"No person is your friend who demands your silence or denies your right to grow." - Alice Walker
Background & Event Details
Five years ago, Shelley Bridgman challenged the British judicial system to prove that legal recognition of gender identity status did not require state approval. Her legendary victory led to this ruling becoming legally binding in 17 countries across Europe. As we in the 2S/LGBTQIA+ community continue to fight bigotry and injustice in 2023, we're continually reminded of the perseverance of those who fought and marched before us.
In this learning circle, the hosts will share stories of their lived experiences, and how dynamics within and outside the community have shifted over the years. They will then guide attendees through an informal discussion about the importance of global intergenerational collaboration of 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities, especially when fighting for basic human rights.
Please note that attendees can choose to either join the circle or participate as spectators.
As hosts, we are not coming into this discussion as experts; instead, we respect that we are all knowledge-keepers in our own right and can continue to learn from each other.
Date: Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Time: 12 - 1:30 pm EST (full agenda below)
Location: Online (via Google Meet)
Cost: Free
Accessibility: Automated closed captions will be available.
Safe(r) Space: This event aims to be inclusive and welcoming. Harassment and discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated. Attendees will be asked to leave if they fail to respect these basic rules.
Logistics: If you choose to participate directly in the circle, please note that this session will be recorded and sent to all attendees post-event. We will not share any content on social media without express permission.
Registration: Please see below
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Facilitated by hosts Shelley Bridgman & Amy Grant
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Continue Discussions & Networking (optional)
Meet Your Hosts
Shelley Bridgman is a Speaker, Performance Coach, Psychotherapist, Hypnotherapist, Trainer, & Author. She has been a media commentator specializing in psychotherapy & psychology, with appearances on BBC Television, Sky News, Channel 4 and 5 as well Radio 4’s “Woman Hour” “Midweek” and the “Jeremy Vine Show” on Radio 2. She has also been featured in “Psychologies,” and “Therapy Today” magazines.
Shelley’s mission is to empower a new breed of Leaders committed to affecting positive sustainable change in the world they inhabit.
Shelley has a Masters’ degree in Gestalt Psychotherapy, is an NLP Master Practitioner, RTT Hypnotherapy Practitioner and is a certified Advanced Personal & Business Coach.
As a Speaker, Shelley is a member of The Professional Speakers Association. Her principal topics are Transformational Change, Diversity & Thought Leadership. Shelley honed her speaking skills on the Stand-up comedy circuit where she performed five one-woman shows at the Edinburgh Festival and completed a five-night run at The Leicester Square Theatre, performances in Rome, and a seven-night run Off-Broadway in New York. Her TEDX talk ‘Dare to be You’ encompassed her Speaking Topics. Listen to her TEDX talk "Dare to be You."
Amy Grant identifies as an Intersectional Human, as she is of mixed heritage (Mi'kmaw-Irish-French-Jewish), has physical and learning disabilities, and is part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Despite experiencing multiple marginalizations, Amy is proud of the complex identity that gives her a unique perspective on life and allows her to see the world through a compassionate lens.
Along her educational journey, Amy obtained a Bachelor of Public Relations (BPR) from Mount Saint Vincent University ('16). She is currently enrolled in a Master of Arts in Communications program and is completing her thesis on (Mis)Representations of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) in the News Media ('24). Amy also speaks French and was an Erasmus (exchange student) in Lille, Nord-Pas de Calais, France, during the third year of her BPR program.
In her professional life, Amy is the Systems Change & Community Engagement Lead at Origin LC. She works with clients from various backgrounds to help inspire ethical leadership through inclusion, diversity, equity, & accessibility (IDEA). These projects are a small step for organizations to create a sense of belonging within their workplaces, foster authentic connections with all our relations, and become leaders in (re)building sustainable communities.
We look forward to seeing you soon.
If you have any questions, please email amy@originlc.com