The Queen's Journal, Volume 151, Issue 2

the journal Queen’s University

—

Vol. 151, Issue 2

—

M o n day , J u n e 2 6 , 2 0 2 3

—

Situated on the

traditional lands of

the Anishinaabe and

Haudenosaunee peoples.

Since 1873

Local drag scene has adult and children audiences Suzy Leinster Assistant Arts Editor

Club 338 will open at 338 Princess St. between Barrie St. and Clergy St.

Kingston’s only queer bar to open after decade-long drought

Concerns around student behaviour exist for community Sofia Tosello Assistant News Editor

Club 338, Kingston’s newest queer bar, is opening soon. As the name suggests, it will be located at 338 Princess St. While there’s no set opening date for Club 338, members of the Kingston community gathered at Royal Tavern 2.0 on June 1 for an open stage drag show to celebrate the successful coming along of the bar’s construction.

“The drag show at Royal Tavern 2.0 was part of a soft launch opening of Club 338. It was not at the actual bar,” said Tyffanie Morgan, a long-time Kingston drag queen. “Nonetheless, there was a lot of support from the community at the event.”

According to Morgan, there has been an increasing demand by the queer community for a local “hub” in Kingston—a place locals can frequent and feel accepted regardless of their sexuality.

“Having our own dedicated queer space is needed right now, especially in a world where we’re seeing a lot of backlash against queer identities, trans identities, and gay pride,” Morgan said.

Morgan reminisced on the days she was able to pop into Club 477—Kingston’s previous gay bar—to see events and socialize with friends.

Club 338 will have a similar layout to Club 477, which had a prominent dance floor and a stage for drag shows and open mics, Morgan explained.

The owner of Club 339, drag NEWS — PAGE 4

queensjournal.ca

queen Bekka Blake, did not respond to The Journal’s request for comment in time for publication.

What was once a place for drinking and dancing is now the location of Trek Bicycle Kingston.

The building at 477 Princess Street was Club 477 in its previous life, which closed its doors for good in the late ’90s due to a lack of interest and homophobia in Kingston.

Attendees of Club 477 reported constant heckling, and some fell victim to hate-based assaults.

Keith Bilow, the founder of Beers for Queers and a long-time attendee of the queer nightlife scene in Kingston, recalled a time he visited Club 477. The night took an alarming turn when a man with a baseball bat tucked underneath his coat sat down at the bar.

“However, [since the closure of Club 477] there have been weekly LGBTQ+ events in Kingston,” Bilow said. “There are [queer events] everywhere.”

To Bilow, community support for queer people in Kingston doesn’t extend to the Queen’s

How Queen’s supports queer mental health

Vineeth Jarabana Features Editor For Jirjees Al-shammaa, one of the biggest mental health concerns for queer students is social isolation.

As the Gender and Sexual Diversity Assistant Manager at the Peer Support Centre (PSC), Al-shammaa mentioned rejection and lack of validation many queer students experience as contributing to this concern.

OPINIONS — PAGE 8

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

student community. Bilow recalled zero Queen’s students attended an event he hosted near Stages nightclub, despite advertising to the student body. “[Queen’s] students bring their prejudices from wherever they come and are often not educated on queer issues,” Bilow said.

To protect patrons, Bilow emphasized the importance of having good security at Club 338. The support for the queer community in Kingston has grown since the closure of Club 477 and other gay bars such as Wally’s, Shay Foo Foo’s, and The Office, Bilow expressed.

The Office was Kingston’s first official gay bar. The bar opened in the early ’80s, tucked away in the upstairs section of a building on the corner of Montreal and Queen St. The bar closed its doors in 1989.

The Plaza, a strip club, is currently located in that same building.

While Bilow has his concerns, he’s looking forward to having a queer venue in Kingston. Having lived through the opening and closing of multiple queer bars, Bilow is hoping Club 338 sticks around for the foreseeable future.

“I want a place where people can walk through the doors of the bar, know they are entering a queer space, and be comfortable with that.”

The laughter of children trickled from the Springer Market Square as rainbow streamers and glitter sparkled around Drag King Dare De La Femme as they performed a drag storytime in front of the audience.

People of all ages filled the concrete bleachers as the crowd gathered to hear stories about acceptance, gender, and all things drag.

Though many live drag events are commonly found in night-time bars, the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) supports the art form for all ages in the form of drag queen storytime.

The Drag Queen Michelle Tea began Drag Story Hour seven years ago in San Francisco and made its way into libraries in Canada.

Drag queen storytime in Springer Market Square brought together families watching on as colored picture books were read aloud to the group. Despite the popularity of this event, these story times have become targets for hate and protest nationally.

On April 29 at Fort York Library in Toronto, protestors carried Canadian Red ensign flags and carried signs saying “drag is not for kids.” Taber Public Library, located in Alberta reported backlash for hosting an event on June 2 for being “too sexual in nature for our children.”

Despite the growing popularity of drag, inclusivity is more heavily critiqued when the audience is children. Protestors argue drag is over sexualized for young audiences and disagree with having families attend the event.

See Drag on page 9

As the rise anti-LGBTQ activity in the United States has spread over to Canada, the mental health of queer students has emerged as a concern with the increasingly hostile environment in Canada towards the queer community.

According to Statistics Canada, police-reported hate crimes linked to sexual orientation increased by 64 per cent from 2020 to 2021.

The Journal spoke with Al-shammaa along with three others on the various initiatives at Queen’s supporting the mental health of Kingston Drag Queen BeeWitched. queer-identifying students.

PHOTO BY JOSEPH MARIATHASHAN See Mental Health on page 6 SPORTS — PAGE 12

National Indigenous People’s Day brings live music and lacrosse to Kingston

A resurgence of transphobia underscores the need for pro-queer resources

Gaels alum Sophie de Goede to captain Canadian rugby team

@queensjournal

/queensjournal

@queensjournal

LIFESTYLE — PAGE 16

“For the love of God, we just want to use the restroom in peace” @thequeensjournal

News

2 • queensjournal.ca

NEWS

RBC recognizes Gael Tanner Big Canoe

Big Canoe is entering his fourth year.

Big Canoe is the recipient of $10,000 Sophia Coppolino & Aidan Michaelov Journal Staff Queen’s student Tanner Big Canoe was a recipient of the RBC Indigenous Youth Scholarship.

Big Canoe, CompSci ’24, was one of 18 students across Canada to receive the $10,000 award intended to reduce barriers to post-secondary education for Indigenous students.

Raised in Lindsay, Ontario, Big Canoe is a member of the Chippewas of Georgina Island community.

“I didn’t grow up on the reserve, but [my family was] back and forth quite a bit, because I still have a ton of family who live there,” Big Canoe said in an interview with The Journal. “The community of Georgina Island are so good about making you feel welcomed and supporting you through your whole life—whether or not you’re living on the reserve.”

Bearing the last name Big Canoe, he reflected on being “the Indigenous kid.” He got involved with Pinnguaq during high school, a company focused on bringing Indigenous communities equal access to technology and virtual

Monday, June 26, 2023

AMS fails to compensate Black students for equity labour

Team ETC left AMS without compensation policies for BIPOC labour Asbah Ahmad Editor in Chief

“[The lack of clarity in policy] is really scary for BIPOC students on campus who want to partake in the AMS through volunteer work, or just use services and programs,” Walter said.

After two months of back and forth emailing with team ETC, the executive concluded the AMS would be unable to pay the Caucus.

“I spoke to other members of the Caucus, and they said we would be willing to do [the consultations] for free. We really care about the safety and the well-being of the Black students who are here now and who will come after us. We said we’ll do it for free. Still, no consultation occurred,” she said.

Wishing the consultation process was more transparent, Walters thinks any consultation external to the AMS, including with the University, is a positive and valuable step. She said the

After this winter’s racist image during the AMS election debate, conversation about adequate compensation and consultation for Black students has continued.

During team ETC’s term, questions with respect to fair compensation and consultation of the Black Club’s Caucus to improve the AMS’ Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity (EDII) arose at AMS Assembly, and Annual General Meeting (AGM). Consultations were planned with other AMS stakeholders, such as Queen’s University, but not students.

At AGM, Vice-President (University Affairs) Callum SUPPLIED BY TANNER BIG CANOE Robertson contended not consulting Black Club’s Caucus was creative spaces.

“Working at Pinnguag is a huge a critical error.

“There have been discussions way of me trying to reconnect and give back to the community that’s always supporting me,” Big Canoe said.

Big Canoe set his sights on Queen’s after attending Science Quest camps at the university in elementary school. With a passion for software and program design, Big Canoe knew Queen’s computing was for him.

“I had a bit of a soft spot for Queen’s from when I was younger, and when I grew up and got in, it was a pretty easy choice,” he said.

As the captain of the Queen’s golf team, and member of Queen’s Hyperloop team, Big Canoe is involved in the community beyond his academic pursuits. The current AMS executive, Team KMV, was not involved in the conversations.

Big Canoe began his university experience online due to the about consultations [with the Black issue isn’t knowing what those Club’s Caucus], but we’ve never sat consultations included.

COVID-19 pandemic.

“What non-students who work Giving back is important to Big down with the AMS, gone through Canoe, who attributed his success their policies, and told them for the University think is best for to the support he’s received from what needs to be changed,” said students is different than what those around him. Big Canoe Amiaya Walters, Black Club’s Black students who are students encouraged other students to do Caucus member, in an interview right now need from the AMS and want to see. Students should be good, believing it will all come with The Journal.

Though the AMS has Principles consulted first,” Walters said. back around.

On the AMS front, current “I’ve had people who were good and Positions Policies, which to me, and then in return I tried to define the Society’s key stances, the President Kate McCuaig said no be as kind as I can. It’s worked well section on EDII is currently one compensation policy was passed at for me, and I think maybe it’s a bit sentence. The Caucus doesn’t know the Board of Directors level during of a secret to life to just be good to where the AMS stands on many the previous executive’s term. issues because of the vagueness in “My predecessor raised a people,” Big Canoe said. the policy, Walters explained. premise on this topic for discussion

to the Board of Directors. Since this was brought to Board in closed session, all non-voting members were required to leave. Therefore, our team was unable to participate in this discussion,” McCuaig said in a statement to The Journal.

Team KMV wasn’t permitted at the closed session discussion in April AMS Board, where McCuaig said compensation models were discussed.

“The Social Issues Commissioner (Internal) has been supported by our Secretary of Internal Affairs in policy knowledge and constitution, as well as by the executive who are keen on working diligently on [compensation for BIPOC labour] from the beginning of our terms,” McCuaig said.

In the immediate, Black clubs and student organizations need tangible changes and resources.

Walters said policy helps get to

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

those places, but currently, space and money is what Black student groups need. Compared to other universities such as Toronto Metropolitan University. Walters described Queen’s as lacking a centralized space for Black student organizations.

“Equity means groups who have historically received less, need to be given more in certain circumstances, where appropriate, and I believe this is one of them,” Walters said.

Queen’s bids farewell to class of 2023

Former Attorney General of Canada delivers message at convocation Sophia Coppolino News Editor

Thousands of graduating students gathered at the Leon’s Centre last week to walk the convocation stage and receive their Queen’s farewell.

Queen’s class of 2023 was divided over six ceremonies taking place from June 20 to 23.

“This convocation is a very special one. You’re graduating from programs that have equipped you exceptionally well and in different ways to have a positive

and direct impact in the world,” Principal Patrick Deane said to one convocation cohort.

Convocation addresses were delivered by recipients of Queen’s honourary degrees.

Jody Wilson-Raybould, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, received a Doctor of Laws on June 21.

Raybould spoke to students about the importance of knowing oneself and reflecting on their place in community.

The following day, the commencement address was given by Gloria Epstein, judge and honourary degree recipient.

Epstein told graduates about her experience presiding over M. v. H., a landmark case which paved the way for marriage

equality in Canada.

Brent Stanley Belzberg, a businessman and philanthropist, addressed graduates after receiving his honourary degree.

Also receiving honorary Doctor of Law degrees were David Bottrill, a three-time Grammy winning Canadian music producer, Eleanor Joanne Daley, an accomplished choral composer, Paul Finkelstein, a culinary arts teacher who turned teaching students healthy eating into a TV series, and Kimberly Prost, a judge on the International Criminal Court.

PHOTO BY BRETT WALKER Caroline Hargrove was the The ceremonies took place at the Leons sole recipient of an honourary overseeing the development of and dedication, and you should be Doctor of Science degree. new green fuel technology. immensely proud of yourselves,” Hargrove is currently the Chief “This day has come as the Rector Owen Crawford-Lem said.

Technology Officer at Ceres, result of years of hard work

News

Monday, June 26, 2023

queensjournal.ca • 3

Queen’s unions shame University at rally

Union members gathered on campus to demonstrate their dissent with Queen’s.

‘We can shut this university down’ Sophia Coppolino News Editor When it comes to negotiating for workers’ compensation, Unity Council showed Queen’s administration they meant business.

Workers from multiple on-campus unions gathered at Agnes Benidickson Field on June 20 demanding Queen’s renegotiate a collective agreements determined

while Bill 124 was in effect.

“This is a serious issue. Inflations got out of control, Bill 124 was unfair, the Government screwed us too, but we need help from Queen’s now,” said Jesse Bambrick, president of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) 229 to the crowd. CUPE 229 represents trades and grounds workers, as well as lab and library technicians. “[Queen’s has] lots of pockets of money. They need to reallocate, they need to put us first because we always put our services first,” he said.

Unity Council represents seven

PHOTO BY SOPHIA COPPOLINO

unions, and approximately 3,300 staff and faculty, on campus. United, the unions are asking to receive the same salary increases Queen’s University Faculty Association (QUFA) negotiated at the table this February.

QUFA President Jordan Morelli called on Queen’s to live up to the values it claims to have.

“Over the past nine years, Queen’s has accumulated a surplus of little over a half a billion dollars. It has reserves to write out the current budget shortfall. It’s choosing to balance its books on the backs of you the workers,” Morelli said at

the rally.

Along with wage hikes, Unity Council is asking Queen’s to reduce parking fees on campus for workers, and to end the hiring freeze.

If Queen’s can afford to increase wages for QUFA, its highest paid union, it can afford to compensate other workers, Bambrick explained in an interview with The Journal.

Bambrick said he’s heard of workers sleeping in their cars and losing their homes.

“We’re looking at finding the money for them if they can’t find it themselves,” Bambrick said. “They could re-allocate the administrations’ travel budget. It’s a few extra million right in front of their faces.”

Burnout is huge among workers, President of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 2010 Kelly Orser told the crowd. USW 2010 represents general support staff and academic assistants at Queen’s. Orser shared workers’ medical documentation for sick leaves are being rejected at a higher rate than pre-pandemic.

“There are so many Queen’s workers that don’t understand what’s happening behind the scenes with the budget, with senior administration, and why these decisions are being made,” Orser added. “It’s really good as a unionized community at Queen’s to come together and share our stories.”

While they stand united, different workers at Queen’s face different challenges. For facilities workers, there’s a two-tiered system where caretakers make $10 less than custodians. Caretakers at

Queen’s will be seeing a pay raise of $2 per hour as of July 1, but it’s not enough, according to caretaker Jason Herrington.

“In the custodial department the hiring freeze means we’re going to be taking on more responsibilities,” Herrington said in an interview with The Journal. “We already have a very hard time to recruit enough people to get the work done. The workloads are tremendous, mainly because of the low wages.”

Herrington claims he’s been approached by professors in the Bioscience Complex because their labs are not being cleaned regularly.

“They’re supposed to be done every other day. We’re looking at weeks, sometimes months that they’re not getting done. It’s a huge health and safety issues for the students,” Herrington added.

In response to a letter from Unity Council, Queen’s said its budget deficit is responsible for its prudent fiscal management, which includes a hiring freeze. The letter is signed off by Donna Janiec, vice-principal (finance and administration), and Teri Shearer, interim provost and vice-principal (academic).

“While we cannot speculate on the ultimate disposition of the legal challenge, it is important to recognize that while the provincial government conducts their appeal of Bill 124, no additional funding has been forthcoming from the provincial government because of the 2022 Superior Court decision,” the letter from Queen’s read.

Continues online. queensjournal.ca/news

Simpson takes on a new role as Vice Principal The Vice-Principal of Culture, Equity, and Inclusion is ‘an unprecedented role’

Sofia Tosello Assistant News Editor Stephanie Simpson is using her experience as a Black student at Queen’s to understand challenges equity seeking students face.

A new position at Queen’s University, Simpson began her role as the Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion) on June 1. Previously the Associate Vice-Principal (Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion), Principal Patrick Deane announced Simpson’s appointment on May 15.

“I now have the unique ability within this Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion) portfolio to focus all my energy on how we’re going to create institutional change and ensure people are able to thrive in this community,” Simpson said in an interview with The Journal.

In her new role, Simpson oversees the Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO), the Office of the Ombudsperson, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, and a new Office for Complaints and Investigations of Harassment and Discrimination in her role.

Building on her 27-year career in anti-racism activism and human rights, Simpson’s job is to create better collaboration, visibility, and accountability across the University

for equity related initiatives.

While Simpson’s role is the first of its kind at Queen’s, she’s no stranger to equity related issues.

She first came to the University in the early ’90s for her undergraduate degree and was stunned at how different it was from her hometown of Mississauga.

“There was not just a lack of visible diversity, but what I experienced was a devaluing of people who were not white and able-bodied,” Simpson said.

Simpson described her undergraduate experience at Queen’s as difficult. Queen’s was not welcoming to Black students and failed to foster a sense of belonging, Simpson explained.

“I looked to student organisations such as The African Caribbean Students Association (ACSA) for support, which is still going strong. I was able to find a home [with these associations] and a sense that, not only did I deserve to be here but it was possible to thrive at Queen’s as a Black student,” Simpson added.

Having worked for the Human Rights and Equity Office since 1996, Simpson was deeply disturbed when students of colour spoke to her about the daily microaggressions they experienced on campus.

“It felt like [I was] listening to a transcript of my life at Queens,” Simpson said. “When you see a

Simpson stepped into her new role on June 1.

pattern of experience repeated over the course of decades, that tells us that this is not an individual issue, it’s a systemic and structural issue.”

Equipped with an intimate understanding of inequities at Queen’s, Simpson wants to remind students the barriers they face are not a product of their own intelligence or value—she said it’s a systemic problem.

Simpson has equity-focused accomplishments under her belt

already, having taught a course on race and racism, being a founding member of Black History Month Kingston, and chairing the University Council on Anti-Racism and Equity.

As for what’s next, Simpson reported analyzing the University’s strengths and weaknesses in addressing equity related issues.

She’s cross-referencing her role with those at other Canadian universities to collaborate

SUPPLIED BY STEPHANIE SIMPSON

with other experts on dismantling systemic barriers for students.

“The thing that keeps me up at night is how we can actually transform Queen’s into a place where every person leaves the school feeling like it was a home to them,” Simpson said.

“I really feel like it is my responsibility in this role to help address these problems.”

4 • queensjournal.ca

Ontario wildfires ignite health concerns

News

Kingston and Queen’s celebrate National Indigenous People’s Day Multi-organizational efforts create integrated event

The City of Kingston recommended setting HVAC systems to re-circulate indoor airflow, and to use highly rated MERV filters rated 13 or higher.

Over the COVID-19 Sophia Coppolino pandemic, Queen’s upgraded its air News Editor filtration system, complying with researched best practices.

Kingston residents awoke to “Where possible, the introduction smoke-filled air on June 5. of outside air into building A blanket of high air pollution, ventilation systems is being caused by wildfires raging across reduced when outdoor conditions northern Ontario and Quebec, are smokey,” Queen’s Facilities descended on the greater Kingston said in a statement to The Journal. area between June 5 and June 8 Not everyone has the privilege before blowing south towards of closing a window, and its Toronto and New York. society’s most vulnerable who For 24-hours on June 7 feel the impact of wildfires Kingston’s air quality was the most, Julia Christensen, categorized as “very high risk.” Queen’s associate professor in Health experts and Kingston the department of geography and administrators encouraged planning, raised in an interview residents to close their windows with The Journal. and remain indoors.

“When we look at something like There have been 787 wildfires wildfire smoke, and the broader in Ontario and Quebec to date, effects of the volatility of climate exceeding the 10-year change, [having] access to safe City Park was filled with life celebrating Indigenous traditions and culture. average, according to Natural and secure housing allows certain Resources Canada. members of the of the population To protect residents from air to be able to respond better in Meghrig Milkon Services Kingston, credited the City pollution, Kingston allowed public ways that are more protective of Assistant News Editor for supporting the day’s events. buildings, usually used as warming their health and well-being than Until recently, Indigenous events and cooling locations, to act as those who don’t have housing,” This year Kingston celebrated were exclusively dependent on the smoke respite centres.

Christensen said.

National Indigenous People’s Day efforts of community agencies to Wildfire smoke contains It’s not only the unhoused who at City Park with all day activities join together and hold these events. pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen are more exposed to the risks of and a free concert.

“The fact the City is providing us oxides and sulfur oxides, but it’s wildfires. Christensen commented Organizations like Kingston with funding, and we’re able to take the micro particles that pose health on the challenges wildfires Indigenous Language Nest that and create an event that’s a risks, explained Mike Fitzpatrick, create for Ontario’s northern (KILN), City of Kingston, Office reflection of us is really wonderful,” a respirologist and the chief of residents, particularly Indigenous of Indigenous Initiatives, Limestone Blondin said in an interview with staff and executive vice president communities who participate in District School Board, Sexual The Journal. of medical and academic affairs land-based activities.

Assault Centre Kingston, Kewaywin Two-time JUNO award winners at Kingston Health Sciences Centre. “[Wildfires] have impacts on Circle and other community Digging Roots, led by Anishinaabe “Those very small particles housing, they lead to the loss members worked together to and Onkwehón duo ShoShona are inhaled deep into the lungs. of housing stock. They have celebrate National Indigenous Day Kish and Raven Kanatakta, When they get into the lungs, impacts on transportation into and at City Park on June 21. closed the celebration in Springer they’re recognized as foreign out of Northern rural and remote The all-ages event included Market Square with a free particles, the body tries to get rid of communities.

Transportation activities such as lacrosse evening concert. them, and then the process there’s is a factor, not just in terms of demonstration, corn husk doll “This day is important a lot of inflammation that goes on,” people’s ability to get in and out, making, a scavenger hunt, and for us. We get to celebrate Fitzpatrick said in an interview but the ability to get materials, community drumming. together—maybe we don’t get with The Journal. labor, other resources,” Queen’s University marked enough celebration—that we put Fitzpatrick clarified short-term Christensen said.

National Indigenous People’s our truth and our culture and the exposure to air pollution, such “When you have wildfires Day by celebrating the Tipi Moza possibility of who we might be in the as with wildfire smoke, doesn’t that are preventing access into Transitional Housing grand centre of the circle,” Kish, founder cause any long-term health issues. and out of communities, that opening. Tipi Moza, translating of the International Indigenous Usually, it’s individuals with has consequences in terms of a to ‘iron home,’ is a non-profit Music Summit and the music asthma or other underlying community’s ability to rebuild. organization providing First Nation, label Ishkōdé Records, said during respiratory conditions who It loses valuable infrastructure, Metis, and Inuit families with the concert. experience symptoms. it has consequences in terms of affordable housing.

Attendees gathered in the centre “If we measure [a people’s access to health services, Jayme Blondin, an Indigenous of Springer Market Square to non-asthmatic’s] lung function and people’s ability to leave councillor with Sexual Assault form a circle, hand-in-hand, as the after exposure to a lot of us fine for employment.” particles, we will find that their Christensen pointed to the lung function has decreased evacuation of the Hay River compared to what it would and K’atl’odeeche First Nation normally be,” Fitzpatrick said. “But in the Northwest Territories not to the point where they get as examples of the enormous symptoms or where they feel bad.” impact wildfires have on Fitzpatrick reported an uptick northern communities. of patients entering the healthcare While Kingston’s air quality system with complaints related to has returned to “low risk,” experts breathing during the wildfires. He warn climate change could make recommended wearing an N-95 natural disasters, such as wildfires, mask and reducing outdoor activity more commonplace. during periods of high air pollution. “[Wildfires are] not going “A lot of the students may be away anytime soon. We’re just in homes that don’t have any air seeing more and more of the conditioning. The issue there is inequities between the housed and if you’re closing your windows unhoused, in terms of their ability and doors for air pollution, and to respond to the environmental it’s hot outside, then it’d be pretty impacts of climate change,” uncomfortable,” Fitzpatrick said. Christensen said.

“For [students] I think it may be worth investing in one of those air Wildfire smoke blanketed Kingston in June. filter devices.”

Climate change impacts the most vulnerable first

Monday, June 26, 2023

PHOTO BY JOSEPH MARIATHASAN

event ended.

In an interview with The Journal, Aaron St. Pierre, director of the Four Direction Indigenous Students Centre (FDISC) announced there will be an opening of a new Indigenous gathering space on Queen’s campus by Tindall Field.

“It’s a beautiful structure. It’s meant to be not just Indigenous gathering space, but for the community in general,” Pierre said.

The FDISC will continue to provide services such as counseling and academic advising. This June marked the graduation of the first cohort of Queen’s students enrolled in the Certificate in Mohawk Language and Culture.

As the graduating class of 2023 prepares to cross the stage at Leon’s Centre for their convocation ceremonies, Pierre acknowledges their hard work and perseverance.

Indigenous graduates are presented with a gift from the FDISC as they cross the stage.

“I just want to commend students at Queen’s for their strength and all the work they have done. It’s exciting to see them graduating this week and what they do in life,” Pierre said.

PHOTO BY JOSEPH MARIATHASAN

News

Monday, June 26, 2023

Major access bursaries have major impact on Queen’s community

Students in top five per cent of each program will receive Principal’s Scholarship Mikella Schuettler Assistant News Editor Queen’s said it’s putting money behind its pledge to diversify the student body.

A hundred students in the class of ’27 will receive new Major Access Bursaries, totaling $7 million annually, as part of needs-based transformation of Queen’s financial aid.

“If we want our students to be surrounded by other great students, regardless of their financial background, we need to be intentional about how we change [financial aid], and that means significant and sustained funding,” said Ann Tierney, vice-provost and dean (student affairs), in an interview with The Journal.

Three years ago, Tierney among other Queen’s administration, signed a pledge to enhance efforts and initiatives to diversify the student population. The pledge was part of a declaration to act

against racism and oppression across campus.

Tierney launched the initial Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigenization (EDII) review of admissions in 2020. A subsequent review of financial aid occurred in 2022. The Major Access Bursaries started as a result.

Funding for the Principal’s Scholarships will be reallocated to create the new bursaries. Until now, incoming students with a 95 per cent average automatically received $4,000 in financial support for their first year, totaling $9 million in annual scholarships.

Moving forward only the students with the top five percent of grade averages in each program will receive the Principal’s Scholarship.

“It was a lot of money [that was] not being used strategically to assist students with financial need,” Tierney said.

Through the Major Access Bursaries, students will receive between $10,000 and $18,000, depending on the cost of their program, for every year during their undergraduate degree.

Student eligibility will be based on need demonstrated through a separate financial aid application.

Forty-three per cent of Queen’s undergraduate applicants in 2020

came from households whose family incomes were above “unrepresented backgrounds” to $125,000 according to Queen’s encourage them to attend Queen’s. Meghrig Milkon Student Applicant Census.

“I feel like finances [are] one Assistant News Editor “We know there are talented and of the biggest reasons students excellent students spread all over choose [certain] universities,” Students at Queen’s will notice the country that don’t have the Equity Ambassador Peter Haile, changes this summer and in the same opportunities other students Art Sci ’26, said in an interview coming years as the University have […] we don’t want the cost to with The Journal. commits to converting to some be the barrier,” Tierney said.

Haile is an annual recipient single-user, gender-neutral facilities.

Kidus Leul, ArtSci ’23, is the only of the Commitment Scholarship, Queen’s University is actively student who served on the 2022 which awarded a total of working to convert the washrooms financial aid review committee $1.2 million annually to students in its current buildings into which recommended the bursaries. who demonstrated leadership single-user, gender-neutral “For a lot of students coming in social justice. Queen’s will facilities, most of which will to Queen’s, that small $4,000 continue with the Commitment be addressed through signage [from the Principal’s Scholarship], Scholars Award for equity changes. All future academic doesn’t make a difference to them,” deserving groups. and administrative buildings Leul said.

“For me, coming from an will have washrooms that are With the funds from underprivileged community [in gender neutral. the Principal’s Scholarship Toronto], Queen’s wasn’t an option “Completion of the redistributed, more students with at all. When I got the money, it gender-neutral signage this higher financial need will feel opened so many options for me,” summer will create 248 single-user the difference. For Luel, making Haile said. gender neutral washrooms across Queen’s a more financially “It’s so meaningful to me because campus,” said Tony Gkotsis, director accessible place will make Queen’s I have a purpose now. I’m more campus planning and real estate, in a more diverse place. than a student. I’m trying to create a statement to The Journal.

“This can help build more culture change and thrive in the The University’s Built meaningful relationships across new environment I’m in.”

Environment Advisory Group socio-economic lines and I think Despite making gains, Leul, and the Provost’s Action [student diversity] enhances the Haile, and Tierney all agree Group for Gender and Sexual whole classroom,” Leul said.

Queen’s has work to do before the Diversity (PAGGAS) collaborated As a result of the 2020 EDII promises made in 2020 are fulfilled. on the development of the review, Leul and four other “We’re known at Queen’s for gender-neutral signage. students became the first having a strong community—we Appropriate signage makes Equity Ambassadors at Queen’s want everyone to feel a part of that it clear that washrooms aren’t in 2021. The Equity Ambassadors community,” Tierney said. restricted by gender, according are tasked with connecting to Queen’s Gender Neutral Washrooms Policy.

“Currently in the design phases are projects for Kingston Hall, and Beamish Monroe Hall,” Gkotsis said.

The campus map displays the current location of all single-user accessible, and gender-neutral washrooms on campus which exist in 81 per cent of campus buildings. with 26 per cent of buildings having a gender-neutral washrooms on The University proposed decrease for the 2023-24 school- each floor. tuition increases for year. The downturn is attributed In campus residences, some international students across to recruitment challenges. washrooms are private while others the faculties of arts and science, can be used by the entire floor. commerce, and health Tuition and Hiring Freeze Adelaide Hall and Ban Righ sciences.

International Hall are two residence buildings student tuition is currently Queen’s cut its projected deficit with washrooms for solely female nine times higher than Ontario in half by cutting salary and identifying students. Residence students enrolled in arts benefit expenditures through a buildings Gordon Brockington and science, and more than deferral and delayed hiring of House, Harkness Hall, Jean three times higher than Ontario faculty and staff. Queen’s Royce Hall, Leonard Hall, McNeill commerce students. imposed a hiring freeze for all House, Morris Hall, and Waldron Overall, Queen’s received 53,000 full-time positions not Tower include a gender-neutral, applications to undergraduate already advertised in May. communal washroom. programs, and will admit 5,575 Exceptions will be made Students living in residence will for the 2023-24 school year. on a case-by-case basis, according see the conversion of multi-stall to a press release. facilities to single-user facilities Downturn in Master of The University claims the 2019 over time.

Business Student Enrollment tuition cut for Ontario students, “Individual student’s needs are and subsequent tuition freeze, identified and addressed through The Smith School of has cost the university the accommodation process Business is expected to have a $179.4 million and is largely embedded within the residence significant reduction in graduate responsible for the strained budget. application,” Gkotosis said. “Queen’s enrollment, according to the report.

Queen’s Government and is committed to fostering an The University suggests economic Institutional Relations (GIR) inclusive campus and meeting the factors including interest coordinated several meetings needs of our community.” rates, inflation, and pandemic between provincial government In line with the University, burnout are to blame. officials and Principal adding gender-affirming healthcare Lower than projected Patrick Deane to discuss the to the AMS Health and Dental enrollment in the Master of financial sustainability of Ontario’s Plan for September is in the works, Business programs led to post-secondary education with more information to become a $13.7 million negative sector. According to Deane’s available later in the summer, AMS variance Queen’s projected November report to Senate, Communications Director Mikayla there will be 11 less business he’s lobbying to lift the Crawford said in a statement masters students in the 2023-24 tuition freeze. to The Journal. incoming class.

Queer students seeking support Overall, graduate student can contact Queers4Peers. enrollment is expected to

Revenue from student fees $45.7 million lower than budgeted

Queen’s is drawing on its reserves to cover a projected multi-million-dollar deficit.

The Board of Trustees released their annual fiscal report on May 17, revealing Queen’s is expected to run a deficit for a second consecutive year. For last fiscal year, Queen’s ran a $26.4 million deficit.

Interim Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic), Teri Shearer, recognized the use of university reserves is not sustainable, and committed to balancing the budget over the next four years, according to her report to the Board.

For Ontario students, the provincial tuition freeze implemented in 2019 will continue into the next academic year.

The University is awaiting approval from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to raise tuition for incoming Ontario students in law, computing, and engineering by 7.5 per cent.

Residence fees were raised three per cent for the upcoming year, the lowest increase compared to other Ontario universities.

Queen’s surpassed its fundraising goal for the 2022-23 academic year after garnering $124.7 million. Alumni donations increased by 23 per cent, with 11 gifts accounting for 77 per cent of fundraising dollars.

The University attributes the projected deficit to a sustained decrease in undergraduate international student enrollment, decreased enrollment in the Master of Business programs at the Smith School of Business, and the ongoing tuition freeze for Ontario students.

Downturn in Undergraduate International Student Enrollment

Queen’s cited a 10 per cent decrease in international students for the upcoming school-year, primarily due to a downturn in applications from students in China. The report attributed the downturn to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Queen’s is looking to boost international enrollment by developing new awards for international students. The University is specifically bolstering recruitment efforts in southern Asia, the Middle East, and northern Africa.

Gender neutral washrooms coming soon

The new JDUC will have washrooms for with prospective students from all students

Queen’s projects a $62.8 million deficit

Sophia Coppolino & Sofia Tosello Journal Staff

queensjournal.ca • 5

Features

6 • queensjournal.ca

Monday, June 26, 2023

FEATURES Several initiatives at Queen’s promoting the mental health of queer-identifying students.

‘We need to provide them with a space where they can feel comfortable and safe.’

Vineeth Jarabana Features Editor

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

Mental health supports for queer-identifying students at Queen’s

priorities, Al-shammaa mentioned prioritizing better support for ...Continued from the front page students who identify as both BIPOC and queer.

Established as a new division “Kingston is predominantly of the PSC last year, Queers 4 white. That doesn’t mean there Peers (Q4P) is student-led service aren’t BIPOC queers, but they are a that aims to provide support to smaller minority within an already queer-identifying students. existing minority,” they said. “The Al-shammaa is responsible fact [queer BIPOC students] have for overseeing Q4P. The to choose between their BIPOC service aims to provide a identity when they’re going into a non-judgemental, confidential space and just leave [their queer space for queer-identifying identity] behind because they students to receive know people in these spaces one-on-one counselling. Q4P also won’t understand.” facilitates social events. *** “The entirety of our staff is Much like Q4P, the Yellow queer so there is a certain level House offers advising to support of understanding, empathy the wellbeing of queer-identifying and mutual ground to connect,” students in addition to a variety of Al-shammaa said. “There aren’t any events and program. fears or apprehensions that you’re Kel Martin, the sexual and meeting someone who’s new to the gender diversity advisor at community or is not aware of your Yellow House, provided many experiences or might not be able examples of how Yellow House to relate.” supports the mental health of “We still face issues such as queer-identifying students. people struggle to get their dead “Our programming involves names removed from their working with professionals such as official records or queer students art therapists, counselors and other struggling to just deal with health professionals to offer events partners during presentations specifically focused on wellbeing,” because their partners just don’t Martin wrote in a statement to know how to interact with them,” The Journal.

Al-shammaa said.

Several of Yellow House’s By providing queer-identifying initiatives focus on wellbeing. The students with a safe space, Gender Splendor initiative serves Al-shammaa believes Q4P supports as a support group for students their mental health. that are trans, non-binary, gender “We found that in order to diverse, and questioning students. support queer students’ mental Another initiative called Queer health, we need to provide them Your Mind allows students to with a space where they can access mindfulness and meditation feel comfortable and safe and spaces at Yellow House. start unmasking themselves Yellow House offers additional and feeling like their normal, support to students in times of authentic selves without need like during Transgender Day feeling that people are just of Remembrance. accommodating them.”

“We also work closely with Al-shammaa emphasized Athletics and Recreation to Q4P’s community-building deliver programming focused on model. This approach has movement, as we know being taken various forms like active has a positive impact, on weekly hangouts, events giving not just physical health but mental queer-identifying students ways health as well,” Martin wrote. to connect in-person.

Martin believes this helps With respect to Q4P’s future queer-identifying students

not only meet peers, but also develop lasting friendships.

At the same time, Martin recognizes areas for improvement for the Yellow House’s support for queer-identifying students’ mental health.

“I think Yellow House’s next steps to improve supports for 2SLGBTQ+ students involve assessing our programming, evaluating the feedback we have gathered and using it to inform changes to our existing programming,” Martin wrote.

As for what is next, they mentioned Yellow House will continue the existing wellbeing programs while updating programming for the upcoming 2023-24 academic year.

“All of this programing is built with 2SLGBTQ+ students for 2SLGBTQ+ students, and thus we invite any ideas and feedback as we work through this planning stage,” Martin wrote.

Martin believes there are a few ways the University can better support the mental health of queer-identifying students.

“Continuing to increase 2SLGBTQ+ representation across the institution will bring meaningful change, specifically for frontline healthcare staff that students engage with,” they wrote.

“Keeping healthcare staff current through training on 2SLGBTQ+ affirming care and addressing systemic barriers 2SLGBTQ+ students face will help improve mental health and wellbeing for 2SLGBTQ+ students.” *** Housed under the Human Rights and Equity Office (HREO), the Positive Space Program, is one of the oldest supports for queer students on campus. Established in 1999, the initiative aims to share information about sexual and gender diversity as well as create safer and more affirming spaces on campuses for queer-identifying students and staff.

According to Emma McCallum, the Education and Learning

Coordinator at the Centre for Teaching and Learning and the HREO, the Positive Space Program achieves these objectives by offering training in a two-part program.

“The first part is an online asynchronous module and then the second part is a live training where you come and join us.

After you’ve done both parts, you then receive a sticker of completion,” McCallum told The Journal.

The sticker serves as a display to demonstrate that one has completed the training, but also as a way of increasing awareness of the training.

“Sharing that kind of symbol and the message behind the programming [through the sticker] is [meant] to create safe and more affirming and welcoming campus environment for students, staff and faculty from the 2SLGBTQI+ community,” McCallum said.

McCallum highlighted the program is peer-led, meaning students deliver the program to participants.

While a team of “peer leads” and facilitators deliver the training program to various student groups throughout the year, the Positive Space Program becomes particularly active during orientation.

As for the program’s next steps, McCallum emphasized the need for hiring new peer leads and updating the program to reflect the latest I-EDIAA standards.

“I would say one of the things that’s tricky about doing I-EDIAA work is staying up-to-date with community and feedback and language as they shift and change,” she said.

“We’re always trying to prioritize the time to make the updates to the trainings and really do what we need to do in order to make sure that we’re staying in line with best practices.” *** Unlike Q4P and the Positive

Space Program—both of which are primarily student-led initiatives—the Provost’s Action Group for Gender and Sexual Diversity (PAGGAS) is a small team made of faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate students.

PAGGAS’ main objectives are to lay the groundwork for policy improvements in the University climate for faculty, staff, and students who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.

Dr. Lee Airton, an assistant professor of gender and sexuality studies and a member of PAGGAS, elaborated on PAGGAS’ work.

“PAGGAS is a hub for gender and sexual diversity and action that is happening on campus. So we initiate changes when situations are brought to our attention and we bring the relevant players and people and rules together into the room,” Airton told The Journal.

“When PAGGAS hears about student concerns about access to different kinds of resources on campus, PAGGAS can share those [concerns] directly with folks and senior leaders who are responsible for service provision.”

PAGGAS drafts reports that assess the university’s progress in terms of improving the climate for queer-identifying students.

In discussing how PAGGAS is committed to the mental health of queer-identifying students, Airton mentioned the group addresses the conditions which can support or hinder the mental health of queer-identifying students.

One specific example is gender-neutral washrooms—an issue widely understood as being linked to the mental health of trans and nonbinary youths.

“Research has shown trans students’ mental health, in particular, is affected by the availability of gender-neutral washrooms or gender-accessible washrooms and change rooms and post-secondary spaces,” Airton said.

Monday, June 26, 2023

The Journal’s Perspective The Viking Saga, a Nebraska high school’s award-winning student newspaper, was shut down by their school after publishing an LGBTQ+ pride issue.

Newspapers are responsible for delivering information to the public, requiring them to evaluate governing bodies critically and impartially. This desired impartiality creates a need for separation between newspapers and their administrative organizations, like governments or schools.

Such separation is less easily granted to high school newspapers because they’re run by minors. Schools and governments may want to monitor high school newspapers closely to preserve set social ideological beliefs.

American courts have established public school administrators can regulate or even censor students’ free speech if they have “legitimate” educational reasons to do so.

Shutting down the Viking Saga exemplifies censorship more than it does concern for its students or their education.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nebraska denounced the decision to shutter the newspaper, accusing the high school of censoring student journalism to obstruct acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Just before the release of the issue, the School Board announced it would be disallowing students from using names or pronouns other than those assigned to them at birth.

This policy, followed by the striking down of a newspaper after its pride issue, are significantly suggestive of entrenched homophobia and transphobia by the school’s administrative bodies.

Lawmakers and school boards justify prohibiting young children from learning about LGBTQ+ history or identities by

Editorials

EDITORIALS The censorship of queerness in student media must end

claiming the possibility of confusing them, or somehow manipulating them out of their heterosexuality and cisgender-ness, but this argument isn’t defensible when applied to students in high school.

Teenagers are old enough to understand non-heterosexual relationships and gender identities not conforming to the cisgender

Volume 151 Issue 2 www.queensjournal.ca @queensjournal Publishing since 1873

Editorial Board Editors in Chief

Asbah Ahmad Cassidy McMackon Curtis Heinzl

Production Manager

Sophia Coppolino

News Editor

Meghrig Milkon

Assistant News Editors

Mikella Schuettler

Features Editors

Vineeth Jarabana

Sofia Tosello Skylar Soroka Cassandra Pao

Editorials Editor Editorial Illustrator

Arden Mason-Ourique

Opinions Editor

Nahira Gerster-Sim

Arts Editor

Maddie Hunt

Assistant Arts Editor

Suzy Leinster Rory Stinson

Assistant Sports Editor

Aidan Michaelov

Lifestyle Editor

Uwineza Mugabe Sina Sayyad

Assistant Lifestyle Editor

Herbert Wang

Photo Editor

Joseph Mariathasan

Assistant Photo Editor

Miriam Slessor

Video Editor

Claire Chow

Assistant Video Editor

Norah Kierulf

Copy Editors

Allie Moustakis Kenzie O’Day Anne Fu

BIPOC Advisory Board Members

ILLUSTRATION BY ARDEN MASON-OURIQUE

binary. There’s no risk of confusing them, nor of encouraging them to question their sexuality or gender if they’re not already doing so.

Schools denying the existence of the queer community is by no means a display of neutrality.

Silence implies disapproval and causes LGBTQ+ students to feel invalidated and excluded.

Sexuality is a part of life students

Asbah Ahmad Editor in Chief

The Journal is an AMS Board of Directors open-session meeting. In fact, no Journal staffer has since 2015—not because we don’t want to, but simply because guest passes are not granted to anyone.

This is a problem.

Corporations do require some confidentiality, especially when dealing with human resource matters and supplier contracts with non-disclosure provisions.

Most corporations don’t, however, collect student activity fees to run the majority of operations.

This puts an onus on the AMS to be responsive to demands

THE QUEEN’S JOURNAL

Sports Editor

The AMS needs a transparency upgrade

The AMS has a transparency problem, and it’s getting worse.

The AMS Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the AMS’s strategic, fiduciary, and human resource direction on the corporate side.

In my time at Queen’s, I’ve been to numerous AMS assemblies. Every year, I’ve noticed the number of motions, reports, and general critical discourse from assembly members dwindle.

Something I’ve never covered for

will inevitably encounter outside the classroom—the education for which cannot be solely entrusted to parents. For the well-being of students, schools have a responsibility to educate teenagers about such an essential, far-reaching topic, and to reflect the experiences of different sexual orientations when doing so.

queensjournal.ca • 7

of their constituents—Queen’s undergraduates—when it comes to understanding the use of their money.

On numerous occasions, The Journal has requested—per policy, and courtesy—through the Chair to see open-session minutes. The Board has failed to release documentation in every instance.

Shareholders of the AMS have the right to ask for this information, but the average student is not considered a shareholder—only those who sit

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

on AMS Assembly are. This is a deep inequity.

AMS executives love the word “transparency.” They love using the word as a campaign pillar and make it a mainstay in their marketing. Despite this, there’s little evidence to show they care to implement it.

On a technical level, the AMS is failing students. Past executives had the gall to tell student journalists students would be incapable of comprehending corporate information, and they withhold such documents for that reason. Past AMS executives justified their lack of transparency by indirectly insulting

Granting a student’s request to go by a different name or pronouns will cause no harm.

Denying that request forces students into the closet, with no regard for their safety.

Barring queer youth from finding acceptance and community has dire consequences. LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers.

Incidents like this high school’s censoring of queerness are blatantly oppressive and unacceptable. LGBTQ+ visibility validates the experiences and existence of queer individuals.

Until support for the LGBTQ+ community is incorporated into education, it is paramount that we protect such student-led inclusivity. This is not only an issue of free speech, but of child endangerment.

— Journal Editorial Board

the intelligence of students to other students.

Students have the right to know what their elected leaders—whose salaries they pay—are doing behind closed doors.

The media, particularly publicly funded media, such as The Journal, has both a right and an obligation to provide coverage to institutions that collect mandatory fees.

By leaving the media and students out of the conversation, the AMS is shooting themselves and their engagement levels in the foot. A public record in the media is better than any source of institutional memory.

My co-editor and I learned this when we found the AMS Board of Directors hadn’t updated The Journal’s post-financial probation operating guidelines for the next two years. This oversight was caught in time, but it’s emblematic of how much can be missed without a public record.

AMS services, whether it be The Journal or any other AMS office or commission, are accountable to students. They should be able to question and receive answers about decisions made in these divisions of the AMS. They can’t be expected to engage with them otherwise.

Denying both the media and students information isn’t a strategy for success­—it creates a harmful distance from the everyday lives of constituent students.

From a student and constituent, do better for transparency, AMS.

Asbah is a fourth-year Biotechnology student and one of The Journal’s Editors in Chief.

Malaieka Khan

Oluwamisimi Oluwole

Contributors

Erin LeBlanc Brett Walker

Violetta Zeitlinger Fontana

Business Staff Business Manager

Manal Shah

Sales Representative

Irina Tran

Sales Representative

Madeleine Smith

Fundraising Representative Margaret Cavanagh-Wall Social Media Coordinator

Ana Coelho

Want to contribute?

For information visit: www.queensjournal.ca/contribute or email the Editor in Chief at journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions.

The Queen’s Journal is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, Kingston.

Situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. The Journal’s Editorial Board acknowledges the traditional territories our newspaper is situated on have allowed us to pursue our mandate.

We recognize our responsibility to understand the truth of our history.

Editorial opinions expressed in The Journal are the sole responsibility of The Queen’s Journal Editorial Board, and are not necessarily those of the University, the AMS or their officers.

190 University Ave., Kingston, ON, K7L 3P4 Editorial Office: 613-533-2800 Business Office: 613-533-6711 Fax: 613-533-6728 Email: journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca Please address complaints and grievances to the Editor in Chief and/or Managing Editor.

The Queen’s Journal is printed on a Goss Community press by Metroland Media in Toronto, Ontario.

Contents © 2023 by The Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of The Journal.

Opinions

8 • queensjournal.ca

OPINIONS

Erin reflects on how Queen’s support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community has evolved in her time as a student

Monday, June 26, 2023

Your Perspective

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY ERIN LEBLANC

Amid growing hostility, Queen’s must be vigilant to protect queer community from re-isolation University policies have progressed since the late 20th century, but there's still room to grow ERIN LeBLANC Contributor Being a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community is not a lifestyle choice.

It certainly was not a choice for me.

The only decision I made nine years ago was to survive. This meant transitioning to my authentic self.

It was a painful journey with great costs. Now, when I look in the mirror, I see my true self in the reflection. I couldn’t be happier, or more at peace.

Much of this journey took place during my time at Queen’s.

Having spent over 35 years on this campus as a student, staff, and adjunct lecturer, I’ve observed and experienced the University’s progress in supporting the needs of its queer community.

When first diagnosed with Gender Identity Disorder —now known as Gender Dysphoria—in the mid-1990s, I didn’t feel comfortable coming out.

In fact, I was terrified of the process.

I wasn’t prepared to transition into a society adverse to the queer community. As a Queen’s alumna and now staff member, I didn’t believe the University was fully equipped to support its transgender community.

Kingston’s then-limited resources were mostly underground. Moreover, no legislation existed under the Canadian Human Rights Code or

Criminal Code that offered people like me protection.

Feeling isolated and without proper help, I was forced to struggle alone. It took almost 25 years after being diagnosed before I realized my survival depended on deciding to be my authentic self and transition.

Thankfully, the conditions for the 2SLGBTQ+ community at Queen’s have vastly improved .

Since my time as an undergraduate student, legislation supporting the queer community has increased in quantity and quality. The University’s own policy reflects an institution that values diversity.

It took a long time for us to get here.

In 2015, my first step after transitioning was to ascertain what protections Queen’s offered to trans students. Upon calling the Human Rights office, I learned about provincial protections like Bill 33 (Toby’s Act), as well as certain policies at Queen’s to protect someone like me.

This was a surprising and welcome revelation.

Federal legislation followed in 2016 with the passage of Bill C16, an amendment made to the Canadian Human Rights Code and the Criminal Code. This legislation specified all people were protected against discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression. It clarified that such discrimination could be classified as hate crimes.

Though these changes mark a significant win for the 2SLGBTQ+ rights, the community deserved better conditions far sooner.

Federalandprovinciallegislation laid necessary groundwork for the University to advance its resources for the queer community. Though some school policy existed when I

came out, there weren’t any specific gender-affirming processes established to support transitioning individuals.

It was difficult to make necessary name and gender marker changes when the University lacked a centralized system for all their records. The administration didn’t realize how challenging it was to update personnel, financial, student, library, and athletics information due this oversight.

I decided to use my own experiences to advocate for others and help establish transition guidelines. For my contribution in this work, I was named a co-recipient of the 2017 Tri-Award.

Now, there’s a greater number of services and resources available for students and staff at Queen’s.

One example is the Positive Space Program, created by the Human Rights Office. This program provides educational opportunities regarding inclusivity for individuals and departments at Queen’s.

Positive space stickers are displayed in classes and facilities, and on personal belongings to celebrate gender and sexual diversity.

There’s been grassroots efforts to better support queer staff .

While existing less formally for 15 years, the Queen’s University Association for Queer Employees (QUAQE) was finally recognized and named an official Employee Resource Group (ERG) by the University in 2020.

QUAQE has since become an integral resource for 2SLGBTQ+ staff. I feel fortunate for my involvement with a group of talented and dedicated staff.

When I came out during my time on staff with the Smith School of Business, it was a tremendously positive experience thanks to the

work of so many before me, as well as the Human Rights Office and other policy drivers. They listened, allowed me to control my transition process, and provided encouragement throughout my entire journey.

I was pleased to know Queen’s hadn’t completely buried its head in the sand—here was commendable willingness to ensure measures were in place to help transgender students and staff.

Unfortunately, things have changed since I transitioned. In a climate of renewed hostility, the 2SLGBTQ+ community is under attack again, with transgender people specifically being targeted.

It appears we have travelled back in time.

While most of the transphobic rhetoric is coming from south of the border, it nonetheless has a toxic effect on those residing in Canada. An attack on trans people in one country is an attack on trans people everywhere.

The number of anti-transgender bills proposed in the United States has risen from 174 in 2022 to 557 so far in 2023. They include bathroom bills, banning use of correct pronouns, and criminalizing the provision of gender-affirming care for minors in Oklahoma.

Organizations north of the 49th parallel appear to be fuelled by the US’s zealousness to revoke queer rights. It isn’t just an existential threat to those in the USA—it’s becoming more prominent within our borders. Vandalisms of pride signs and flags on private property and businesses is on the rise. On the political stage, People’s Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier recently announced his legislative platform to eliminate gender affirming care for all minors.

Amidst the brimming prejudice,

Queen’s cannot take its foot off the gas. Resources must continue to be made available to staff and students alike. More effort should be made to improve the lives of queer students and staff on campus.

Complacency is unacceptable.

Queen’s must specifically address how growing anti-trans sentiment impacts transgender students and staff. With growing angst and discomfort in the community, the University must work to overcome the typical barriers associated with seeking mental health services and provide accessible counselling and medical support.

Additionally, public statements reinforcing the intolerance for transphobic and homophobic behaviour must be forceful, frequent, and must continue beyond pride week.

Potential partnerships and speakers must continue to be vetted to ensure they comply with Queen’s values and policies.

Emphasizing funding for ongoing positive space training for faculty, staff, and students is non-negotiable.

During my time at Queen’s as a student, staff and adjunct faculty, great strides were made.

Let’s ensure this progress isn’t eroded. Together, we must continue to stand for the under-represented and targeted communities, and continue moving towards a better future.

Erin LeBlanc is a ArtSci’ 82 and Law’ 12 graduate, as well as a former lecturer and Director of Strategic Program Development and Accreditation with the Smith School of Business.

Arts

Monday, June 26, 2023

queensjournal.ca • 9

ARTS Kingston’s drag scene has adult and Drag queens display storytelling and comedic skills Continued from front page...

In an interview with The Journal, Kristen Lemay, manager of branches and collections at KFPL discussed the importance of providing a diverse and accepting community when hosting drag queen storytime.

She said the library wants to promote positivity and inclusivity for all ages.

The library picks its selection of books based on the themes and lessons reflected for the event. Some may be more gender-focused while others provide an understanding of different ways of living authentically when the drag queens read them to the crowd.

It’s okay to Be Different by Todd Parr emphasizes the importance of looking at the parts about oneself they think could be different and realizing they’re okay.

From Head to Toe by Eric Carle is a repeat after me book that has the audience getting on their feet and moving their bodies. The classic tune, “The Wheels on the Bus” lends Lil Hot Mess’ book The Hips on the Drag Queen go Swish, Swish, Swish some drag queen glamour and fun to the event.

“Drag is a really great time to give kids a chance to see people who are living their authentic selves,” Dare de LaFemme said.

children audiences

Drag storytime provides the opportunity to have younger age groups involved with the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Education comes out of the classroom and into the square in a creative space where children can have fun, Lemay said.

The daytime drag story hour was full of colour, laughter and books for families and younger audiences.

But at night, the Grad Club offered drag with all its flamboyance, camp, and raunch for adult audiences.

Sitting on the first floor of the creaky wooden floor of the Grad Club, Sherry Anne Hex enters the red-draped stage, and Drag Me to Pride begins with the classic, “F—k you, B—tch.”

This iconic Kingston drag phrase Kingston is the emerging scene for new drag. is a response from the audience when asked how they’re doing. to perform at Kingston bars with comparison I make to my style Hex hosted Drag Me to Pride, a little to no pay. Now, according to of drag.” bar event alongside Eden Moore Hex, drag is exploding in Kingston, Despite Hex being from on June 14 at the Grad club and allowing both children and adults Hamilton she didn’t choose bigger brought performers from both to get a glimpse into the events cities like Toronto or Montreal as Kingston and Ottawa together on of pride. her home base. She chose Kingston the stage.

“There were a few other because there was an opportunity “If I can entertain you, make you performers starting out around the for her to be on the open stage laugh, make you smile, or make you same time, but not nearly as many without the pressure of constantly feel better about life. Even just a as we have now. When I started, competing for shows. little bit. I’ve done my job,” Hex said I was almost instantly welcomed “If I had been doing drag in an interview with The Journal. into the community,” Hex said. anywhere else, I wouldn’t be nearly The community is vast, and She described her style of drag as far along in my career as I am despite Drag Me to Pride being as very old school with a bit of in Kingston.” performed in Kingston, the other Broadway, some camp and lots of Though she is influenced by drag performers, Tony Tequila, shade. ‘Camp’ refers to something old Broadway legends like Ethel Honey Jack, and Abysskiss are a little outrageous, but unique, Merman and drag stars Mrs. Kasha based out of Ottawa and Montreal. and ‘shade’ refers to when the Davis and Jinkx Monsoon, drag is Hex invited Honey Jack to performer gets the audience personal to her. perform in Kingston over Instagram. to laugh at themselves. Hex “Drag is truly a love letter to my There is a sense of home and roots called herself an insult comedy grandmother and mother […] my in Kingston that can’t be ignored queen—with love and kindness. grandmother loves wearing ’50s when stepping into the drag world.

“It’s like when you swing dresses, pearls, big glasses, In the early ‘90s, Tyffanie Morgan spank someone and then and really funky heels,” Hex said. was one of the only drag queens rub it in. That’s the general While performing at the

PHOTO BY JOSEPH MARIATHASAN

Memorial Centre Farmers Market for Drag Bingo, Hex saw many kids in attendance.

“I think drag now more than ever is about kindness and community,” Hex said.

“There was this one little girl just looking at me wide-eyed and with a big, goofy smile on her face. That’s just the reaction you want.”

In regard to the Kingston drag scene’s unique essence, she said it’s incredibly diverse in the variety of performances the audience can see.

“You get a buffet of drag that you don’t see all the time. In big cities like Toronto and Ottawa it’s very much popstar, pretty fashion model.”

Hex loves the drag scene because she gets to see the whole crowd laugh at her comedy. She gets to see them laugh so much they forget to breath.

‘Just to Please You’ is a love letter to the Skeleton Park neighbourhood ‘The Gertrudes’ anticipated album offers innovative sounds and uplifting themes

Just to Please You is set to release on August 18.

Maddie Hunt Senior Arts Editor The Gertrudes hope to bring fresh sounds and positive lyricism to the Kingston community following the release of their upcoming album Just to Please You. Last week The Gertrudes

band leader, Greg Tilson, spoke to The Journal about their upcoming album. The anticipated album, set to release August 18, will have refined sounds and more positive themes, and lyrics than its predecessor album Emergency to Emergency.

“Emergency to Emergency was pretty much in response

GRAPHIC BY HERBERT WANG

to all of the crises that we were facing, and still are in many cases in the neighborhood [...] we were addressing a lot of issues like addictions, mental health, and homelessness,” Tilson said.

Written as what Tilson calls a love letter to the neighbourhood, the upcoming album offers

more positive themes speaking to the band’s life in the Skeleton Park neighbourhood.

Just to Please You is the band’s way of celebrating family, friends, and neighbors. The album offers a “lighter approach” through the presence of love songs on the discography.

Change in production impacted the overall sound. Emergency to Emergency was co-produced by Matt Rogalksy and Jason Mercer.

Since the band’s emergence Rogalksy’s been the band’s producer. Whereas Just to Please You gave Mercer his first shot at solo producing for The Gertrudes.

“You’ll hear a lot more space on the album in terms of production […] I think Jason Mercer has kept us in check with how we’re more selective with the sounds” Tilson said.

A driving force of why The Gertrudes decided to change their tune from how they traditionally write and produce was attributed to Mercer’s background.

Tilson noted despite Mercer’s position as a musician he is highly

versatile. Mercer worked with artists like Ani DiFranco and Ron Sexsmith, toured internationally, and is knowledgeable about the evolving music scene.

“We’re just interested in new ideas and new approaches and supporting [Mercer] as a producer [whose] just getting started with his studio within the last couple of years on Wolfe Island,” Tilson said.

While Mercer was a key player for the development of this upcoming album, there’s more to the creative process.

Within the collective of creative minds, there are a lot of creative juices flowing, fueling artistic processes, Tilson said. He noted himself and his wife, Annie Clifford, are the primary songwriters bringing material to weekly rehearsals. “[The band members are] bringing, an eclectic style of music and [the] approach is just songwriting and recording.

It’s just kind of always happening.

Story Continued on page 10...

Arts

10 • queensjournal.ca ...Continued from page 9 It’s not something we sit down and say, ‘now we will write the album—it’s just we’re already working on the next album.’”

The band leader acknowledged

their privilege—not only do they have a variety of creative minds constantly bringing new ideas—they have resources to work on their craft—a luxury not many have. Tilson said performing for free within the Skeleton Park

neighbourhood is important to their artistic process.

“We’re doing a lot in the Skeleton Park neighborhood [...]. [We help] organize the Skeleton Park Arts Festival. Members of the band help publish The Skeleton Press

Monday, June 26, 2023 newspaper. We run a free concert series at Next Church where we play and where we rehearse weekly, at times, bi-weekly,” Tilson said.

“We hope to be doing this for the rest of [our lives], especially now we’ve got our kids in the

band. We’re in it for the long haul, I think we’re all rooted here in the neighborhood. There’s definitely no end in sight whatsoever.”

can be taken advantage of when grooming—perhaps rape, become the standard for queer sexual experiences in literature.

It’s worrying many erotic novels such as Captive Prince by C. S. Pacat feature slavery, rape, or taking advantage of minors as key themes. The book begins with Prince Damen being taken as a slave in the enemy country, where he enters the royal court of our second protagonist Prince Laurent.

Here they begin a love-hate relationship and Pacat writes a non-consensual oral sex scene a portrayed as romantic. The plot features an underage relationship, perpetuating the harmful stereotype of an older gay man as a pedophile.

There is no room for kink shaming those who have different sexual tastes, but there’s something concerning about the amount of violent sex being depicted in queer smut.

In the limited queer smut literature, the frequency of violence is abundant. Queer love in smut is consistently—and harmfully—coded in the negative.

Either as something unattainable, or sexually violent.

Despite these depictions in the genre, there’s hope for finding smut that’ll get any reader ready for a hot June pride.

Fingersmith by Sarah Waters sweeps the reader into a Dickensesque mystery thriller with action and romance between the protagonist Sue and Maud Lilly. The tension and what-if moments build a suspense

where the reader wonders if the two women will ever fall in love.

Once Ghosted, Twice Shy by Alyssa Cole features two Black women who end up in a whirlwind New York City romance.

Within smut there’s a sense of honesty, a vulnerability where one can expose themselves to the language of the reader. Readers can experience their kinks, turn-ons, and climaxes without shame or fear.

Some authors have focused on queer smutty romances featuring consenting adults.

Sinclair Sexsmith is an avid writer on all things sex and has multiple online platforms featuring erotica for all. The way lust is expressed is seen through many different lenses and it is beginning to blossom in the form of graphic novels, fanfiction communities, and even blogs.

Cleis Press features great erotica novels for the community and EZINE: Smut Peddlers: Lusting in Isolation is available for free download. These are great options for reading about sex and relationships because they offer a range of kinks and couples appealing to queer readers.

These books offer the reader an alternative format to the kinds of stories with problematic tropes seen in the past. They speak to consenting sex and love beyond the violence of past stories.

Lie down, put those LEDs on red, or perhaps rainbow, and get comfortable as you begin to find the climax of queer smut fiction.

Queer smut is shifting away from themes of violence and unattainable love

The experience of sex in literature.

From historical literature to more contemporary, smut is evolving Suzy Leinster Assistant Arts Editor This article discusses sexual assault and may be triggering for some readers. The Journal uses “survivor” to refer to those who have experienced sexual assault.

We acknowledge this term is not universal.

Queer love in most literature continues to end in some kind of separation. The two characters die,

or they break up and unattainability of love becomes the main theme.

The Song of Achilles by Madeleine Miller speaks to the trials of a Greek romance between Achilles and Patroclus. This heart-wrenching retelling of the Trojan wars is a beautiful depiction of a romance between two men and pulls the reader in with its emphasis on inter-personal connection during war.

The tragic ending between the two is historically accurate, yet saddens the reader as another queer couple is subject to the impossibility of their love being fulfilled. The death of the two characters feels as if the canon of queer romance is speaking to a love which can’t exist quite yet—or

Katarokwi market is vital for Kingston’s culture

Kingston showcases Indigenous art and culture Maddie Hunt Senior Arts Editor There is no cultural centre, no friendship centre, nor a continuously running exhibit dedicated to sharing Indigenous art and culture on a weekly basis in Ontario. The Katarokwi Indigenous Art and Food Market changes this.

Every Sunday from June 4 to Sept. 24, the Katarokwi Indigenous Art and Food Market runs in Springer Market Square, celebrating and sharing Indigenous art and culture with the Kingston community.

Georgina Riel, the owner, and CEO of RIEL Cultural Consulting

coordinated this market with the aid of Tourism Kingston and the City of Kingston. The market runs in the month of June as it’s National Indigenous People’s month.

“Indigenous people within the city of Kingston, [have] limited resources. There’s limited cultural resources for engagement. Having this market is very communal base.

It is important for a community perspective to have that presence,” Riel said.

Riel’s involvement in the Kingston community is no surprise as she is the former director of Four Directions Indigenous Student Centre.

According to Riel the market is dedicated to showcasing Indigenous people to Kingston and Ontario as a whole. A variety of Indigenous culture is presented through food, artists, and artisans’ works—such as jewelry, musicians, authors,

GRAPHIC BY HERBERT WANG

at all.

The erasure of love continues to be a prominent theme seen in queer smut. Many people’s first experience with sexually explicit material comes from pornographic media, and it can be damaging to only grasp sex through violence.

Smut fiction acts as an alternative to porn available today.

Literature and the privacy of reading about sex has emerged as a top form for getting turned on, but it’s not impermeable to scenes of abuse which are seen in much of today’s porn.

Of course, smut is not supposed to depict real-life relationships. It’s about being hot and heavy, and giving control to the most erotic desires possible.

This sense of sexual freedom

The Katarokwi Indigenous Art and Food Market runs every Sunday.

and carvers.

This market is important because there’s nothing like it, Riel said. This market is the only one in Ontario.

The market offers a space where the community can engage with Indigenous culture—whether that be simply attending the market and experiencing the atmosphere, or directly engaging with the artists

and artisans.

“The people who are there, the artists, the artisans, they want to engage in conversation. They want you to learn, they want you to know about their nation, what they do, how they came to be,” Riel said.

Riel believes the richness of a city is derived from its visible culture.

The market showcases a multitude of Indigenous nations’ culture and art.

According to her, it’s important

PHOTO BY ASBAH AHMAD

to continue celebrating Indigenous culture, but in Kingston specifically, as the City’s waterways were welcome in many nations to travel.

“Trust me every year, we’re going to keep coming back. And every year it just keeps getting bigger and the importance of it is the viability. Culture is essential in Kingston. When we stop supporting culture, that is a city that dies.”

Monday, June 26, 2023

Business, Science, & Technology

Team offers multiple educational opportunities

<BIZ SCI TECH>

Herbert Wang Senior Photos Editor The Queen’s Space Engineering Team (QSET) is representing Queen’s at the highest level of competition.

As a design team, QSET offers the opportunity for student to gain engineering experience within its two teams: Rover and Satellite.

Both teams build from the ground up to compete within their fields of specialization.

Team Rover competed this summer at the international stage at the University Rover Challenge (USR) against 37 hand-picked teams from across the globe.

“Our rover needs to be fully mechanically and electrically designed by students and programmed by students as well,” Owen Hooper, Sci ’22 and the CTO of the QSET rover team said in an interview with The Journal.

The team is split into mechanical, electrical, and science sub teams, each of which work together to achieve overall functionality of the rover.

“The competition is basically seeking to cover all aspects of what a rover would want to do on Mars,” Lily de Loë, Sci ’22 and the captain of the QSET rover team stated.

Tasks included looking at rocks and soil to determine whether they host life, while testing the dexterity and fine motor ability of an onboard motor arm.

“Of the four missions, the one

queensjournal.ca • 11

Rover on mars-like soil with arms and all.

SUPPLIED BY QSET

Queen’s Space Engineering Team best among Canadian circuit we performed most strongly in was science […] the team was able to correctly identify every single one of the rocks, and soil sites,” de Loë remarked.

Their strong results across the different parts of the competition ensured a seventh-place finish overall, and the highest placement amongst Canadian teams. All despite numerous complications during the competition.

Behind the success of the teams is a design cycle that spans across the school year, with the long-term future of the team in mind.

“It’s essentially based on the

scale of what we can do in the year, we, the team chooses a few main points of failure to address in a design cycle. Then every two to three years, you end up with a rover that’s completely unlike the last iteration,” de Loë said.

Hooper emphasized the importance of growing and mentoring members into specific roles as part of their long-term planning.

“We usually try—especially if one of these roles is someone who’s graduating—to onboard someone else into that role. For instance, this year we had a second year, and she

was our mission controller for most of the tasks,” Hooper said Despite the completive side of the team, both Hooper and de Loë acknowledge the benefit of QSET on their academic career.

“Best thing I did at Queen’s is join QSET, it’s taught me far more than any of my classes have combined.

It’s given me an opportunity to gain experience I never been able to get as an undergraduate student,” Hooper said.

Experiences including working with spectrometers and GPS, while learning important engineering concepts such as control theory

and computer programming.

“What I say to a lot of people who come up to us and ask about joining is don’t be intimidated by not having these skills. Nobody has any skills when they join. That’s the whole point you will gain them by doing it” Hooper said.

—With files from Asbah Ahmad

queensjournal.ca/businessscience-technology

12 • queensjournal.ca

SPORTS

Sports

Monday, June 26, 2023

SPORTS

Former Gael to compete in Pacific Four Series De Goede discusses her route to international competition.

PHOTO BY CURTIS HEINZL

Sophie de Goede to become the first Canadian 15s team “They were both elite athletes really well to take the next step.” year previous sharing gratitude beat New Zealand. In order to themselves, and so having the In the upcoming tournament, de for various rugby and general compete alongside toqualify for the WXV tournament, opportunity to learn from them... Goede will compete alongside her life moments. partner, Emma Taylor Canada must come out of [and having them] be there as current partner, Emma Taylor.

“Thank you for bringing me the RORY STINSON Senior Sports Editor

Looking to qualify for the women’s international 15s rugby tournament (WXV), Queen’s alum, Sophie de Goede, is leading Canada’s team to greater success.

In July, de Goede and her teammates on the Rugby Canada Women’s XV team will be kicking off against Australia and New Zealand on home soil in Ottawa, as part of the Pacific Four Series Tournament.

This tournament is an opportunity for her team to

this tournament in the top three.

Recently named captain of the Canadian team, the opportunity to compete in this tournament caps off a long list of achievements for de Goede. As a dual-sport athlete in her time at Queen’s, de Goede was named in the Top 8 Academic All-Canadians for the 2019-20 season when she played on the women’s rugby and basketball teams.

When raving about the support she received during her athletic career, she credited her parents as her biggest supporters.

guidance when needed has been huge,” she said.

De Goede emphasized her time at Queen’s played a major role in her athletic development.

“Trying to do both sports at Queen’s could only be done with the support of teammates and coaches and the Athletics and Recreation staff,” she said.

“Having those types of coaches and those types of teams and the opportunities to work on leadership taught me so many valuable lessons,” she said. “I actually feel like my experience in University set me up

U Sports commits to Safe Sport

Queen’s A&R is working towards a more inclusive community.

Queen's to implement inclusivity practices after years of silence about homophobia in athletics RORY STINSON Senior Sports Editor This article discusses homophobia and may be triggering for some readers. The phone number for LGBT YouthLine: 1-800-268-9688.

In May, the Canadian Minister of Sports Pascale St-Onge, and U Sports made public commitments to Safe Sport, a program dedicated to eliminating physical, sexual and psychological abuse.

While Queen's Athletics and Recreatoin (A&R) made the same commitment, this wasn't always the case for LGBTQ+ student-athletes.

In 2018, Donovan Hillary penned a letter about the homophobia he faced on teh Queen's football team in 2015.

His experience eventually led him to transfer universities.

Hillary explained homophobic jokes weren’t where his teammates drew the line.

“I found that the football environment at a liberal arts school was much more homophobic than I was anticipating,” he wrote.

Feeling Queen’s lacked resources necessary to support him, Hillary’s experiences caused his love for the game to deteriorate.

At the end of his first year,

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

Hillary transferred to the University of Manitoba and continued playing football for the Winnipeg Rifles.

When Hillary first spoke out, no public comment was made by the University or A&R. Five years later, A&R is making a public statement regarding Hillary’s accusations. This comes after an inquiry from The Journal.

"We were very sadden to learn of the negative and harmful experiences of a former student athlete when they were shared publicly in 2018, and sincerely regret this was their experience while at Queen’s,” A&R wrote. “We recognize the strength and courage it took for this athlete to speak out, and we took his story very seriously.”

“I think it’s a really unique opportunity to be able to play on the national team with your partner and have your person there at all moments of the day,” she said.

“There are some great days—and it’s cool to celebrate that with your partner—but there are some hard days and it’s nice to have that person there that you can go chat to.”

De Goede and Taylor celebrated their two-year anniversary on April 10.

In an Instagram post from Jan. 1, 2022, Taylor recounted the

most beautiful human and the best friend that I could ask for. I’d go through this all over again to end up right here with you,” she wrote in the caption, tagging de Goede.

De Goede and Taylor will face off against New Zealand on July 8 and against Australia on July 14. Both games will be held at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa.

Fans looking to buy tickets to the tournament can purchase them on Ticketmaster.

A&R outlined it had taken measures at the time, such as updating training for players and staff, which included LGBTQ+ inclusivity as a key focus for the Varsity Leadership Council (VLC), and implementing peer-led intiatives.

“We remain determined to ensure that all team cultures are respectful and inclusive, and that every athlete feels a sense of belonging, feels supported, and can fully express themselves as individuals, on and off the field of play,” A&R said.

The Journal was unable to reach Hillary for a statement in time for publication.

Moving forward, Queen’s A&R also shared their support for Safe Sport.

“All of our efforts align with the Minister of Sport’s commitment to Safe Sport, and we continue to engage with USPORTS, the OUA, and our peer institutions to implement best practices as Safe Sport evolves,” it wrote.

“Safe Sport is a critical component of all levels of sport and we aim to be leaders inthis space, and support all participants in being safe, on and off the field of play.”

In the 2022-23 season, A&R partnered with Yellow House Student Centre for Equity and Inclusion to host programs such as QTBIPoC Hikes and Solidarity Swims for trans, nonbinary, or other gender-diverse persons.

A&R also mentioned its commitment to I-EDIAA, and credited student-led clubs as paving the way for creating more training opportunities and special initiatives.

Training was extended to staff as well.

“A&R has developed and

maintained a rigorous and comprehensive I-EDIAA training protocol, that included 20+ hours dedicated to online and in-person training completed by every staff member, coach and administrator in 2022-23,” A&R said.

Training topics in 2022-23 included: sexual and gender diversity and language; safe spaces; allyship; and understanding, building, and developing Indigenization, equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism and accessibility.

Additional A&R partnerships include initiatives with the Human Rights and Equity Office, Four Directions, and the Office of Indigenous Initiatives.

A&R remains confident they're committing to creating a safe community in Queen’s recreational and athletic spaces and promoting the values of Safe Sport. To improve the understanding of Safe Sport for all staff, coaches, and student-athletes, the month of September is now the annual Safe Sport month within athletics and recreation at Queen’s. A&R said this is part of an ongoing process to develop training that align with Safe Sport’s goals.

“This is an ongoing process; there is much work to do,” said A&R. “But we are dedicated to continuing to work with, and learn from, our students, staff and coaches, and the broader campus, local and national sport communities to continually do and be better.”

Interested in writing for the sports section? Contact journal_ sports@ams.lifestyle.ca for more

Sports

Monday, June 26, 2023

queensjournal.ca • 13

Vanier Cup coming to Queen's for 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons AIDAN MICHEALOV Assistant Sports Editor

With Queen’s set to host the Vanier Cup for the 2023-24, and 2024-25 seasons, Kingston will become a mecca for Canadian football.

The Gaels will host the championship games at Richardson Stadium, sparking anticipation and excitement among Kingston locals and football enthusiasts province-wide.

The Gaels hoisted the Vanier Cup on four separate occasions; 1968, 1978, 1992, and 2009. With the Vanier Cup coming to their home turf, the Gaels have the opportunity to compete for their fifth title.

Led by Head Coach Steve Snyder, Queen’s looks to surpass their 2022-23 finish of second place where they fell to the Western Mustangs at the Yates Cup. This year, the team hopes to secure a first place finish with the Vanier Cup in tow.

"Our number one goal will be to be the most respected team on campus and in the community.

Then our number two goal will be to improve every day. Our number three goal will be to win the Yates Cup championship, and then, you know, if we’re successful in that,

Miles Brackenbury and Milana McNamee discuss the athletics community at Queen's

RORY STINSON Senior Sports Editor

Queen's to host Vanier Cup Queen's to host the Vanier Cup for the first time this year.

we’ll quickly re-channel ourselves to the national semi-final and then the Vanier Cup,” Snyder said in an interview with The Journal.

Snyder praised his coaching staff’s approach to psychological strength. While the football season comes with a whirlwind of emotions and challenges, a systematic stay steady approach allows them to stay focused throughout the gruelling season.

“That [approach] speaks to the emotional balance that we go through, our preparation and our

sore or injured from the day before, it's a bit of a grind,” she said. “[By chasing] the common goal of the group and ultimately the team.

You’re creating a bond and you get that sense of trust amongst your teammates.”

McNamee and Brackenbury are both involved with the VLC.

competition. Big moments. So, we’ve done a good job of staying steady, focusing on day-to-day improvement and not riding the emotional rollercoaster ride,” he said.

With a committed fanbase, Snyder is hopeful communal support and student engagement with the Gaels will propel the team to the first seed position so narrowly missed last season.

Ahead of the football season, Snyder also hopes Kingston

home games.

“Getting [athletes] to cheer on their fellow student-athletes, whether it’s a sport they love to watch or a sport that they've never played or watched before and that’s really taken off,” McNamee said.

“If you’ve been at a home game at Queen’s [...] it can get pretty electric

With hectic schedules, student-athletes often find themselves surrounded by the same people for long hours each week. For this dynamic to be successful, strong relationships must be fostered.

Miles Brackenbury is proud to say that they are.

As Captain of the cross-country team and Co-president of the Varsity Leadership Council (VLC), Brackenbury recognizes the unique features setting the sports community apart.

“The night before our championship, our team got together, and we had a meeting.

[It] got emotional and that was really powerful to have,” he told The Journal in an interview. The VLC aims to foster relationships between student-athletes.

“I think that was a testament to how close we were and when everyone was getting ready to perform at their best, they were just really grateful to have those people around them.”

Comprised of members and you can see the pockets of “They’re really proud from all varsity teams on campus, student-athletes.” to see athletes in the council aims to promote a “I’ve got to give a shout-out to this city excelling and see positive image of Queen's Athletics women’s rugby. You’ll see them at high calibre sports by fostering a student-athlete a basketball game just being the community through team building loudest fans in the building and events and support at home games. you really see that school spirit,” Milana McNamee, Queen’s McNamee believes the VLC’s Brackenbury said. interim manager of athlete student-run initiatives foster Both Brackenbury and McNamee education, training & leadership and uphold friendships for mentioned strong attendance development spoke to the many athletes. from those who aren’t varsity social aspect of athletics.

One of their programs is called student-athletes have at games.

“Working hard and sweating Gold Rush, which encourages “It’s nice to see everyone and maybe being a little bit athletes to attend other teams’

can be a part of a mutually inspiring relationship between the football team, and the Queen’s community.

"They are playing for you.

They really are. You can ask our players that nothing gets them going, and even more proud and excited about their performance and our university and the brand than looking up and seeing all the students there,” he said.

For fans eager to watch the Vanier Cup

coming together, working towards one common goal whether that’s someone working facilities or a student-athlete on the court or a fan in the crowd,” said McNamee.

McNamee emphasized the term student-athlete doesn’t always exclusively mean varsity athletes, but encompasses all students

PHOTO BY CURTIS HEINZL

live, there are several ways to secure tickets. Tickets are currently available online through the official Queen’s Gaels ticket website, Richardson Stadium and some local retailers will also offer physical tickets. www.queensjournal.ca/sports

mentioned measures teams have taken to make the LGBTQ+ community feel welcome in their spaces as well.

“In the past, our volleyball teams have created an LGBTQ+ pride awareness evening," She said. "One of the women’s volleyball players actually designed a T-shirt for the student-athletes to wear during warm-up.”

Additional initiatives aimed to build community include a food drive organized by the VLC each year for Martha’s Table.

“You kind of struggle towards your goals and you overcome a lot and really lean on your teammates

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

Bonds ignited by sport

who engage in club sports and intramurals at Queen’s.

She mentioned all athletics present opportunities for strong connections.

Brackenbury also noted it’s not solely current students showing their support at games—alumni and community members also attend.

"They're really proud to see athletes in this city excelling and see high calibre sports," he said.

Within Queen’s Athletics and Recreational spaces, McNamee

“There’s always a great turnout of a collection day and a transport day and then all the operations of getting food from student-athletes, organized, to a space, to then go back to Martha’s Table. Having that sense of we did something together that’s good for our community creates a sense of pride and I think a bit of joy,” McNamee said.

Speaking to the strength of relationships formed in athletics, Brackenbury attributed shared goals as contributing to a strong social fabric.

“I think what makes sports relationships so strong and deep and long-lasting is this kind of shared goal as well as shared work ethic and struggle, because it’s not always easy,” Brackenbury said.

"You kind of struggle towards your goals and you overcome a lot and really lean on your teammates.

“That’s a pretty cool bond that is unique and sets it apart.”

Lifestyle

14 • queensjournal.ca

LIFESTYLE

Monday, June 26, 2023

they preach by having two women kiss on-screen and show interest in pursuing a relationship.

Despite showing a groundbreaking scene, the show didn’t follow through with the romance.

Nevertheless, it demonstrates a cultural shift in TV and was pivotal in shaping the landscape of US media. This episode of L.A. Law helped pave the way for shows to push the boundaries and begin representing intentional queer couples.

Xena:

Xena, L.A. Law and Dawson’s Creek changed the landscape of television .

GRAPHIC BY VIOLETTA ZEITLINGER-FONTANA

Queer kisses that paved the way for queer romance on TV

as one-note villains, they have since evolved into viable love interests.

Here is a brief glimpse at some staples in queer representation on TV that demonstrate the cultural climate of their time and show the silver screen’s push for better representation.

love, the entertainment industry has come a long way when it comes to queer representation.

Sharing kisses is the main symbol on TV to portray romantic affection, removing any opportunity to perceive entangled characters as anything but queer.

Examining the history of queer kisses on TV lets us see the evolution from the censorship of queer romances to the explicit representation of queerness in entertainment. Though not long ago queer characters were written

L.A. Law is a US legal drama that features primetime TV’s first official lesbian kiss between characters C.J. Lamb and Abby Perkins—long before some of the more well-known firsts in queer TV history.

In the episode “He’s a Crowd,” the characters share a light but intense smooch. As a show known for touching on difficult and controversial topics, the show is evidentially willing to practice what

Three shows that changed how queerness was represented on TV forever Uwineza Mugabe Senior Lifestyle Editor

Until recently, queerness was censored or excluded from TV show plotlines. Though shows like Heartstopper freely depict queer

L.A Law (1991)

Warrior (1995-2001)

Princess

Xena: Warrior Princess doesn’t just have one queer kiss to focus on, but several kisses peppered throughout the show. While the eponymous character Xena and her companion, Gabrielle, are acknowledged as love interests by viewers today, the show portrayed these characters as good friends while allowing kisses through clever writing that disguised the characters’ romantic aspirations.

The queerness of these kisses was hidden with a variety of magical excuses, with Xena and Gabrielle kissing to save each other’s lives or transfer magical abilities to one another. In one case, Xena inhabits the body of a man and kisses Gabrielle. Though the kiss was written to mask a queer scene with a heterosexual appearance, the romantic intent is clear.

With a pair of strong characters and clear queer coding, this show remains iconic in the queer community for its genuine attempt to portray a lesbian relationship between Xena and Gabrielle at a time when

homosexual relationships weren’t normalized in mainstream media.

Dawson’s Creek (2000)

The kiss between Jack McPhee and his love interest, Ethan, is among one of TV’s first gay kisses in season three finale, titled “True Love.” While Topher Grace and Joseph Gordon-Levitt previously shared a kiss as Eric and Buddy in an episode of That 70s Show, this kiss is between a gay character and heterosexual character, and mostly played for a joke.

The kiss between Jack and Ethan is part of a more progressive storyline. With both characters being gay and romantically involved, the kiss comes as a part of a larger romantic storyline that spans a whole season rather than being limited to a single episode’s narrative arc.

This kiss helps normalize gay affection in TV by having a gay character demonstrate his romantic feelings in a serious manner with his queerness on explicit display to viewers.

The positive feedback from viewers showed production studios that audiences were interested in shows that featured gay romances.

After this episode of Dawson’s Creek, more shows began to portray genuine queer romances that were not written to be jokes, but instead serious plotlines.

As major businesses remove queer spokespeople, small businesses remain an integral part of pride

Local businesses show pride in their communities instead being afraid of their customers Uwineza Mugabe Senior Lifestyle Editor

With renewed hatred towards the queer community, pride this year is as important as ever.

As the LGBTQ+ community became more visible, companies started to openly advertise to them. For major companies, the LGBTQ+ community presented a new demographic to target with ad campaigns.

Anheuser-Busch recently partnered with trans TikTok star Pride celebrations are important to local communities.

Dylan Mulvaney to promote Bud Light. This partnership sparked brewery, leading to a decline of Bud openly and proudly support the controversy and led to an excess Light sales. queer community. of anti-trans hate levied towards Eventually the brand started This pride month, small Mulvaney and the brewery. to distance themselves from businesses in Kingston banded In the wake of this partnership, the influencer, showing that together to host pride activities employees of the brewery received Anheuser-Busch would rather from June 11 to 17. a barrage of death threats. Videos prioritize having the support To kick off the pride week, of angry consumers throwing of a transphobic customer Kingston Nexus held a pride board away Bud Light appeared, while base over supporting the game night. As a space that holds Kid Rock posted a video of himself LGBTQ+ community. routine events for queer game shooting cases of Bud Light to While Bud Light buckled lovers, Kingston Gaming Nexus is protest the partnership. Other under the weight of controversy, a perpetual safe space for queer consumers elected to boycott the Kingston’s small businesses people in Kingston. Making it fitting

PHOTO BY HERBERT WANG

that kicked off the week full of pride-centred events.

A diverse variety of events made pride more accessible.

Kingston businesses held events for different types of people, ranging from trivia for the academically inclined to volleyball for the people who wanted to celebrate pride through athletics.

Pride week culminated with a pride fair, which included performances from local drag

queens, booths set up by local organizations, and a vibrant parade, with organizations, local schools, churches and Kingston fire and rescue department marching down Princess St. Even though we live in more progressive times, expressing support for the LGBTQ+ community can still lead to backlash.

Small businesses tend to serve more limited customer bases and are integral in shaping their local communities. As such, they’re often the first to indicate whether a community will be welcoming to certain groups.

Small businesses don’t always have surplus capital to fall back on like larger brands do, and aren’t always able to take risks that start controversy. making them less likely to show support for the LGBTQ+ community.

By creating events for pride, Kingston businesses are choosing to help create a community safe for LGBTQ+ people.

Ultimately prioritizing solidarity over protecting themselves from controversy.

While the fight for LGBTQ+ rights isn’t over, Kingston pride shows the strides we have made towards a better future.

Lifestyle

Monday, June 26, 2023

queensjournal.ca • 15

Sorry, Elon—blocking is a necessary feature on Twitter While Twitter is a great tool for communication, it’s important to keep safety tools in place Uwineza Mugabe Senior Lifestyle Editor Imagine this: You’re scrolling through your Twitter feed and you see a notification pop up.

You find it odd—you’re not an

influencer, and are only followed by some friends and a few strangers who like your mild political jokes and memes about your favourite movies. So it seems like someone must have tripped and landed in your Twitter replies when you notice a new comment.

When checking the notification, you’re treated to a barrage of obscenities and cruel comments.

Whoever this is, they seem to take your very existence personally.

Naturally, you do what any reasonable person would. You delete the comment and block

Elon Musk suggested removing the block button in a tweet earlier this month.

Sex tourism takes a new form with the Passport Bros North American men try their luck and date abroad Sina Sayyad Assistant Lifestyle Editor

Most of us can relate to finding dating and romance hard. The dating pool seems so small, making finding the right person who checks off all the boxes and fulfills our romantic fantasies difficult.

There are some people who take expanding their dating pool too far.

They pack their bags and travel to new locales to find someone to marry.

Known as Passport Bros on TikTok, these men are usually born in North America and travel to foreign countries like Brazil, Thailand, the Philippines, the Dominican Republic, and Eastern Europe to try their luck at finding someone to marry.

Passport Bros typically preach women from these areas will

the user to avoid dealing with them again.

Despite being accessible from home, social media is just as public as downtown Toronto. Users can curate their pages and feeds, choosing whose content they see and interact with daily to carve out a digital community.

At the same time, anyone can peer into your online world.

For this reason, social media platforms allow users to limit interactions online. Privacy features allow users to secure their profiles behind a digital padlock,

GRAPHIC BY VIOLETTA ZEITLINGER-FONTANA

giving them the power to pick and choose who gets to interact with them.

However, not everyone wants to make their account private. Some people enjoy open communication and giving audiences unrestricted access to their pages, while others might find social media essential for maintaining or further promoting their careers. Since the creation of sites like Instagram and TikTok, there’s been a substantial rise in independent media creators and collectives who rely on social media to build their careers.

These are the kind of people take advantage of how liberating the internet can be. Blocking features give everyone the means to enjoy the perks of social media use while protecting themselves from harassment.

But those online safety measures might be at risk if they’re not appreciated enough.

Recently, Twitter CEO Elon Musk suggested removing the block button on Twitter in favour of a stronger mute button. The mute button would only remove someone’s tweets from a user’s timeline, without preventing them from commenting on the uninterested user’s tweets or reaching their DMs. While there haven’t been any changes to Twitter announced recently, Musk’s track record when it comes to changing Twitter makes this proposal seem dangerous.

Musk’s proposal is inherently dismissive of the importance of boundary-setting through social media and will set a bad precedent.

Blocking doesn’t just protect

users from being annoyed on the internet—it’s a critical safety feature. In a 2014 survey, over 2.5 million Canadians reported having experienced cyber-stalking, a form of harassment that uses social media as a means to intimidate and keep tabs on a victim. Victims of cyberstalking experience harassment received through public comments or DMs. It can be a means of perpetuating real life stalking.

Meanwhile, in 2019 one in four teens experienced some form of cyberbullying, showing that despite being a great tool for connectivity, social media is still used to perpetuate the harms of the physical world.

The ability to use the block button as we see fit is important for online safety and allowing users to have control over their feeds. Twitter is a site with over 360 million active monthly users, but only 1,300 full-time employees. The disparity between these two groups makes it difficult to moderate every issue of harassment that occurs on the site. As such, the blocking feature is one small but important measure allowing users to stay connected while maintaining the security of their feeds and inboxes.

In its current state, Twitter users are granted the agency to make their space safe or comfortable according to their needs and desires. Tech magnates like Musk don’t recognize the risks of allowing all profiles to remain open for the world to see, and as such, have no business compromising the privacy of Twitter users.

make ideal and traditional wives, assuming women will happily conform to a traditional, patriarchal marriage based on stereotypes associated with these countries’ cultures.

Like any TikTok community, Passport Bros aren’t free from criticism. Since they typically come from wealthy Western countries, these men are preying on women in more vulnerable positions than The ‘Passport Bro’ community brings colonialism to TikTok. GRAPHIC BY VIOLETTA ZEITLINGER-FONTANA them. By doing so, they uphold this privilege as a perk for traveling, Women of colour from other and monetary power, they colonialist ideals. and a reason why women are more parts of the world also deal with implicitly have the upper Being born in North America likely to date them. This shows being fetishized. hand over the woman in often grants greater access to they’re deliberately trying to exploit By claiming they’re traveling the relationship. wealth, opportunities, and travel. an uneven power dynamic in in a search for traditional wives The ability to travel for the While immigrants from Asian these relationships. with more desirable qualities, sole purpose of dating is already and Latin American countries There’s a long history of the Passport Bros further a major indication of privilege. face barriers coming to Western Western world fetishizing women perpetuate colonialism.

Knowing this, the Passport nations independently, Passport from developing countries—in Power dynamics between Bros are trying to exploit existing Bros from the United States particular, Asian and Latina women. Passport Bros and foreign women systems of colonialism and or Canada have easier access to During the Philippine-American mimic these wartime colonialist misogyny by putting women these areas.

War, World War II, and the interactions. Passport Bros from foreign countries Passport Bros acknowledge Vietnam War, American troops seek to bring women who would in danger of being trapped in the social and financial privileges perpetuated large-scale sexual be financially dependent on abusive relationships with no they have as North Americans in violence. Because of this, Asian them to North America. When way home. foreign countries, but don’t see it women were stereotyped as being Western men come from colonial as a reason for concern. They cite submissive, exotic, and dutiful. nations with more privilege

Lifestyle

16 • queensjournal.ca

Monday, June 26, 2023

Michelle details how gender-neutral washrooms affect their identity.

SUPPLIED BY: MICHELLE ZENG

The absence of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus sets back progress Navigating campus as a genderqueer student showed me institutions have a long way to go to create safe spaces Michelle Zeng Contributor When I was a first-year student getting a tour around the Bader College residence, none of the staff mentioned where the gender-neutral washrooms were.

It took me a minute, but I gathered the courage to ask where they were in front of everyone else.

“There’s one just down this hall!” was the answer I received.

We were on the first floor, but my room was on the second. I contemplated what it would be like walking downstairs every time I needed to pee, all for a single-stall washroom that would likely be occupied more often than not.

“What about the gender-neutral showers?” I asked. I got a blank stare in return.

On main campus, my experiences were similar.

In Stauffer Library, where I liked to study, there’s only one single-stall gender-neutral washroom located on the first floor, though men’s and women’s washrooms are available on every floor. In Kingston Hall, where most of my classes took place, there aren’t any gender-neutral washrooms in the building—not even in the basement.

Trying to locate the sparsely available all-gender restrooms amid the sprawling maze of campus proved to be both frustrating and time-consuming. Though a list of gender-neutral restrooms at Queen’s exists, it doesn’t help much

when many locations on campus lack gender-neutral restrooms in the first place.

In the end, I found it easier to just use the women’s washrooms.

The alternatives were to either avoid using the washroom whenever I was on campus, or not go to campus at all.

“As gender-diverse people, we deserve to exist safely and comfortably everywhere in public.

Society—as cisnormative and binaried as it is—often doesn’t have space for me. I was lucky that the people I met were largely accepting and affirming of my queerness, but the same couldn’t be said of the structures surrounding me.

When there were no gender-neutral restrooms available, I found myself obliged to choose between the male and female restrooms.

Choosing either felt awkward at best. At worst, it felt unsafe.

I often asked myself: Am I presenting too masculine for the women’s washroom? Is my face too feminine for the men’s? Every time I had to choose a side, it felt like I was being forced to declare myself something that I wasn’t, opening myself up to the assumptions and scrutiny of others.

I feared I would someday run into someone who decided I had chosen the “wrong” restroom, and was scared of how they might react to me.

Discovering I was genderqueer marked a turning point in my life. For the first time ever, I was discovering what it was like to be comfortable in my own body.

My appearance was no longer something I had to tolerate; I was

allowed to love the way I looked.

I cut my hair short and felt lighter than air. I wore the clothes I wanted to and felt empowered.

But as I entered university and grew more comfortable with experimenting with my gender presentation, my joy was tempered by the reality of what it’s like to exist as a gender-diverse person in public.

Whenever I was able to use a gender-neutral restroom, my fears were alleviated. I didn’t have to overthink or deny any part of my appearance or identity—I could simply go about my business without worry.

As gender-diverse people, we deserve to exist safely and comfortably everywhere in public.

The inclusion of gender-neutral washrooms marks an important step in making this possible.

Although institutions like Queen’s are slowly taking the steps to make their spaces truly welcoming for all people, there are still gaps to be filled.

Gender-neutral washrooms remain too far and few between, available only in a handful of locations. This is both an accessibility issue and a health issue.

For transgender and gender-diverse people, the simple act of using a public washroom can be a fraught, uncomfortable, and even dangerous experience. a survey by the National Center for Transgender Equality shows up to 60 per cent of transgender Americans avoid using public restrooms for fear of confrontation or harassment.

Gender-neutral and all-gender restrooms can provide safe and affirming spaces for trans, gender non-conforming, and non-cis folks to use the washroom without having to risk or sacrifice their

identities or safety.

Many people like myself don’t fit neatly into the gender binary of male and female. For many non-binary folks, having access to a gender-neutral washroom frees us from the burden of having to pick a side .

Similarly, binary trans folks should be free to use whatever restroom fits them best—but not every trans person may feel safe in doing so. Until the day comes where we can rid our society of transphobia, an allgender washroom can act as a queer-friendly alternative for folks who don’t want to be harassed while they pee.

“It’s not like a gender-neutral restroom is an entirely new and radical concept

In all honesty, I sometimes question why we have gender-separated restrooms at all. It’s not like a gender-neutral restroom is an entirely new and radical concept—your own bathroom at home is an all-gender bathroom too.

It wouldn’t really be so different to repurpose gendered, multi-stall public restrooms into neutral spaces that can accommodate all genders.

Using the restroom should be a straightforward affair without dividing people into arbitrary boxes based on whatever genitals they have. But somehow transphobes seem constantly determined to raise a fuss about knowing what’s in everyone’s pants.

A common argument used against gender-neutral and trans-friendly restrooms is that

they could constitute a safety risk.

Specifically, transphobes claim that sexual predators could pose as trans people and seize the opportunity to assault people in washrooms.

However, there is zero evidence of any danger caused by protecting the right of trans people to use the washroom that fits them best. In fact, studies show that the ones most at risk for being assaulted in restrooms are transgender and gender-diverse people.

The campaign against all-gender facilities and protecting trans people’s rights to use the restroom isn’t a safety issue. It’s an issue of allowing transgender and gender-diverse people to exist in public, visibly, and unapologetically.

Transphobes aren’t interested in protecting the safety of women and children in washrooms. They are interested in eradicating transgender people’s existence, never seeing or acknowledging us at all.

This past year, the rights of trans people have increasingly come under attack by legislators.

Too many people are becoming comfortable with saying transgender and gender-diverse people shouldn’t exist.

Though it can’t and shouldn’t be the end-all method for combatting transphobia, ensuring the availability of all-gender restrooms everywhere sends a message to trans and gender-diverse people like myself that we’re accepted for who we are. It tells us we have a right to exist in public. It tells us that you see us as human beings.

Transgender people are just that—people. We deserve to live. And for the love of God, we just want to use the restroom in peace.