Affinity Community Services and Access Living hosted a town hall discussion, "I'm Proud Too! Disability Within the POC & LGBTQ Community," June 17 at Access Living.
Performer, teacher and visual artist NIC Kaywho also co-founded 3rd Language, a queer arts collectivefacilitated the event.
Event coordinators included Access Living's Women & Girls Community Organizer and The Empowered Fe Fes Lead Organizer Folani Thrasher, Affinity Community Services Executive Director Kim Hunt and Access Living's Mentoring Coordinator Carrie Kaufman. ( The Empowered Fe Fes is a support and action group of young women with disabilities ages 13 to 24. )
Thrasher and Hunt spoke about how their organizations connected and the origins of this event ahead of the roundtable discussion.
Participants introduced themselves and indicated what they expected out of the evening's discussion.
Kay asked everyone to note how they saw themselves in relation to their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity as well as other characteristics. They were also asked to explain what their idea of a safe and perfect world would be as well as if they feel that there is room for intersectionality within their specific communities.
Affinity and Access Living's next monthly support group meeting will take place July 21 at Access Living. The time has not yet been announced.
See www.affinity95.org/acscontent and www.accessliving.org for more information.