Volume 50, Issue 12

The Independent Student Newspaper of the University of Toronto Mississauga since 1974

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LGBTQ2S+ STORIES

Issue 12 Volume 50 November 27 2023

ILLUSTRATION BY LAURA TOVAR/THE MEDIUM

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NEWS

Editor | May Alsaigh news@themedium.ca

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief River Knott editor@themedium.ca Managing Editor Ricardo Jaroslav Valdez managing@themedium.ca News May Alsaigh news@themedium.ca Opinion Kareena Kailass opinion@themedium,ca Features features@themedium.ca A&E arts@themedium.ca Sports Omar Khan sports@themedium.ca Photo Samira Karimova photos@themedium.ca Design Laura Tovar design@themedium.ca Copy Chris Berberian jaros@themedium.ca Maja Ting maja@themedium.ca Social Media & Online Belicia Chevolleau social@themedium.ca Video Nikolas Towsey video@themedium.ca

November News Briefs Unifor Stands in Solidarity for World Toilet Day 2023.

May Alsaigh News Editor

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n Sunday, November 19, Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union, stood in solidarity with the global movement to show their support for World Toilet Day. The movement addresses issues of safe and inclusive washroom facilities for everyone, including women and members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.

The United Nations estimates three billion people will continue to live without access to safe toilets in 2030. Additionally, two billion people will not have access to safe drinking water and 1.4 billion will lack basic hygiene spaces.

Unifor shared a statement for World Toilet Day stressing that access to clean spaces is an important right to uphold: “Safe and clean washrooms are not just about physical safety; they symbolize our belief in dignity, respect, and equality for every individual, regardless of their gender identity or expression.” They also highlighted that the importance of access to safe and clean washroom facilities was a main point of discussion during the board membership consultation for the 2023 to 2026 Unifor Bargaining Workers’ Power campaign, and that harassment of the LGBTQ2S+ community should not be tolerated.

British Columbia Nurse Faces Backlash for Making “Discriminatory” Statements about Transgender Communities.

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nurse in British Colombia faces allegations of unprofessional conduct for making multiple “derogatory and discriminatory” public statements about transgender people. On November 6 and November 7, Amy Hamm underwent cross-examination during a disciplinary hearing by the B.C. College of Nurses and Midwives.

Between July 2018 and March 2021, Hamm made several social media posts, essays, podcast appearances, and videos where she denied the gender identities of transgender women. In these posts and appearances, Hamm referred to transgender women as “men” and argued that they are a danger to cisgender women and children. Many criticized Hamm for making statements that could potentially discourage transgender people from seeking health care—a community that is already weary of medical staff.

Early this month, Hamm testified during her disciplinary hearing that she is not transphobic but aims to prevent transgender women from accessing resources that were created for cisgender women. Due to the ongoing discipline process, Hamm no longer identifies herself as a nurse in online biographies.

Rise of Anti-Transgender Violence and Laws in 2023.

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ccording to a report published in 2023, violence against transgender communities has been on the rise since last year. Since last year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, 2022, 33 transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals have been killed in the United States. Twenty-six of those individuals were killed in 2023.

Reports from Homeland Security showed a rise in attacks on members of the LGBTQ2S+ community including bomb threats targeting schools, hospitals, and libraries. More than 500 anti-LGBT bills targeting the transgender community were introduced to state legislatures in the US, of which more than 80 were passed into law: a record-breaking number according to the Human Rights Campaign.

Presently, 16 US states have prohibited gender-affirming care for people under the age of 18. Utah was the first state in 2023 to introduce a law banning puberty blockers, hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery for transgender minors. Many activists state this is a huge step back after years of progress in the advocacy of rights for the LGBTQ2S+ community.

Museum in UK Re-labels Roman Emperor as a Transgender Woman.

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n November 2023, North Hertfordshire Museum, located in Hitchin, a town north of London, United Kingdom, made the decision to relabel the Roman Emperor Elagabalus as a transgender woman. The museum made this decision after research revealed that the ancient Roman emperor was asked to be referred to as “lady.”

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Issued in August 2023, Kieth Hoskins, an executive member for Enterprise and Arts at North Herts Council, made a statement regarding the display. “We try to be sensitive to identifying pronouns for people in the past, as we are for people in the present, it is only polite and respectful,” he says. “We know that Elagabalus identified as a woman and was explicit about which pronouns to use, which shows that pronouns are not a new thing.”

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According to a statement on the museum’s website made in November 2021, experts say the emperor was born a male but identified as a woman in her teenage years. The emperor was reported to frequently wear wigs and makeup, making her one of the most controversial Roman emperors.

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The museum will now refer to Elagabalus, who ruled from 218 to 222 AD as a trans woman with the pronouns of she and her.

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Ontario Advocates and Protestors Debate New LGBTQ2S+ Education Policies Transgender students report facing an increase in bullying amidst the recent rise of Ontario demonstrations contesting LGBTQ2S+ education policies.

Opponents of these policies argue that they violate children’s rights and might inadvertently expose transgender youth to potential harm. Conversely, supporters claim these policies protect parental rights and raise concerns about how schools address gender identity.

Jaimini Patel Contributor

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n recent months, as debates over sex education curriculums have gained traction, Canada has witnessed a surge in demonstrations both supporting and contesting LGBTQ2S+ education policies, the rights of transgender students, and parental involvement in their education.

Advocates in support of LGBTQ2S+ education policies emphasize the importance of inclusivity to create learning environments that validate and represent diverse identities. Advocates for these policies demand comprehensive and age-appropriate education that acknowledges and respects the LGBTQ2S+ community, aiming to foster empathy, understanding, and a sense of belonging among all students.

While some school boards in Ontario, including those in Toronto, expressed explicit support for LGBTQ2S+ students, others faced direct protests on their premises. Tensions escalated in cities like Hamilton and London, where confrontations occurred outside school board buildings.

Those contesting the policies express concerns about the content and timing of such education within the school system. Their concerns lie with parental rights and raise apprehensions about what they perceive as the premature or inappropriate exposure of children to LGBTQ2S+ concepts. Some express fears of ideological influence and assert that certain teachings may contradict their beliefs or family values.

In light of these demonstrations, some provinces—such as New Brunswick and Saskatchewan—have adopted policies that mandate parental consent before teachers use preferred names or pronouns for transgender students.

In September 2023, organized rallies led by the group 1MillionMarch4Children marched in support of parental rights. Protestors chanted, “Leave our children alone,” during their rally in Toronto. The protests drew large crowds, with over a thousand people participating in both support and opposition to LGBTQ2S+ rights in schools. Multiple arrests were made in cities like Ottawa, Halifax, Vancouver, and Victoria, prompting law enforcement warnings and heightened security measures due to safety concerns.

Amidst these discussions, concerns about safety and discrimination surfaced, particularly from transgender students reporting increased instances of bullying and derogatory remarks within schools. Some shared fears of potential physical abuse or being disowned by their families if their gender identity were disclosed.

Many politicians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, condemned the hatred displayed by these protests. Many community leaders and activists believe these protests further emphasize the necessity of dialogue and education on inclusion, especially for transgender and queer youth. They stressed the significance of fostering a welcoming environment in schools while teaching appropriate language and promoting acceptance.

These nationwide protests have ignited debates not only about educational policies but also about societal acceptance and the rights of individuals, particularly those in vulnerable communities. They underscore the need for sensitivity and inclusivity in addressing these issues while ensuring the well-being of all students.

As discussions persist, these clashes serve as a reminder of the complexities in balancing parental rights and children’s rights, and creating an inclusive educational environment, especially for the LGBTQ2S+ community.

These policies have sparked debate regarding children’s rights versus parental authority.

“EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE IN VIRTUAL REALITY” BY NASA GODDARD PHOTO AND VIDEO IS LICENSED UNDER CC BY 2.0.

“EXPLORING THE UNIVERSE IN VIRTUAL REALITY” BY NASA GODDARD PHOTO AND VIDEO IS LICENSED UNDER CC BY 2.0.

ILLUSTRATION BY BEATRIZ SIMAS/THE MEDIUM

A four-day truce “is not an end to the genocide”

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Social media users and activists are expressing their frustration following the recent announcement of a four-day truce in the Gaza Strip.

May Alsaigh News Editor

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n November 22, after almost seven weeks of war, the Israeli cabinet approved a four-day truce in the Gaza Strip. In exchange, Hamas has agreed to release 50 of the Israeli hostages abducted on October 7.

So far, 24 hostages—13 Israelis, 10 Thai nationals, and one Filipino citizen—out of 240 were released on Friday.

Over the past several weeks, Qatari mediators have been leading negotiations for the release of hostages on both sides and a temporary pause in war. On November 15, reports emerged of Qatari mediators closing on an agreement that would release 50 hostages. On November 19, the Israeli cabinet met and concluded it was ready to reach an agreement regarding the release of hostages in exchange for a temporary truce.

Three of the 38 members of the Israeli cabinet voted against the truce. The cabinet also agreed to extend the pause by one day for every 10 hostages released. As part of the

deal, humanitarian aid including medical and fuel aid will be accepted into Gaza.

Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu emphasizes that the state has no intention of ending the war even after the release of hostages. In a press conference in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, Netanyahu announced, “We are at war and we will continue the war until we achieve all our goals.”

Some Palestinians are also expected to be released from Israeli jails in the West Bank as part of the terms of the truce. This includes teenage boys who were detained in the West Bank during 2022 and 2023. Presently, Israel holds 7,000 Palestinians captive on accusations of security offences.

Originally, the four-day truce was set to begin on Thursday, November 23. However, Israeli forces delayed the truce until Friday, November 24. Since then, the Israeli army pursued a raid on Wednesday and arrested Dr. Mohammad abu Salmiya, the director of al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza’s largest medical facility.

Thousands of displaced Palestinians are

sheltering in and around the hospital. Forty-one of its patients, including three premature babies, died from a lack of oxygen between November 11 and November 16 because the hospital ran out of fuel to power its generator. The hospital continues to operate without electricity.

The raid on November 23 bombed at least 300 targets from the air and detained several medics. Abu Salmiya has been transferred to the Shin Bet domestic security service in Israel for further questioning.

Currently, Northern Gaza’s last running hospital is being targeted by the Israeli army.

Hundreds are seeking shelter inside Gaza’s Indonesian hospital including medical staff and injured civilians.

In light of these events, many have taken to social media to voice their frustrations about the four-day truce.

Yara Eid, a Palestinian journalist and human rights advocate, wrote a post on X that states: “This is not a ceasefire. This is not an end to the genocide. You cannot stop talking about what’s happening because of this fake

‘truce.’”

Another X user with more than four thousand followers, @IrrumAli, posted: “A temporary truce is not a humanitarian act.

It only means that after 4 days, Israel will go back to carpet bombing Palestinians still trapped in Gaza.”

With the delay of the four-day truce and the intensity of the six-week attacks, many believe that the four-day truce is inadequate and that, instead, an immediate and permanent ceasefire needs to be implemented.

Hassan El-Tayyab, legislative director for Middle East policy at the advocacy group Friends Committee on National Legislation, is one of those people.

“This is an important break in the fighting. It’s important that these families are reunified,” he told Al Jazeera. “But it’s not enough. We have to continue building momentum to reach a permanent ceasefire, a return of all the hostages, unfettered aid access and a solution for peace for Israelis and Palestinians.”

Turmoil Unfolds at OpenAI: The Altman Saga OpenAI’s recent turmoil, from CEO Sam Altman’s ousting to his dramatic reinstatement, unveils deep rifts and power plays in the AI world.

Karine Alhakim Associate News Editor

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n Thursday, November 23, OpenAI, a leading figure in artificial intelligence, experienced a tumultuous period marked by the firing and rapid rehiring of its CEO, Sam Altman. This unexpected turn of events shocked Silicon Valley and highlighted the underlying tensions and challenges within the rapidly evolving AI industry.

Founded in December 2015 by Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, and other notable figures including Elon Musk and Reid Hoffman, OpenAI started as a non-profit research laboratory. Its mission was to advance digital intelligence to benefit the economy. In 2018, the company transitioned to a for-profit business, Open AI LP, and launched its first generation of the GPT language model.

On November 22, OpenAI gained widespread recognition with the release of ChatGPT. This AI model, capable of producing human-like text, images, video, and music, quickly became one of the world’s fastestgrowing software applications. However, it also raised concerns about the ethical use of AI in schools and offices.

Sam Altman, a Stanford University dropout and former head of the startup accelerator company Y Combinator, became CEO of OpenAI in May 2019. Under his leadership, ChatGPT achieved global recognition, and Altman emerged as a prominent voice in AI, discussing the technology’s promise and potential risks with government officials worldwide.

The crisis at OpenAI began when the board fired Altman on November 17, due to his lack of openness when communicating with the team. This decision caught many, including minority owner, Microsoft, by surprise. Microsoft has invested approximately US$13 billion in the startup and briefly considered Altman for a role in a new AI unit. In response, Greg Brockman, cofounder and former president, announced his departure from the company, reflecting the depth of the internal conflict.

The response from OpenAI’s staff was immediate and decisive. More than 95 per

cent of its employees, including high-profile figures like CTO Mira Murati and co-founder Ilya Sutskever, signed an open letter demanding Altman’s reinstatement, threatening to resign otherwise.

The situation escalated further when the UK’s Department for Science Innovation and Technology and the US White House declined to comment on the matter, underscoring the lack of regulatory oversight in the AI sector. Experts emphasized the need for greater regulation to protect consumers from internal corporate conflicts.

This internal power struggle at OpenAI raised concerns about transparency in decision-making and the development of AI technologies. There is a lack of public scrutiny over updates and quality control in AI systems, unlike in other tech sectors like smartphone software updates.

Paul Barrett, Deputy Director at NYU’s business school, called for regulations requiring AI makers to improve the safety of their products, similar to standards in the pharmaceutical industry.

Altman’s return signaled a victory for the former group. These events reflected the intense competition to be first in the AI arms race among tech giants like OpenAI,

Google, and Microsoft. This leads to less caution in AI development.

Altman’s reinstatement, following intense negotiations and employee threats, marked a significant victory for Microsoft, which had worked with other investors to reverse his firing. New board members like Larry Summers and Bret Taylor were introduced, with the board’s composition being a major sticking point in the negotiations.

Behind the scenes, Altman had clashed with board members over AI development strategies and his entrepreneurial ambitions, including plans to raise funds for an AI chip startup and collaborations with significant figures in the tech industry.

OpenAI’s history marks previous Silicon Valley affairs, including the ousting and returns of leaders like Steve Jobs at Apple and Jack Dorsey at X, formerly Twitter.

The recent turmoil at OpenAI not only signifies internal power struggles but also reflects broader challenges in the AI industry. The rapid pace of AI development along with the lack of comprehensive regulation raises critical questions about the future direction and responsible governance of AI technologies.

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OPINION

opinion@themedium.ca

You are you, the one and only River Knott Editor-in-Chief

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his world is dripping with colours—some the likes of which you’ve never seen before.

Everywhere you look, there’s a new sensation to be experienced. Between book pages and bus seats, under fingernails and on hiking trails, in classrooms and courthouses—this world is saturated with dances you’ve never danced, songs you’ve never sung, flavours you’ve never tasted, and feelings you’ve never felt.

Many of us spend our days on this Earth living vastly, fearlessly, and unencumbered; we spend our waking hours delightedly drinking in all that’s newfangled, blissfully basking in the electrifying ocean of the unfamiliar. Our sleeping hours are filled with visions of the future, where we take what is, bend it, twist it, and stretch it into what could be.

Diversity, joy, and outrageousness are all forces that inspire change, growth, and learning in our communities. Our world is enriched, punctuated, and made whole by the uniqueness of its individuals.

To acknowledge one’s own queerness is a declaration of love, of self-expression, and of honesty. It’s a celebration of the bits and pieces of you that don’t fade, complacently, into the background of our society. It’s to recognize the beauty of a resolute tulip, standing proudly in a field filled with roses.

You are you, the one and only.

Join us this week in celebrating the colourful, insightful, bold, and tenacious voices of our LGBTQ2S+ community here at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

The subtle silencing of LGBTQ2S+ literature in school libraries Censorship of LGBTQ2s+ themes has sparked serious discourse on the profound implications on inclusivity, diversity, and the fundamental principles of education.

Makayla Kelly Contributor

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he recent decision by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board to restrict library access to books with LGBTQ2S+ themes is a worrying development that echoes a larger, disturbing trajectory in North America. As part of what appears to be a growing trend of censorship in educational settings, this move is far more than just a matter of re-cataloging books. It goes against the heart of what education is meant to be: exposing students to a wide variety of perspectives and ideas.

The board claims that their decision is in line with their curriculum, which is why books like Salma Writes a Book and Jude Saves the World were moved to the “professional (PRO) section.” But as a report by the Toronto Star pointed out, this move effectively reduces student access to these significant works by acting more like a “shadow ban.” Although it’s not a complete ban, this type of censorship creates barriers that may hinder students—particularly those from underrepresented communities—from having access to these important books.

Continued restrictions on LGBTQ2S+ literature in schools could have profound implications for LGBTQ2S+ youth. The subtle message that their stories are “other” or inappropriate not only alienates them but also denies their peers the opportunity to understand and empathize with their experiences. This could exacerbate feelings of isolation and stigma among LGBTQ2S+ youth, who already navigate complex challenges. According to Danny Ramadan, author of Salma Writes a Book, this not only breaks the hearts of the creators of these works but also potentially deprives children of stories that could be crucial for their understanding of themselves and the world.

What’s taking place in Waterloo isn’t an isolated incident. It’s part of a larger trend in North America, where media restrictions, particularly those aimed at LGBTQ2S+ themes, are on the rise. This censorship masquerades as a mode of protection while in reality, violates the

principles of intellectual freedom and open inquiry that are fundamental to education.

Given these challenges, it’s crucial to advocate for a learning environment that embraces and celebrates diversity. Schools should be places where students can learn about a variety of topics, including LGBTQ2S+ experiences. Censorship of these books not only limits students’ understanding of the world, but it also sends a negative message to those who identify as LGBTQ2S+.

The decision to ban books with LGBTQ2S+ themes from schools is concerning and should serve as a wake-up call for anyone who values the power of education to influence the world.

We must speak up in favour of inclusive curricula and libraries that represent the wide range of identities and experiences of individuals. The world we leave for future generations will depend on the work we do today. It’s not just about a few books in a library—it’s about the legacy we’re leaving behind, one that needs to be grounded in inclusion, empathy, and understanding.

ILLUSTRATION BY BEATRIZ SIMAS/THE MEDIUM

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The difficulties of dating as a gender minority Four tips to help you be the best partner you can be for your trans or nonbinary significant other.

River Knott Editor-in-Chief

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ating is hard for everybody. However, the challenges of courtship are exacerbated tenfold for many of the gender minorities in our community. Troubles like gender dysphoria, sexual shame, anxiety, and depressionanxiety, and depression are all hurdles that many trans and non-binary people must overcome before throwing themselves into the dating scene.

When a cisgender person is dating a trans or non-binary person, the frustrations, complications, wants, and needs of their significant other can sometimes get lost in translation. Despite being romantically interested in a person who is a gender minority, cisgender people can become intimidated by the “learning curve” that they may have associated with dating that person.

While no two people have the same needs, I have compiled some tips that can help you alleviate the discomfort your trans or non-binary partner may feel in a dating environment. You’ll see that there are plenty of simple things that you can do to make your partner feel more comfortable, valid, and happy .

Be mindful of your language and anatomical terms.

Gender dysphoria is a cruel beast, and for many gender minorities, being called by the wrong name or pronoun can completely ruin their day. When you start dating, be sure to ask your partner what their preferred name and pronouns are. You should also ask them how they prefer to be referred to they like the term “boyfriend” or “girlfriend?” Or would something less gendered, like “partner,” feel more appropriate?

When things start to get intimate, you should also ask your partner what kinds of things make them feel comfortable and uncomfortable in the bedroom—– including what words they use to refer to their genitals. In these cases, it’s always better to ask than to assume.

Mistakes happen!

When learning new things, people tend to make mistakes. Naturally, this is also the case for the learning of unfamiliar names and pronouns. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself slipping up when speaking to or about your partner. While these mistakes aren’t ideal, they are very typical. To keep things moving as smoothly as possible, try not to linger too much on any mistakes you make when speaking about your partner. It’s best to correct yourself quickly and then move on rather than draw more attention to the mix-up. When you do make errors, make sure you reassure your partner that you respect and acknowledge their identity and that your mistakes are not reflective of them, they are only reflective of your own learning process.

Your partner is not your educator.

It’ is not your partner’s responsibility to explain and describe to you all the difficulties and intricacies associated with existing as a gender minority. They spend enough time explaining and advocating for themselves throughout their day-to-day lives. The time they spend with you should be a break from all of that!

Instead, show your partner how much their unique experience means to you by taking the time to educate yourself on the subject. There are plenty of excellent books, articles, blogs, and online forums designed specifically for this process!

Be aware of sensitive spaces and situations.

The sad reality is that some places and scenarios could pose a real threat to your partner’s comfort levels, and ultimately, their safety. Public restrooms can be challenging areas for nonbinary and trans people, as people in these spaces may be inclined to badger your partner about their identity and even about what’s between their legs. Moreover, due to the secluded, private nature of public restrooms, transgender and non-binary people are sometimes assaulted in these spaces by transphobic people, so they may be fearful of using binary public restrooms.

The same may go for public changing facilities. It’s important to remember that your partner may have come out to some people and not to others. Perhaps your partner’s family doesn’t know that they are a gender minority, and they would like to keep it that way. In those circumstances, you would need to communicate with your partner about behavioural expectations specific to these groups of people.

How you treat a trans or non-binary partner should be based on the same pillars that you would apply to anybody you date. Be respectful, be open to communication, be considerate, and educate yourself on the things that are important to them. Dating somebody who has a different relationship with gender than yourself should be enlightening, rather than daunting.

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Internalized homophobia: a common paradox Voices and stories from queer people on campus shedding light on the frequently occurring phenomenon of internalized homophobia.

Tia Cummins Associate Opinion Editor

simply not enjoying big events and his internalized homophobia, backed by the fact that he feels he has no one supportive to attend with him.

Alex: Lesbian female

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here are many homophobic beliefs and behaviours circulating in our society, ranging from physically violent hate crimes to all the miniscule comments made by friends that just barely cross the line. Constantly being surrounded by these ideas can influence the thoughts of individuals, sometimes pushing them to accept similar homophobic biases, either consciously or subconsciously. When a member of the LGBTQ2S+ community starts believing these biases and applying them to themselves, this is known as internalized homophobia. The phenomenon is more common than one might expect and is experienced by much of the queer community.

I interviewed three of my friends and coworkers (aliases have been provided to maintain privacy) who identify as members of the LGBTQ2S+ community. I asked them a few questions to guide their stories: What external factors have had the biggest influence on your thoughts about your sexuality and how has this impacted your thinking? Have you ever questioned the validity of your own sexuality? What were these thoughts and how do you manage them? How do homophobic biases shape the way you view and act towards the LGBTQ2S+ community? Here’s what they said: Josh: Bisexual male Josh explained that in elementary school, he went through a brief phase of questioning if he was actually gay. Josh didn’t really consider the possibility of bisexuality. When his initial belief that there was “no way I’m attracted to men” shifted, Josh felt pressured to pursue a direct leap from straight to gay before resonating with the possibility of being bisexual. During his high school years, most of Josh’s male friend groups were typical jocks. Their dynamic made him feel unwelcomed and kept him closeted to the group. Feeling the need to hide it, he was never particularly open about his sexuality. He used smaller actions to cover up any indicators that may be interpreted as gay. He used fewer hand gestures and deepened his voice when speaking to other men. Common stereotypes about the “white gay twink” directly influenced Josh’s sexual expression. Since it is publicly known that many people have a distaste for the flamboyancy associated with this stereotype, he steered away from this type of expression to avoid any possibility of directed hate. As for engagement in the queer community, Josh isn’t particularly active. He believes that it’s from a relatively even split between

Alex grew up going to a Catholic school, limiting her exposure to the queer community and not knowing that being gay was even a possibility. It wasn’t until around age 12 when watching a lesbian kiss scene in Glee that she started wondering if she had these same feelings. It took a long time for Alex to accept that she was lesbian. Even to this day, as she moves in with her girlfriend, she still sometimes questions whether she is straight. Overcoming these thoughts is extremely difficult, so she uses the constant reminder that she’s happy with her girlfriend to keep her grounded. Alex explained she isn’t upfront about her sexuality and has to figure out a person’s vibe before bringing it up. In situations where she is surrounded by straight people making homophobic jokes and comments, for example, with her family, she sometimes participates to match their energy. Despite this, Alex feels strong and relaxed when surrounded by the queer community.

Max: Queer female Max’s story is a little different. She grew up in a country where same-sex marriage is illegal.

She understands that her family and culture have an enormous influence on her thoughts, making her feel that she can’t explore her sexuality freely or safely. As she’s attracted to both men and women, but has found herself with more men, Max is scared to claim a fight that “isn’t hers” and worries that it may take away importance from others in the community who have gone through more hardships. As opposed to people who are lesbian or gay, she feels she doesn’t completely fit under a specific label, which makes her question the validity of her sexuality. Max expressed that there’s no real way to fully overcome internalized homophobia.

But, remembering that sexuality is fluid and understanding that labels aren’t needed helps her remain truthful to herself and her sexuality.

It’s important to remember that internalized homophobia is common and that nearly everyone in the LGBTQ2S+ community has struggled with it and pushed through it. Constantly checking in and having open communication with both yourself and your partners can help make the journey that much easier.

ILLUSTRATION BY AURORA PICCIOTTOLI/THE MEDIUM

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features

features@themedium.ca

Question your preconceptions in ISP250: Queer/ing composition In her upcoming course, Dr. Amanda Paxton encourages students to challenge the invisible rules that they follow.

Madhav Ajayamohan Associate Features Editor

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ur language shapes us. The words we hear around us develop our beliefs and values, and the words we speak cement our personality. Without even realizing it, language can ensnare you in a narrow way of thinking and living. As Dr. Amanda Paxton, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto Mississauga’s Institute for the Study of University Pedagogy, explained in an interview with The Medium, “It’s easy to go through life without reflecting on the way that the assumptions baked into our language and our culture determine how we think about ourselves, narrate our stories, and live in the world.”

Do you want to take it easy? Or do you want to come face to face with the invisible rules you live by without knowing? Dr. Paxton offers you a chance to come to terms with some of these “rules” in her new class ISP250: Queer/ing Composition, which she will be teaching in Winter 2024.

What struck me as odd was the word “Queer/ing” in the course description. As Dr. Paxton explained: “The slashed word ‘Queer/ing’ in the course title shows the two approaches we’ll be taking in the course.” The first approach is looking at “queer” as an adjective and examining queer texts. In Dr. Paxton’s own words, the first approach delves into queer theory, which she defines as “turning a curious, intellectually inquisitive eye to things that often go unquestioned: ideas of what it means to be a man or a woman, what it means to be a sexual being, what is meant by sex or partnering or even bodies.”

and use them to continually develop their ideas.

Through the knowledge and understanding gained from this analysis, Dr. Paxton will then pursue the second approach of the course: focusing on “queering our own forms of writing.”

The university traditionally focuses “on training students to speak the language of the academy.” However, Dr. Paxton wants to go beyond that, and to impress upon students “a broader perspective of what’s possible in writing.” Rather than training students to remain in the old era where argumentation and disputation are the pinnacle of academia, she seeks to create a new world where we can “integrate diversity into our writing to enrich it.”

Rather than being restricted to the standard university essay, part of ISP250 is to encourage “[students to experiment] with different styles of writing in order to see how the form of our writing influences its content.” The focus is not just on developing a new opinion, but also considers how to voice that opinion. Rather than blindly writing an essay, consider the best way to voice your opinion. Is it through satire? Is it through poetry? Which medium best conveys information? These are the types of questions that Dr. Paxton wants you to ask yourself.

As Dr. Paxton eloquently puts it: “Language also has endless possibilities by which to convey who we are and to learn about others. Through studying diversity and putting diverse methods of writing into practice, I want students to have a richer set of tools with which to question norms, push limits, and bring new perspectives to a world that needs them.” Rather than absentmindedly following those invisible rules, consider breaking a few—it might be fun.

Dr. Paxton plans to examine these concepts by looking at the “complicated history of language” in queer communities. She explained that language has oppressed queer communities, such as when “medicalized terminology was used to treat anyone who wasn’t cis-gendered and heterosexual as ill or criminal.”

However, she acknowledged that language has liberated the queer communities during their most trying times. She noted that language was “a tool of liberation during the HIV/ AIDS crisis of the 1980s and 1990s when activists fought against the silence with which government officials like Ronald Regan responded to a virus that was devastating gay male communities.”

Language was a salvation to the queer community in early 20th century Britain, where “groups of gay men used ‘Polari’ as an insider code to recognize each other, form community, and vet outsiders” when homosexuality was illegal in the UK. Language is also a form of connection, as revealed by the Queer Digital History Project, which Dr. Paxton shared “archived some of the first queer online forums, which were often the first place that members were able to come out as queer, a legacy that we still see in online spaces today.”

ISP250 will look into numerous forms of queer writing to reach a thorough understanding of queer communities and how language shapes them. This process, in turn, teaches students a way to challenge their own preconceptions.

By studying different queer texts, you may come across ideas that challenge previously-held beliefs or present a new spin on an issue that you may not have considered before. ISP250 aims to show students how to examine these new perspectives PHOTO BY ALEXANDER THOMAS

09

Bridging languages and cultures: the impact of OLP-PLO programs on Canadian youth As Canada continues to embrace its bilingual heritage, the OLP-PLO programs stand as beacons of linguistic unity and cultural diversity.

Karine Alhakim Associate News Editor

ILLUSTRATION BY AURORA PICCIOTTOLI/THE MEDIUM

I

n the bustling corridors of learning and cultural exchange, the Official Languages Programs (OLP-PLO) stand as a testament to Canada’s commitment to bilingualism and multicultural understanding. Funded by the Government of Canada and administrated regionally, these programs offer unparalleled opportunities for linguistic and cultural immersion.

For English-speaking youth, the Explore program offers an exhilarating gateway to bilingual and cultural fluency in Canada. It’s a journey of discovery that takes students aged 13 to 18 beyond the conventional classroom setting into vibrant Canadian cities where French is a melody of everyday life. “The program was an eye-opener for me,” says Ali Jaafar, 22, current undergraduate student at the University of Toronto Mississauga, reflecting on his immersive summer in Montréal. “It’s not just about grammar and vocabulary; it’s about living the language,” he elaborates.

This government-funded initiative pairs learners with peers of similar language proficiency, fostering a supportive environment for language acquisition, where making mistakes is part of the learning process. It’s an intensive experience, spanning 19 to 21 days for younger students and up to 33 days for those 16 and older, each day brimming with interactive language instruction, themed workshops, and cultural exploration. As participants navigate the nuances of French inside and outside of the classroom, they forge lasting friendships, build confidence, and develop a level of independence that only comes from stepping out of their comfort zone.

Moreover, the Explore program is financially accessible, with most costs covered by the government, including tuition, instructional materials, and lodging, allowing students to focus on the rich learning experience without the worry of financial barriers. “The program not only boosted my French but also my understanding of Canada’s cultural mosaic,” shares Jaafar, echoing the sentiments of many who find a path to becoming more globally minded citizens in Explore.

Destination Clic is another OLP-PLO program, one that caters to francophone students in grades 8-10 from outside Quebec. It provides students with an opportunity to deepen their French language skills and connect with their cultural roots. The program fosters a sense of belonging and identity within the francophone community through engaging activities and shared experiences.

Funded by the Government of Canada, this 19 to 21-day journey offers more than language enhancement—it’s a deep dive into cultural roots and community building. Participants engage in enriching French workshops, vibrant cultural excursions, and unique activities that bring together francophone youths from across the nation. Destination Clic is a celebration of language and identity, providing an inclusive environment for students of all French proficiency levels.

Through its blend of language instruction, cultural immersion, and community connection, Destination Clic stands as a cornerstone of personal and linguistic development for Canada’s young Francophones, weaving a tapestry of confidence, independence, and cultural understanding.

Elsewhere, the Odyssey program uses a different approach, offering a unique blend of work and learning. English-speaking adults work as paid language assistants in French communities, and vice-versa, contributing to language education in elementary schools, high schools, or CEGEPs (colleges that are exclusive to Quebec’s education system). This ninemonth work placement is more than a job—it’s a chance to live and learn in another part of Canada, earning a fair income while doing so.

Since its inception, more than 36,500 people have experienced this enriching journey. Odyssey participants work alongside teachers, using games and activities to enhance students’ French or English-speaking abilities. This program offers an opportunity to live and work in beautiful regions across Canada, from September to May, allowing participants to get valuable classroom experience and decide if a career in education is their calling.

Financially, Odyssey is rewarding. Participants receive a taxable salary of approximately $27,000 CAD for about 25 hours of work per week. This includes a fair hourly wage, holiday pay, and travel allowances, among other benefits. There’s additional compensation for those securing positions in remote or rural areas. However, participants cover their costs of living, including housing, food, and personal items. This experience not only contributes to personal growth but also fosters cultural exchange and understanding, embodying Canada’s commitment to bilingualism and multiculturalism.

Altogether, the impact of these programs extends beyond language proficiency. They cultivate independence, confidence, and cross-cultural friendships. Accommodations can vary from student residences to host families, adding to the richness of the experience. While the government covers most costs, including tuition and lodging, participants shoulder some travel and personal expenses.

Through these immersive experiences of the OLP-PLO programs, students not only enhance their language skills but also weave the fabric of a more interconnected and understanding Canadian society. For those who are interested, check out the OLP-PLO website for more information regarding the application process and deadlines!

10

Arts

arts@themedium.ca

laundry day Madison Ireland

The Notes of Your Voice Jada D’Sa

Hit my skin as you speak to me With the youth in your timbre The days of sixteen are fleeting And the leaves from October Sit neglected on the grass Piled into mounds And beginning to rot I hate November until it passes And then I miss it again I am never content in its presence As much as I intend to be I live just to remember Next year I’ll yearn for seventeen January I’ll beg for December

a small white tissue accidentally made it through the washer and dryer tucked in the corner of the basement. out of sight, out of mind. until i searched through my laundry basket in my attempt to sort through the madness of colours and patterns, now tainted by a few scraggly bits of tissue clinging desperately to soft pillowy cottons and intricately beautiful lace. as i stubbornly pluck at the dozens of remnants the regret of my own foolishness torments me, my fingertips now sore and my floor saturated with a billion tiny scraps of a single pathetic tissue which i failed to notice just two hours ago. what i would give to neatly stack my shirts and pants, and sort each pair of socks back into their drawers, shutting the closet doors. out of sight, out of mind.

But trust me, my beloved, I am colorless Maryam Uddin

Vibrant and vivid colors seep from my pores, Until I am hollow, weightless from my skin to my core, I am now black and white like the rest lot of you, Perhaps it’s beneficial for it makes me easier to adore, Beloved, if me loving you, in a fervent manner, is a sinning, I will abstain, like a morning bird choking on its singing, I will not say a thing nor make a sound if you don’t wish me to, I have spent a whole eternity, after all, restricting and refraining My identity is like walking on a tightrope above an ocean, And since I cannot swim, I can’t afford to trip and sin, I adore you achingly from a distance, with a foolish grin, What can I say? I can’t do much about it since I’m colorless I am in a dilemma like an outsider, neglected like a mistress, Only because society deems that I can only be colorless, But my brain at night bleeds various hues and bright shades, Turning my dreams into a canvas splattered with colorful paint

The good, the bad, and the ugly of queer representation in media

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Queer communities have been misrepresented for years, and some films and TV shows are changing the discourse.

Ramiya Sureshhkumar Contributor

R

epresentation is of particular importance to the queer community, especially considering Hollywood’s history of censoring its depiction. During the 1960s, for instance, stipulations of the Motion Picture Production Code forbade “any inference of sexual perversion,” which is really just a coded way of saying any inference of “homosexuality.”

This legacy still stands and flourishes to date through the disguised form of queerbaiting and its close relative, the “bury your gays” trope.

What is queerbaiting?

Queerbaiting refers to instances in which art producers hint at queerness but never actually depict queerness. LGBTQ2A+ characters are reduced to the level of subtext or even relegated to heterosexual identities despite previous queer coding (looking at you, Supernatural).

What is the “bury your gays” trope?

Should queer identity be acknowledged beyond subtext, the “bury your gays” trope eradicates this acknowledgement by erasing characters from the narrative entirely (a prime example being the death of Lexa, a lesbian character in the CW series The 100).

Both queerbaiting and the bury your gays trope falsely promise queer representation before pulling the rug out from under audiences at the last second. In essence, the producer can profit off of queer consumers who yearn for representation without actually fulfilling representation. This bait-and-switch tactic not only eschews explicit visibility but also invalidates queerness through this implication that it isn’t worthy of fulfillment— that queer identity doesn’t matter.

As such, deeper and more genuine representations of queerness are essential, both in active and casual representation. Here are just a few instances of positive representation in media (with no queerbaiting or burying of your gays): Owl House: This children’s show—which is noteworthy here, considering how important representation in children’s media is, not just to validate queer kids, but to teach the future generation of different identities and promote inclusivity—is a prime example of queer people just existing peacefully together

as they should be. The main character, Luz, and her girlfriend, Amity, are in a positive, healthy relationship not used as stakes for the show, and better yet, audiences get to watch their dynamic unfold over time, which is not a common affordance of sapphic love stories in media. Beyond the main cast, there are plenty of other queer audiences, and most significantly, there is no homophobia in the show. While showcasing unfortunate realities of existence is also important, this show allows for comfort and a source of escapism, which in itself is vital in a world where queerness continues to be punished.

Our Flag Means Death: This pirate adventure show is a queer comedy, made for queer people by queer people. Unlike shows that pull back on queer relationships at the last second after seasons of romantic tension, the slow-burn romances in the show come to glorious fruition. The show features a queercoded villain, but it subverts the tired-old trope where the implied queerness highlights how “evil” they are. Instead, the villain basically personifies internalized homophobia— instead of queerness being threatening, it’s the repression that makes them dangerous.

Bob’s Burgers: The show features canonically gay, lesbian, and transgender characters. An entire two-part Christmas episode occurs in a gay nightclub that ends with a

fabulous performance by Miss Triple X-Mas, a drag queen. The Belcher family continues to interact with adored queer characters, yet jokes in the show are never made at the expense of these characters.

Honourable Additions Shiva Baby: A comedy featuring a bisexual protagonist (and their bisexuality is actually represented instead of just being alluded to or merely referenced).

Bottoms: A satirical comedy featuring lesbian protagonists. The queerness is terrifically normalized, such that the struggles the protagonists face are not at all contingent on being queer.

Heartstopper: A coming-of-age rom-com featuring a gay protagonist who falls in love with a male classmate.

Throughout history, art and politics have had an intrinsic link. How art is often perceived relates to how gender identities or sexual orientations are perceived in society. As such, representation in art can vitally affirm identity and celebrate societal heterogeneity.

The political dimensions of representation entail a need for positive fictional depictions of any form of identity, particularly marginalized identities.

Through Gender, Space, and Time: Theatre Erindale’s Orlando might polarize Execution of production may leave some audience members longing for greater emotional and intellectualize proximity to the performances set before them.

Avery McMillan Theatre Erindale Correspondent

S

arah Ruhl’s adaptation of Virginia Woolf ’s classic novel Orlando brings modernist literary tropes on stage. Directed by Tanya Rintoul, Theatre Erindale’s production enacts these tropes in a way that refuses audience immersion. I will critique the distancing effect of Orlando, but I do not wish to impart that the play is not worthy of enjoyment.

There is much to enjoy in Orlando. With a whimsical chorus as his entourage, the titular Orlando (Zoë Bonk) lives until 30 years old before waking as a woman. The century-spanning stream-of-consciousness play ping-pongs through one exceptional life with comedic ease.

The chorus is comprised of fourth-year theatre and drama studies students: Emma Coulson, Kayleigh Croft, Abby Guse, Gabby Ibrahim, Sean Lee, Mia Pagliaroli, and Allie Waddell. Collectively, they excellently differentiated the shifting narrative perspective vocalized through the performers. Moreover, the expressive movement sequences came across beautifully because of this committed ensemble.

Waddell’s decorum as Queen Elizabeth merits special mention. Within the minimalist design, Queen Elizabeth’s structure operates as a focal point grounding the rapid changes of Orlando’s formative years.

The play and cast made so much sense together. When Orlando was announced as a part of the 2023/24 season, I would not have imagined anyone but Bonk as Orlando.

Additionally, the comedic repertoire of performers like Guse were able to shine. In turn, they enhanced the wonderfully ridiculous aspects of Orlando.

The set prop and costume design from Leslie Wright and Michelle Vanderheyden complimented one another and implied memorable themes from Woolf ’s novel. The all-white surface of the stage (with exposed edges so the audience does not forget that it’s a play) particularly evoked the great frost and skating scenes. These are pivotal to the novel and expand to fill most of the first act of the play.

Furthermore, the genderfluid, era-bending, white whimsical attire communicated apparent ethereality at many moments in the play. I only wish these aesthetics went further throughout the performance space and

involved the audience more.

Altogether, the production demonstrated interesting stylistic choices that adapted the form and content of Orlando to the stage. It featured beautiful design and strong performances. As I sincerely hope that stream-ofconsciousness performance will go beyond adaptations of modernist work, I would recommend seeing Orlando as a precursor to foreseeable theatrical innovation.

Orlando runs Thursday to Saturday until December 2, 2023. Tickets are available. See it and contend with my strong opinions that follow.

The main reason a performance might encourage distance in the post-modern era is to promote audience criticality. In this case, I felt it was not successful because the performance did not situate the audience. I was too preoccupied with trying to figure out what my place was in the world of the performance to interrogate the themes of the play.

Because Orlando comments on human existence, withholding this experience through distance seems to imply the falsity of Orlando’s existence. This could be the point of the play. I acknowledge the satire and gimmick of Woolf writing her novel as

a biography, but I do not think that it is the essential element of the novel to adapt and communicate formally.

As an adaptation, distancing is also inherent with comparing the similarities and differences to the source material. It is also present in the stream-of-consciousness. I think that the spatial distancing in Theatre Erindale’s production intended to enhance these. However, for me, it resulted in too much disconnect.

A clear overarching framework of the performance and audience relationship, greater continuity in the rules of lighting shifts with narrative shifts, and more visibility to the performers overall would have immersed me further in the experience. A reconfiguration of the space with attention to the performance setting would have been preferable.

For me, the audience is of the utmost importance. Perceiving failure to situate the audience’s experience of a performance will always detract from my enjoyment of a play.

I encourage everyone to see more theatre and discover where lies the “one thing you can’t get past,” there might lie a source of passion.

12

The queer narrative in Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe Benjamin Alire Sáenz’s modern classic explores themes of love, self-acceptance, and family.

Valeria Ramirez Osorio Contributor

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remember the first time I read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe a few years ago. I was wandering through the hushed aisles of the public library, looking for the next thing to read between classes. I don’t know what it was that grabbed my attention, maybe the beautiful cover, the delicate lines of the letters; maybe it was how worn the spine was that indicated this book had been read and loved by many. I picked it up, checked it out, and I became eternally grateful for that day I was introduced to the beautiful words of Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is more of a poem than a narrative—it’s a love letter for those that are young, queer, and discovering who they are. Set in the late ’80s, a time not quite ready for pride parades, it tells the story of a fifteen-year-old boy named Ari, a quiet, introverted Mexican, troubled by his brother’s absence, now in prison, and his own sense of displacement in the world. Guided by his anger, Ari lives his life stuck, guided by internal turmoil. Until he meets Dante: a smart, adventurous boy who not only teaches him how to swim, but to see life and love in a new way.

The structure and writing of this book are unlike any other, stepping outside of literary norms as a symbolic way of demonstrating what it means to be queer, someone outside the heteronormative. The story is a culmination of characters, their lives, and their growth, more than a standard plot and journey.

“I wondered what that was like, to hold someone’s hand. I bet you could sometimes find all of the mysteries of the universe in someone’s hand,” writes Sáenz.

The book does a beautiful job depicting being young and managing the struggle of learning and accepting a queer identity through the characters of Ari and Dante. It explores different paths taken, both of understanding and exploring, as well as denial and isolation. Since the setting takes place in the late ’80s, it really draws on the theme of internalized homophobia in the queer community, which is still relevant today. Any youth learning about themselves and trying to understand their identity will always experience those underlying thoughts of doubt and shame.

The internal conflict between abashment and acceptance that comes with being queer remains relevant today and likely will be for years to come. Demonstrated through Dante’s confidence and Ari’s uncertainty, there will always be those nagging thoughts that make it hard to step outside of the norm. As a reader, you question yourself and wonder if it’s easier to just pretend to be a certain way. It’s a strange mixture of fear and hesitation, pride, and relief. It’s never one forward path, and never without obstacles.

“And me, I always felt that I didn’t belong anywhere. I didn’t even belong in my own body - especially in my own body. I was changing into someone I didn’t know. The change hurt but I didn’t know why it hurt. And nothing about my own emotions made any sense,” writes Sáenz.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is a story about growing up and choosing between hiding who you are and being brave enough to be yourself in a world that hates you for it. Through Sáenz’s poetic words, the story truly submerges you into the lives of these characters. It focuses so purely on the personality and growth of its characters that readers can feel a personal connection, imagining themselves in the characters’ shoes. Sáenz emphasizes the theme of healing and learning through others. Ironically, it reminds me of the idea by the philosopher Aristotle that humans are inherently social beings who are made to grow with others. Sáenz artistically portrays the relationships of family, friendship, and romance—masterfully showing their newfound connections or the rekindling of old ones.

Humans are made for humans, not solitude, a lesson Ari learns throughout the book. He learns the importance of relationships, support, and love, whether that be of a mother, father, friend, or lover. It’s these strong connections that build someone up, bring out their best selves, and give them the strength to learn to love and accept themselves, even when others don’t. This idea is especially important in a journey of self-acceptance. The need for a support system while understanding your queer identity is one that is, unfortunately, not always realized. The book gives its readers a main takeaway: we must learn from and lean on others until we’re strong enough to face our identity on our own. Ari and Dante have grown to be those pillars for queer youth.

ILLUSTRATION BY LAURA TOVAR/THE MEDIUM

13

Check out some awesome Queer artists!

Charles Urgiles He/They As a trans artist, I draw my inspiration from my personal experiences navigating identity and self-discovery. I find profound inspiration in the resilience, diversity, and beauty of the LGBTQ+ community, exploring themes of self-expression, acceptance, and the evolving understanding of one’s identity.

Ultimately, my work aims to create a space where stories are not only seen but celebrated.

INSTAGRAM: art.charlieurgiles

Jing Han Yang They/Them My name is Jing Han Yang and I am a multidisciplinary artist currently obtaining my MFA at Jingdezhen Ceramic University. I graduated recently from Sheridan College and the University of Toronto from the Art and Art History Program. My art is fundamentally about myself; about growing up within the Chinese diasporic community, being queer, and the banal pieces of my life. In my work, I like to put the material before the work, as I see the process of making my work just as important as the works themselves.

Growing up, I was very afraid of being the incorrect kind of ‘strange.’ I grew up moving around a lot, not understanding my own existence outside of the idea that I was a stranger to everyone around me. I just wanted to be strange, a nobody, not memorable. When I was older, I realized that I felt this way too about my sexuality and gender. I did not want to be defined and encapsulated. I wanted it to be known that I was strange, but I didn’t care for people trying to guess what I was. I ultimately realized that what I was looking for was the term ‘queer’ when addressing my sexuality and gender. Understanding that gender and thus sexuality and how it is perceived is based on social conditioning, my art attempts to address and contemplate seeing both with another lens. A piece that tries to quell my thoughts about these thoughts is Untitled (Masking and Presenting) from 2022.

The work contemplates the stereotypical idea of masculinity and femininity. The softness and colour being stereotypically feminine, and its large size and phallic like appendages which are stereotypically masculine. I wanted it to be form hiding, so to hide myself fully. The form does not allow the average person to see the form under the soft sculpture, shielding them from judgment as to the gender of the wearer.

INSTAGRAM: j___h__y___

UNTITLED (MASKING AND PRESENTING), 2022, H5’10” X W2’ X L2’, VARIOUS YARN AND POLYESTER FLUFF, PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOHN ARMSTRONG

Continued on next page...

14 Artist features continued from previous page...

Abigail Kohut She/Her Abigail Kohut (she/her) is a queer, disabled artist and craftswoman currently living in the Yukon, on the traditional territory of the Ta’an Kwätch’än Council and the Kwanlin Dün First Nation . Kohut has lived -- and continues to travel -- across Canada and parts of the USA, where she takes inspiration from the people and environment that surrounds her.

Kohut’s work is a blend of traditional and contemporary, picking up on themes of an auto-biographical nature, a contradictory practice, and a distorted sense of self-reality. While many might encounter, at one point or another, a strangeness in one’s own environment, Kohut often attempts to reconcile this through her art by creating her own version of reality. Her experience as a disabled, queer individual has often contributed to this feeling of out-of-place-ness, as she often masks to visually pass or “blend in” as what would be considered the conventional norm. In the same way, her addition of embroidery or overlapping pattern work in her pieces aim to blur the definitions of space and allow for the subject to hide. She makes work that is emotionally and physically demanding, despite her limitations and pain. And by producing work that speaks to a decorative and somewhat anonymous role, pushing the boundaries of what is typically sorted into specific roles of the man or woman – fine art and craft – she aims to produce art that is non-conforming, non-specific, all the while recycling old ideas and ideals. A recent graduate of the combined Art & Art History program at the University of Toronto and Sheridan College, Kohut is looking forward to expanding her artistry outside of the academic sphere. Between working on a variety of publications and curating art shows, to spending hours in the studio covered in paint and embroidery thread, she aspires to learn from experience and experimentation. Most recently, Kohut has been attempting to blur the lines between fine arts and traditional crafts through her personal research and somewhat contradictory artistic practice.

WEBSITE: https://sites.google.com/view/abigailkohut/portfolio/2023?authuser=0 INSTA: @akohut.paintdesign

REACHING OUT OIL ON HARDBOARD. 20 INCHES DIAMETER. 2023.

UNTITLED (SELF-PORTRAIT) ACRYLIC ON CANVAS. 24 X 36 INCHES. 2022

THE BUZZ ACRYLIC ON WOOD. 3 X 5 INCHES. 2022.

THIS ARRANGEMENT OF MINE OIL AND ACRYLIC ON CANVAS, EMBROIDERY FLOSS ON TULLE. 8 X 10 INCHES. 2023.

TIGHTLY STRUNG EMBROIDERY FLOSS ON FABRIC. 4.5 INCHES DIAMETER. 2023.

15

sports & health

Editor | Omar Khan sports@themedium.ca

From banned to boundless: How fans and fearless players scored a win against the NHL’s Pride Tape ban The power of collective advocacy and resilience preserves inclusivity in hockey.

Daanish Alvi Contributor On the morning of October 9, 2023, sports reporting website Outsports posted an article to their website titled, “The NHL has banned Pride Tape, creating its own ‘Don’t Say Gay’ policy on the ice.” Quickly confirmed by NHL insider reporters like Chris Johnston and Pierre LeBrun, the article sent NHL fans into a frenzy. After years of stating that the game of hockey needs to grow, the league itself decided to place limitations on how its players show support for marginalized communities.

Pride Tape has long been used by players specifically during the month of June in celebration of Pride Month. It was introduced as a supportive measure to ensure the game of hockey could become a more inclusive sport. Something as small as a different colour of tape on a hockey stick could let members of the LGBTQ2S+ community know that players in a widely known hockey league like the NHL have their backs and that the sport of hockey has a place for people like them. The announcement of a ban on this particular tape shocked the hockey world because it made it seem like all the support that had been given to the community was suddenly ripped away.

Long-time ice hockey executive and former Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke stated his disappointment with the league in a post on X, calling it a “surprising and serious setback.”

ness after the fact. While he was planning to limit his usage in the future so that the Coyotes organization would not get penalized on behalf of him defying the rule, Dermott went on to say, “It was kind of just an, ‘All right, I’m doing this, and we’re going to deal with the consequences and move forward, and hopefully I’ll have a positive impact on some people that needed that positive impact.’”

Facing backlash from almost all corners of the world from players like Dermott and fans alike, the National Hockey League announced on October 24 that their ruling on the usage of Pride Tape would be reversed. After two full weeks of athletes and reporters voicing their concerns and calling the League out for their marginalization towards an already marginalized group, Pride Tape would be allowed again for usage by players across both the Eastern and Western conferences.

This story is a testament to courageous individuals who show their unwavering support no matter what adversity they are forced to face. It demonstrates how uniting as one community can have an effect and is a clear lesson to the world that unity starts with one.

Hockey will forever be a sport for everyone, and no rule can change that. It’s up to the fans to continue talking about it, ensuring that these potential unacceptable rules have no bearing against the sport’s inherent inclusivity. Allyship for the LGBTQ2S+ community can come in many different forms, but using our voices has to remain as our primary weapon.

Former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Travis Dermott has been vocal in his support for the LGBTQ2S+ community both on and off the ice for his entire NHL career, such as using rainbow laces with his everyday sneakers. His regular usage of Pride Tape was no exception.

On October 21, in a game between Dermott’s current team, The Arizona Coyotes, and the Anaheim Ducks, an in-game photo of Dermott battling the Ducks’ defensemen along the boards went viral: the player was sporting a piece of Pride Tape along his stick.

ILLUSTRATION BY LAURA TOVAR/THE MEDIUM

In an interview with The Athletic’s Chris Johnston following the game, Dermott stated that, instead of asking for permission to use the Pride Tape, he would only plan on seeking forgive-

Sweat talk: Managing the awkward moments with grace Choose skin-friendly antiperspirants to enhance confidence and well-being.

Samira Karimova Photos Editor

H

ave you ever had an awkward moment where excessive sweating left noticeable marks on your clothes during an important meeting or event?

How did you manage to deal with this? Let’s talk about it.

Sweating is an important biological

process for our body, even if we wish to avoid it! When your body gets warm, whether it’s because you’re exercising, it’s hot outside, or you’re feeling stressed or anxious, your sweat glands activate. They release sweat, which evaporates and cools you down, keeping your body temperature just right. This is essential to maintaining the physiological balance that keeps us alive and promotes our overall wellbeing.

Naturally, we sweat more in warm weather, but emotional distress can also contribute.

Sometimes, a condition called hyperhidrosis can occur which causes excessive sweating in specific body parts such as your palms, soles,

or armpits. When stress hits someone, their underarms amp up the sweat production, releasing about 30 times more than usual. This stress sweat is thicker and packed with proteins and lipids. When it mingles with skin bacteria, it creates a unique stress-induced body odour—a not-so-invited headliner of a fragrance carnival!

Therefore, it is important to prioritize your mental health, especially when dealing with academic stress. Employ healthy coping strategies and seek support from friends, family, and professionals. Additionally, tips for mitigating the effects of sweat itself include using deodorant and antiperspirants, maintaining

daily hygiene and bathing, and opting for lighter fabrics in your clothing choices.

When picking an antiperspirant or a deodorant, opt for products with no or low concentrations of aluminum, parabens, fragrance, emollient oil, PEG distearates, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and talcum powder, which are related to potential skin irritations, allergies, or health concerns. Your skin will thank you!

As you explore antiperspirants and deodorants, see it as picking your underarm wingman. Sweating is natural, but with the right strategies you can confidently face the

16

Puzzle Corner

Editor | Laura Tovar design@themedium.ca

Sudoku!

Instructions: Fill in the spaces with numbers 1–9. No numbers can be repeated in the same row, column or box.

Hard

Hard solution- Don’t peek until you’re finished your puzzle!

This Solution will be shown upside-down.

1 5 4 7 9 8 3 6 2

Puzzle by websudoku.com

2 6 9 1 3 5 4 8 7

3 7 8 6 2 4 1 9 5

4 3 2 5 6 9 7 1 8

6 1 7 8 4 2 9 5 3

9 8 5 3 1 7 2 4 6

Puzzle by websudoku.com

7 4 6 2 8 1 5 3 9

2 4

5 9 3 4 7 6 8 2 1

5 6 4 7 3 8 4 1 1 7 6 9 7 2 3 4 2 1

8 2 1 9 5 3 6 7 4

9 3 1 8 5 5 6

Evil

Evil solution- Don’t peek until you’re finished your puzzle!

This Solution will be shown upside-down.

7

2 3

5

2 7

1

6 1 9 8

1

8

9

8 4

8 4 2 3

1 4

2 3

Puzzle by websudoku.com

7 1 5 8 9 2 3 4 6

8 4 9 3 5 6 1 2 7

2 6 3 4 1 7 9 5 8

3 9 2 7 4 1 6 8 5

Puzzle by websudoku.com

4 8 1 5 6 3 7 9 2

5 7 6 9 2 8 4 3 1

1 2 8 6 3 9 5 7 4

6 3 4 2 7 5 8 1 9

9 5 7 1 8 4 2 6 3