Doderick Tugman is a 4th-year student at the College of the Atlantic. Originally from Jamaica but raised in NYC, Doderick is interested in the field of human sexuality and sexual health education. Their senior project focuses on the identity formation of black queer individuals with a research emphasis on the experiences of black queer people in predominately white spaces–work, colleges, high school, church, etc. Their research focuses on black queer people across the United States, including Maine, and how they navigate the white gaze, homophobia, transphobia, parental neglect, and neglect from institutions. Doderick's presentation will explore the dominant themes of their research, which they use to offer practical suggestions for creating more diverse and inclusive communities.