Just in Case: A Very Queer Workshop on Death & Care

ABOUT

This is a tender, queer-centered space to talk about what happens if we get sick or die—and how we can take care of ourselves and each other now. Together, we’ll go through the most important documents, how to protect chosen family and identity, and ways to make our wishes known in systems that don’t always see us.

We’ll move at a gentle pace, focus on what feels doable, and close with a soft introduction to death doulas as one possible source of affirming support. This workshop is about dignity, love, and making sure our lives are honored on our own terms.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Participants will learn what end-of-life planning documents actually do and why they matter, including wills, healthcare directives, powers of attorney, and beneficiary forms, with a focus on how these tools help protect chosen family, partners, and trusted people when systems don’t automatically respect LGBTQ+ lives.
Participants will explore ways to protect their dignity, identity, and wishes, including making plans around medical care, names and pronouns, after-death preferences, pets, digital accounts, and personal belongings—at a pace that feels manageable and supportive.
Participants will be introduced to supportive care options, including death doulas, and understand how having non-medical, affirming support can help reduce fear, isolation, and stress for themselves and the people they love before, during, and after death.

Jen Venegas (they/elle)

Meet the Presenter:

Jen Venegas is a trained Death Doula and certified Grief Coach. As the founder of Abeja Rise, they provide compassionate end-of-life care and personalized grief support for any loss in life. Jen also offers workshops related to grief education, end of life education, and more.

Rave Reviews from Previous Conferences

I learned more from this conference than I did from most of my grad school classes. As a queer nonbinary provider working with primarily queer and gender nonconforming folks, it is so important to hear from others who share these identities in how to best support and affirm my clients. I also really appreciated the letter writing training as it has allowed me to help so many clients access affirming care. I look forward to attending this upcoming year and continuing to listen and learn!

Every presenter was amazing and brought a wealth of information and experience to each session. I continue to use what I learned in the conference and in Van’s other trainings as a jumping off point to do my own self work and to better support my clients and the community. I've gotten so much out of previous conferences and I can't wait to attend this year's!

Attending this conference was a game-changer for me. It took me from being informed to embracing an affirming lens and practice, and I couldn't be more grateful for the experience. If you're looking to level up your understanding and support of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, trust me, the Do Something Identity(ies) conference is where it's at. You won't regret it!

As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and addiction specialist, I was blown away by the quality of content and selection offered during the conference. The robust selection of top-notch presenters was impressive and the topics covered a wide array of timely and relevant material. I would strongly encourage anyone working in any helping profession to attend this conference if at all possible. It is exactly this kind of content and presentation that is needed in order for us to heal ourselves and those around us.