Rafael/a Luna-Pizano, LMP, Labor Support More information: http://prisondoulaproject.wix.com/qtpocbirthworkshop Rafael/a (Rafa) is grateful to be a surviving descendant of Filipin@, Mexica and uknown Spanish ancestors, baklat and curander@ ancestors; healing and growing. He has come to birthwork through bodywork, as he found bodywork to be an integral part of healing from any physical/spiritual transition, especially pregnancy. Being raised in a family that valued and practiced helot helot (massage), and later experiencing support through bodywork during life transitions, Rafa eventually pursued a license in massage therapy to practice in the state of Washington. Rafa has continued to work as an LMP since 2011, supporting transgender, gender-fluid and two-spirit/ed folks with bodywork and energywork. To learn more about his practice, visit www.xochimeh.com.
Rafa struggled to step into birthwork as a transperson, but finally attended DONA-certified trainings to learn about doula work. Rafa found classes to be inaccessible for transgender folks and people of color, and uninformative about queer and trans pregnancy experiences. Struggling to find accessible information, Rafa has since been gathering birth education through self-study, attending births, talking story with queer elders and birthworkers of color, participating in the Prison Doula Project's workshops, and searching for traditional midwives and parteras who are open to teaching him. Rafa believes that all peoples have the right to experience pregnancy, birth, abortion, adoption, etc. in a respectful, consensual and safe way. He hopes to one day apply to midwifery programs that can provide competent and respectful full spectrum birth education about and for all bodies and all genders. Until then, he's just dreamin', prayin' and waterin' seeds for a new day.