CURRENT AND UPCOMING EVENTS
To find out about our upcoming events:
Univerisity of Toronto Washroom Usability Project
The Sexual & Gender Diversity Office, Multi-Faith Centre, Accessibility Services and the Family Care Office will undertake a St. George Campus washroom survey looking at the usability of public washrooms on the St. George campus from an equity and accessibility perspective. The project will address four specific objectives: physical accessibility, single-user and all-gender washrooms, baby changing stations, and footbaths required for Muslim students who must wash before prayer. The outcomes of the project will update the online U of T maps, create a summary report of U of T community experiences and initiate dialogue on washroom accessibility and equity.
Click here to learn more about the Washroom Usability Project, and how you can get involved!
Volunteer at OUTShine National GSA Summit through the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office
May 17 - 20, 2013
Volunteer Applications Due: April 24, 2013
This May, Toronto host the FIRST National Conference for Gay-Straight Alliances in Canadian High schools.
You can support the future of LGBTQ student leadership
OUTShine National GSA Summit
May 17 – 20, 2013
(Volunteer Applications due April 24, 2013)
The SGDO is proud to partner with OUTSHINE National GSA Summit to create a once in a lifetime opportunity for U of T students! You can be part of supporting the first national GSA conference bringing together of youth and educators from across Canada with a focus on promoting safer and more inclusive schools for LGBTQ high school students.
We’re looking for a team ofdedicated U of T volunteers to help welcome high school students from acrossthe country and support the conference.
Volunteer Roles
AMBASSADOR-Ambassadors will be assigned to a small group of Summit participants for theduration of the Summit. Their role is to be a "point person" forthose participants - to answer questions, and to facilitate discussion, sharingand networking during specified time slots throughout the weekend. Ambassadorsare also asked to accompany their group between Summit locations at least onceto help familiarize participants with the route.
GSA CHARTER/ELECTION SUPPORT - Assist with coordinating the GSA Chartermeetings and the election process. May involve organizing supplies, counting ballots,directing participants to appropriate locations.
TRADE SHOW/COMMUNITY FAIR SUPPORT - Assist with the set-up/take-down ofthe fair location; welcoming and assisting participating organizations asnecessary.
PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION - Welcome and check-in participants orre-direct questions as they arrive, providing schedule information anddirections as needed.
PRESENTER REGISTRATION - Welcome and check-in workshop presenters,directing them to workshop locations and connecting them with workshop supportvolunteers.
WORKSHOP SUPPORT - Assist presenters in assigned workshops as necessarywith set-up/take-down of the space, providing materials, andtroubleshooting.
INFOTABLE - Remain at a central location to answer or re-direct questions; providedirections and general information to participants.
PHOTOGRAPHER- Take photos of Summit activities throughout the weekend.
Volunteer training and food will be provided for allvolunteers.
Everyone is encouraged to volunteer. Limited volunteer spots are available. Please apply soon.
REGISTER TODAY: Email the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office (sgdo@utoronto.ca) today to register and receivea complete volunteer registration package.
Find out more about the OUTSHINE NationalGSA Summit online: http://www.mygsa.org/outshine/
The conference will take place at Sheraton Centre (123 Queen Street West) and Jarvis Collegiate Institute (495Jarvis St).
OUTSHINE is organized by Egale Canada Human Rights Trust, and the Toronto District School Board, with connection to Egale’s MyGSA, and the TDSB Gender Based Violence Prevention Office. The U of T Sexual & Gender Diversity Office is working closely with OUTShine to recruit and support volunteerism throughout the Summit.
Council on Student Experience Focus Group with LGBTQ students
Wedneday March 20, 2013
We need you’re your help and your input!
In 2010, the University held a series of tri-campus focus groups addressing the issues of co-curricular student engagement, creating a supportive campus environment and general student satisfaction with the overall experience at the University of Toronto. As a result of the information gathered during these focus groups, several new projects have been implemented at the University of Toronto, including the creation of a Co-Curricular Record, a Mentorship Resource Centre and initiatives to improve timely communications with students.
Building on these successes, Vice-Provost, Students Jill Matus has initiated a second series of focus groups with undergraduate students in first and second-entry faculties across the University of Toronto. We would like to invite you to participate in one of these focus groups. The Sexual & Gender Diversity Office will be hosting a focus group for LGBTQ students to come together to provide feedback.
Focus groups are facilitated discussions among up to 15 students; the discussion is audio-taped but participants are not identified on the tape nor in the accompanying notes. The focus group session is about 90 minutes in length. Students who participate in a focus group are provided refreshments and given a $20 gift certificate to the University of Toronto Bookstore or a $20 UeaT Mealplan card. You do not need any specific knowledge or experience in order to participate. Your participation is completely voluntary, though we hope you will respond!
A focus group for the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office will be held at the following time:
Wednesday March 20, 3013 from 1:00-2:30 @ 21 Sussex
If you are interested in participating please email Allison Burgess (allison.burgess@utoronto.ca) with the following information:
Name
Email
Year of Study
Do you have any accessibility needs? If so, please describe any accommodations you may require in order to participate in a focus group.
Should you have any questions about these focus groups or interest in the results please feel free to contact Allison Burgess at allison.burgess@utoronto.ca.
A weekly conversation café
Thursdays, 3:00 - 4:30 pm at the Sexual & Gender Diversity Office
Join in our weekly conversation café discussing the questions you want to talk about. Connect with students and guest facilitators as we share our thoughts, experiences and the questions that keep running through our minds.
Be part of the discussion.
Eat the snacks.
Click here to find out this week's discussion theme and facilitator.
Past Events:
Say My Name: Stories of Transition
Thursday, October 25
7:00 pm
Junior Common Room, University College
15 Kings College Circle
"Say My Name: Stories of Transition" is a performance by Elisha and Kit who are currently touring Ontario and Quebec with comics, songs, press clippings and stories about their own personal transition stories.
Go herefor updated Pride events for 2012!
Queer University of Toronto Employees Presents: “Being an out Employee at U of T.”
Queer Writes
Lead with Pride - A Symposium on Leadership for LGBTQ Students
Queer Orientation Week
Video Launch: Making It Better At the University of Toronto Project
Making It Better At U of T Project Religion, Sexuality and Schooling: A Public Forum
Rainbow Thanksgiving Dinner
Queer Orientation 2010
Queer Writes
Discover your voice on paper and out-loud and help others to discover theirs!
The Sexual & Gender Diversity Office and The Academic Success Centre are pleased to introduce QueerWrites. This academic writing group, for LGBTQ undergrads and graduate students, will focus on how to combat writing blocks, quiet the inner critic/editor, and will create opportunities for students to share ideas in a non-judgmental space.
Each session is divided into three parts: a free-write followed by discussion, personal time to work on assignments, and ending with students breaking off into pairs to exchange writing projects for feedback at any stage of the process. Although a facilitator will be present, the group is run by the group—we pool our strengths together.
Once a month, the group will be hosted by queer guest writers (such as Nichola Ward and Mary Rogan) who will share their experiences with the writing process and lead a group activity.
Come out and write with us! We meet every Wednesday at 3:00pm at 21 Sussex Ave. on the fourth floor in the lounge. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the facilitator, Brock Hessel at brock.hessel@utoronto.ca.
Queer Writes welcomes Nina Arsenault for author reading and Q&A. Nina Arsenault is a critically acclaimed interdisciplinary artist who has worked in live performance, photography, video art, writing and popular national media to document and explore her continuing psychic and physical transformations. Her work is fiercely honest, unapologetically sensational, and crafted with a deep love of beauty and drama. Join us for a fabulous and inspirational reading and Q&A on April 13th from 3:30-5pm in UC161.
- Making it Better ProjectMaking it Better Project gallery of photos and captions
- Pride
- Lead with Pride
- Queer Orientation
- Q21 Conversation Café
- University of Toronto Washroom Usability Project