1. Map the Territory: Goals & Challenges
2. Early Beliefs: Impact & Overcoming
3. Gender/Sexuality: Developing an Empowered Ideal
4. The Body: Tuning In & Taking Care
5. The World: What is ‘Out’ for me?
6. Affirming Love

There is a lot of the Jungian Archetype, and spirituality stuff left out to keep a realistic commitment. If folks are interested, I can transcribe the complete list of 14 chapters and exercises.

For queer people, the journey to empowerment has two stages. Initially, we must create safe space to heal whatever wounding we carry from life in patriarchal society, to liberate ourselves from internalized transphobia and internalized homophobia. As we break our chains, the second stage begins: the realization of self-actualization. It entails learning to define yourself on your own terms and exploring your passion for life in every way. As queer, you claim the power to make your life an ongoing adventure of discovery and fulfillment.

As revolutionary anti-capitalists, we struggle to bring a new world out of the ashes of the old. Part of that pursuit is individual liberation from anti-trans and anti-gay ideology. I have a vision of a radiant, loving, beautiful person secure in their gender and sexuality, able to survive in a transphobic, homophobic world. I want to embody that vision; I want all of my comrades to embody that vision!

Almost every one of us is carries scars inflicted by society’s homophobia, transphobia, fear of genuine pleasure, and fear of difference. Whether it was the casual reactionary attitudes of families and peers, or direct experiences of bigotry many of us have incorrect attitudes instilled in us.

In order to survive, many of us became chameleons to blend into the harsh background of our ‘correct’ gendered behavior. We learned to hide or modulate our true selves. We learned to doubt or fear our natural desires of love and intimacy, to embody our true selves and genders. We internalized the queerphobia directed at us until we came to feel flawed, defensive, or unworthy. Our authentic selves became shackled.

Overcoming queerphobia is a journey of opening and transformation. We’ll approach it step-by-step gently & compassionately examining the sources, content, and ongoing consequences of our own wounding. Understanding is a powerful tool in overcoming. Ultimately, our wounds will form a map to trace backward and inward to the core of our being where we will begin to build a positive ideal of queer identity.

**Let’s begin making that vision real by first mapping our starting point: our goals and our challenges. **

Exercise: Goals and Challenges

The first thing we’re going to do is to choose a destination. It’s important to know where you want to go in order to get the ball rolling. Even if you change your mind and decide halfway to Yanan you decide to spend a month in Sichuan, keeping a destination in mind gives you an important sense of direction. As you gain clarity, you can refine or rewrite goals that don’t make sense anymore!

Make a list titled ‘CHALLENGES’ and freely write problems, issues, or concerns you have that feel related to your gender or sexual identity. Be honest with yourself! Until you choose to share it, no one gon know what’s on there. What’s bugging you? What’s not working right now? What do you not like about how you are living your life right now?

Make a second list titled ‘GOALS’. Make each statement in this list a positive statement of something you would like to create in your life. “I choose to make friends with people I can be open with.” “I’d like to work somewhere I can be publicly out.”

Write whatever is important to you. Be sure to include each statement in “CHALLENGES” reworded as a positive goal. For example if you have the challenge “feeling isolated” you could have the positive goal “create meaningful relationships with other people.”

Conclusion

Daring to embrace your queerness is an act of radical audacity! Setting out on this quest of empowerment is exciting. I am excited to be here with you comrades.

Expect to be triumphant on this quest. But some considerations: this is a physical process! It takes real work and energy to liberate yourself of negative beliefs. Dealing with trauma can cause sommatic and emotional reactions. Honor any requests your body makes for additional rest, breaks, or attention.

Dare to struggle, dare to win! Queer liberation now!

Optional: Support

Come up with a list of ten soothing or self-care activities you can do or prioritize during this process as you spend extra energy on building your self comprehension and liberation.