Embracing Intersectionality: A Journey Toward Equity and Healing

Dear Community,

For many years, many of you have followed my wild journey of stepping into my truth and claiming my voice. In 2017, when I first spoke on that stage, my life changed forever. For the first time, I saw myself and my story in its entirety. I realized that my story was not isolated; there are communities and individuals who unequivocally experience harm within various interlocking systems. I couldn’t ignore that. I had to continue speaking and educating to fight for change and equity. This work shapes me as an activist, a scholar, and a therapist. Together, we can create space for healing from systemic and oppressive harm.

Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the term "intersectionality" to capture the notion that we are individuals who hold multiple identities simultaneously. For example, Black women are both women and Black. This means that Black women navigate a world that interacts with these identities in complex ways. Intersectionality pushes us to think not merely about the intersection of identities but about the intersecting systems of oppression—such as racism and sexism—that manifest in employment, healthcare, and education. I want to emphasize that everyone has intersecting identities that confer varying levels of privilege in society. Privilege isn’t inherently good or bad; it’s not something to feel defensive about (notice if you feel your stomach or jaw clench). Instead, it’s something to reflect upon. In what ways do I have privilege that allows me to access spaces and interactions more easily than others? In my case, I’m a male academic who tends to be respected in educational settings, but this is complicated by my disability and Latino identity. People often make assumptions about my capabilities. How do your identities intersect? More on this will come in a future blog post!

After 2020, researchers documented intersectional social movements that fought against hate. For instance, the Black Lives Matter movement united Black communities and AAPI communities to amplify equity. Love and social change have been driven by generations of individuals marginalized by society, promoting safety and hope for a future where human dignity is central. This pursuit of equity is why people like me can engage in this work. The work continues, and I promise to keep the intersection of identity and mental health at the forefront of my activism. I will keep speaking, educating, and demanding change for the wellbeing of marginalized communities.

Let me be abundantly clear: diversity, equity, and inclusion are paramount to the social fabric of our democracy. We will continue to advocate for justice, love, and safety for all beings. This is not up for debate. History has brought us to this point before. Do not get distracted. Rest, find joy, grieve losses, and acknowledge pain. We will rise together, maintaining a shared community. Your experiences and my experiences are all valid. I refuse to denounce decades of activism, research, and storytelling. You will continue to be safe in this space. I promise to keep working towards progress and justice with you.

Remember, this is an intersectional movement. The path toward liberation is inextricably tied to the progress of your immigrant neighbors, women, trans and gender-expansive individuals, queer people, disabled individuals, those who are unhoused and in economic distress, and the Black and Brown bodies who built this nation through forced migration, colonization, and subjugation.

The only way to rise and make progress is through equity and care for your neighbor. Diversity ensures that we have access to multiple viewpoints and lived experiences, expanding our knowledge. Inclusion means making space for those without generational wealth or privilege to access opportunities. To be clear, inclusion is the reason I was able to access a “mainstream” classroom, a wheelchair, and educators who helped me develop as a budding scholar.

This brings us to equity. Equity is not an unfair advantage or about giving unearned benefits. It involves creating programs that support education, access to healthcare, nutritious food, and community. While equality suggests that everyone receives the same level of support, equity recognizes that some may need additional assistance to reach that level. Poor communities must be invested in to create opportunities for food and vocational resources. Students who are neurodivergent can benefit from tools in classrooms to demonstrate their knowledge, and Black, Brown, and even rural White individuals who are underrepresented in STEM, for example, gain from opportunities that facilitate access to education and employment. This is crucial because Black, Brown, and rural White communities often lack the means to accrue generational wealth and achieve values-driven progress.

Because systemic issues of race, class, socioeconomic status, ability, gender, sexuality, and nativity are interconnected, we all benefit from diversity, equity, and inclusion. These initiatives promote progress, community, and wellbeing for everyone. The work of TPE stands at the intersection of identity and mental health, seeking to understand how identity-based experiences impact mental health and providing education to help individuals move toward lives of joy and fulfillment.

In love and solidarity with resolute commitment,

José