United Proud Women
Mission Statement
United Proud women is a non-profit organization. Its main objective is to empower sexual minority women with safe, brave, collaborative, and creative spaces to grow as individuals, connect with community members, and organize collective actions that drive inclusive social changes.
United Proud Women uses the term “sexual minority women” in a broader sense that welcomes all individuals who have lived the experience of being a sexual minority woman. This includes but is not limited to those who identify as lesbian, bisexual, transgender (both MTF or FTM), queer, and/or non-binary individuals who have experienced challenges and discrimination because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Queer World Making statement published on Positions Politics.
Organization Documents
United Proud Women 2024 Annual Report
Pillars
Empowering sexual minority women community members through these three pillars.
Knowledge
Epistemic autonomy represents the cornerstone of existential liberation. The cultivation of critical consciousness transcends mere information acquisition, encompassing the dialectical relationship between knowing and being. We champion the development of intellectual sovereignty, recognizing knowledge as both transformative praxis and revolutionary potential.
Our epistemological framework challenges dominant paradigms that marginalize subjugated knowledges. Through phenomenological inquiry and intersectional analysis, we deconstruct hegemonic narratives while constructing emancipatory pedagogies rooted in lived experience and collective wisdom.
- • Phenomenology of embodied consciousness
- • Contemplative practices and mindful presence
- • Somatic intelligence and corporeal wisdom
- • Contemplative neuroscience applications
- • Aesthetic cultivation and creative praxis
- • Relational ontology and intersubjective dynamics
Community
Communal solidarity emerges through the dialectical tension between individual authenticity and collective belonging. Our community constitutes a space of radical hospitality where diverse subjectivities converge in mutual recognition, fostering networks of care that transcend traditional boundaries of kinship and affiliation.
Through intentional gathering and meaningful exchange, we cultivate ecosystems of reciprocal empowerment. Our commitment extends beyond mere association toward the creation of regenerative relationships that honor both personal sovereignty and interdependent flourishing within our shared ontological landscape.
- • Professional synergies and career constellation building
- • Intellectual salons and philosophical discourse circles
- • Entrepreneurial collectives and economic cooperation
- • Intergenerational wisdom transmission pathways
- • Horizontal support architectures and mutual aid networks
Advocacy
Revolutionary praxis emerges through the synthesis of critical consciousness and transformative action. Our advocacy transcends reformist approaches, engaging in fundamental challenges to structures of domination while constructing alternative frameworks rooted in principles of justice, dignity, and collective liberation.
We deploy multidimensional strategies that interrogate power relations across intersecting systems of oppression. Our commitment encompasses both resistance to existing hierarchies and the generative work of imagining and materializing more equitable social configurations for sexual and gender minorities.
- • Direct action and embodied resistance movements
- • Counter-hegemonic narrative construction
- • Artistic intervention and cultural transformation
- • Scholarly activism and theoretical contributions
- • Digital organizing and virtual solidarity networks
- • Grassroots capacity building and movement infrastructure
Founding Story
United Proud Women had its humble beginnings in Los Angeles, California, where a group of passionate strong women came together with a shared vision and a commitment to empowering sexual minority women. The founding team embraced a mindset of growth and learning, recognizing the immense social impact that could be achieved by empowering this marginalized community. The team brought diverse expertise in technology, business management, sales, operations, and marketing to the table, leveraging their skills, insights, networks, and organizing capabilities. They were determined to empower sexual minority women through various means and make a lasting difference in their lives.
The initiative was anchored in three interdependent pillars: knowledge, community, and advocacy—each a mode of resistance to the epistemological erasure and structural marginalization historically imposed on sexual minority women.
- Knowledge was conceptualized as both a personal and political endeavor, foregrounding critical self-awareness, collective memory, and practices of resilience. This pillar supported pedagogical and dialogic spaces where theory and lived experience could converge.
- Community was not merely a demographic marker but an affective and relational infrastructure—a commitment to cultivating safe, brave, and pluralistic environments in which mentorship, intergenerational dialogue, and solidarity could flourish.
- Advocacy extended this work into the public and transnational sphere through strategic interventions in visibility politics—ranging from pride events to digital campaigns—thereby reclaiming representation and asserting the right to narrate.
Throughout their history, United Proud Women remained steadfast in their commitment to empowering sexual minority women. Their vision extended beyond geographical boundaries, encompassing a global perspective that sought to create accessible resources, intercultural common objectives, and a documented historical record of strategies and organizational efforts. United Proud Women’s founding story reflects a journey driven by passion, expertise, and a shared vision of empowering sexual minority women. Through their commitment to knowledge, community, and advocacy, they are aspired to make significant strides in driving inclusive social change and creating a safer, braver, and more collaborative world for sexual minority women.
