Intersectionality Lab

In today’s episode, we spotlight the fearless, community-driven work of Queer Svit — a Black queer-led, independent volunteer network standing at the frontlines of crisis response for LGBTQ+ people, people of color, and Indigenous communities across Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and throughout Eastern Europe and Central Asia. For decades, war, displacement, and political persecution have disproportionately targeted queer communities and marginalized ethnic groups in the region. When borders close and systems fail, Queer Svit steps in. From emergency consultations and evacuation planning to purchasing travel tickets, securing safe housing, and delivering life-saving humanitarian aid, this global network of volunteers is redefining what grassroots solidarity looks like in action. We’re joined by Anna-Maria, Co-founder and CEO of Queer Svit, who shares the powerful origin story behind the organization, the urgent realities facing LGBTQ+ refugees today, and how mutual aid can become a lifeline in times of war. This is a conversation about resilience, chosen family, and what it truly means to build safety when the world feels unsafe. You can check more resources at https://il.npo.one Guest bio Anna-Maria, queer and anti-racist activist, documentary filmmaker and journalist. Co-founder of Queer Svit, a grass-root that helps queer people and the global majority affected by war in Ukraine and/or Russian political regime. Additional resources https://queersvit.org https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziIhJjCnL84 https://www.uusc.org/initiatives/queer-svit https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-maria-tesfaye-22028712a https://instagram.com/ennievicious

Welcome to The Intersectionality Podcast—a fresh chapter of the former Pink Talks Podcast, hosted by Ana Catarina, Inga, and Debora. In our debut episode, we dive headfirst into intersectionality—the powerful framework that helps us understand how overlapping identities like race, gender, class, and sexuality shape lived experiences of privilege and discrimination. In this candid Unfiltered Session, our hosts break down what intersectionality really means, where it comes from, and why it matters now more than ever. Through honest reflection and sharp discussion, we explore everyday situations, systemic inequalities, and the power dynamics that often go unnoticed—but deeply affect our lives. From using intersectionality as an analytical lens to reveal how systems of power operate, to real-world examples like domestic violence policies and participatory research with marginalized youth, this episode brings theory into practice. Along the way, our hosts share how learning about intersectionality transformed their perspectives, influenced their work, and deepened their understanding of inequality. 🎧 Tune in to rethink the way you see the world—and join the conversation. Visit our website for bonus resources, a comprehensive glossary, and updates on upcoming episodes. You can check more resources at https://il.npo.one Additional resources (books, reference materials, social media from guests, materials that the guests want to promote): Phoenix, A., & Pattynama, P. (2006). Intersectionality. European Journal of Women’s Studies, 13(3), 187-192. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350506806065751 (Original work published 2006) Shields, S.A. Gender: An Intersectionality Perspective. Sex Roles 59, 301–311 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-008-9501-8 McCall, L. (2005). The Complexity of Intersectionality. Signs, 30(3), 1771–1800. https://doi.org/10.1086/426800 RUNYAN, A. S. (2018). What Is Intersectionality and Why Is It Important? Academe, 104(6), 10–14. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26606288 Zinn, Maxine Baca & Dill, Bonnie Thornton (1996). Theorizing Difference from Multiracial Feminism. Feminist Studies 22 (2):321-331. Check the video in which Kinmerlè Crenshaw explains what is intersectionality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViDtnfQ9FHc Crenshaw, Kimberle (1989) "Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics," University of Chicago Legal Forum: Vol. 1989, Article 8. Available at: https://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/uclf/vol1989/iss1/8 Crenshaw, K. (1991). Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence against Women of Color. Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241–1299. https://doi.org/10.2307/1229039 Levine-Rasky, C. (2011). Intersectionality theory applied to whiteness and middle-classness. Social Identities: Journal for the Study of Race, Nation and Culture, 17(2), 239–253. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504630.2011.558377 Helma Lutz. (2015). Intersectionality as Method. DiGeSt. Journal of Diversity and Gender Studies, 2(1–2), 39–44. https://doi.org/10.11116/jdivegendstud.2.1-2.0039 Atewologun, D. (2018). Intersectionality Theory and Practice. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Business and Management.  Misra, J., Curington, C. V., & Green, V. M. (2021). Methods of intersectional research. Sociological Spectrum, 41(1), 9–28. https://doi.org/10.1080/02732173.2020.1791772 Ruiz AM, Luebke J, Klein K, Moore K, Gonzalez M, Dressel A, Mkandawire-Valhmu L. An integrative literature review and critical reflection of intersectionality theory. Nurs Inq. 2021 Dec;28(4):e12414. doi: 10.1111/nin.12414. Epub 2021 Jun 21. PMID: 34153140. Haynes, C., Joseph, N. M., Patton, L. D., Stewart, S., & Allen, E. L. (2020). Toward an Understanding of Intersectionality Methodology: A 30-Year Literature Synthesis of Black Women’s Experiences in Higher Education. Review of Educational Research, 90(6), 751-787. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654320946822 (Original work published 2020)