Aya Gender & Sexual Diversity

About AyaGSD

AyaGSD aims to fill the gaps in plant medicine spaces for gender and sexually diverse people. This aim will be accomplished in three ways:

• Retreats & Ceremonies – GSD specific retreats are being planned right now in Peru. The retreat design is headed by Dee and she is ensuring retreat staff are trained in gender and sexual diversity. There are also opportunities for partnerships with national and Pucallpa LGBT organizations and tailoring of the retreat for specific needs of GSD people. 
• Research – AyaGSD is about to launch the first survey to understand the experiences of GSD people in ayahuasca ceremonies, communities, and integration. Research will be used to inform and advocate for safer spaces for GSD people. 
• Education & Support – We are developing ways to provide education and support to GSD people on how to navigate ayahuasca ceremonial and integration spaces and educate ayahuasca space holders on how to better support GSD people. 

Behind AyaGSD

AyaGSD was created by Dee Adams, a transgender woman, shamanic practitioner, and GSD medicine space holder. She has work with Ayahuasca since 2012 and has traveled to Peru and has worked with ayahuasca retreats. Dee saw the need on creating safe medicine and integration spaces for GSD people. On a month-long dieta with Bobinsana and then Noya Rao, Ayahuasca told Dee to begin medicine work for her community – gender and sexually diverse people. This guidance is in alignment with Dee’s other full-time work as a global HIV advisor for gender and sexually diverse people. She has worked in over 20 countries and has facilitated trainings for gender norms transformation, GSD education for health care workers, and national and global strategic planning for health services and advocacy. She wrote an article detailing her transgender journey through ayahuasca integration found here.