IOOV 2023 Unity Through Diversity: The Power of Unity LGBTQIA+ BIPOC Health Conference Guide
Unity Through Diversity: The Power of Unity is a biennial health, wellness, and capacity-building national conference for LGBTQIA+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). The focus of the 2023 conference is “The Power of Unity,” and its purpose is to lift the voices of LGBTQIA+ BIPOC communities while promoting social justice, healthy sexuality, violence-free living, social activism, and safer spaces. As In Our Own Voices celebrates its 25th year of strengthening and empowering our communities, we look forward to making this Unity Through Diversity the most impactful one yet.
Unity Through Diversity: The Power of Unity is a biennial health, wellness, and capacity-building national conference for LGBTQIA+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). The focus of the 2023 conference is “The Power of Unity,” and its purpose is to lift the voices of LGBTQIA+ BIPOC communities while promoting social justice, healthy sexuality, violence-free living, social activism, and safer spaces. As In Our Own Voices celebrates its 25th year of strengthening and empowering our communities, we look forward to making this Unity Through Diversity the most impactful one yet.
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SATURDAY WORKSHOPS<br />
OCTOBER 28, <strong>2023</strong><br />
9:15 AM - 10:30 AM<br />
Wellness<br />
and<br />
Treatment<br />
Chambers<br />
W(h)ole-y W(h)ell-ness<br />
Symba Luna<br />
Audience: Closed session for Non-binary <strong>BIPOC</strong><br />
This workshop is an interactive wellness space. Symba Luna will be modeling examples <strong>of</strong> how any space can and<br />
should promote wellness, and they will be encouraging audience participation in bringing the accessible examples<br />
to life. Symba Luna will be sharing stories <strong>of</strong> their experience entering and operating in the therapeutic massage<br />
world as a non-binary melanated individual while making it very clear on what things need to change for <strong>BIPOC</strong><br />
<strong>LGBTQIA+</strong> people to be safe to participate in traditional wellness.<br />
Symba will also assist participants in workshopping examples and ways to apply their wellness practices based on<br />
what is accessible to them currently. Lastly, Symba will take a short Q&A about their work, wellness practices, goals,<br />
and desires for their own wellness space. This workshop is open to all; however, this content and message are aimed<br />
at the wellness <strong>of</strong> <strong>BIPOC</strong> <strong>LGBTQIA+</strong> people <strong>of</strong> all ages.<br />
Education<br />
and<br />
Capacity<br />
Building<br />
Governor C<br />
Redefining Queer Households<br />
Sarah McGaughnea<br />
Audience: Open to all<br />
In every aspect <strong>of</strong> service provision, one <strong>of</strong> our initial questions is ‘household size?’. What if your household<br />
differs from two parents and 2.5 children? What if you had to explain and constantly defend your relationship<br />
at a baseline? This workshop dives into polyamory and the LGBT+ community. This population experiences<br />
misunderstanding, unnecessary questions, and lack <strong>of</strong> service provision that leads to distrust, failure to seek services,<br />
and a rate <strong>of</strong> violence that cannot be factualized due to lack <strong>of</strong> reporting. Is that lack <strong>of</strong> reporting on the service<br />
provider’s end or the victim’s end? We will explore this as a group.<br />
We will talk about staff and service provider biases when serving someone from the LGBT+ population and what<br />
happens when the victim and their partner both need shelter/services from another abusive partner. Will this be<br />
understood and respected by staff and agencies? <strong>Through</strong>out this presentation, we will have a thought-provoking<br />
conversation surrounding this. <strong>The</strong> presentation will also discuss misconceptions/ biases about polyamory and the<br />
historical trauma already faced by LGBT+ victims. This presentation will also cover the intersection <strong>of</strong> polyamory and<br />
LGBT+ relationships. Participants will be provided ideas and examples <strong>of</strong> small things they can do to create more<br />
inclusive and trauma-informed services for all victims <strong>of</strong> violence, regardless <strong>of</strong> relationship structure.<br />
Advocacy<br />
and Public<br />
Policy<br />
Governor D<br />
Anti-LGBTQ Legislative Attacks and Supporting Survivors<br />
Joey Espinoza-Hernández, Danny Gonzalez, Savy Elahian<br />
Audience: Open to all<br />
Anti-LGBTQ legislation is rising at an all-time high rate in this country, threatening the safety <strong>of</strong> LGBTQ survivors,<br />
increasing stigma, and eroding legal protections. More than 400 anti-LGBTQ bills were filed in <strong>2023</strong>, most targeting<br />
transgender people. <strong>The</strong>se anti-LGBTQ laws will have catastrophic consequences on LGBTQ survivors <strong>of</strong> sexual<br />
assault and domestic violence. This workshop will aim to equip the participants with the knowledge and skills we<br />
need to leverage the anti-violence movement and survivor-support field to respond to the wave <strong>of</strong> anti-LGBTQ<br />
attacks.<br />
UNITY THROUGH DIVERSITY <strong>2023</strong><br />
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