Uplifting Queer Voices in the Psychedelic Renaissance: Queering Psychedelics II Conference: A 2-Day Celebration and Exploration of Queer Visionaries and their Impact on Psychedelic Plant Medicines

Introduction:

The momentum behind the psychedelic renaissance is undeniable, making it all the more important for us to ensure that voices from traditionally under-represented communities are not only heard but also empowered to access the benefits of psychedelics and plant medicines. In response to this pressing need, the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines has organized the Queering Psychedelics II Conference—a two-day event focused on delving into the distinct experiences, contributions, and potential of the LGBTQ+ community within the realm of psychedelics and psychedelic medicine.

Conference Details:
Queering Psychedelics II Conference
Date: April 22 and 23, 2023
Location: Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th St., San Francisco, CA 94110

“This 2-day conference is part of Chacruna’s Women, Gender Diversity, and Sexual Minorities speaker series. It highlights the voices of queer visionaries within the psychedelic community as well as examines the history of psychedelics from queer and non-binary perspectives. As the so-called psychedelic renaissance reaches a pivotal moment of mainstream interest and regulatory legitimacy, it is vital that traditionally under-represented communities share a seat at the table and have their voices heard so as to ensure access to all the benefits that psychedelics and plant medicine offer. Additionally, it is vital that queer spaces be established for exploring the unique needs, gifts, and strengths that LGBTQI communities bring to psychedelics and psychedelic medicine.”

Why start a conversation around Queerness and Psychedelics?

In the 2019 Chacruna Institute article, Why We’re Starting the Conversation Around Queerness and Psychedelics,” author Shelby Hartman writes:

‘To date, there’s been no research (other than one trial underway at the University of California, San Francisco) looking at the potential of psychedelics to treat the disproportionate rates of mental health conditions in the LGBTQI+ community. Alexander Belser, a Clinical Research Fellow at Yale University, and a speaker at Queering Psychedelics, says the psychedelic trials being conducted at major universities aren’t as inclusive as they could be, and that they were largely designed by straight white men. They don’t, for example, ask about the gender and sexual identity of trial participants, making it impossible to determine whether psychedelics work among members of the queer community facing distinct mental health stressors. Additionally, he says, these psychedelic sessions have historically been led by one female and one male, reinforcing the notion that there are only two genders.