Collective Ripples of Resistance: Radical Healing after Violence

Sunday, October 12, 2025

José Rosario (he/him)

Founder, The Phoenix Empowered

Queer Christian

 The Pulse Nightclub shooting was the deadliest act of violence against the LGBTQ+ community at the time, underscoring that, despite progress, Queer individuals still face threats to our bodies and minds. It is crucial to recognize that the shooting occurred during Latin night meaning many attendees were Black and brown Queer people. As a Queer Puerto Rican man, I felt this deeply. I witnessed myself and others express grief and fear as we processed the attack on our community.

These acts of violence did not stop, and I continued to support clients who shared the same fear and pain upon seeing reports of victims who mirrored their identities. This experience motivated me to pursue graduate school to broaden our understanding of trauma and explore the impact of hate on both individual and collective levels for those who share minoritized identities with the victims. I am particularly committed to understanding the intersectional experiences of individuals with multiple minoritized identities who navigate violence across various systems. These experiences often involve straddling identities that are frequently overlooked,

emphasizing the need to recognize how these intersecting identities shape the ways people encounter and respond to violence.

I realized that violence creates ripples, leaving deep marks on our collective history. Yet, as my advisor reminded me, we also carry histories of resistance.

Let us consider the Taíno women who strapped babies on their backs to fight for their land, or how Marsha P. Johnson bravely led the fight for Queer justice, or how the Americans with Disabilities Act resulted from individuals with disabilities crawling up the steps of the Capitol and demanding change. These stories shape me as a gay Latino man who uses a wheelchair. In the Christian tradition, we often forget that Jesus challenged oppression, whether by flipping tables to denounce capitalism or centering the lived experiences of minoritized people. Activism and affirmation are central to change.

One key lesson I have learned in cultural and collective trauma work is that people do not heal in isolation. We come together, seeking spaces to collectively grieve, feel distraught, and continue to find hope. Healing has existed long before therapists emerged; various cultural practices have long served communities. As a therapist, it is my duty to support clients in finding spaces to heal, just as I strive to create a space for healing. We were never meant to heal alone.

The Psychology of Radical Healing framework offers five considerations for encouraging healing: (1) acknowledge

systems of oppression and the harm they cause within individuals and communities, (2) make space for individuals to live in their full personhood and recognize the many facets of themselves, (3) remember the collective strength of our communities as we resist injustice over time, (4) lean into your community; we are in this fight together, and (5) envision a world where change is possible, collectively supporting one another in hoping for a better future. In summary, we must create sacred spaces of resistance and storytelling to foster faith.

Violence is a reality of our world, and oppression is ingrained in the lived experiences of so many of us. This is your call to speak your truth and find a beloved community that affirms all parts of you. You deserve this space. Together, we can resist, and together we will hope. We can flip tables and traverse this road together. There is power and love in this collective breath.

Reflection

How can you contribute to creating spaces of healing and resistance in your own community?

What stories of resilience inspire you to act?

How can we collectively envision a future that embraces all identities?