What happens when survivors, advocates, and community leaders across movements—often working in parallel—are able to come together in one shared space?

This May, Sahiyo will help make that possible.

Sahiyo is honored to be part of a unique and timely opportunity to convene survivors, advocates, and members of the LGBTQI+ community for a first-of-its-kind gathering focused on connection, collaboration, and collective strategy.

With generous support from Blue Mountain Center, we will co-host:

Gender, FGM/C, and Harmful Conflations: Building Shared Understanding and Strategic Messaging in the U.S. Context
📅 May 13–17, 2026
📍 Blue Mountain Center, New York

For the first time, individuals working to support survivors of female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and those working alongside LGBTQI+ communities will come together to engage in shared learning and coordinated strategy-building.

Why This Matters Now

In recent years, harmful narratives have gained visibility in U.S. policy and public discourse that conflate FGM/C, a human rights violation, with gender-affirming care, which is evidence-based and consent-driven healthcare.

This conflation creates confusion and causes harm. It misrepresents both issues and is increasingly used to justify policies that limit access to care and protection. As a result, children at risk of FGM/C, adult survivors, and LGBTQI+ communities may all face increased stigma and barriers to essential, supportive services.

Addressing these narratives requires thoughtful, coordinated responses grounded in lived experience and community knowledge. This convening creates space to do exactly that.

Building Shared Understanding

Sahiyo is proud to co-host this convening alongside The U.S. End FGM/C Network and Equality Now. Together, we are working to ensure that this space reflects a wide range of perspectives, especially those of survivors and grassroots advocates.

By bringing these groups together, the convening will support deeper cross-movement understanding, stronger relationships, and the development of shared language and strategies to respond to harmful narratives.

Ensuring Everyone Can Be in the Room

While the retreat space, lodging, and meals are fully covered, travel costs remain a barrier for many participants. To support full participation, we are raising funds to cover travel and local transportation, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent anyone from attending.

We are seeking $10,000 to support 17–19 participants’ travel.

Button: Donate to Support Participant Travel

Be Part of This Work

Supporting travel makes it possible for those closest to these issues to be in the room, sharing knowledge, building connections, and shaping coordinated, movement-building responses.

This convening is an important step toward stronger collaboration, clearer messaging, and more effective, community-centered approaches to complex challenges.

If you would like to support this effort, we invite you to contribute and help make this gathering accessible to all who need to be there.