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As Queer Leaders and Allies, we spend a great deal of our time helping others, often at the expense of our own wellbeing. While the holiday period can be a joyous time, it can also be filled with challenges too. We're here with a simple technique that you could use to help yourself before you begin helping others in the new year. There’s a variety of reasons why you, or other people may find the holiday period stressful. Statistics show that around 25% of people in the U.K. find Christmas and New Year hard on their mental health. For Queer people, this period can propose additional challenges. Many of us have complicated relationships with our families as a result of their rejection, misinterpretation or struggle with our queer identities. The pressure to be happy during the festive period can aggravate existing mental health issues, which already affect our community at higher rates than average. Often, the brunt of this strain is felt after the New Year - whether you're returning to where you live after spending the festive period with your family, or whether it's simply time to return to work after some well-deserved time off. Mid January represents a challenging combination of long periods of darkness, a return to looming work-based stresses, along with high expectations we subject ourselves to with New Year’s Resolutions. Everyone's experience vary - no doubt you are already very aware of what is playing on your mind - the load can be heavy… So, let’s see if we can go some way in helping you unload some of this weight. Sometimes it can be helpful to process our stresses by associating them in our heads with tangible object - especially when it comes to organising our thoughts. Why don’t you try this short exercise? 1. Imagine you're carrying a bag Head into a space where you feel most comfortable, such as your living room or your bedroom. Imagine you’re carrying a large, heavy bag which is filled with all of the things that are worrying you, or playing on your mind. Set the bag down, and take some time to decompress. Eat some food, have a shower, get comfortable and take a breath. Try your best to clear your mind a little. Let yourself fully experience the release you are feeling by distancing yourself from your stresses for a short while. 2. Make a short list of what's bothering you When you're ready, carefully take out each item of worry from the bag and make a note of what you are removing, one-by-one. Really take time to consider what each item means to you and why you might have packed it in the bag in the first place. Giving yourself space to download what has happened over the festive period, is important. Being careful not to overwhelm yourself, simple acknowledgement of each different factor which is contributing to your stress or anxiety allows you to validate your emotions. Laying everything out in a simple list will help you make sense of what you are faced with. 3. Categorising & Prioritising Once you feel like you have given yourself space to emotionally process things a little further, it is time to categorise what’s on your list and prioritise what you need to actively react to/deal with, the things that may not require your immediate attention. Why not try and group the “items from your bag” (i.e. the things that are worrying you) as follows? 4. What are you placing on your desk? The items from your bag (or things that are on your mind) which you choose to "place on your desk" are the things that you can deal with or resolve relatively easily and efficiently. It could be simple things like: Writing a shopping list for the week ahead Preparing your bag for your first day back at work Doing some laundry Meditating or reflecting to ground yourself / stretching out to help release physical tension Getting in touch with friends or your Chosen Family to let them know that you're decompressing, and maybe want to catch up on what's going on with them. Even the smallest of actions we take have value, and can go a long way to help us feel like we're being constructive, even if we are feeling low on energy and motivation. 5. What are you placing on your shelves? This is the space for the things that you're not quite ready to deal with, and need some more time to think about before you tackle them. Some examples of things that you could place on your shelves: Calling family Forecasting your spending for the month ahead Talking to someone about how they may have made you feel - for example, if they have made negative comments about specific parts of your identity. 6. What are you packing away into your cupboard/wardrobe? This is the best place for more significant worries, that you may need to think about more in the long term. That is not to say you are avoiding them or running away from them. Like we said, acknowledgement is the first step of processing emotions, which eventually leads to acceptance or resolution. Processing difficult or triggering situations you’ve faced during the holidays, such as arguing with your family, having your identity disrespected, being misgendered or facing isolation. Navigating your relationship with food and alcohol With everything that causes us anxiety, it is important to remember the following: Check back on the categories of your list regularly to ensure you continue to work forward. Employ tools such as journaling or moodboarding if you feel like you need to work some more to process the feelings that you are feeling. It is important to remember that everyone, no matter who they are, is faced with elements of uncertainty, pain (psychological and physical) and the strain of constant work in their lives. To remember that everyone faces barriers and difficulties can sometimes help us take the steps necessary to work forward and reach out to others. When you feel comfortable, it is important to get into contact with those who you are close to, who you can trust, to tell them about what you are struggling with. However, for these conversations to be helpful you should, in your own way, make clear to them that you are looking for either reassurance or solutions. Once you have had a go at this visualisation and prioritisation exercise and feel, if it helps you feel a little more balanced, maybe suggest to them to have a go themselves, by reading this article! When you are feeling calmer, you will have a stronger foundation which you use to can help others. When you are ready, take a look at our article on how you can perhaps be there for others. 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!

This Transgender Awareness week, we spoke with Jack López and Tate Smith to ask them about their journeys as Trans Men. They talk about the mental health challenges that come with society's expectations of what it is to be a man, as well as advice that they would offer other people. Jack López (he/him) and Tate Smith (he/him) Videography: Kiran Sodhi Kalsi-Ghatoure With thanks to our location partner, Locke Hotels. 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!

With so many terms being used interchangeably and inconsistently, we thought we'd unpack the often-missed distinctions between some of the more common labels attributed to individuals in the DEI space. Being members of the queer community, we are often subject to labels: labels we place on ourselves as markers to others which allow us to effectively communicate our gender identity and our sexuality for example; labels given to us by others to catagorise us into certain queer archetypes based on body types, or style choices; and labels given to us at birth - things like our ethnicity and heritage, which come from our family. Then there are labels that are given to us by society, which can be based on things like our socio-economic status, our level of education. All of these labels have varying levels of importance and significance on an individual, yet they all have a profound impact on an individual’s opportunities, as well as their approach to situations and decisions they are faced with. The same paradigms apply for those who work in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) space, whether from the inside of an organisation, or self-employed / as a freelancer. There are very personal choices individuals make when considering the labels they attach to themselves, when they decide to become more vocal about a particular cause, issue or community that they care about. The two main labels here are ‘ACTIVIST’ and ‘ADVOCATE.’ There is a common misconception that these two words are synonymous. However, in reality, there are some very clear distinctions. Let’s explore those: ACTIVIST Someone who labels themselves as an ‘activist’ is typically more grassroots and can be (to an extent) anti-establishment. Often, an activist’s lifestyle can be heavily steered by their stance on a specific issue. Furthermore, activists spur on wider political and systemic change through their actions and words. ADVOCATE Similarly to an ‘activist,’ an advocate also wants to make change and support a cause or community that matters to them. However, they work within existing systems to raise awareness about issues and injustice, selectively considering when they are vocal about a specific issue - amplifying discourse taking place in society, and bolstering the efforts of activists. Then we have labels which are given by others: ALLY We in the queer community and the DEI space are all aware of the label ‘ALLY’ and their importance on our lives. Yes, someone can easily label themselves an ally. However, a sign of true allyship is when someone else can give an example of when someone has helped them and stood in solidarity with them, showing how they have helped in closed environments during a time of need. The positive effect of an ally is most often a bond between individuals or a small group of people. AMBASSADOR An ambassador (in terms of DEI) is normally someone who an organisation or brand partners with. Normally, this ambassador will be part of a marginalised community who is vocal on societal issues and injustices. The rise in partnerships being forged in this way is down to companies wanting to show support to marginalised groups, and to illustrate to clients and customers that their company ethos is aligned with an ambassador’s values. So, what label do you think most applies to you? Most importantly, people who have these labels attributed to them are ALL needed to enact positive societal change. 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!

Scott Sallée and Beth Freedman from Dentsu share their Queer Allyship success stories; showing us the importance of showing up, and how simply 'feeling seen' and supported can change so much for a person's career trajectory. Scott's Allyship story... Beth always supports with the personal and the professional. The way our work/life overlaps these days makes this level of care so important. Beth supported me through a chapter where I was navigating both corporate politics and an inner exploration of identity, expression, and self. She cares intensely and her support is compassionately incisive – which matched my needs and the situation perfectly. She has a powerful way of reminding me of my power, resilience, agency, and strength, emboldening me to get moving and realigning me on my path. Beth shows up. I can’t really put it any more directly than that. Beth shows up. Whether it’s with her physical presence, her emotional intelligence, or the focus of her attention when she’s with you, she’s fully there. Compassionate focus is rare in a world of fractioned attention spans and it’s something I treasure about her. Allyship is a verb. It’s active. Beth embodies allyship by proactively checking in and she’s one of those special people that asks twice – thrice even – to learn how you’re really doing. It’s a simple practice I would encourage everyone to adopt: ask, and if you feel hesitation, ask again. Make the space for people to share how they really are. What a gift we can offer to a fellow human to be able to drop the masks, the covering, the weight of having to be OK all the time! Beth’s genuine, honest, and direct energy creates psychological safety, essential for a high performing culture. She also acts as a strong ally for others in our organisation, by being the senior sponsor of our LGBTQ+ network, Beth continues to create exponential change through advocacy: internally with our leadership and externally in our wider industry. When one part of your life is proving challenging, it pulls energy and focus from other areas – we only have so much to give at any one time. The support I received reignited my flame and I honour Beth by paying it forward to others. One of my favourite quotes by Ram Dass is “We’re all just walking each other home.” – when I’m with Beth, I truly feel what it means to be witnessed, valued, and respected; I feel cheered on to use my gifts for good. I am grateful to walk this path with her. Beth's Allyship story... The desire to be an ally may be organic but the reality of being a good ally is an active commitment. It’s more than simply being a good friend or a good boss. Being a good ally requires commitment to on-going education. It requires acceptance that you will make mistakes and the humility to quickly own up to them. It means a commitment to never making that same mistake twice. I would like to believe that no one claims to be an ally with a lack of good intent. But if you don’t do the work, if you don’t commit yourself to learning, if you simply think being an ally is about being a nice person, then you’re not really an ally. Positive intent is a starting point, but active allyship is an on-going journey. As a leader, it’s my responsibility to make space for others to shine. People did this for me throughout my career, and it’s my turn now. As a human, the same applies. I am so lucky to have had so many amazing people who empowered me, made space for me, and most important, taught me key lessons throughout my career. They all had one thing in common – they never saw my success as a threat or challenge to them, simply a validation of their own achievement in leadership and management. That is my inspiration every day, and the bar to which I hold myself accountable. Scott reflects the energy he receives from you back to you in such an incredibly powerful way. Investing in him is like investing in the sun as a power source – it just continues to give and give, not just back to me but to everyone around us. I believe that if we all invested in each other this way, then our individual lights would burn brighter, enriching those around us and inspiring them to actively practice this in their own lives. When thinking about what advice I would offer to others, a few things come to mind: Do not be afraid of what you don’t know, or to admit what you don’t know. Humility and honesty are critical as a part of this journey, as important as any positive intentions. Scott Sallée (he/they) Scott is the Social Impact Manager for the UK at Dentsu. He dedicates his time to equipping the next generation of talent with the skills they will need to thrive in the digital economy, creating more diversified leadership, and transforming the role of brands in society. A neurodivergent advocate for neurodiversity, he is passionate about intersectionality, psychological safety, and sustainability. He co-Chairs the Wellbeing Committee, is on the Steerco of &Proud, leads the all-company Meditation Mondays, is a board member of the @ipa (Institute of Practitioners in Advertising) Creative Pioneers, and is an ambassador for NABS, the industry’s wellbeing charity partner. Beth Freedman (she/her) Beth is the CEO at dentsu x. She oversees the UK operations ensuring the agency’s clients benefits from its unique set of capabilities in media, technology, creativity, and data. Beth boasts more than 20 years’ experience and has held senior roles at renowned agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Arnold and Fallon operating across several disciplines including media planning, client servicing and creative. Beth is dentsu's executive sponsor of &Proud, the agency’s LGBTQ+ network, recognised by Stonewall as 59th in the Top 100 of the 2022 Workplace Equity Index as well as receiving a 2022 Gold Award for bi and trans inclusion. About the 'My Ally and Me' story-telling series: At We Create Space we always aim to lift and amplify the voices of our global queer collective of change-makers. However with this story-telling series we wanted to give LGBTQ+ leaders the opportunity to bring an ally into the conversation and explain how their valued support has shaped their personal and professional journey. 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, singer and songwriter Pritham Bhatia, takes us through his personal song-writing and creative process; exploring how his connection with music and his queer identity continues to inspire growth and motivate his work. By Pritham Bhatia The world of Music and it’s unruly little sister - the dancefloor - has for centuries been a haven for queer expression. Our leading queer artists of today such as Sam Smith, Troye Sivan and Lady Gaga not only owe gratitude to original LGBTQI+ icons such as Madonna, Cher, George Michael and Boy George who paved the way - but even further back to the queer Greeks and Romans who used music to express non-straight desire. As a modern songwriter, I have long been inspired by these brave artists turning their pain and life stories into art, and viewed going into songwriting sessions as the ultimate act of self-creation. The idea of a ‘songwriting session’ provided me with the armour of performing as an ‘artist’ - giving me an ability to be vulnerable and to look at the world and observe, whilst creating a safe space in which to do so. If done properly, sessions left me feeling connected or having learned something about my true self. When I was trying to write a ‘hit’ - I felt empty, disconnected, pressured and stressed. A select few times, I would have written something about myself that would become true in the future, or would not make sense without a few years hindsight. Listening back to old songs, it’s astounding to think ‘how did I know that was going to happen?’, or even ‘how did I get myself through that?’, leading me to believe that songwriting is a powerful source of self-knowledge, healing, identity and even fortune-telling. After writing over 200 songs, some for myself, some for famous bands and singers - I know first hand that great songs can be written by anyone, regardless of previous success. You may just need a few tips, tricks and practices to find the magic. Here are a few steps and processes that I hope you may find helpful in your writing practice: 1. Structure & Storytelling. One of the joys of leaning into your Queerness is that there are no rules. If you equate your essential queerness with songwriting: you can literally write or sing about anything. Yet structures are helpful - sometimes limits can help you become more creative, and formulas and templates help when you are stuck. There are two major components to a great song, and they are structure and storytelling, but can also be known as aesthetic and content, music and lyric. When you listen closely and widely to a variety of songs, you will learn the traditional structure which is: verse-prechorus-chorus, verse-prechorus-chorus, middle8, chorus - and I recommend using this structure at first as a template. But a great song is nothing without a story to tell. If the whole world is a stage, as Shakespeare said, then we must all play our own parts. Which story do you want to write? Let’s start with the basics: 2. Writing to a title. This is a helpful and quick way of writing songs, and assists you in getting a cohesive set of images in your lyrics. I have a notes section on my phone where I jot down interesting words, images, associations, things I notice or phrases my friends say - and use them as titles to write a song from. Sometimes it’s fun to join the dots or see common themes in what you write - and these can become great ideas for album titles. I also recommend keeping a journal to source things from. When I settle on a title, I write a whole list of images, words or phrases related that I can use in the song, and use these to start writing verses. Metaphors and Similes can also make great titles and serve as great images for songs, eg You’re My Flashlight, We’re beautiful like Diamonds in the Sky etc… The trick is to understand what the metaphor can relate to in the human experience, or to find a title, phrase or image that encapsulates your emotion or experience. I’ve found this can be therapeutic, as it helps you see your situation in a new light, or offer profound perspectives on life-long patterns. 3. Verses. Verses are the main script of your song, and nowadays sound conversational and natural in terms of cadence, lyrical content and tone. This really is your chance to play around with images and structure, and to create moods and pictures that are uniquely yours. Play around with mood boards and Pinterest to paint a picture of a world that you want your music to live in. I’ve found that we spend so much of our lives as queer people trying to assimilate and survive, that writing authentic verses can be difficult but is ultimately liberating. In the queer experience, we have often taken a backseat to others in life, or played secondary roles, sometimes hiding in the background. Through songwriting, you now have the opportunity to be the main character - and to find and voice your own narrative. 4. Chorus. I would say - too many people worry about writing loads of hooks in a chorus and making it catchy. Although these things are important, the key thing in chorus writing is to nail the heart of the song's messaging. This can be a process of discovery - what is it about your story that is the headline? A great technique that I learned was that if the verses are explaining a problem or an obstacle, then shift the perspective for the chorus so that it comes from a friend offering you advice - what would they say to you? Or flip it - what would you say to someone else in the same situation? 5. Finding Your Voice. Artists can be driven crazy by searching externally, far and wide, in torture to find their voice. But the secret is, it’s always been there. Your true voice may be buried deep under fear, hiding, or trauma - but you do not need to travel the world or go through years of therapy to find it - though both of those have their healthy place of course! We all have a deep instinct that constantly guides us towards our authenticity. If you don’t know where to start, I find it helpful to play with style, genre or identity - and to treat music like a dress up box. If I ever got stuck, I would try to mimic one of my favourite artists, and I would find that in the process I would naturally start changing melodies or words to sound more like what I like - and this is how I started to ‘find my voice.’ Sometimes you can trade the word ‘voice’ for ‘taste’ - and see yourself as a curator of beautiful words and melodies. And it is important to note that it is of far more merit to create something ‘authentic’ than to downright copy or purely write what is in ‘style’ as the world is already filled with far too much noise. We all need real art - that comes from the real you - more than ever. Another magical thing is that the more active listening that you perform to other people’s music, the more you seem to learn to listen to yourself and learn what you like and dislike. Developing your muscle for noticing and filtering what resonates with you brings you closer to your true self as well as an increased ability to ignore the noise. 6. Removing All Obstacles. Don’t play an instrument? It doesn’t matter. I know some amazing songwriters who have crafted UK and US number 1s who cannot play a single note. Your innate musicality is what matters and storytelling and messaging is king (or queen!) This is your chance to truly be creative. If you don’t play instruments or have access to musicians, then download backing tracks, find producers to send you beats, or type Beyonce style instrumental (or whoever your current inspiration is) into YouTube and improv melodies on top. Queer Magic is not about being perfect, but being true to yourself and present in the moment, and you always want to speed up your process to make it more immediate and expressive, rather than worrying about playing the right notes. Luckily - we all have a studio quality recording device on us at all times now - our phones - and those voice memos of hums from your morning walk to work can turn into full songs. Also, don’t forget to share your work. Music is meant to be heard, and it makes you a better songwriter to get constructive feedback on what you’re doing from circles that you trust. If you want to take your career further - play local open mic nights, upload your music to SoundCloud and find a digital distributor like AWAL to release on Spotify etc - and use the social platforms to promote your music and to connect to other creators. It’s all about creating community. 7. Context is Everything. One of the pillars of Queer thinking is that if everything is a construct, then we get to decide how we show up in the World, as well as our right to break stereotypical conventions. I love nothing more than a song that has devastating lyrics, but euphoric dance productions - or vice versa. This is Queer Magic at its most powerful - the power of subversion. I dare you to challenge the musical templates and experiment with the context and symbolic meanings of your music. Write that joyful declaration on top of melancholic chords. Or if you need some inspiration, just listen to Robyn’s ‘With Every Heartbeat’ for the ultimate example of ‘crying at the disco.’ 8. Focus on Quantity, then Quality will follow. When starting on your journey of songwriting, the important thing is to just get writing. The rest will follow. Writing good songs is like turning on a tap that has been closed for a long time. As Queer people living in a straight-majority society, we all have a deep well of emotions and experiences that need to be excavated and processed, and sometimes if that well has been stagnant, it may take a while for the water to run. Writing songs can be a powerful way of spending quality time with yourself, getting to reconnect with your true self - either in solitude or with a songwriting partner. Practice patience with yourself and be consistent, but don’t force yourself to write if you don’t want to. But above all, remember that writing is supposed to be fun, and that we all have access to our own Queer Magic, all the time. Thank you for reading, and if you enjoyed this, I’d love you to check out my own music, or to hear from you over at one of my socials: SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/prizmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prithambhatia/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/itspritham 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!

In this instalment of PLACES, FACES, SPACES, Lo Lo No shares with us some of their favourite people, projects and venues that are making a positive impact on queer culture and queer people's experience in Margate right now. We hope these examples can highlight to you the possibilities of fostering in-person queer community, and encourage you to think about how you could contribute to building queer spaces local to you, as well as be a strong Queer Leader in your local area. In addition, if you're thinking of visiting Margate for the first time, we hope this round up will help get you inspired about what aspects of queer culture you could explore. If you live in Berlin or know it well, you might even learn about something, somewhere or someone that you haven't come across before - you never know! First, here's a little about Lo Lo No, and their connection to Margate's queer culture... I’m Lo Lo No, artist, curator and Queer Cuntry drag act Pretzel Cage. I moved from my home city of London to Margate in 2017 and haven't looked back, seeing it grow from seasonal summer town to all year round cultural melting pot with an ever expanding LGBTQIA+ community being an integral part of that, bringing music, performance, art and cuisine to Margate. I started working with Margate Pride in my first year here, we are arts led and have projects running year round with no corporate sponsorship. Pride continues to expand and is now a two week festival which includes PAM (Pride Art Map) festival which I direct, PAM includes the unique queer artists residency BRINK. Margate is a small town doing big things and that is very much its spirit, with other organisations alongside Pride like People Dem Collective and Rise Up Clean Up working towards making Margate an inclusive and progressive home and destination. @queerc.untry @margatepride @peopledemcollective @riseupcleanup #PAM #brinkresidency And now on to Lo Lo No's picks! 1. Margate Queer Writers Founded by local writer and drag queen (Bettany Bay) Liam O’Driscoll, MQW runs annual projects including 2021’s Memory that give local writers an opportunity to workshop, book club, perform and publish work in Anthologies and exhibitions. The approach is multi disciplinary, inclusive and collaborative and has seen texts and photographs narrating queer life go up all around Margate in cafes and shops. 2. SouthEast Trans+ Social Run by Trans+ advocacy charity Not A Phase and held at the wonderful queer run safe space Margate Arts Club, the social is a place for the trans+ community to meet in a safe and encouraging environment. The trans+ community in Margate is small in visibility and the meet ups are so important in empowering the community and building its resources. 3. Snug Club - Queer Short Film Night Nestled into the cosy, queer-friendly Tom Thumb Theatre, Snug Club is a relaxed sharing of short films by Queer Margate based creators. Launched by performance artist, film maker and neuro-queer clown An(Dre)a Spisto, the club shows short films from all levels of filmmaking experimentation and experience and range from documentaries, dramas, comedy, art film, music video and there are relaxed talks and introductions between films. 4. NBE Fitness Founded by Pride team member, facilitator, dancer and gamer Kanndiss Riley, NBE FITNESS has a unique and inclusive approach to wellbeing and has grown to create sessions for queer families, outdoor/indoor group sessions, and tailored access points for individual access needs. The goal is for providing inclusive, holistic wellness services for Every BODY. The space is built to be inclusive and support carers, disabled and chronically ill people to enjoy life. 5. Neurodivergent Friends in Thanet Founded in 2022 so local neurodivergent adults can meet their peers in safe spaces. Their mission is to bridge the gap in local resources and support for neurodivergent adults, working for positive change in mental health, well-being, community, belonging, self- acceptance, self-advocacy, breaking bias and isolation, and building peer support. We provide a monthly social meetup, a monthly creative workshop, and other community Projects. 6. Pink Suits + Queer Cuntry Political punk act Pink Suits bought their love of Country music to Margate and launched Queer Cuntry, a bimonthly event at Olby’s Soul Cafe. The whole audience dons pvc chaps and diamante cowboy hats to play games, line dance, watch guest drag acts and the Northdown Rodeo nine piece band. Queer Cuntry birthed yours truly Pretzel Cage. Pink Suits work hard to create an accessible and inclusive space for people to come together and express themselves freely and sing along to Dolly Parton and Orville Peck. 7. Queer Swim Founded by artist Brogan Bertie, Queer Swim is a trans-centred, fat positive and anti-racist swim (or not) club and provides a vital opportunity to folx to meet up in a 100% welcoming and non judgemental space. I remember first seeing the group's house rules like ‘avoid commenting on people's appearance and enquire on someone's pronouns if you are not sure’ and feeling like this was massively progressive for Margate’s future. 8. Camp Run by a queer quintent made up of two partners and a pair of siblings, Camp is the new Queer Bar in Margate, more than just a bar it hosts community events, pole dancing show cases, pop up restaurants and Drag Race screenings. Margate has been running at a minimal in terms of queer devoted and run spaces and Camp is like a beacon, proudly nestled into the eclectic Northdown Road, I am so glad young people are growing up in the town able to see proud venues and people that will become their own hang out spots. 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!

Unique challenges are faced by bisexual people - having their identity flattened into either gay or straight, being perceived as unfaithful, non-commital, or hypersexualised against their will. We asked Queer Leaders from our community to share their experiences and where they would like to see progress for bisexual people and how they are seen in wider society. Whilst there has been progress made in recently which improves the perception and acceptance of cis, white gay men in heteronormative society (which is undoubtedly positive, and absolutely needed), there are some parts of the LGBTQ+ which have not yet been afforded the same privilege. One part of this community is that which is made up of bi people, who tend to be caught in-between the judgements of both straight and queer communities. What would you like to change about others' perceptions of bi/pansexual people in wider society? Anick Soni (he/him) I hope that when bi/pan people are represented in stories (film/TV/books) that we exist as bi/pan people. More often than not, we tend to see characters who are closeted or with an mixed gender relationship, struggle with their sexuality and it is linked to being lesbian or gay. It's almost as if even in a fictional world, bisexuality is too 'confusing'. Bi/pan people need to be able to exist in all their various forms. We're not secretly lesbian/gay, we deserve to be openly bi/pan. - @AnickWrites Christopher Kenna (he/him) In the Media - I often find the way I am portrayed by media is very much sexualised or negatively portrayed as being 'greedy' or 'undecided' Personally - it's been my experience that especially when dating Gay Men - that it is 'not believed' or strangely 'not liked' that you are bi-sexual and often dismissed as the female partnerships were a phase. I have personally stopped arguing the point and just concede. Professionally - Whenever I have explained my sexuality with peers it is often met with more questions than I wish to answer - I would therefore say I often remain in the “Bisexual Closet” and have been straight or gay professionally, dependant on who I'm dating at the time of discussion. Jolinda Johnson (they/she) When it comes to my own bisexuality, the thing I'd love for people to understand is that even when I'm in a straight passing relationship, I'm still queer. That's always something for me to know, not anything I should ever have to prove. Sometimes you can't help who you fall in love with, but your relationship status doesn't determine your sexual orientation. I've been attracted to both men and women for as long as I can remember, and lately I find that expanding as I continue to explore gender identity. At the end of the day, it comes down to who I feel an emotional and energetic pull towards, and of course how receptive they are to me. Bisexual just happens to be the label that fits me best. Vaneet Mehta (he/him) I'd like to change the idea that bisexual people have it easier, that we don't have issues, or that the issues we're dealing with are the same as gay or lesbian people. Biphobia and bi-erasure exist throughout society and even in the LGBTQIA+ community. This isn't the same as homophobia and it has a detrimental effect on our journey of coming out and self-acceptance which impacts our mental well-being. Bi people are more likely to have anxiety, more likely to self-harm and more likely to have suicidal ideation than gay people. We have to talk about that, talk about why and tackle that! - @nintendomad888 Tatum Swithenbank (they/she) I’d like people to know that fluid sexuality is a part of nature and we’ve always existed. Being queer is about living beyond binaries yet even within our communities we as bi people are still questioned. I count my blessings every day that I’m bisexual. It’s joyful, creative and an epic adventure. - @tatumkarmen Emily Horton (she/her) In the media, bisexual people are often portrayed as promiscuous, overtly sexual and dangerous. Historically, this demonisation can be linked to the AIDS crisis. Bisexual people found themselves excluded not only from straight communities but also queer communities as well. This exclusion, bi-negativity and hyper-sexualisation have led to bisexual people, women in particular, being disproportionately impacted by sexual violence. These negative attitudes and harmful stereotypes have real-world and violent consequences. This needs to change.

We asked nine Queer Leaders from our community about how fashion and personal style interact with their queerness - from finding strength in uniqueness to the comfort of embracing the ordinary. Fashion has always played a role in queer culture - across history queer communities have adopted different styles and uniforms to communicate and signal their identities to each other. But in a world where we are increasingly open about our queerness, fashion and personal style have become our playgrounds of self expression and a space to challenge gender and beauty norms. Maddy Reid (she/her) "My queer identity has been a part of me since forever – I remember having crushes on girls and boys from as early as primary school. I’ve always just liked what I like, or who I like, regardless of gender identity. I think the same can be said for my sense of style, and as I’ve grown up and become more confident in my queer identity, I’ve also become more confident with my style, wearing and pairing what I like together regardless of trends, colour-clashes or mis-matched branding." - @artschoolcliche Barry Brandon (he/they/her/ze) "Fashion for me is more expression and my expression is an ingredient for my power, activism and freedom so for me, though I love fashion as a construct of beautiful garments, jewellery and other accessories, I am never viewing the lens through “what is fashionable”. It’s what makes me feel the most me, so that the outside world can see pieces of my soul in an outward way, similar to that of some of my tattoos." - @thequeerindigo Ben Pechey (they/them) "Clothes are a terrific tool of self-expression, as they act as a canvas for personal exploration. I have long seen fashion as a key to unlocking my desires, using sartorial choices to form a language of self that is undefinable yet also quintessentially me. We don’t experience our queerness in a linear way, so to begin with, my style did most of the talking for my identity. It opened new opportunities for who I could be, allowing me to experiment with the plethora of ways to express queerness. Now it is a familiar friend that holds my hand and secures my sense of self when I need it. To look overtly neither one thing nor another makes you a target for the brunt of discontent that others tend to forward your way when you represent a lack of order or disregard for the ‘rules’. I love my identity, and how it has manifested and enveloped my style. Even though objectively it is the reason I garner negative attention, it makes me feel more connected to myself, stronger, and more capable of flexing with the anxiety that being trans can cause right now. Fashion is art and commerce, but also it is passion, joy and fun. Fashion is a reminder to us all to look for joy - whether we're queer or not - to have fun, and enjoy our existence on earth." - @benpechey Florence (she/her) "Fashion for me is getting how I feel on the inside reflected on the outside. It's something that always came through naturally for me until I conformed in my teen school years to my surroundings rather than my true self. I’m glad I found my way back though!" - @florence.uk Yasmin Benoit (she/her) "I've been drawn to alternative style for most of my life and that kind of self-expression made me become accustomed to standing out, attracting backlash, and sticking to my guns. It's what comes with queering standards when it comes to how you should present yourself, especially as a minority. But navigating alternative spaces as a Black person prepared me for navigating queer spaces as an asexual person and navigating the world as an asexual person. It doesn't make people react to me better, but it's helped me to handle those reactions and stay true to myself regardless of what others think." - @theyasminbenoit Radam Ridwan (they/them) "Fashion can be just as freeing as it is restrictive. We all have uniforms we have to put on to fit in, to some degree. Fashion is a way to put our culture, our individual expression on show - which transcends the boundaries of uniformity. As a 6’5” trans fem non-binary mixed race queer, I’ve always stood out no matter what I’m wearing. These intersecting elements of identity and community come together to form my individual style point of view. In turn, I hope my expression inspires others to do it in their own way. I refuse to be controlled by external perceptions of me, so what I choose to wrap around my body is a shoutout to my queerness and ethnicity, but more importantly, a show of uniquity within the constraints of identity." - @radamridwan Aaron Whitty (he/him) "For me a statement shirt, or blouse as I like to say, is always a win. It’s impactful, eye catching, has movement and can be dressed up or dressed down, just like me. It’s a bit like being an exotic bird while you wear it. It personifies aspects of me that wouldn’t usually be so obvious if I were just wearing a T-shirt; it’s rare, flamboyant and sometimes wild." - @aaronwhitty Yaz Senghor (she/her) "My personal style is all about play. I often say that my aesthetic is “Children's TV Presenter Chic” or “A Toddler Who Has Been Allowed to Dress Themselves for the First Time Realness”. It might seem totally unserious, but every element of it is meticulously, haphazardly chosen. My style is about exploration but also liberation. I want to feel free in all that I wear, entirely for me and no one else. I spent so much of my life feeling ashamed of parts of me, like I had to dress for someone else's approval or blend into the background and not draw attention to myself. The more I learn to not only embrace but actively adore myself and shake off the shame - the more I want to stand out. Not because I need or want attention, but I simply refuse to hide any single glorious part of me. Someone severely lacking in taste once told me that the way I dress was obnoxious. Quite right hun. Being able to be bright, visible, open, flamboyant and very very silly is my way of challenging expectations, taking pride in the things I was told I should be ashamed of and taking up as much space as I possibly can by demanding that you look at me. It is about signalling to the others who were made to feel like they should hide - I know you see me, and I see you too." - @bigblackbutchbitch Ryan Zaman (he/him) "As I’ve grown in confidence with my queer identity, I definitely feel this has been reflected in the clothes that I wear, especially in my work in fashion. My queer identity is, in a way, teaching me to be more care-free about what I wear, especially if it draws attention to me - and not to worry about other people’s perceptions. Even if I wouldn’t wear something “in real life” I feel really privileged to have the opportunity to embody a different part of myself that I wouldn’t normally. That being said, me being an introvert, I also really value being comfortable and wearing clothing that’s more nondescript when I’m just going about my business. In a funny way, it helps me switch off and not stress about things so much. It helps me feel closer to myself - the guy who never thought he would be doing any of this - and my the queer parts of my identity are teaching me the invaluable lesson of giving grace to all parts of myself, too." - @ryan_zaman

In the first instalment of our new travel documentary series PLACES, FACES, SPACES, Sophia Emmerich (she/they) shares with us some of their favourite people, projects and venues that are making a positive impact on queer culture and queer people's experience in Berlin right now. We hope these examples can highlight to you the possibilities of fostering in-person queer community, and encourage you to think about how you could contribute to building queer spaces local to you, as well as be a strong Queer Leader in your local area. In addition, if you're thinking of visiting Berlin for the first time, we hope this round up will help get you inspired about what aspects of queer culture you could explore. If you live in Berlin or know it well, you might even learn about something, somewhere or someone that you haven't come across before - you never know! First, here's a little about Sophia, and their connection to Berlin's queer culture... I’m a Berlin-based photographer and videographer. I’ve lived here for almost twelve years and can’t imagine living elsewhere. The queer scene in Berlin is vibrant, diverse, and multi-cultural. The city welcomes everyone with open arms. There are a lot of queer places to visit and things to experience. I know that Berlin is some sort of a “bubble”, but I love this little queer eco-system that has become my home in the past decade. And now on to Sophia's picks! 1. P7 Gallery P7 Gallery is a space that hosts many queer events, including exhibitions, release parties and live nude painting classes. The owner is Joseph Wolfgang Ohlert, a well-known photographer who focuses on Personalities, Art & Queer Culture. The space is small but has what I like to call “a Berlin look”: artsy and industrial. 2. Kanaan Kanaan describes itself as an “Israeli & Palestinian coop proving every day that together is better and tastier!”. So if you like hummus, it’s the place to go. The first time I went, the owner, Oz Ben David, was wearing a shirt that said “I am hummussexual" and I’m just a sucker for a good pun. 3. Schwuz Queer Club Schwuz is the biggest queer club in Berlin. It’s been around for 45 years and hosts various parties, so there is something for everyone. This place combines dance, art, and community. And if you are looking for a good drag performance, you won’t be disappointed. 4. Nora Eckert Nora Eckert is an author and trans activist living and working in Berlin. In her recent book “Wie alle nur anders, Ein transsexuelles Leben in Berlin." [Translation: Like everyone only different, A transsexual life in Berlin] she talks about being trans in the early 80s in West-Berlin. She organizes walking tours for trans, inter, and non-binary youth in her free time and is part of the Board of Directors at TransInterQueer. 5. Queer Garten Queer Garten is a bi-weekly event in Berlin that started amidst the pandemic in 2020. It takes place at the outdoor area of the “Festsaal Kreuzberg”. You will get some nice tunes, food, and drinks. I highly recommend it during the summertime in Berlin. 6. Marietta Bar Marietta is where your queer neighbourhood connects. The self-proclaimed “queer living room” is located at the heart of the formerly East-Berlin district Prenzlauer Berg. Despite its vintage interior, its only other old-fashioned element is the eponymous drink on the boozy menu. The Marietta hosts weekly events such as “The gay Wednesday”, lesbian regulars’ tables but is also proudly straight-friendly.

The medium of photography is great for capturing our own personal life experiences, as well as a way of starting to understand and appreciate the experiences of others. We wanted to show you some photographers' work which document different aspects and experiences of queer culture. We hope you enjoy the imagery but also learn a little more about the context and intention behind each of these powerful community projects. 1. Gustavo Lopes's Riis is Burning Gustavo Lopes is a photographer based in Brooklyn, NY, but was born and raised in Brazil. Riis is a public beach and park in Queens, NY. The area is a well-established meeting point for people in the LGBTQ+ community, and has been for decades. Lopes wanted to photograph beachgoers and make this zine to show the diverse nature of people who assemble here - people of all ages, genders, races and backgrounds. The subjects are strangers. Through these images, we can truly feel the sense of freedom and joy that subjects feel, just by being themselves and being amongst their chosen family. You can find the full zine on Lopes's website here. 2. Jon Shard's Flesh at the Haçienda The Haçienda is a cornerstone of Manchester's nightlife culture and the house music scene in the 1980s and 90s. Those who frequented the club most-often reflect on their experiences there with a heavy sense of nostalgia. The establishment is also associated with a somewhat legendary enigma status, similar to that of Studio 54 in New York. The club attracted all types of people, especially members of the LGBTQ+ community. Shard captured partiers at a mid-week night at the club called Flesh, which was organised by promoters in October 1991, in an attempt to reverse the club's decline due to it being a magnet for gang activity. Flesh quickly became one of the biggest gay club nights in Europe. 3. Bex Wade's portrait series on NHS waiting lists for gender-affirming surgery for trans and non-binary people. Bex Wade has interviewed multiple trans masculine and non-binary people to get their insight on the struggles they have encountered with the healthcare system in the UK - the long waiting lists for surgeries, inadequate mental health support during the pandemic. To accompany these interviews, Wade captured their interviewees in a sensitive, realistic and empowering way. 4. Sophia Emmerich's Gender Fluidity Some words on the project from Sophia herself: "These photographs were made by a fully LGBTQIA+ team and everyone on set had a taste of this vision. Here we see the magic that happens when a group of queer people create something that is by them, and for them. The key to liberation doesn’t lie amongst rainbows and flags, it sits in the hand of every person who has a privilege that another does not, and it is our duty to take this key and unlock every door until the wind of change blows freely through." Credits for Gender Fluidity: ​BRIANNA, they/she @barinatsarina ​EVE, she/they @eve_beucher ​JOSEPHINE, she/they @josephines030 ​MELON, she/they @fe.male.dragon ​THESIS, any pronouns @syn__thesis ​Photography by Sophia Emmerich, she/they @sophia.emmerich ​Art Direction by Cora Hamilton, they/them @coraefhamilton and Sophia Emmerich Photo Assistance by Sam Arndt, he/him @sam121291 ​Set Design by Carolina Restrepo, she/her @livingfortomato ​Styling by Christo Nakos, he/him @christonakos ​Styling Assistance by Nida, she/her @nyyydl ​Hair and Makeup by CrisToni Florido Acosta, any pronouns @jupita322 ​Agency @wirsinduns

To recognise #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth we sat down with six LGBTQ+ Leaders from our Queer Collective to hear their personal stories, challenges and explore practical self-care tools to help Queer Leaders thrive in the workplace. Using a story-teach-tool approach, we will explore LGBTQ+ mental health through an intersectional lens across a series of three informal recorded conversations with six Queer Leaders from our collective. Mixing storytelling, holistic practices, and therapeutic tools, we hope to not only raise awareness of the challenges, but kick start a reflective process around how we all approach mental health, wellbeing, and our needs, inside and outside the workplace. #ThriveWithPride 1. in-Conversation with Chloë Davies and David Kam. Chloë Davies (she/her) and David Kam (he/him) discuss their experience of balancing mental, emotional and physical health, alongside their own intersecting identities and professional lives. “When queer leaders forget to take time for themselves, they block any capacity to fully empathise, and also to discern what is most in alignment with where they are.” David Kam “We achieve thriving in the workplace by creating spaces where people can be their full self, where they can show up, where they understand what it truly means to thrive.” Chloë Davies 2. in-Conversation with Scott Sallée and CK. Scott Sallée (he/they) and CK (they/them) chat about mental health in the queer community and how this relates to showing up as their best selves in the workplace. "What I want most for our community, is to move from that feeling of safety, more into that zone of thriving, where we glow, where we radiate, where we shine.” Scott Sallée “I don't feel that pausing and being with ourselves can be comfortable at all times, but I feel that when we do do that, we nourish ourselves and get to replenish ourselves.” CK 3. in-Conversation with Adi Sinha and Chris Grant. Adi Sinha (he/him) and Chris Grant (they/them) talk about queer experiences of mental health diagnoses and navigating these in both a personal and professional environment. "Mental health for me, started from a very rational point of view, as to what the diagnosis can bring through, but now it's more about just knowing my own self.” Adi Sinha “For me it was really a process of moving from that belief of "mental health issues need to be something that are dealt with or fixed" to something that is just part of us.” Chris Grant With special thanks to Mama Shelter London, for being our location partner for this film. Other credits include: Filming and edit: producedby.kiran At WE CREATE SPACE we love to create meaningful and engaging content dedicated to helping organisations become more inclusive for all their employees. To learn more about how we can create bespoke videos, articles, research reports and more, check out our corporate DEI solutions or contact us through email: hello@wecreatespace.co

From cuisine to complicated shopping aisles, Adi had to quickly learn how to decipher British culture. Struggling with his identity actually connected him more to his South Asian heritage. And a new British passport brought a new sense of belonging and the desire to conquer the UK as a queer brown boy from India. Navigating the UK as a brown boy from India. By Aditya Sinha To counter the perception of being a ‘FOB’ (fresh off the boat), I’ve acquired an interesting set of learning tactics since moving to the UK. Hours have been spent memorising the song lyrics of UK Spotify playlists, with hours more spent deciphering accents from the North to the South and even to the West Country (my particular favourite!) I've learnt innumerable cultural food references, such as determining that a ‘pud’ is in fact a pudding (which actually means dessert), and that the Yorkshire and Black varieties are not really ‘puds’ after all. I've had to adjust to the labyrinth of supermarket aisles (a very different environment to which I was used to shopping in), grasping signage and novel store layouts (bread and eggs go together kind of stuff). I’ve picked up the delightful habit of eating sandwiches with crisps for lunch, so much so that I’ll complain upon not being able to find such a delectable Pret selection anywhere else on the continent. I’ve mastered the components of a traditional Christmas dinner (a completely new concept to me), and become accustomed with gardening, having previously never touched a twig in my life! Such UK centric skills and trivia are just some of the endless notes that fill the pages of my imaginary learning notebook, titled “How to live in the UK as a brown boy from India’’. Each has varied stories of embarrassment, amazement, or sometimes even shock associated with it. But whilst at it, I’ve also had to learn the names of all British Olympic winners, important painters and musicians from the last two hundred odd years, as well as many other riveting and niche facts about the UK. "Adapting to life in the UK was, and still is, relentless. It can be draining at times." This part of learning was essential in my preparation for the ‘Life in the UK’ test; required of anyone wishing to become a permanent resident. Many of my fellow immigrants will recognise this as the ‘ILR’ (Indefinite Leave to Remain). This is an interesting choice of residence title, bearing a carrot and stick sentiment when you think about it – you may remain here, but we’d rather you leave. Adapting to life in the UK was, and still is, relentless. It can be draining at times. And whilst I choose to be on this learning journey, as I know that it’s equally expected of me - continue to learn I must. With this continual journey in mind, I still give myself a mini pat on the back when asked for directions on the street or on public transport for example. How great it feels to be considered a local. And, if that someone asking happens to be British, this mini pat transforms into a huge pat, even a self-hug! The underlying emotion to moments like this is closely tied to a desperate desire to belong. A hugely common desire amongst POC living as immigrants. It makes us question whether we belong to one place or two; perhaps even more. And do we belong to these places equally or to one more than the other? From personal experience, where I belong can feel very different at different times. "The underlying emotion to moments like this is closely tied to a desperate desire to belong." Acquiring my British passport (very cool!), has contributed hugely to my sense of belonging. In 2019, when sashaying through immigration in Japan without a visa, with just a flash of my burgundy passport, it felt incredibly surreal. The experience was such a huge transformation from what travel once meant for me. With the UK not part of the Schengen region, I had settled with having to plan meticulously months in advance. Even for a simple pre-Brexit trip to Europe, this involved submitting bank statements, proof of accommodation and employment. I had to sit back and enviously watch British friends and colleagues hop on the train to Paris at the drop of a hat. Despite these expectations becoming routine for me, travel also came with the additional complexities (detailed interrogation) that most POC with a ‘weaker passport’ can expect. The company of my British partner proved the only antidote to a more intense line of questioning. It seemingly took a respectable looking white man to stand beside me in the queue for immigration to leave border police feeling more reassured about my intentions. "Even now, with the security of my British passport, I still experience the fear of being stopped and called out while returning ‘home’." Yet, the sharp feeling of dread attached to travel and questioning can never quite leave you. Even now, with the security of my British passport, I still experience the fear of being stopped and called out while returning ‘home’, for not saying something I should, or not carrying a document I should be. I still distinctly recall the moment I first felt I could potentially live in the UK long term. Whilst standing on platform three at Slough station, with a First Great Western train whizzing past me, I was filled with a nascent sense of confidence and grounding. It was as though new and fresh roots had appeared directly under my feet, making their way along platform three and up through my body. Eleven years and eight addresses later, here I am, feeling extremely glad of the experiences the UK has offered me; the good, the bad and the ugly. They’ve shaped me in so many ways and given me so much. I have toiled, I have fought tooth and nail to have a seat at the table; in a metaphorical sense, and quite a literal one when on the underground! "My move to the UK has enabled me to connect with my roots on my terms." But even when marked by issues or challenges, my experiences have gifted me with the grit and determination to make myself count. For it is here that I’ve developed an in-depth sense of my own being. It is here that I’ve gained a world view in its truest sense. It is here that I came out, and where I’ve learnt about financial, emotional and spiritual independence. My move to the UK has enabled me to connect with my roots on my terms. I would not trade my time, my memories or my journey here for anything. Want to connect with Adi? Find out more here. Follow him on Instagram and Linkedin.

Ali Hendry and Denny Tu discuss the importance of empathetic leadership inside and outside the workplace. As change-makers seeking to build more diverse, inclusive, and equitable work cultures we’re often called to lead with empathy. This requires inhabiting new spaces in our hearts and minds. In this webinar we’ll explore how we can grow our empathic leadership skills to become more impactful role models and foster psychologically safe spaces within our organisations, communities and beyond. Watch this webinar to... - Cultivate more knowledge and understanding of global LGBTQIA+ issues - Discover new methods for creating more inclusive cultures at work - Find practical self-care tools and tips for managing your mental health - Feel empowered to help and support others - Become more intuitive and empathetic with the decisions you make as a leader or change-maker - Increase the positive impact you could have in the world - Understand better your actions, thoughts and beliefs as an Ally of the entire LGBTQIA+ community - Use the safe space to discuss, learn and get curious Learn more about Ali Hendry's work. Learn more about Denny Tu'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!

Gurchaten Sandhu, Yasir Mirza, Jayne Ozanne and Nathan Nalla enlighten us about their experiences with conversion therapy. A live panel discussion with four Queer Leaders, who will each be sharing their stories and unique lived experience through the lens of their different LGBTQ+ intersecting identities. Our panellist discuss their experiences with Conversion Therapy and its effects on their mental and physical wellbeing, wider research into the effectiveness of Conversion Therapy, reconciliation with their families, as well as questions they still have as survivors. Learn more about Gurchaten Sandhu's work. Learn more about Yasir Mirza'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!

Maylis Djikalou and Lily Zheng help you harness the power of communicating and influencing. Mindsets are ever present in all of us. They shape our world and experiences whether we are aware of them or not. This webinar is about developing an understanding of what mindsets are, and how they can be dissolved, designed or shifted to support the well-being, growth and development of LGBTQ+ employees. Watch this webinar to... - Learn how to address issues affecting Black LGBTQ+ people. - Discover new methods for creating more inclusive cultures at work. - Feel empowered to help and support others. - Become more intuitive and empathetic with the decisions you make as a leader or change-maker. - Increase the positive impact you could have in the world. - Understand better your actions, thoughts and beliefs as an Ally of the entire LGBTQIA+ community. - Use the safe space to discuss, learn and get curious. Learn more about Maylis Djikalou's work. Learn more about Lily Zheng'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!

To recognise #InternationalWomensDay we sat down with six LGBTQ+ Leaders of Colour from our Queer Collective to hear their personal stories of how they're embracing and reclaiming Intersectional Womanhood in their own lives. This year's International Women's Day theme invites us all to be BOLD FOR CHANGE; a callout to create a more gender-inclusive world. At We Create Space, we understand that communities cannot be truly representative until they recognise that the experiences of different genders and sexual orientations can be extremely varied. We need new perceptions, real stories and intersectional experiences at the table. Authentic representation and intersectionality are key. Dialogue around gender needs to be nuanced and multi-faceted. This means acknowledging that every person has different layers of complexity; allowing them the opportunity to articulate their own unique lived experience. The history of gender inequality is complex and can be difficult to understand, especially if you are not directly affected. This is why, for this year's #InternationalWomensDay, we wanted to explore intersectionality and womanhood through a series of informal recorded conversations with our own team, in hopes of using their personal stories as a way of educating and evolving all of our discussions and understanding. Char Bailey (she/her) “Being a Woman of Colour, Neuro-Divergent, and being fluid in my gender expression impacts everything that I do and how I see the world. This way of being gives me the strength to focus on how I perceive others, having that helps me to thrive in any working environment. It’s not about what’s happening outside, it’s about what’s happening internally within me.” Tash Thomas (she/her) “I am really embracing my natural masculine energy, instead of trying to push away from it, I will embrace it and use it as part of my strength." Eva Echo (she/they) “Those rigid binary definitions and rules that we grow up learning, they don’t have to be like that. I see it like a map in a computer game, there are only certain parts lit up… the rest is unexplored and dark. What’s beyond that darkness, is more map… you can carry on and it can be safe. By exploring our own map, we allow others to do the same for themselves”. Coco (they/she) “You need support to feel at one with yourself. Until I had that, I didn’t know who I was… I was a shell of Coco...Let’s define our own normal.” Yassine Senghor (she/her) “I feel liberated and free! People will constantly try to divide us, but that’s a tool of the system. Liberation is us of all coming together, saying we reject that. We will create space for everybody to truly be ourselves." Alex D'Sa (she/her) “There will always be people that are more powerful than other, I hope we can come to a point where we are not actively trying stop the liberation of other people." Today we ask you to reflect on how we could all be a little bolder in our own lives; whether it's speaking out against inequality, standing up for someone who has been marginalised, or living an ideal that we want to see brought into this world. This is work we can all do, no matter what gender we identify with. Remembering that there are as many experiences as there are people. With special thanks to Liberty London, for being our location partner for this film. Other credits include: Filming and edit: producedby.kiran Music by @divincent_ @anaalogue @lukrembo WE CREATE SPACE have a developed a tailored set of programmes dedicated to helping organisations become more inclusive for all their employees. To learn more, check out our corporate DEI solutions or contact us through email: hello@wecreatespace.co

Phil Sanger is one of our newest recruits to the Create Space collective. He joins the team as a facilitator and certified coach. We asked him to share some of his story. In 1999 I left my hometown of Barnsley. Kate Bush was playing on my walk-man, on repeat. My destination was Leeds and my goals were to take up professional dance training at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and, much to the dismay of others, to come out. With both goals firmly under my belt I have since enjoyed a flamboyant career of touring world class stages, appearing in television and film productions, and working with some of the most renowned and queer choreographers to be found. Ten years later (2009 with Kate Bush still on repeat) I began fundraising and producing local and international cultural events. By this point I had become a dance-maker, mentor and educator and I had, at some point, also found time for a hiatus as a nightclub and event manager where I discovered a little more about what it means to be queer, and whole lot more about what it means to be me. Over the years my creative interests have evolved and become much more politically centred around queer visibility and coming out stories. The shift in content was galvanised when I started working with a coach who supported a transitionary period of my career and to my surprise, I uncovered in myself a lion's share of internalised homophobia and so 'the work' began. The result was that I myself would go on to become a coach and trainer, and the wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community became the next focal point of my practice. Another ten years later (Yes, 2019 and Kate Bush is STILL on repeat) I toured a pseudo-glamorous solo show titled 'For Only An Hour'. The premise of the show was that I would confront my shame and share my coming out stories on stage as a political act of queer visibility and LGBTQ+ rights. The show consolidated my otherwise incoherent journey and now, I am here. Phil spoke to our Programme Director, Maylis Djikalou, about his Create Space workshop, ‘Give Me Courage’ taking place Saturday 1st May 2021. Discover more about Phil: weareramped.org @philsanger LinkedIn 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 Change Management and People Transformation specialist, Gatonga Theuri, an attendee of our Who Am I? GBTQ leadership programme, to hear about his retreat experience and how he's used our teachings to drive change in his own life. Who are you? I am spirit experiencing life as a human being who is black, African, gay and professionally, a program manager in the field of Data Science, insights and analytics. How did you find yourself doing what you're doing? I was always drawn to computer science and the possibility of information technology which I believe to be limitless and right now in its early infancy; in addition, unrealized potential has always been an area of interest to me, and being part of the process of realizing said potential or evolution of individuals and humanity as a whole has always been what I thought is part of my calling. What have you learnt throughout your journey? That it’s okay not to be okay, that I am not alone, that there are people like me from different pockets of the World striving for the same clearest, best and most life possible. Why did you get involved in the "Who Am I?" programme? I am naturally introspective and believe that the quest for self-knowledge is literally why we are here – to discover our limitlessness and phenomenal potential, and through this experience, encourage all to discover and revel in their true magnificent selves. Have you used anything from our retreat in your life? Yes, mainly in how I approach my personal and professional life – I was an extremely ambitious, overworked and stressed out man – always trying to prove myself worthy…now, I am hopefully on a different tangent – one of self-discovery, self-love and self-care – where my motives are not subservient to others or society, but are all about experiencing the highest, most and best possible life for me. What relationship do you have to the LGBTQ+ community? It’s quite checkered to be honest – for the longest time, I was deeply in the closet, especially when I was living in Nairobi (Kenya), so I avoided the community at all costs, as I thought that association was social suicide; later, when I decided to live with my first partner, I was more open to the community albeit heavily discreet. Having moved to live initially in Budapest, and now in London, I feel deeply that I want to give back and take care of my siblings in the community; be to them that which I lacked for instance a model of a possible life; spread more love and try and overcome some of the darkest parts of the community. I want to play a part in the healing and self-acceptance; help our community members live better, more elevated and quality lives through self-love, self-knowledge, and self-care, which I think all begins with self-acceptance. What's the biggest challenge you're currently facing? Fear of ending up with no one to share my love and my life with – I am currently single, after 3 serious attempts ()…I know I am made for love, to love and be loved, so my fear is not finding that soon or ever. Have you learnt anything new about yourself since the retreat? Yes…I am a deeply loving and caring man that will see the best first in others, yet I am also an extremely harsh self-critic…I am trying to be more conscious and present in my self-talk, in a bid to be less self-critical. Turning it from negative self-talk, to positive, loving and uplifting self-talk. How do you continue to "Create Space"? Meditation, Gratitude exercise (writing down 3 things I’m grateful for daily), physical exercisen (sadly not consistent or as much as I’d like), changing my self-dialogue and taking time to enjoy myself without guilt. Want to connect with Gatonga? Follow him on Linkedin. 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.

We sat down with diversity, equity and inclusion specialist Yassine Senghor, an attendee of our Who Am I? LBTQ leadership programme and now We Create Space team member, to hear about her retreat experience and how she's used our teachings to drive change in her own life. Who are you? I am Yaz, an Equality/Equity Diversity and Inculsion specialist, writer, mentor, speaker, facilitator, podcaster and occasional model (that's the short version). I am the Director of Confronting Change EDI Strategies, a consultancy that supports organizations and community spaces to consider their inclusive practice through an intersectional lens. While much of my work centres around consultancy, it has actually led to some really exciting places that I couldn't have predicted, like working with young people and focusing more on supporting marginalised people as well as allies and supporters. How did you find yourself doing what you're doing? In 2016 I did a Masters in Gender and Sexuality Studies, as the treatment and rights of women and people with marginalized identities has always been something vitally important to me, both personally and in terms of how I want to effect change in the world. I then had a short lived but really impactful run in Brighton where I managed the Marlborough Pub and Theatre, which was a hub for the queer community there. This allowed me to focus on how I could utilize my background in hospitality and people management to create space for the community that was so close to my heart, and specifically for the most marginalized within that community. After that, I was lured back to London to work at Stonewall, the largest LGBT organization in Europe. This is where I was able to combine my understanding of people and my passion for justice together in the world of Equalities (Equity), Diversity & Inclusion. My role there was supporting workplaces to consider their EDI practices and improve their LGBTQ+ Inclusion and how they valued their staff as individuals. I always encouraged an intersectional lens in my work with a focus on race and gender issues as well as creating inclusive spaces that held room for all marginalized people. In 2020, after the murder of George Floyd and the BLM protests, I found myself in a dark place where a lot of my work and efforts felt futile. I had to pull myself out of that and reflect on my beliefs and re-evaluate how I wanted to contribute to making change in the world. This led me to launch my consultancy, Confronting Change EDI Strategies, which allows me to work with clients who are as passionate about justice and change as I am, from an action driven place of empathy and authenticity. What have you learnt throughout your journey? I'm half Gambian and half Liberian, and I've been living in London for about 13 years now, but before that I hopped around the world a bit. I raise that because being an immigrant is an element of my intersectional experience that I am only recently starting to grapple with in terms of how it has impacted my experience of the world, alongside being a black, dark skinned, queer, masculine presenting, gender non-conforming, fat woman with mental health issues. These are all things I am deeply proud of now, but I am still doing a lot of work to unpack how I internalized negative societal attitudes towards these things. I've also learned to listen to myself. Sometimes it feels like I already know quite clearly what I want, and have a lot of the answers that I've been searching for, I just needed to give myself the space to explore those answers and actually hear them. When I listen to them, my gut or the guiding universe, or whatever you want to call it, I almost always get results, and wilder than I could have predicted. I think that's because I feel much more fulfilled, like I'm not pushing against myself, that I'm more aligned with my vision and my purpose. That has led to huge changes in my personal relationships, my work and also in the way that I treat myself in the midst of it all. Why did you get involved in the 'Who Am I?' programme? During the pandemic finding online spaces with like minded people became essential to me. It coincided with a lot of personal growth and change that was happening for me also, but I think like most people, I was just a bit lonely. The Who Am I? programme allowed me to meet incredible people who have brilliant life stories and are doing really inspirational work. I would normally feel a bit of imposter syndrome in those spaces, but with this programme, I was surrounded by people who were rooting for me and saw in me all the inspiring things I saw in them. Have you used anything from our retreat in your life? One of the things that I like the most about the retreat was the holistic approach. There was breath and body work, theory and psychology and then just human conversation. This is something that I have tried to embed into my work and the various ways that I approach new situations and also how I think about my life. I am increasingly trying to make space for all the different elements that enrich me and make me whole from a deeply reflective and conscious place. What relationship do you have to the LGBTQ+ community? I'd say I'm pretty connected to the LGBTQ+ community. I feel like this has matured alongside me starting from being a pretty solid fixture on the queer club scene to now working in LGBTQ+ workplace inclusion. I volunteer with queer organisations and have participated in organising various Pride events at different cities. For me, being part of the community is now about making sure that no one feels left out and that everyone finds an opportunity to shine and thrive within it. I think particularly of the upcoming queer youth, who have so many more opportunities to define and explore their sexuality and gender, but who still need vital support. Quite often, these are the people who inspire me the most, because of the confidence they have to be themselves, and I consider my role as a self appointed elder, to be to make sure that I am laying solid foundations for those who come after me and learning from those who came before. What's the biggest challenge you're currently working through? I don't know that it's a challenge so much as growing pains, but I am undergoing a process of aligning my body to what I've always wanted it to look like by getting non-flat top surgery. This is incredibly exciting, but it's also pretty terrifying to think that my body and maybe my perception of myself is about to change forever. It's also pretty scary to think that this is something that I've wanted for so long in my life, and I'm finally making it happen! But its something that could not have happened before this period of my life. I have taken all the learnings that have come from the last year, and a lot of the practical and reflective tools I have learned during the Who Am I retreat and applied them to how I want to live my life. This has immediately led to doors being opened and a lot of freedom to really question who I am, and then really just be that person. Have you learnt anything new about yourself recently? I think that I have learnt that I'm a lot braver than I realised. Even attending the 'Who am I?' retreat was something out of my comfort zone, but I went, and I was actually really excited to attend (amidst the nerves). That enthusiasm allowed me to be really engaged in the retreat, to approach it with openness, which required that I bring my fears and vulnerability to the table and actively participate. I try to bring that feeling of excited vulnerability to each new encounter now. Rather than trying to hide the feelings, I am embracing them, and hopefully creating space for others to do the same. It's also nice to have a group of people who are excited to hear about you, your work and what makes you, you. It feels like you are being seen, and in recognising that, it shows that I don't always see myself. So in thinking about that vulnerability, it makes me want to see myself a lot more clearly as well. How do you continue to 'Create Space'? First and foremost, I am just focused on that very idea of creating space, both for myself and others. I am creating space to continue learning about myself and hearing myself and my needs, and to be kind, soft and gentle with myself. Creating space for love and rest and joy. I hope that in this, I am creating space to be more compassionate and kind to others. That I am creating spaces where they feel safe and encouraged to be their whole vulnerable selves. This is especially important in my work, where I definitely lead from a person centered approach. I want to understand people as individuals and to hear about their experiences and find our commonality and celebrate our difference. Want to connect with Yassine? Follow her on Instagram, Linkedin and check out her website Confronting Change. 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.

We sat down with Jon-Paul Vicari, an attendee of our Who Am I? GBTQ leadership programme, to learn more about him, his retreat experience and find out how he's using our teachings to drive change in his own life. Who are you? Wow, what a first question. My name is Jon-Paul Vicari and I am (in no particular order) gay, Lebanese, Italian, and proud. I usually tell people I come from a place of yes when describing myself because I say yes more often than not. It’s why Bethenny Frankel and I are meant to be best friends. Saying yes to many things in life is a privilege I am fortunate to have right now. I live with Jordan, my partner of 7.5 years in Chicago, and our dog Roo and find myself often eating good food, reading good books, watching Bravo, and traveling. I tend to use comedy as a coping mechanism and have been living with depression as long as I can remember. I love being in therapy (I truly do) and have been taking antidepressants since early 2020 which has been both laborious and beneficial for me. Friends and family are the most important thing to me and I am fortunate to have a great family by blood and by choice. After so long of not seeing people, I am working on being more present with them now and savoring every moment. Doom scrolling be damned, I want more meals together, more hugs, more laughs, more being vulnerable, and more memories. No day but today rings true even more so than ever. For work, I'm currently in a sales role focused on helping organizations hire hourly workers across the US. I've also had the opportunity to serve on my company’s DEI Committee. How did you find yourself doing what you're doing? I found myself unemployed in late 2014 and spent several months figuring out if I wanted to leave retail and pursue other opportunities in sales. Luckily, I found a job with a great leader who was willing to give me a chance to enter a new industry. She and I still work together now at our current company too. I’ve loved being able to bring my skills to table in a completely different space while learning and adapting along the way. What have you learnt throughout your journey? Kindness and compassion are essential for me to be fulfilled in and out of work. Knowing and working with people who regularly display these traits as verbs rather than only adjectives has made me a better person. Being able to treat yourself with the same level of kindness and compassion you would give others is work I will do forever, it’s a daily habit that recenters my perspective. I think about this Teddy Roosevelt quote a lot in this context “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” Why did you get involved in the 'Who Am I?' programme? The truth is, I was in a bit of an identity crisis and really unsure about what I was doing with my life in general. I was already impressed with the work We Create Space was doing with another organisation called myGwork, and when I read through the programme information, I felt an immediate sense of relief that there were other queer people like me who wanted to be supportive and supported in their journeys. I knew immediately I needed to participate and loved every second of it. Have you used anything from our retreat in your life? Since I attended in April 2021, I've used many of the lessons in my everyday life. One of the most impactful things has been breathwork. Despite not having much experience with it heading into the retreat, it provided me with immense relief and space to discover more about myself while healing other aspects. I've been practicing at a small scale throughout the day and worked with one of the retreat coaches in a 1:1 setting a few months ago. All of the retreat work and relationships built were the spark I needed to get myself back on track with my mental health journey after feeling stuck for a long time. What relationship do you have to the LGBTQ+ community? I identify as gay/queer and use them interchangably for myself. I have friends and family across the full spectrum of identities within our broader LGBTQ+ community. Being able to see and validate our joint experiences as a community makes me feel connected to all of us across the world. Currently I participate in a gay mens book club in Chicago and am a penpal with Black & Pink who help pair up LGBTQ+ people who are incarcerated with LGBTQ+ people who are on the outside. I find myself in a season of life where being queer and proud is more important than ever and supporting our community in anyway I can is my goal. What's the biggest challenge you're currently working through? Maintaining and building on the progress I’ve made over the past 18 months. Today I am the most me I have ever been in my whole life and I love being able to say that. My brain defaults to seeing progress as linear when in reality, progress is never linear. Being able to accept that and still put in the work for myself is a challenge but I’m ready for it. Have you learnt anything new about yourself recently? Part of why I participated in the 'Who am I?' retreat originally was to “fix” some things I felt were going wrong. During the retreat I learned that I wasn’t broken; I was healing. My brain and nervous system were afraid to release parts of the trauma I’ve held onto because I was afraid to see who I was without that in my life. Learning to let that go on top of hearing so many others say “you are worthy” helped me look in the mirror and believe when I said those words to myself. How do you continue to 'Create Space'? Well for one, I try to join the monthly regroups as often as possible. I love getting to see people from my retreat and meeting new people who have gone through this experience. It’s a beautiful reminder of how much support and love we have to give each other. I’ll say it again, breathwork has been a transformative experience for me and while I am slowly working my way through how to incorporate it more into my life, having basics to rely on is amazing. I’ve been able to free up mind to focus on tasks, healing, being present, and physically feel better too. Advocating for my well being at work and with others has been a significant shift for me by setting clear boundaries and bringing people into my experience instead of shutting them out. Lastly, reading. I have loved books my whole life and reading gives me a way to escape, learn, and feel in ways nothing else has been able to. This year I’ve read more books by and about LGBTQ+ people and all of the intersections that exist within our community is truly a gift. Want to connect with Jon-Paul? Follow him on Instagram, LinkedIn and Goodreads. 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.