Pride Month at Laurier

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Laurier has Pride

Each June, Pride Month recognizes the experiences and history of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (2SLGBTQQIA+) communities and celebrates their positive impacts around the world.

May 27, 2024




Wilfrid Laurier University aims to create safe and equitable campuses for all 2SLGBTQQIA+ members of its community. The university is celebrating Pride Month with a series of educational and inclusive events, some of which are highlighted below.

Flying the Progress Pride flag represents Laurier's commitment to honouring the identities, experiences and contributions of 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples and their continuing struggle for social, political and economic equality, as well as the university’s commitment to the inclusion of First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Black and racialized voices in 2SLGBTQQIA+ and other equity initiatives.

The Progress Pride flag, designed by American non-binary artist Daniel Quasar in 2018, is an evolution of the original Rainbow flag created by artist Gilbert Baker in 1987. The Progress Pride flag includes black and brown chevrons to represent marginalized and racialized communities, individuals living with HIV and those lost to AIDS, while the pink, light blue and white chevrons represent the colours of the Transgender Pride flag.

Drag performer on stage at Winter's a Drag event
Winter's a Drag event in Brantford on Jan. 31, 2024

Events

All events listed are open to the public unless otherwise noted. Additional events may be added throughout the month. Visit the university event calendar for more.

Thriving on Campus: Pride Webinar Series

  • June 4, 5 and 11 at 2 p.m.
  • Zoom (Register)

The team behind the Thriving on Campus study will present new research and campus initiatives aimed at enhancing the inclusion, well-being and academic success of 2SLGBTQQIA+ students. Over three sessions, presentations will focus on often-overlooked groups such as non-binary and asexual students, as well as those who are also marginalized because of racism or ableism; trans inclusion and equity in health services and housing; 2SLGBTQQIA+ students in STEM fields; and resilience and mental health. 

Beyond Hashtags and Rainbow Washing: Allyship in Practice

During Pride Month, corporations and institutions are often eager to show their support for 2SLGBTQQIA+ folks through advertising campaigns and by changing logos on social media. But is that enough? How can corporations and institutions ensure that their support for queer lives goes beyond performative gestures and brings about meaningful change? Author and activist Samra Habib will propose possibilities shaped by many intersectionalities and lived experiences that inform their perspective as a queer Muslim immigrant.

DIY Pride: Art as Resistance and Celebration

  • June 6 from 1 to 4 p.m.
  • Martin Luther University College orchard, Waterloo campus (weather dependent)

Laurier and Luther students, staff and faculty are invited to visit the Pride DIY Fair for all things crafty, colourful and rainbow! Stations include T-shirt tie-dying, button making, face paint and temporary tattoos.

Rainbow History in Canada

  • June 17 at 1 p.m.
  • Zoom (Register)
  • Note: This event is specifically for Laurier employees.

From the Fruit Machine to the ban on conversion therapy, learn more about 2SLGBTQQIA+ history in Canada. With a focus on Waterloo Region and Ontario, gain knowledge about how certain legislation and organizations came to be and some of the activism behind it all. This event is hosted by Laurier’s Equity and Accessibility team in Human Resources and presented by Spectrum, in partnership with the Grand River Historical Society.

Quiet Queer Hike

  • June 25 at 12 p.m.
  • Brant Conservation Area (Register)

So, you're part of the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community but parades and parties seem too overstimulating? Join the Laurier Students Public Interest Research Group to walk the Wilkes Dam Trail at the Brant Conervation Area. It's a short, one-hour hike that's flat and easy, even for novice nature enthusiasts. Wear your rainbow swag and prepare to socialize... quietly!

 

Three students standing behind a Pride Month booth
Students sitting at a table working on crafts
Gohar Ashoughian drawing with sidewalk chalk

Drag Performers Dazzle in Brantford

Winter’s a Drag has become an annual favourite on Laurier’s Brantford campus. The community event is a colourful, vibrant celebration of self-expression and inclusion featuring performances by professional drag artists, artist meet-and-greets and prize giveaways.

Laurier Scholarship

Laurier students and faculty members are studying issues that affect 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities. Members of the news media are welcome to reach out to our experts.

Jeffrey Aguinaldo

Jeffrey Aguinaldo

Associate Professor, Sociology

Why do young people typically make it sound like bad news when they come out of the closet? Aguinaldo is analyzing real-life recordings of “coming out” conversations to understand what we convey when we say, “I’m gay.” Learn more.

Giselle Dias

Giselle Dias

Lecturer, Indigenous Field of Study

When it comes to Indigenous sovereignty, Dias says members of the Indigenous queer, Indigiqueer and Two-Spirit communities are often left out of the conversation. That is something she wants to change through her doctoral studies in the Indigenous Field of Study program. Learn more.

Abbi Longmire

Abbi Longmire (MSW '24)

Research Assistant, Faculty of Social Work

In 2023, the Queer Liberation Theory team, including Longmire and Assistant Professor Cameron McKenzie, hosted a Queer Activist Symposium to discuss how to move the queer movement beyond acceptance into liberation. Read about their findings and goals.

The Intersections of Autism and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Identities

Research shows that a significant number of young people with autism identify as 2SLGBTQQIA+. Laurier alumna Brianna Comeau (MSW ’23) interviewed six Ontario youth about their experiences with bullying and shared her results in the 2023 Three-Minute Thesis competition.

Embracing Gender Identities at School and Work

Watch an Inspiring Conversation with Laurier faculty member Percy Lezard and PhD candidate Charlie Davis (BA '13, MA '15) about topics ranging from pronoun use to gender-inclusive policies, all grounded in scholarship and lived experiences. This event was recorded on June 20, 2023.

Students posing at Winter's a Drag event
Winter's a Drag event in Brantford on Jan. 31, 2024

Community Resources

Across Laurier campuses, students, staff and faculty members can access educational resources and specialized support services for 2SLGBTQQIA+ communities.

Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (CSEDI) works to cultivate a campus culture that respects and promotes equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice in all aspects of Laurier – from classrooms to residence communities. Through CSEDI, Laurier students have access to resources related to gender and sexuality, and its student services offer safer spaces for students and their allies who identify with 2SLGBTQQIA+, women-centred, Indigequeer and gender-inclusive communities.

gift to CSEDI helps the centre continue growing to better meet the needs of Laurier's increasingly diverse student population and deliver educational programming across both campuses.

Career Resources for 2SLGBTQQIA+ Students

The Career Centre and CSEDI work closely to provide services for 2SLGBTQQIA+ students and alumni at Laurier. As a member of a distinct community, you may have specific concerns while making career decisions or finding a job such as when and if to disclose to an employer, how to research inclusive organizations and what to include when writing a resumé. Browse career resources or book an appointment for individual support.

 

Queering Our Learnings

In this video resource, conversations between 2SLGBTQQIA+ students, staff and faculty at Laurier aim to bridge the generational gap within the queer community through discussion about their experiences and learnings.

Tales of Truth Colouring Book

Download a free copy of Consent is Golden’s “Tales of Truth” colouring book, dedicated to and made for two-spirt, trans and non-binary folks, and those who care for them. The colouring book is brought to you by Laurier’s Sexual Violence Response Team, and the art was created by three young, gender-diverse artists from across Ontario. Stop by the Office of Human Rights and Conflict Management to pick up a printed copy.

Laurier Library's Pride Month Reading List

In celebration of Pride Month, the Laurier Library has curated book displays that celebrate 2SLGBTQQIA+ writers, researchers, artists and storytellers. The works featured include stories about coming out and tragedy, but also work to de-centre the predominance of these themes within 2SLGBTQQIAA+ literature. These stories also celebrate and discuss everyday life, romance, dating and navigating queerness alongside experiences of racialization, disability, gender diversity and class.

Alumni Pride

Laurier alumni are giving back to the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.

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Helping the Next Generation

Guy Milner (MSW ’91) and his husband established the Milner-Helfrick Award in Social Work for graduate students who self-identify as members of a protected group based on gender or sexuality.

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An Inspiring Pianist

“I wished I had more openly queer mentors, so it is important for me to share my own story,” says pianist Darren Creech (BMus ’12), who champions contemporary music by marginalized composers.

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