LGBTQI+ and childlessness, September 2020

In this episode we were joined by Victoria Firth and Meriel Whale as we continue to explore the unheard voices in our community. We wanted to learn about what it means to be LGBTQI+ and involuntarily childless. Please join Michael and Berenice on this powerful and moving episode with our two amazing guests. Trigger: This episode discusses alternative parenting including adoption and IVF. Victoria is a performer, theatre maker and director, born in Yorkshire in the UK. She makes plays that embrace the physical and playful. ‘How To Be Amazingly Happy’ was shown at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018 and an extract performed at Fertility Fest in 2019, and explores how you find a new ‘once upon a time’ after the ‘happy ever after’ never turned up. We were delighted to welcome Victoria to The Full Stop podcast! Meriel Whale is a counsellor and much welcomed return guest to the podcast. She works compassionately with people in great distress to help them to move forward with their lives and has a particular empathy with involuntary childless community.   Resources and reading Stonewall Galop Penguin Random House LGBTQIA and Pride reading list Book Riot Helpline details You can find lots of resources in our Toolkit here. UK: Contact the Samaritans on freephone 116 123, they're open 24 hours and are there to listen and Mind. USA: Suicide Prevention Canada: Canada Crisis Australia: Beyond Blue   Covid-19 resources European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (links to worldwide Government resources) The International Association of National Public Health Institutes The World Health Organisation