Recently, Fenway Health’s Gerardo Moreno-Serrano, MS, LMHC took part in Out in Tech’s virtual Because You’re Worth It panel that discussed self-love, our careers, and balancing life.
Gerardo, a practicing bilingual psychotherapist with Fenway Health’s Behavioral Health Department, shared both his personal and clinical perspectives during this event. “I was thrilled to be able to examine these topics from a psychological and social justice perspective and to share my thoughts with the participants. The role that our careers, self-love, and having a good balance plays in our lives, especially for queer people or people of color, cannot be understated,” said Gerardo.
The dynamic panel discussed ways to stay grounded during this time of COVID-19 isolation with a focus on self-acceptance and forgiveness. Many who spoke touched on the ways in which cultural spaces and the modern workplace introduces challenges in self-acceptance and feelings of inadequacy for the queer community. Panelists approached these sensitive topics from both the perspective of their personal experiences and professional expertise.
“People with different identities can feel left out, ostracized, or filled with self-doubt,” added Gerardo. “I was happy to share my ideas with the participants and to shed some light about the challenges (e.g., heteronormativity, cisnormativity, gender inequities, visibility, minority stress, etc.) that the tech industry poses for minority groups and the opportunities to attract/retain them.”
Out in Tech is a non-profit organization that focuses on building community for LGBTQIA+ people who currently work in or are interested in the tech industry; however, the group is open to everyone. Some of Out in Tech’s other panels have included a variety of topics such as identity and labels, queer health, Artificial Insemination and its impacts on the queer community, and more.
Interested in learning more? Visit Out in Tech’s website or check out their schedule of upcoming events.