Queer Identities Week has become an annual tradition at the University of Guelph. Organized by the Student Help and Advocacy Centre (SHAC) in association with the Wellness Centre’s SpeakOut, Student Life’s Outline, the Student Support Network, Guelph Queer Equality (GQE) and the Guelph Resource Centre for Gender Empowerment and Diversity (GRCGED), Queer Identities Week is an annual series of events taking place over a week in October dealing with a diverse selection of issues, all dealing in some way with gender, queer issues and sexual identity.

Queer identity is a loosely defined, amorphous term, which encompasses a large number of different sexual and gender identities and doesn’t have any of the limitations of using identity specific terms such a lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. This was clearly a consideration of the organizers when they were organizing the events of the week. The events of Queer Identities Week approached this variety of topics through talks, workshops and film screenings.

One of those organizers was Alexandra Holton, who is the events and educations coordinator for SHAC and also chair of this year’s Queer Identities Week committee. In addition to giving representation to many manifestations of Queer identity throughout the week, Holton also had other ideas for things she wanted to have at the events.

“I specifically wanted to focus on learning how to use language in a more inclusive and friendly manner, along with the accessibility of spaces,” she said.

One of the events which approached this topic head-on was S. Bear Bergman’s workshop, “Writing With and About Gender.”

Bergman is an advocate of the increased usage of gender-neutral pronouns, and much of the talk revolved around, not just what they are and how to use them, but also what situations they might be relevant in, and why there is an increasing need for them.

“How do we decide whether something– a haircut, a sweater, a behaviour, an action– is masculine or feminine in gender?” said Bergman, prefacing his introduction to the room of gender-neutral pronouns.

Those that Bergman described are “ze” and “hir”, which can replace words like he, she, him, her, his and hers, which are far too gender specific to apply to all situations.

Bergman explained that ze is meant to be used instead of he and she, and hir instead of the other four pronouns, when gender is unsure or irrelevant.

Some specific examples ze brought up included trans people, who may not be comfortable identifying as a single gender, and genderqueer people, who, while not necessarily trans, also feel that they don’t conform to a gender binary or simply reject it.

While these examples are quite specific, there are also more general uses in which these genderless pronouns might be applicable. While the “universal he”, defaulting to male gender pronouns when sex is not specified, has slowly but steadily become less and less common, especially in print and in government documents, there is yet to be an English language replacement that is accepted universally. Some alternate between male and female pronouns, while many others simply include both, in forms like “he or she”, “(s)he”, or “s/he”. While this does address the issue to some extent, Bergman points out that it is cumbersome and aesthetically unappealing.

Discussion came out of this topic as the participants in the workshop were encouraged to write about imaginary characters without mentioning the characters gender, and then the others in the room discussed what gender they had presumed the character to be.

While it started as a simple, almost elementary activity, the arising discussion about expectations of men and women, and even brought up issues about gender norms in  children, and even activities and animals. 

Another topic which was explore during Queer Identities Week was a workshop led by j. wallace, an educator, activist and writer, titled “Self-Advocacy in Medical Settings.”

“The research says that lesbian, gay, bi and trans people access medical care less than straight people,” said wallace at the beginning of the workshop. “. What is important to think about, is that bisexual people access it less than lesbian and gay people, and then trans people access it less than lesbian and gay people. And bisexual people often have worse health outcomes. Any of this research, and I also want to throw out the huge caveat, that it is not because being lesbian, gay, bi or trans is a health risk itself. Living in a homophobic, transphobic and biphobic culture is a health risk.”

From there, wallace went through all the many issues relating to healthcare that specifically affect people of a Queer identity, and the struggles that some Queer people have to face in order to receive the care and respect in a medical setting that they are entitled to.

“I firmly want to walk into medical settings being confident that we deserve good care, we are entitled to good care, our health depends on it,” wallace continued. “But that we often need to do a fair bit of advocacy work around making that happen.”

A variety of examples were brought up throughout the workshop both by wallace and those in attendance, including issues like presumptions about sexual behaviour based on sexual orientation, which manifested itself most commonly in stories about doctors asking about HIV status or suggesting HIV tests to Queer patients.

Another example cited involved birth control.

“If you’re starting with a new doctor and the doctor asks “are you sexually active?” and the answer is yes. Do you use birth control should not be the next question,” said wallace. “That’s the time to say, “I’m sorry you’ve skipped a step.””

“I feel like we do have a responsibility to advocate for each other,” he continued.

Medical issues facing trans people were also discussed at wallace’s workshop, with issues such as the availability of transcompetent doctors and logistical and financial accessibility of hormones and surgery, as well as the ongoing controversy surrounding blood donation in Canada from men who’ve had sex with men.

Queer Identities Week is an important event on campus, because it is one of the few times when these kinds of issues are brought to the forefront in a public setting. While Queer issues are not out of place in many curricula at this university, learning about these topics in a lecture environment might not stimulate the same kind of discussion that public workshops can.

That discussion is probably the way in which these workshops were the most effective. While the speakers brought with them ample information, it was the questions, ideas, concerns and experiences of the people in attendance which often led to the most enlightening and intricate discussions. Others understood and could relate to the situations, regardless of what gender identity they identified as.

That so much discussion can take place, so many questions can be asked, and yet so many people can understand is testament, not only to the effectiveness of Queer Identities Week, but to its importance.

Attendance wasn’t limited to Queer people, and nor should interest in these issues be.

“Even though most folks are under the impression that Guelph has triumphed in being “queer-positive”, there is still much work to be done,” said Holton. “It is also important for us to recognize that queer issues are relevant not just in Canada, but around the world and that people are being affected everyday. We must fight on all levels to improve queer rights in Guelph and around the world.”

Queer Identities Week is ongoing, with events taking place until Saturday, Oct. 29, when the whole event will culminate in the Mas-Queer-Ade Dance Party.

 

QUEER RESOURCES ON CAMPUS

Guelph Queer Equality (GQE)

U of G’s campus Queer group, and Canada’s oldest campus Queer club, GQE operates regular social events and sponsors a myriad of other events throughout the school year. The GQE office is a safe space open to anyone on campus, with a lending library and an assortment of information about queer issues and events, both on campus and off.

OUTline

OUTline is a support service run through Student Life that offers information and resources to any interested parties, whether they are Queer or a student, both or neither. OUTline specializes in information about sexual orientation and gender identity. OUTline offers this information over the phone or through their website at http://uoguelph.ca/~outline.

SpeakOut

SpeakOut is run through the Wellness Centre, a division of Student Health Services committed to education. SpeakOut aims to raise awareness of issues of oppression, diversity and human rights with a focus on those issues affecting the Queer community and works to end all forms of oppression while educating students about oppression on a local and global scale.

Student Help and Advocacy Centre (SHAC)

SHAC is an on-campus resource covering a gamut of resources for students, including legal, financial and human rights resources. SHAC is a CSA run group and staffed by students. It is also a resource centre for information about upcoming events related to these issues. SHAC is located on the second floor of the UC.

Guelph Resource Centre for Gender Empowerment and Diversity (GRCGED)

GRCGED is a collectively run resource centre operating out of the main floor of the UC. They’re foyer is a fantastic resource for pamphlets covering a wide range of issues, concerns, events, and other. Operating within a feminist framework, GRCGED advocates for anti-oppression issues and offers a safe space for students, staff, faculty and community members.

 

 

 

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