Breaking Barriers: Making Recovery Spaces Inclusive for All
I guess it was the sensitivity of the exclusive, the elite group, like the untouchables. It’s this again, keeping the untouchable elite and I’m specifically talking about whiteness as this you know like pure, this pureness, and then you know having the other be the furthest thing from that, but then also like having that that like the privilege to just appropriate whatever is fitting or whatever is fun or whatever is like whatever.
Ever felt like recovery spaces just don't get you? Co-hosts Jamie Osorio and Shauntelle Hammonds tackle this head-on in 'Don’t Water Down the Truth', the inaugural episode of 'What the Queer?'. They dive into how traditional recovery programs often miss the mark for BIPOC queers, leaving them feeling excluded and unsafe. The conversation gets real about privilege, exclusivity, and the often-overlooked challenges faced by marginalized individuals in these spaces.
Jamie and Shauntelle don't hold back, discussing how to make recovery more inclusive and safer for everyone. They touch on tokenization, harm reduction, and even the issue of cultural tourism in recovery settings. One standout moment comes when they discuss the 'untouchable elite' and how whiteness is often seen as pure, leaving others feeling like they don’t belong.
This episode is a must-listen if you’re interested in understanding the unique hurdles BIPOC queers face in recovery and how we can all work towards creating spaces where everyone feels welcome and supported.