Talking about Queer Birth (Community Discussion)
The experience of giving birth as a queer person can be varied, joyous and challenging in equal regard, and we need to make space to talk about it. LGBTQ+ peoples’ experiences of birth and reproductive care are continually under-represented in the “birthing world” of midwifery services, NHS referrals, doulas and labour wards. This can be intimidating and actively harmful to LGBTQ+ families and individuals, who face barriers ranging from homophobia and transphobia to inadequate service provision.
In partnership with The Queer Birth Club and Queer Families at Outside The Box, we hosted a discussion on Wednesday 28th July 2021 for anyone at any stage of a queer birth journey, including allies and birth workers, to talk about the experiences of LGBTQ+ people with birth and find out about the support available. This event sought to connect community members to peer support, solidarity, and information on the services that were available and accessible to them through panel presentation and group dicussion.
Guest speakers included:
- AJ Silver (they/them) from the Queer Birth Club
The Queer Birth Club was founded by AJ Silver out of necessity to fill the void of LGBT+ inclusion in the birth world. AJ is a highly trained and experienced birth & postnatal Doula, a probationary breastfeeding counsellor and a qualified babywearing consultant. They bring together the stories and experiences of members of the LGBT+ community; adding and amplifying the voices of the overlooked and often invisible minorities in the birthing world.
n - Ciara Maguire (she/her) from Queer Families Glasgow (Outside The Box)
Ciara Maguire is a community worker with Outside the Box and leads on their Queer Families project. Queer Families is a peer support group for LGBTQ families to come together in a supportive and inclusive space. For more information on the project you can visit the website or follow them on Instagram @queerfamsglasgow
n - Emma Simpson (they/them) from Amma Birth Companions and LGBT Health and Wellbeing (Glasgow)
Emma is one of the volunteer Directors of Amma Birth Companions, a Glasgow-based charity providing support to birthing people experiencing barriers to safe birth and who don’t have access to the network of family, partners or friends some of us take for granted.
n - Jules Stapleton-Barnes (she/her) from Rainbow Families at LGBT Health and Wellbeing
Rainbow Families provides events and information for LGBTQI+ families who live in or travel to Edinburgh and Glasgow
