Needed: Queer-Informed Death Doulas

We don't all die the same way.

What is my history with the LGBTQ+ community?

It goes back to the mid-1980s when I was a young girl in Tampa frequenting punk, new wave, and goth clubs. Word quickly spread that the safest space for us in that scene was El Goya, a popular gay club in Ybor City. At El Goya, which later became Tracks, we didn't have to worry about covering our drinks, getting accosted on the dance floor, or being assaulted in the bathrooms.

The gay community kept me safe. As I got older and more politically involved, I returned that favor.

I learned how to be an advocate by working with ACT-UP, Tampa AIDS Network, and the movement to legalize gay marriage in the 2000s. I have some lived experience as a mom and partner in a non-traditional family.

And when I opened up my death doula practice, it felt natural to continue serving this population I love so dearly. I got certified to do so through Metro Inclusive Health in Florida and continue as a trained volunteer with Howard Brown Health in Chicago.

A History…