Niccolo Roditti in Masculine Form (they/he)
Kali Fuchis in Feminine Form (she/they)
Co-Director of LGBTQ Youth Center of Durham
Note: If you want to read more about my own story, here is the article from the 2023 Pride edition!
My name is Niccolo Roditti (Kali Fuchis), and I am a Latine bi-gender community psychologist living in Durham and the Triangle area for over ten years now. This is my third year as the youth center co-director at the LGBTQ Youth Center of Durham. Freddy Perkins and I, co-directors of the youth center, applied our experiences as marginalized queer people of color into intentional programming for queer youth in Durham. At the LGBTQ Youth Center of Durham, we create spaces for all individuals to have opportunities to experience positive human development and self-actualize to their fullest potential.
I wanted to take this opportunity with Durham Pride around the corner to reflect on the state of the world. The current political administration has caused serious challenges to an already uphill battle for the recognition of humanity for queer and trans people. The most marginalized of queer communities of color have experiences of oppression and ancestral narratives to lean on for answers surrounding:
What do we do in a world bending towards fascism at an accelerated rate? What is fascism? How does it appear in our everyday spaces? What are ways to show up for each other in community?
Looking towards the future for our queer communities, we must not forget the historical struggles that came before us. The lack of education and awareness during the AIDS epidemic and trans erasure from gay liberation movements happening concurrently are a prime example of what occurs simultaneously to censor groups of people. Take away community education and it becomes more difficult and financially inaccessible for queer folks to gather, denial of social services, healthcare, and/or a lack of understanding of particular needs for our queer communities. Historically, in Durham, I see art as a vehicle of liberation from the social problems imposed through power, compliance, and enforcement.
How do we create safety, inclusion, and joy for our communities?
A call to action to decenter bystander behavior and create more art! I also produce nightlife events in the Durham and Raleigh area. What I am finding is that many folks who are not a part of our communities or have recently moved to Durham may forget what intentional support can look like! Start with education, active listening, and finding ways to cope with discomfort during generative conflict. Bystander behavior in this example can show up through privilege; the legal/political status quo does not impact me as of right now, and I do not want to feel uncomfortable. With fascism on the rise, it’s important to know that interconnectedness is how to show up for each other. At the LGBTQ Youth Center of Durham, we try to combat this with our programs, such as:
- Queer Youth Prom
- Voguing for Empowerment
- Paid Support Groups
- Project Fellow Employment Program
- Weekly Teen Drop-Ins
- Prevention Violence Education
- Adult Continuing Education Trainings
With more support from the general public, our networks of care can expand and grow! If you want community in your quest on how to show care for others, find resources for you, feel a sense of belonging, and empowerment, the LGBTQ Center of Durham will be here to support those goals.
You can donate directly to the Youth Center here.