Sowing seeds for our Bi+ Futures
Desiderium Gardens is a project idea born out of necessity.
Desideratum — a deep longing for something essential which is missing
Bi+ folx deserve competent mental healthcare & welcoming third spaces
Bi+ Washingtonians overwhelmingly identified mental health therapy & social programming for Bi+ folx as their most-desired services in a 2021 study
Bi+ folx face higher rates of intimate violence and poverty-- and report mental health crises, maladaptive coping techniques and self-harm at higher rates than their monosexual peers
Bi+ folx report medical discrimination when they do disclose their Bi+ identity to healthcare providers, and most report opting not disclosing their identity at all. This lack of Bi+ competent healthcare is leading to compounded social, mental, and physical health issues
There are zero Bi+ community centers in the world, and <1% of all LGBTQ+ foundational funding goes to Bi+ specific services
The Bi+ community is larger than previously understood, and WA has a higher LGBTQ+ population than any other state:
16.24% of adults in WA are LGTBQ+
Bi+ folx comprise 65.1% of all LGBTQ+ folx
In the four counties Desiderium Gardens will initially serve, ~58,000 people could be Bi+
Younger generations increasingly identify as Bi+, and women of color and Trans* folx currently identify as Bi+ at higher rates than do identify as monosexual
Growing a nurturing space for Bi+ folx
Desiderium Gardens will offer local therapists an intentionally-curated greenspace in downtown Olympia—a calm, welcoming alternative to the traditional office, with private, professional therapy spaces available to rent. Bi+ folx living in Thurston, Mason, Lewis & Grays Harbor counties can use the therapy garden with their therapist. Clients can choose to garden or just enjoy the outdoor space, using a small greenhouse on-site during rainy weather.
Once open, Desiderium Gardens will be open Wed-Fri year round for therapy sessions. The garden will be closed Sat-Tues to allow for caretaking of the space, and to allow time for small private and public events which will help pay for the operating costs of the garden.
