Queering Psychedelics: From Oppression to Liberation in Psychedelic Medicine

by Beatriz Caiuby Labate (Editor), Alex Belser (Editor), Clancy Cavnar (Editor)

As psychedelic-assisted therapy gains traction in popular culture and through policy reforms, Queering From Oppression to Liberation in Psychedelic Medicine aims to foster accessibility and diversity in psychedelic science, practice, and discourse.  By addressing and dismantling sexist, heteronormative, transphobic, and homophobic forms of oppression in the psychedelic community, this collection lays groundwork for an inclusive future. Edited by researchers and authors Alexander B. Belser, PhD, Clancy Cavnar, PsyD, and, Beatriz C. Labate, PhD, Queering Psychedelics features a broad range of perspectives from queer academic researchers, LGBTQIA+ clinicians, and indigenous and transgender advocates. Each of the 38 essays — from some of the contemporary movement’s most influential leaders including Terrence Ching, PhD, Kile Ortigo, PhD, and Diana Quinn, ND — presents insights into cultural heritages and historical contexts, implications for research and clinical work, and discussions of the healing potential of psychedelic medicine. Covering topics of consent, privilege, intersectionality and identity, Queering Psychedelics  grapples with how modern psychedelic research might address the unique needs and traumas of sexual and gender minorities—populations that can suffer from challenging mental health conditions brought on by social exclusion, pathologization, criminalization, and stigmatization. This book delves into the dark history of psychedelic conversion therapy while illuminating promising research showing substances including MDMA and psilocybin can offer life-changing experiences for marginalized communities. Queering Psychedelics integrates indigenous outlooks on psychedelics, gender roles, and identity while aligning them with those of other marginalized women, people of color, the disabled, the impoverished. This book interrogates the continuing radical potential of queer psychedelia in today’s era of assimilation, paving the way for an inclusive and intersectional world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Queer

344 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2022

About the author

Bia Labate (Beatriz Caiuby Labate) has a PhD in Anthropology. Her main areas of interest are the study of psychoactive substances, drug policies, shamanism, ritual and religion.

Reviews

[Bronson Bast · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queering Psychedelics offers a broad collection of queer experiences and perspectives on psychedelics.

Much of it feels very basic or surface level if you have any exposure to critical theory or experience with psychedelics. Some of the entries are only a few pages long and amount to: “we should be mindful and sensitive regarding the intersection of queer and psychedelic use” which doesn’t say much of anything.

Other entries almost felt off base. Saying there’s no evidence that psychedelics have therapeutic use for queer people because they are underrepresented in trials feels dehumanizing? On some of these more controversial topics it would have been more interesting to curate some contradictory opinions. Specifically on the scientific research side.

Many of them were also cis, straight authors talking about queer experience. If you’re queer and have done psychedelics it’s just like listening to someone try to tell your story.

Overall - good introduction if you’re thinking about this stuff for the first time. I went in with high expectations and was sadly a little let down

[Kaylin Smida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh loved this book. Psychedelic research is so fascinating to me. Through the citations I’ve gotten so many other great reads I want to look into as well. Psychedelics are queer, and queers use psychedelics. <3

There’s more I want to say about this book, I’ll come back to it. But I *highly* recommend it.

[ASC Library]

615.78 Que

[Róisín Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the range of perspectives and experiences