Heartbroken Open Mic: Naming the truth of what hurts

Heartbroken Open Mic: Naming the truth of what hurts

If you’re a Heartbroken Queer who:
-feels a sense of panic when you look ahead at your week or weekend and don't have enough plans: empty space on your calendar feels like the thing to avoid at all costs

-feels like something is wrong with you for not having a vibrant, thriving community. Other people make it look so easy and seem to be having a wonderful time. What are you getting wrong?

-has left a queer event or gathering in the last 6 months feeling grateful for the company–because at least you weren’t alone–but still don't really feel seen, known, or gotten on, like, a deep level

-has ever experienced harm in your chosen family similar to the harm you experienced in the family you were raised in

This invitation is for you.

Our hearts break each time we’re in an environment where our body is expecting safety, belonging, and care and those needs aren’t met.

If you’re a queer or trans (QT) person, you likely have had this experience repeatedly in your life: maybe in your biological family, your workplace, a learning environment, or a faith community, to name just a few.

After so much heartbreak, your heart is desperate for a place where you can be seen and loved as a full expression of yourself.

You’re told queer and trans community is where this will happen.

Your body and your heart expect this. If not in QT community, then where?

When you’re met by the same or similar harm in QT community that you experienced in the larger world or within your family system, you might think: how can my heart possibly break even more?

Where do I turn now?

So you tuck in around that broken heart, turn inward, and carry it alone.

But the truth is this: you’re not meant to carry it alone.

And some part of you, however small it feels right now, knows that.

We at Heartbroken Open Mic know that.

Heartbroken Open Mic is not your typical open mic.

It is a facilitated, healing space and the first trauma-informed, somatically-aware open mic of its kind.

The foundation of the open mic is my How To Belong™ framework, which includes a focus on somatic awareness, self-devotion, and developing healthy relationship skills.

You can read more about the framework, the open mic space itself, me, and past attendees’ experiences at https://heartbrokenopenmic.com/

I’m not in the business of policing others’ identities, but please be mindful that although not exclusively QT, this event is QT-centered space.

About the facilitator
This container is held and facilitated by Grey Doolin, M.Ed. (they/them pronouns). Grey is a queer- and trans-identified writer, musician, space holder, and Belongingness Coach. They support queer and trans folks in their sense of belonging.

A radically authentic and rigorous visionary, Grey is a spiritual seeker and devotee of their healing path. They are dedicated to reimagining community beyond cycles of trauma and harm. They have a master’s degree in Counseling and 6 years of PhD-level training as a therapist. Grey's work is informed by parts work, somatics, nonviolent communication, and their experience as someone in trauma recovery.

They created and emceed the wildly successful Queerspeak Open Mic in Madison, WI. They believe that our relationship with our own bodies, hearts, and experiences sets the tone for all other relating in our lives.