilling connections of my life so far. In saying this, I can illustrate the fulfilling potential of polyamory all I like, but inevitably the question of jealousy looms above it all. It’s the comment I get most when I tell people that I’m poly - “How do you deal with it? I would get so jealous!” The secret is: so do I. I have some natural propensity for polyamory in that I’ve never been particularly physically territorial or cared about my partners being intimate with someone who wasn’t me - generally it elicits a response of, “Cool! Did you have fun?” But I’ve also dealt with periods of horrific, crushing jealousy in my time being polyamorous - I actually couldn’t bring myself to finish this article for several months because I was dealing with one such period. Watching my long-term partner develop another serious relationship and cohabit with that person while we have remained long distance has been the ultimate test for me. While I’ve found non-monogamy can increase the viability and longevity of long distance relationships, it can also produce a kind of desperate jealous sadness, knowing your partner is with someone else when you miss them so terribly. It’s a kind of intense physical discomfort that gnaws at your insides. What I’ve spent the last several months learning is that owning your jealousy and picking apart the insecurities it manifests from is the key to letting it go. I’ve had to communicate my needs regularly; asking for reassurance and affirmation when I’ve needed it, carving out regular virtual quality time with my partner while we’re apart and setting conversational boundaries during periods where I’ve felt emotionally vulnerable. The moment it finally all clicked was on the tube in London. I had gotten the train down for the weekend to meet my girlfriend’s other partner for the first time. I was under the weather and took the only available seat, while they stood. When some seats freed up a few stops later on the opposite side of the carriage and they both sat down, I found myself watching the two of them like an outsider. They spoke quietly, hands gently resting on each other’s knees. That gnawing feeling began to swell up in me, my chest and stomach tensing. But then I remembered what a difficult time my girlfriend has had in the last year, how much she’s struggled with her health and living situation. Catching her in a moment of happiness, as she talks to her love on the train - it doesn’t matter that that person is not always me. I never want to limit the places where she can find happiness. The jealousy left and I remained watching them, albeit with a new sense of calm. Having struggled with emotional regulation for a long time, being poly has been like strength training for me. I’ve learnt so much about anxiety management, processing discomfort and releasing ego from my relationships. I’m a stronger, more compassionate and well-rounded person for living this way. Polyamory isn’t viable or desirable for everyone, but I think the lessons it has taught me are universally valuable. Jua O'Kane (they/he) Jua is a trans and non-binary illustrator, graphic designer, creative practitioner and researcher from Northern Ireland. Their current research is centred on creating new narrative frameworks to explore transgender experiences through intuitive art making. Jua’s illustrations navigate the intersections of queer identity, technology, relationships, spirituality and religion. You can find more information about Jua's work here. If you would like to book Jua 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. 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!

Rahim El Habachi, orginally from Morocco writes about his experiences as someone seeking asylum in the UK, eventually finding community in theatre. by Rahim El Habachi I uprooted my life from Morocco six years ago and found myself in the UK, a place that was never my first choice. But to understand why, let me tell you the story of how I came to reside here. When I came to terms with my identity as a gay man, I discovered that the LGBTQIA+ community not only faced disapproval within Islam but was also deemed illegal in Morocco. The Penal Code 489 condemned the very essence of the LGBTQIA+ community, subjecting its members to imprisonment ranging from three months to three years. This realization shook me to my core, questioning my existence and shedding light on the absence of visible gay role models or any queer representation in the media or society at large. Seeking solace, I turned to the internet and chat rooms, hoping to find my community and answers to why I am, who I am, and how I could navigate a world that seemed unwelcoming. Unfortunately, most of the people I encountered online were merely interested in my sexual preferences, reducing my humanity to a mere label. Then, I encountered someone who would change my life—let's call him 'Hassan.' Hassan, an experienced member of the community, or what we call in the community ‘’lassyana’’, the equivalent of a Mother of a house in the ballroom community, introduced me to the vibrant queer community in my hometown of Agadir. To meet my gay friends, I had to go to the other side of town, leading a double life. During the weekdays, I was Abderrahim, lost and disconnected. But as the weekend approached, I transformed into Abida, fierce, confident, and unapologetic. The more I embraced my true self, the harder it became to return to Abderrahim. Trouble followed as I became more visible, catching the attention of my parents, who began to tighten their grip, imposing curfews and heightened control. Eventually, I made a leap and moved to Casablanca, where I discovered an even larger LGBTQIA+ community driven by a collective desire for change and activism. We campaigned tirelessly, demanding our rights, speaking out about our needs and wants. Sadly, our pleas fell on deaf ears. Instead of progress, the situation worsened, with the government intensifying its repression. I experienced police harassment, unjustified searches, and the constant threat to my freedom. Even my place of residence ceased to be a sanctuary as neighbors' discovery of my sexuality, resulting in frequent relocations. Despite the hardships, I never entertained the thought of leaving Morocco. It was where I envisioned my future, until the day a dear friend of mine was arrested, plunging my optimism about the future into darkness. I reluctantly booked a flight to the Netherlands, knowing full well that I would never use the return ticket. Joining my two closest friends who had already sought asylum there seemed like the only ray of hope. But upon landing, fate dealt me another cruel blow—under the Dublin Convention, the Netherlands decided to deport me to the UK. Devastated, I realized I was being forced apart from my community, my chosen family. I longed for the freedom to choose where I could live, but my pleas to stay in the Netherlands were in vain. The UK, desperately eager to receive me, became my new destination. I found myself placed in Cardiff, Wales, and I despised everything about it—the asylum seekers' house, the bleak buildings, and the incessant rain that mirrored the gloom I felt inside. I had hoped for a life-changing transformation and the freedom I yearned for, only to be greeted by yet another curfew. To add to the anguish, my asylum claim was rejected by the Home Office, and the court turned down my appeal. Seeking solace, I sought refuge in a local gay bar, only to be denied entry due to the ID issued by the Home Office. In that moment, I couldn't help but question if this was the reality that lay beyond the rainbow I had chased my entire life. But fear not, for my story takes a turn toward happiness—I’d soon be enveloped in a shimmering embrace of hope. Once again, I turned to Google in search of solace and discovered 'Glitter Cymru,' an LGBT group that convened monthly. It was through this group that I found strength and purpose—a raison d'être. What began as a social gathering, filled with laughter and conversation, soon transformed into something much greater. Glitter Cymru became a powerful advocate for the rights of the LGBT global majority, particularly asylum seekers and refugees. It became a resounding voice, amplifying our stories and demanding justice, not just for ourselves but for all those who shared similar journeys. In the embrace of Glitter Cymru, I discovered my true passion for the arts, particularly theatre. I found my voice through playwriting, using the stage as a platform to shed light on the issues faced by the global majority. With every script, every performance, I strive to challenge stereotypes, break down barriers, and provoke meaningful conversations about the struggles and triumphs of our community. Through theatre, I have found a way to channel my experiences and emotions, to touch the hearts of audiences and inspire change. It’s a tool that allows me to expose the injustices and discrimination we face, to humanize our stories, and to cultivate empathy and understanding. In this pursuit, I have discovered a vibrant and resilient community, a collective of artists and activists dedicated to creating a more inclusive and equitable world. Together, we stand tall, refusing to compromise our worthiness, and making sure that our stories are heard. Glitter Cymru has brought me happiness, belonging, and a sense of purpose. It has given me the strength to embrace my identity and the courage to fight for a future where the LGBTQIA+ Global Majority can be who they truly are and accepted and included in mainstream LGBTQIA+ spaces. Through theatre, I continue to shine a spotlight on the issues that matter to me, hoping to ignite change and forging a path towards a more inclusive society. Through the medium of theatre, I passionately strive to create impactful experiences that resonate with the LGBT Global Majority community. By focusing on the issues that deeply matter to me, I aim to ignite change and contribute to the ongoing journey towards a more inclusive society. In my upcoming play, I am delving into the intricate power dynamics within the LGBT community and exploring the significance of safe spaces, particularly outside of the UK and Europe. By shedding light on the concept of true privilege, I seek to foster a deeper understanding of the diverse experiences faced by the LGBT Global Majority, I am hoping through my show and shows that my colleagues are creating, they will bring more clarity and understanding to our lived experiences and I sure would hope to see you among the audience. I would like to finish with this quote from Alok Vaid-Menon: “How are you supposed to be believed about the harm that you experience when people don't even believe that you exist?’’ - From their book Beyond the Gender Binary Ok if you insist here is another one “Be yourself until you make them uncomfortable” - Rahim El Habachi Rahim El Habachi (he/him) Rahim is a Moroccan gay Refugee living in Wales, who is a playwright, actor, and belly dancer. Upon discovering that he was living with HIV, he became an advocate for eradicating the stigma surrounding HIV. Rahim is passionate about creating safe spaces for the LGBT global majority, as well as for asylum seekers and refugees. You can find more information about Rahim's work here. If you would like to book Polo 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. 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 explore what 'active allyship' means and techniques we can all employ to help others and provoke change. What does true allyship mean to you? Are you aware of gaps in your knowledge and want to educate yourself further on the experiences of others and how to handle certain situations? Check out our team's tips below! Breaking It Down: What is 'Active Allyship'? An ally is someone who provides support and assistance to members of a marginalised group without being a part of that group themselves. This doesn't mean that an ally is without marginalizations - an ally's commitment to a cause may be driven by experiencing injustice in other areas. By allying yourself with a marginalised group you strengthen their power and provide added legitimacy to their claims. In moments of pushback, you can offer support and protection. 1. Embrace Vulnerability and Discomfort. Being an ally is a constant learning journey. In advocating for people who have different experiences from you there is inherently a lot to learn. Culturally, we treat being wrong or not knowing something as failing, but these moments are actually opportunities for learning and growth! 2. Know How to Address Your Mistakes. Being able to recognise your own shortcomings and address them maturely is a key allyship skill. Avoid getting defensive when someone corrects you or gives you constructive criticism of your allyship. When corrected, simply saying thank you is enough. Being overly apologetic or engaging in self-victimising behaviour makes the situation about you and your feelings, rather than the marginalised people you are being an ally to. 3. Tap Into Your Own Sense of Justice. Think about a time when someone has stood up for you or championed your voice and how that made you feel. We all have the power to make the people around us feel seen, heard and uplifted. As an ally, you have been granted privileges and ways to succeed that the groups you are fighting for have less access to, but you can lessen that disparity through your allyship. 4. Keep Learning. Allyship requires consistent work and effort. Your allyship learning journey is yours to navigate and it is important that you seek out education independently and not ask marginalised people to do the work for you. Identify the areas of weakness within your own knowledge and begin to fill them in using trusted resources (such as our We Create Space Library). 5. Stand Up and Speak Out. Finding the courage to be the person who speaks up when something isn't right can be difficult, but systems of injustice will continue to perpetuate themselves until we disrupt them. Be confident that even if it ruffles a few feathers, you are doing the right thing. By visibly standing up for what you believe in you can help inspire these people to start their own allyship journeys. 6. Be Mindful in Confrontation. As much as possible, try to meet people where they're at with an open mind and call in rather than call out. Displaying aggression, judgement and negativity will often trigger defensive behaviour. Instead, try to approach the situation from a place of curiosity while illustrating the flaws in their argument. You can share your own opinions and values but allow them to come to their own conclusions. 7. Stay Focused and Committed True allyship comes from a desire to do good and make a genuine difference in the lives of the people you are advocating for and it's important not to lose sight of this. Your allyship should not be driven by your own ego or a need for approval from others. The people you're fighting for should always be the benefactors. Find internal satisfaction in knowing that you're doing your best to harness your individual power to try and better the world. Conclusion Active allyship is a powerful tool for change that we all have the ability to harness. Being an ally means living in awareness of systems of oppression and doing our best to disrupt and dismantle those systems where we can. Allyship is like a muscle and the more you practise and get into the habit of addressing microaggressions, discrimination and bigotry in the world around you, the easier and more natural it will feel. 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!