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Writer's pictureDenise Archilla

Peer Support at the Intersection of the Chronic Illness/Disability & LGBTQ+ Communities!


green background with Forum logo at the top. Text: Unified Voices: LGBTQ+ Health & Identity Support Circle. Combining chronic illness, disability, or rare disease with being LGBTQ+ often complicates life's journey, making it hard to find understanding and support. Our group offers a welcoming space for LGBTQ+ young adults to tackle these complexities together. Denise Archilla, MSW (she/her), Chronic Illness Life Coach and Founder of Chronic Warrior Coaching. Insert of photo of Denise with long blond hair, blue eyes, black top against a red brick wall.

"...it does not force us to have to choose between one identity or another. We get to exist, entirely, in our authentic selves and continue to foster that sense of community that so many of us are longing for." 🌈


I wear my heart on my sleeve...

It's simply who and how I am and when I allow that to shine through authentically without tempering it to look more like the "traditional" version of an entrepreneur or business owner, I get to embrace the joy of the most beautiful moments fully as the love for this work I get to do just bubbles up from deep inside!

Last week I asked my long-time friend, group member, and ambassador, Alex Strang, why he feels that our Forum Peer Support Group, Unified Voices: LGBTQ+ Health & Identity Support Circle is so important. It's my honor to share his words with you...words that caused those emotions of mine to bubble up and spill over...


"One of the hardest parts about being both LGBTQ+ and chronically ill/disabled is the loss of community.

Many LGBTQ+ events are just simply not made with accessibility in mind, which then leaves many of us feeling a sense of loss and disconnection from our own community and even our own identities.

Right now, I think loneliness is such an epidemic that is not being talked about enough, but especially with those of us who are living at the intersection of identities. We are trying so desperately hard to seek community but often times at the loss of another piece of who we are; we shouldn’t have to settle.

This group is so wonderful because it does not force us to have to choose between one identity or another. We get to exist, entirely, in our authentic selves and continue to foster that sense of community that so many of us are longing for."


I am beyond grateful to get to facilitate this group! Please share and help us get the word out. 💜💜


With Joy & Gratitude!

Denise 🥰



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