Environmental Injury
As people of color, we are environmentally at-risk every day.
Our communities disproportionately bear the burden of environmental injustice, and this has an intense impact on our bodies and our physical health.
We have data centers, chemical plants, and toxic locations nearby. We have less access to clean water, healthy foods, and sustainable energy. Affordable housing can be filled with pests, molds, and chemicals. As workers, we deal with cleaning products, artificial nail & polish fumes in salons, hair dyes and straightening relaxers, high volatile organic compound (VOC) paint & wood stains, pesticides & lawn chemicals, off-gassing electronics, equipment, furniture, and bedding, fossil fuel exhaust, and synthetic oils. And our neighborhoods are sometimes built upon radiation, and military and industrial pollution.
Why Fragrance Free Matters
Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS), or Environmental Illness or Chemical Injury, is a chronic condition in which a person develops adverse symptoms from exposure to chemicals in their environment.
Soap, body products (lotion, deodorant, perfume/body spray), hair products (gel, oils), smoke, petrochemicals, and even “natural” products (essential oils, incense) can create a chemical cloud that does lasting damage to people. This can cause harm to eyes, nasal passages, and respiratory systems, especially after illnesses like COVID-19 or the measles, which are airborne.
Harmful Effects
What Fragrances Do
It is important to note that most chemicals and fragrances are potentially harmful to ANYONE, not just a person with MCS. However, a chemically sensitive person may react in ways that are more severe, debilitating, and prolonged.
Migraines, headaches, breathing difficulties, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, drowsiness, and irritation to the mouth, throat, skin, and eyes are some of the potential reactions that chemically injured people sustain when exposed to certain chemicals. Shutting down of the lungs, seizures, fatigue, confusion, liver and kidney damage, and other illness, may require hospitalization (where further exposure to chemicals may occur).
Fragrance Free Spaces
Our Events & Programs
QWOCMAP works hard to create spaces that are accessible to all of our people.
The use of fragrance and damaging chemicals means that people can’t participate and are forced to LEAVE the Film Festival, and other QWOCMAP programs. When community members are Fragrance Free, they create more inclusive spaces and movements.
We all need a Fragrance Free and smoke free space so that we can all let our spirits soar in a combination of films and community.
We appreciate feedback and loving support from Billie Rain, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, Devi Vadiya, and Patty Berne as well as the members of Sick and Disabled Queers for People of Color, Two-Spirits group.
