About Me -my philosophy Heather Luna-Rose, Executive Director
Rogue humanitarian, under radar shit overcoming, massives obstacles humanitarian support to inmates for years in Thailand’s prisons. Or just committed person who felt called to bring human kindness to others lost in world.
A moral imperative of alleviating suffering and upholding basic human dignities drives me. I took a deep dive into feminism and trauma survival as a teenager, emerging to support other women victims of violence, to educate myself while raising my daughter as single mom and to work for positive change in the world. My circle of empathy and activism focussed mostly on single moms, queers, sex workers, addicts, people with mental health struggles…. I have always been called deeply to stand up for anyone who is dehumanized. I stumbled upon this singular prisoner support focus after backpacking through SE Asia with my daughter in 2003 and made this legit by starting a non-profit. I am moved by broader implications of human rights, of shared humanity, of radical compassion and showing up to connect with those struggling.
Some varied ‘credentials’ and education include: Certified Clinical Trauma Training; B. A.; M. Ed; Do No Harm humanitarian praxis; feminist epistemologies; 12-step addiction recovery; non-violence & peace-building; mindfulness; cognitive behavioural therapy; existential, evolutionary and developmental psychologies; and somatic, experiential play.
I am a fierce advocate of science, free speech, reason, radical compassion, intellectual honesty and moral courage. I am pro-sex and anti-dogma, anti-Death penalty and totally irreverent. I love animals but don’t love pets. I have a foul mouth, am non-conforming, can’t stand identity politics, and hurt people’s feelings unintentionally at least once per day. I believe in transparency, accountability, self-awareness, growth, and showing up and doing the next right thing.
Luna-Rose Prisoner Support is the result of my own thousands and thousands of hours over years putting all my own income since 2006. I go into those prisons to bear compassionate witness and to not let people walk the darkest road of lives alone. Most days, it hard fucking slog, at considerable personal financial and emotional cost; but one that gives meaning to my days. When I get questioned or slammed about devoting my time and energy ‘those people’ at expense other ‘more deserving’ people, I scoff: bring sick or lonely or forgotten person medicine or laughter or human dignity, for fuck’s sake, it ain’t rocket science.
“It is not possible in favor of justice for some people, and not in favor of justice for people.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Compassion is not relationship the healer and the wounded. It relationship between equals. Only own darkness, can present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real recognize our shared humanity. ” – Pema Chödrön
My memoir, snapshots and reflections of first 10 years this journey:
Unforgotten: Finding Hope in Bangkok Prisons. September 2015 – available Amazon & Kindle.
Coming soon: a podcast in March 2021 have more sense-making and meaningful conversations with interesting people and to hear their stories. Some of conversations are inmates from various countries visited for years in Thailand’s prisons.