May 23 from 1:00 pm–2:30 pm
The Westin Washington DC City Center
999 9th Street NW, Anacostia Ballroom- Salon D
Washington, DC 20001
The New Black Renaissance: Aging, Identity and Our Becoming
An intergenerational workshop centering Black queer women, trans women and nonbinary people in conversation about aging, mental health and becoming.
Key Aspects of the Panel
• Core Themes:
– Honoring the Journey: Reflecting on personal and collective histories
– Identity Affirmation: Validating identity within the Black LGBTQIA+ community
– Our Becoming: Envisioning future growth, joy, and possibility
Panelists
Sherron Lewis
Patricia Lewis
Gabrielle “Gibby” Thomas
June Crenshaw
Dr. Patricia J. Williams (facilitator)
This workshop celebrates the wisdom, resilience, and evolving identities of Black queer women, trans women, and non-binary people across all stages of life. Centered on the power of connection, this session explores how our relationships with one another shape the ways we grow, heal, and redefine ourselves over time.
Together, we’ll examine how experiences of aging and identity shift across the lifespan, and how community bonds can ease the challenges of mental health transitions, midlife reinvention, and the realities of isolation in later years. Through shared storytelling and guided reflection, participants will explore the lessons that move between generations—what we inherit, what we release, and what we create anew.
Grounded in collective wisdom, the workshop invites attendees to challenge restrictive narratives about aging within the LGBTQIA+ communities, reclaiming it as a site of liberation, creativity, and becoming. Participants will leave with tools to support emotional well-being, deepen intergenerational connection, and honor the many ways Black LGBTQ women continue to guide, inspire, and uplift one another.
Across ages, identities, and experiences, this space affirms that every chapter of our journey holds purpose—and that we become even more powerful when we grow together.
Pride365 is a registered trademark of the Capital Pride Alliance (CPA). CPA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the needs of the LGBTQ+ community, through educational programs, major events, fundraising, outreach and advocacy, providing platforms for visibility, and supporting the work of our many community organizations and local businesses. Learn More