Queer Pride

By Penelope Davis

I identify as a ambiamorous, bi-gender/gender fluid, panromatic, demisexual.

I am a gender affirming, kink, ENM, Furry community, Monster F***ing positive clinician. So I work a lot with sex and sexuality and I really love exploration of intersecting identities. I think it’s vital to bring levity to my work and being able to connect with my clients over both their struggles and their humor.

I’m unique as a therapist, I’m a former foster kid/homeless youth and most of us do not end up getting an education. I want that to change. I think our field would benefit from more people with similar lived experiences. The more diversity we can have, the better. I think the people who live within disenfranchised communities are the best equipped to make meaningful change in them.

I always think we’re at our best when we show up for each other and hold each other in solidarity. Our community is very diverse and I love seeing us show up for the parts of our community with intersecting disenfranchised identities. This is what community is. We do things for each other even if that person cannot reciprocate. Across America, we see pockets of collectivism, but it’s much rarer in the broader community.

While all communities struggle with an aspect of acceptance with various  intersections, I think we do a good job of having discussions around whether or not we close our spaces or keep them open. An example of this would be ongoing discussions around gay bars being open to all people. In general, a lot of us tend to look out for each other in these spaces and that makes them much safer for other people. And most of us are open to providing safe spaces for people, for instance, cishet women, as long as those spaces are respected. But simply the willingness to have open, honest conversations about this is something that’s done often enough.

In the words of Harvey Milk, we have to give people hope. Social justice is a big part of my life and my worldview. So holding space for that in my work and personal life is important for me. When it comes to Pride, that is an aspect that I focus on. Really showing up for my community and connecting.