Ground-breaking health curriculum serves gender non-conforming, trans community

At the intersections of reproductive oppression, societal negligence and medical inequality lie the bodies of trans and gender non-conforming (GNC) people of color (POC). Despite being a fundamental human right, finding quality health care and advice in a country with a history of tumultuous and exclusive health care practices can be daunting. Add to that identifying as a POC GNC or trans person and your options are even less adequate. Discriminatory barriers to healthcare access or substandard care plague these communities who often experience harassment, violence or denial of service for both basic and specialized health care needs.

Our friends at The Brown Boi Project looked high and low for a health curriculum that centered on the needs of these communities and when they didn’t find it - they created it. Freeing Ourselves: A Guide to Health and Self Love for Brown Bois establishes a health module that highlights critical health care regiments for GNC MoC (Masculine of center) and trans Brown Bois.
The curriculum encompasses areas on mental, spiritual and emotional health and shares the lived experiences of GNC and trans POC on the margin. It provides step-by-step directives on how pelvic exams are performed, comprehensive STI tables and safe sex advice specifically tailored to the sexual experiences of GNC, MoC and trans people. In addition to expansive health practices, Freeing Ourselves gives open-ended guidance on diet, energy and physical practice; holistic care through gender transition and direction on how to choose health care allies that best center the needs of the community.

The very real stories, shorts and poems of Brown Bois chronicled in the book delivers an empathetic energy that can make talking about sex, sexuality and healthcare easier and more applicable.
Freeing Ourselves is a ground breaking comprehensive health guide that maximizes the experiences of those often left out of conversations around healthcare and education. We strongly believe that for years to come, it will be a staple curriculum finding its way into homes across the country and the world.

The Brown Boi Project will be hosting a launch party for Freeing Ourselves on Friday August 19th from 8:30 to 11:00 pm at Hibiscus in Oakland. Please join them in celebrating the introduction of this innovate book.

You can purchase your copy of Freeing Ourselves: A guide to Health and Self Love for Brown Bois here.

*MoC - Masculine of Center in its evolving definition recognizes the cultural breadth and depth of identity for lesbian/queer womyn and gender non-conforming/trans who tilt toward the masculine side of the gender spectrum - including a wide range of identities such as butch, stud aggressive/AG, macha, dom, trans masculine, boi, etc. {The Brown Boi Project}