[love]

 To start off the year, here is an important message from Sir Ian McKellan:

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introducing yourself the "triplet" way

 

Here's a tip for introducing yourself - including pronouns - to someone else. 

Use a triplet, or triad, as follows:

1. Name
2. Pronouns
3. Job title, or position on team, etc.

Example: 

Hi, I'm Marcelino, my pronouns are he and they, I'm a stockbroker.

Why the triplet? Two reasons:

1. First, if sharing your pronouns is new(er) to you, putting your pronouns in between two items that you are used to sharing might make it easier.
2. Second, if the other person wants to share, you've modelled a way of sharing. But if they do not wish to share their pronouns, they can still use the outer two parts: name and job title/position. 

Compare the interaction as Jacquelyn and Hassan meet, with the second row using the triplet:

Possibly awkward	Hi, I'm Jacquelyn, my pronouns are she/her.	Oh, hi, I'm Hassan...
Not awkward	Hi, I'm Jacquelyn, my pronouns are she/her, I'm an architect.	Oh, hi, I'm Hassan, I'm the service manager.

Give it a try:

Say:  Hi, my name is __________, my pronouns are __________, I'm a __________. 

Pretty easy, huh!

by Rob Goetze

To learn more, watch my 36 minute video on "A Practical Guide to the New World of Pronouns" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdtVLgU6OxA&t=6s

how to invite and make space for the sharing of personal pronouns

Individually

There are various steps individuals who are comfortable with sharing their pronouns can do to invite and make space for others to also share their pronouns if they wish. Here are a few examples:

1. Share your pronouns first. This lets others know that sharing of pronouns is okay, and models one way of sharing them.


2. When asking people to introduce themselves (at a meeting, for example), invite them to share pronouns by saying something like “Introduce yourself with your name, your role on this project, your pronouns if you like, and what you hope to accomplish in today’s meeting.”
   Note: extend this invitation equally to everyone. Do not single out the people that you think look gender-diverse.


3. Share your pronouns in your email signature and with your screen name on video conferencing services.


4. When meeting someone new in a work or formal context, use this three-part introduction: Name, Pronouns, Job Position. This models the sharing of pronouns and sets an example for how the other person could share, yet leaves it open for them to just share Name and Job Position. Note that having three parts to your own introduction, means that someone who prefers not to share their pronouns still has two items to share, which is less awkward than only saying their name.


5. If attending an event where name tags are provided, adding your pronouns after your name is an easy way to normalize the sharing of pronouns.

why sharing personal pronouns must be optional

 

Sharing of pronouns is increasing as diversity and inclusion awareness and initiatives grow. It is far more common to see pronouns listed in email signatures or beside attendee names during a video conference. 

More organizations are promoting the use and sharing of pronouns. Some organizations, however, are now requiring employees to share their pronouns. This is problematic and not recommended for a number of reasons:

1. Someone who is not sure about their pronouns can be pushed into making a premature choice simply to comply with the requirement to list their pronouns, and then may face additional scrutiny if they later change their pronouns upon further consideration.


2. Some transgender or non-binary folx might be quite sure about their pronouns but might not be ready to share them. Perhaps they are still getting used to their identity themselves, perhaps it’s not safe to be out at work, perhaps they have other reasons. If they are required to list their pronouns when they do not want to, there are really only two options: lie about their pronouns by listing ones that are not true to them and possibly feeling like they have negated their transition, or tell the truth and out themselves before they are ready to. Neither option is ideal.


3. Someone might not want to share their pronouns as past experience has taught them that it’s not safe to do so.


4. Some people might not be familiar with sharing pronouns, and might not know what to do or be concerned about not doing it wrong, especially if put on the spot in person or at a meeting.


5. Someone might be comfortable sharing their pronouns and identity in some contexts and not in others. For example, someone might be fine sharing with close friends and with colleagues in their work group, but prefer not to do so with acquaintances and strangers. Depending how much their role needs to interact with others outside of the work group, being obliged to share their pronouns might be uncomfortable and awkward for them. For example, a non-binary employee might have asked their friends to use “they/them” to refer to them, but when interacting with the public at work, the employee uses “she/her” as it matches what customers expect and is easier.


6. Some cisgender people do not like pronouns or see the point of them, or do not like trans folx. Requiring these persons to use pronouns can result in a backlash, one that will often be directed back at trans people.

While pronouns sharing should never be required, it should most definitely be allowed and facilitated, especially as it can make a world of difference to people who are trans or gender non conforming, along with being helpful when connecting with people whose names are gender neutral or unfamiliar. 

by Rob Goetze

To learn more, watch my 36 minute video on "A Practical Guide to the New World of Pronouns" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdtVLgU6OxA&t=6s

[resource: queers the word: a 40-day devotional for lgbtq+ christians]

 

"Have you ever wanted a daily devotional but couldn’t find one that affirmed your sexuality/gender identity? or took social justice seriously? Do you want something you can do in five minutes in the morning or can use for an extended time of study? Are you looking for a devotional that takes Scripture seriously, but also affirms the goodness of queer and trans people?

In this 40-day devotional you’ll find entries from a queer and trans perspective written to support you in strengthening your faith and affirming your identity." (from website)

For more information and purchasing (paperback, kindle and digital pdf), see 
https://www.queertheology.com/devotional/

[God must be a black trans woman...]

Dr. Christena Cleveland's book, God Is a Black Woman, is definitely worth a read or three.

Here's a quote from an interview done with Dr. Cleveland on the Queer Theology podcast:

"And so when the Black Madonna says, I'm completely reordering the pecking order per se, it means putting black trans women at top - on the top.

So when I say if God's a black woman, then she must be a black trans woman. Yeah, I was surprised. I, I shouldn't have been because my trans friends have talked to me about TERFs [trans-exclusionary radical feminists], but I was surprised by how many people - TERFs - were really upset that I included black trans women in my discussion of God as a black woman. And it did make me more, more convinced because that, that behavior suggests that TERFs don't think that trans black women are sacred."

From https://www.queertheology.com/podcast/459/

Find out more about this book and Christena Cleveland:

http://www.christenacleveland.com

https://www.instagram.com/christenacleveland/

benevolent king edward

 

According to the Google dictionary, 

benevolent means well meaning and kindly and has the following roots:

Both parts are from Latin.

"bene" meaning well; "velle" meaning to wish. 

bene volent = well wishing

benevolent.

Something said about royalty, as in "He was a benevolent ruler."

As king, he acted in ways which showed he wished well upon his subjects.

---

But who needs Latin, when you can speak French.

The word "bene" is quite similar to the French "bien", which in English is "good"

The French word "volent" means to steal.

So benevolent could also mean "good thief"

Something also said about royalty, as in, "He was a good thief."

As in, the king was good at stealing. So good, that no one even thought of him as a thief. 

Not even when he stole millions of acres of land from Indigenous peoples around the world. Or when he stole the lives of millions of people by enslaving them...

Just something to think about ...

[more about the fauntleroy residence]

 

This post has nothing to do with the main theme of this blog, which is an exploration of exclusion and embrace. This is about another love of mine - architecture.

I recently came across a well-designed house by Heliotrope Architects, featured in several magazines. 

They all have great pictures similar to this one. One of the articles also includes floor plans of the main floor and lower level, but not of the upper floor. So I created a possible version of the second floor, based on pictures and description from the articles along with the footprint and layout of the lower floors. Am sharing it here for anyone else who appreciates this house and is wondering what the upper floor might be like.

[anglican diocese of edmonton > finding our way]

 The Anglican Diocese of Edmonton has just released a document "Finding Our Way", which summarizes what our new (as of Sept 2021) Bishop has heard and how he wants to move forward. 

The document outlines 5 principles and 12 specific goals, some of which are specifically related to relations and reparations with Indigenous peoples, affirmation and full public support of LGBTQ2S+ siblings, and increased accessibility not just for buildings but also programs, vocabulary and ways of working.

Check out this important document, especially if you are part of the Anglican Church of Canada:

Intro: https://edmonton.anglican.ca/pages/finding-our-way

Actual Finding Our Way (PDF)

https://edmonton.anglican.ca/df_media/W1siZiIsIjIwMjIvMDcvMDYvMTIvMjYvNDQvY2E1Mzc1ZGYtNTliMC00NGRhLWFmMDAtODU5MjA0ZGU5ZTM2L0ZpbmRpbmcgT3VyIFdheSBGSU5BTC5wZGYiXV0/Finding%20Our%20Way%20FINAL.pdf?sha=075b06476959332f

links to 'uncertain and declared spaces' resources

Read the full article on uncertain spaces and declared spaces, with additional examples and stories.

Watch the introductory video on uncertain spaces and declared spaces.

Read my article on exploring uncertainty and embrace at your church.

Read my article on why I no longer believe in lgbtq+ friendly churches.

Check out all "uncertain spaces and declared spaces" posts on this blog. 

performative allyship... at church

Performative allyship is when your place of worship has an LGBTQ sticker at the door and a Pride flag on their website but it …

doesn't talk about sexuality and gender

doesn't discuss the use of gendered language

doesn't have all gender washrooms

doesn't invite openly LGBTQ speakers to speak

doesn't mention that they perform same-sex weddings

doesn't have clear LGBTQ anti-discrimination policies

And those are just six practical things that are often missed by performative allies...

Now read about the deeper things that many churches are also missing when it comes to actually being inclusive and embracing of queer folx, in my article:

why I no longer believe in lgbtq+ friendly churches

the queen and the homeless man

You may have read this excerpt on social media of a story about the Queen and someone at the Platinum Jubilee parade.

“Well,” said the Queen to the homeless man at the edge of the parade, “Where do you go from here?”

“I am not sure, your majesty,” the man answered with a tear. “You see I lost my job and my children have all grown up and gone on their separate ways.”

The man continued, “I am now homeless as I have nowhere else to stay.”

“Well, my friend,” the Queen replied to him, “This will never do at all!”

“I too am all alone. You can move into my palace. I’m sure we will have a ball.”

The man looked up and asked, “Will there be something to eat, dear Queen?”

"Of course," she replied, “The biggest spread of sandwiches you’ve ever seen.”

“And cups of tea and crockery that you can drop and I will never never mind.”

The man replied “Your majesty, I accept your offer. You are very, very kind.”

Hmm, you say. Really? The Queen invited a homeless man to come live in her palace?

a Venn diagram in honour of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee

 

In the midst of many people celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee - 70 years of being in power as queen -- and celebrations that include Queen singing songs to the Queen -- this is what is floating around inside my head.

Why are we celebrating the long reigning leader of one of the world's greatest colonial powers that wreaked havoc on so many of God's children worldwide through enslavement, exploitation, extraction, actual genocide and cultural genocide?

It seems colonization is hard to kill and hard to repent of, but easy to hide and forget....

[imi - guides built for and with LGBTQ+ teens to help you explore your identity and support your mental health]

Here's a great new resource for queer teens, endorsed by the It Gets Better project:

imi is a free, digital, science-backed mental health web tool for queer teens to learn coping skills, hear stories from real LGBTQ+ teens, and explore resources that affirm queer identities and boost mental health.

https://imi.guide/

Happy Pride Month to All! 

And especially to the youth -- you are loved and you matter!

[my dearest friends project]

 

Created by DisArt and Oaklee Thiele, the My Dearest Friends Project is an international, disability-led art collaboration archiving disabled stories. The collected stories are featured as part of various exhibits, and the writers are compensated for their contribution. The site includes video and audio resources, and features the amazing drawings of Oaklee Thiele (see image above as an example).

Sections include:

• Submit a story
• Demand access, 
• Exhibits
• Disability History
• Youth Resources
• and more...

I would like to say that the drawings that appear throughout this site are a real treasure, as is watching some of the videos in which Oaklee is creating drawings. The video I watched was descriptive - meaning, along with the closed captioning that captured the words the narrators and speakers spoke, another voice described what was happening on screen. This is something that is not often done, but useful to be more inclusive for those who are visually impaired.

https://mydearestfriendsproject.org/

happy birthday to an amazing 18-year old!

 

[strands for trans]

 Here is an amazing resource for transgender folx: Strands for Trans. As they put it:

A HISTORY OF REJECTION

Haircuts are historically gendered: Salons for women. Barbershops for men. This leaves the trans community feeling uncomfortable, unwelcome and unsure.

A FUTURE OF ACCEPTANCE

Strands For Trans is bringing gays, straights, women, men, anyone, together to create more trans-friendly barbershops and hair salons. Join in and let’s help this community feel welcome.

This great site includes videos of people sharing of why this matters and asks people to support the site by approaching their own barbershops or hair salons, as well as through social media. The site also invites shop owners to request a sticker and add their businesses to the map. 

And the map shows 6,000+ listings of trans-friendly salons and barber shops, mostly in the US and Canada but also in other countries. Zoom in to your city, find a marker in your neighbourhood, and click to get details!

https://www.strandsfortrans.com/

Snip of map from Strands For Trans site, showing parts of BC and Alberta. Trans-coloured markers are located at Edmonton, Lethbridge, Kelowna, Vancouver and other cities.

PHOOey

PIE 

You may have read my previous post about PIE: about being public, intentional and explicit -- three key components to being a faith community that affirms LGBTQ2S+ people. (if you haven't read it, do so first: https://exclusionandembrace.blogspot.com/2017/01/pie-public-intentional-explicit.html)

I'd like to first suggest that we add an "S" to PIE to make PIES (cuz, you know, lots of pies are better than just one pie): S for Self-Examining >

PIES

A community that examines itself discovers those areas in which more change is needed, those aspects in which they could improve how they love and embrace others.

Here's a brief example of a church being self-examining: 

     A church is located in an older building. There is one main women's and one main men's washroom, both outdated and badly designed. The church has begun holding some learning sessions where they asked some of their queer members to share, and also invited speakers from the queer community to come in. After one of these sessions, where they heard that some transgender people feel uncomfortable in public washrooms, some of the members involved in managing the facility got together. "What can we do to make this better?" they asked. They looked around and realized that there was a storage room located behind the washrooms, which could be converted into a single user washroom. Conveniently, the plumbing connections were nearby. "What if we use the whole space, and make it an accessible washroom while we are it?" someone added. The "accessible" stalls in the existing washrooms were unfortunately based on outdated standards for what is considered accessible and in reality, are very awkward.  So they proceeded with their plans and, once the washroom was complete, made sure to post on the church website that the building now has a "accessible, inclusive gender-neutral washroom".

     Now, such a washroom serves a wide range of people: transgender folx who feel unsafe in gendered washrooms, people in wheelchairs, a parent with a child, a person accompanied by an attendant or caregiver. And it happened because they were learning, thinking and examining their church community and facility.

[the awakeners - Indigenous people with disabilities who are artists]

 

"Louis Riel's prophecy is coming to pass! The Indigenous artists are the Awakeners!

That's certainly what you'll witness in this 6-part, 1 hour documentary series in both English and French (12 Eps in total) in which Canadian acclaimed, indigenous singer and song writer, Laura Vinson embarks on a journey to meet extraordinary Indigenous people with disabilities who are artists. Laura's sudden loss of her mentally challenged sister, Noreen, combined with her own challenges with an anxiety disorder, plus the progressive loss of her hearing cause her to have a great deal of empathy and respect for those Indigenous and disabled people who are often underappreciated and underestimated." (from http://theawakeners.ca/)

Read more about this incredible project: http://theawakeners.ca/

Watch the series here: https://www.ami.ca/category/Awakeners/episodes

Note: at the point of posting, I have finished watching the first episode. I learned a lot and it also challenged some of my unconscious biases.

[periodic table of Canadian Black history]

Here's a great learning tool - the Periodic Table of Canadian Black History. 

Each tile highlights a Black Canadian in history. The colours of the tiles indicate the profession -- Activists, Artists, Athletes, Entrepreneurs, etc. Hover over a tile to see a popup with picture and short bio. Click on the tile and a separate window opens with more extensive information about that person.

https://cbhtable.com/

Cette ressource est aussi disponible en Français.

[takiwatanga]

When I saw this tweet the other day, I thought to myself, this is an amazing word! How cool that the Maori had a word for people who are autistic. 

Turns out, that the word was created in 2017. While that did surprise me, it doesn't make it any less legitimate. Language is a living thing and in this case, Keri Opai, a civil servant, worked with the Maori disability community to create about 200 words and phrases specifically for mental health, addiction and disability.

About the word for autism, Keri Opai says

"The word I have coined in te reo Māori for autism is ‘Takiwātanga’. It is a derivation of my phrase for autism: “tōku/tōna anō takiwā” – “my/his/her own time and space”."

 

Read more about how this word came to be in Keri Opai's story (video and text): https://www.altogetherautism.org.nz/a-time-and-space-for-takiwatanga/

Read the short BBC article on this project: https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-40493398

Check out the very cool language glossary, featuring te Reo Maori <> English translations, word collections, plus phrases and proverbs: https://www.tereohapai.nz/

blacker than...

 

Ah yes, white as a sign of purity and goodness, black as a sign of evil, badness, corruption. How those words and variations of them are embedded in our language. And for those who are Christians, there are specific verses about this (Psalm 51:7 and Isaiah 1:18 being two key examples) which I've twisted in the cartoon above.

Do Black people want to be whiter than snow?

I doubt it, personally. 

[transforming - book]

I'm currently reading this book, the first one I've read by a trans author and the first that's about the Bible and the lives of transgender Christians. It's especially interesting in light of a recent panel that I attended on "Being Transgender in the workplace".

Love the book so far! Keep your eyes open for future posts inspired by this...

Find out more at http://austenhartke.com/book or get a copy from your local bookshop or library.

Austen's site also includes a lengthy resources page and a link to Transmission Ministry Collective:

"We’re an online community of transgender and gender-expansive Christians committed to growing our faith, supporting each other, and healing the world."

The Transmission Ministry Collective offers:

• text-based chat servers
• video-based support groups
• online Bible study
• workshops
• extensive resources

[tackling trauma - an online introduction with tools]

Tackling Trauma: 
An Introductory Training Manual for Direct Practice with New Immigrants, Refugees, and Asylees

This is a free, online tool which is intended to give those who are working with new immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers a basic understanding of trauma as it tends to be experienced by this group of people. The topics covered, each in a page or two, are:

Immigration: An Introduction

Why Does Migration Occur?

Who Are Lawful Permanent Residents? 

Phases of Adjustment 

Refugees and Asylum Seekers 

Trauma: An Introduction 

The Injury Mental Model 

Triple Trauma Paradigm 

Vicarious Trauma 

Consequences of Trauma

[family behaviours that increase your LGBTQ+ / Two Spirit child's health and well-being]

"Research from the Family Acceptance Project found more than 50 family accepting behaviours that help protect your lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer-identified (LGBTQ) / Two Spirit child against health risks like depression, suicide and illegal drug use and help to increase your LGBTQ / 2S child's self-worth, health and well-being." (from poster)

"A little change makes a difference in decreasing your child's isolation and risk
and giving them hope that their family will be there for them."

This project has several great posters available for free in PDF, sized for various printing purposes. This image shows a portion of one of the posters. 

Article on this project: https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2021/11/26/saving-two-spirit-and-indigenous-lgbtq-youth

Direct link to project page and posters: https://familyproject.sfsu.edu/content/family-acceptance-project-healthy-futures-posters-american-indian-communities

[lgbtq newcomers to canada: strengthening support and understanding - videos]

Are you in contact with newcomers to Canada? Whether as a volunteer, at your place of worship, or during your daily routine, you likely are in contact, and some of the newcomers (whether you know it or not) will be LGBTQ.

The AMSSA (Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC) website has a series of web videos shot in 2015 focuses on highlighting the issues and needs of LGBTQ immigrants and refugees and provides settlement workers with greater understanding of how to strengthen the support.

The titles of the five videos are:

• Exploring the Issues Affecting LGBTQ Immigrants and Refugees
• Exploring Gender and Sexual Identity Affecting LGBTQ Immigrants and Refugees
• The Journey of LGBTQ Immigrants and Refugees in Canada
• The Intersection of Immigration and Gender & Sexual Identity
• Exploring Spirituality and the Role of the Home Culture for LGBTQ Immigrants and Refugees

Check them out at: https://www.amssa.org/resource/lgbtq-newcomers-strengthening-support-and-understanding/

[museum of black joy]

Skyways, 2019, Bartram's Garden
(c) Andrea Walls

Andrea Walls began the Museum of Black Joy in response to ever frequent days filled with bad news about violence and hatred, often directed toward people of colour and other minorities. As a poet and photographer, she began taking photos of everyday joy in the Black community and posting them on her site.

Check them out at:

https://www.museumofblackjoy.com/

You can read an article the NPR wrote about her:

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/14/1026447517/museum-of-black-joy-andrea-walls?s=09 

[affirmation guide for trans & gender-expansive identities]

Affirmation Guide for Trans & Gender-Expansive Identities, plus Trans & Gender-Expansive Identities eCourse

"Q Christian’s second Affirmation Guide features Taj Smith. This guide is designed to counter the idea that transgender and gender-expansive people cannot be Christians. This guide is also meant to support anyone who is and/or loves someone who is transgender. Taj dives into the Scriptural, theological, and relational affirmation of trans people in this foundational resource. Video content for the guide can be found below." (from webpage)

The guide is free though a donation is requested from those who are able. The page also features five videos that relate to content in the guide:

• Introduction
• Scriptural and Theological Affirmation
• Life in Community
• Resources
• Conclusion

 https://www.qchristian.org/guides/trans

[what it's like growing up transgender and Deaf]

As part of Transgender Awareness Week (November 13-19), I'd like to let you know about this video of Blake sharing their story of growing up Deaf and transgender. 

This is an important piece because most people's lives are not one-sided ... and because disabled people are often overlooked when discussing other dimensions such as race or sexuality.

You can learn more about Blake at:

https://www.instagram.com/legendofblake/channel/

the real Meta

 

Interestingly, God is also "with us", "incarnate", "embedded"...

Posted in response to a large social media company rebranding itself as "Meta" with a logo looking like two collapsed kidneys...

the beauty of transgender people...

When I started in my current job, I didn't know of any transgender employees. Now, five years later, I know three colleagues who are transgender and out in the workplace. This is good. This is progress.

Laverne Cox, American actress, said, "It is revolutionary for any trans person to choose to be seen and visible in a world that tells us we should not exist." 

To all transgender people who read this post, I just want to say, 

“You rock! You are wonderful and amazing! You are an inspiration!”

Wishing you much strength and wisdom as you live an authentic life, and many family members, friends, colleagues and acquaintances who love and support you! You do exist and should exist, and your beauty and your gifts make the world a better place!

Happy Transgender Awareness Week!

[colored hockey championships]

 

"Canada Post’s stamp honours the Colored Hockey Championship and the all-Black hockey teams in the Maritimes that competed for it between 1895 and the early 1930s.

It is impossible to fully appreciate this story without understanding the Canada of the day, when Blacks lived in segregated communities that often lacked proper roads, health services, water or street lamps."

Read the rest of the story at Canada Post.

[gender decoder for job ads]

Words are words... and we tend to associate some of them with men and others with women. 

If you are writing a job description or a job ad, you can test out the associations for the words using the new (and free) Gender Decoder for Job Ads:

http://gender-decoder.katmatfield.com/

Note: this is not about whether an ad uses "he/him/his" and "she//her/her" instead of "they/them". It's about words that are typically in English associated with masculinity or femininity.

happy international pronouns day!

 

To all the hes and the shes,

The aes and the faes,

The pers and the xes,

The zes and the zies,

The eys and the others,

And most of all, to all the theys

(but only cuz there’s more of them):

Happy International Pronouns Day!

To make your day even happier, here's a new cartoon by me:

[shame and prejudice - a story of resilience (book and exhibition)]

"Kent Monkman’s Shame and Prejudice: A Story of Resilience takes you on a journey through the past 150 years of Canada. It is a journey that reclaims and reinserts Indigenous voices into the collective memory of our country, challenging and shattering colonial ideas of our history."

(from website)

Through his art, Kent Monkman has been critiquing the colonial world of the museums which have been so silent about Canada's history of colonization, which have presented the colonizers' view of history, which have whitewashed the horrible things that were done.

Expand your mind by taking part in this excellent curatorial tour of the exhibition:

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mACqPVUXzk8

Read the book online, in Cree, English and French: https://online.fliphtml5.com/xkla/ttia/#p=1. Note: I'd suggest watching the above video first, as it gives a clearer explanation if you are new to this.

things god forgot to put into the Bible (#9)

 

In honour of yesterday's social media outage.

[face equality]

With another 007 film about to come out, featuring more villains with disfigured faces, it's timely to mention Face Equality International, an organization whose goal is:

Creating a world where everyone is treated fairly whatever their face looks like.

"Face Equality International is an alliance of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), charities and support groups which are working at national, regional or international levels to promote the campaign for ‘face equality’."

"The campaign for ‘face equality’ was launched in May 2008 by the UK charity/NGO, Changing Faces, with the aim of creating a world in which people who have disfigurements to their face from any cause are accepted and valued as equal citizens, free of prejudice, low expectations and stigma. The campaign has attracted worldwide attention and has strong parallels with those against racism and sexism."

Even though I'm involved in a lot of diversity and inclusion initiatives and projects, it had never crossed my mind to consider how people whose faces are disfigured (for any number of reasons) are typically portrayed as villains and "bad guys" in the movies and TV shows. I certainly notice how most shows feature white people as the primary characters, perhaps with a Black person as a secondary character -- the friend, or the neighbour, etc.

Read more:

https://faceequalityinternational.org/

Including great resources for schools and teachers: https://faceequalityinternational.org/resources/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/faceequalityint

Metro article on new 007 movie and how it promotes fears of facial scars:

https://metro.co.uk/2021/09/30/why-i-worry-bonds-new-villain-will-promote-fears-of-facial-scars-15310850/

[Indigenous art in the public eye]

Lori Blondeau, Asiniy Iskwew, 2016

"How do you make the work of First Nations, Inuit and Métis women artists in Canada more visible? Some people write research papers. Some people build collections. Some people advocate for funding.

Mohawk curator and scholar Lee-Ann Martin has participated in all of these modes of support in the past. But this summer, she is taking a very different approach—namely, putting the art of 50 Indigenous women artists on 167 billboards from coast to coast to coast." Leah Sandals, 

https://canadianart.ca/news/mawa-resilience-lee-ann-martin/

While this project took place three years ago, the Resilience Project is still offering two great resources:

"Resilience: 50 Indigenous Art Cards and Teaching Guide is a boxed set that contains 50 full-colour, 8" x 10" reproductions of contemporary Indigenous art and a bilingual (English/French) teaching guide, full of ideas on how to use the art cards to animate discussions and inspire activities in all subjects, from kindergarten to grade 12. It is based on the exhibition curated by Lee-Ann Martin, with teaching guide developed by Yvette Cenerini, Lita Fontaine, Dawn Knight and Albert McLeod." 

You can download the guide for free or purchase the complete box set at http://resilienceproject.ca/en/.

Nadya Kwandibens, Concrete Indians – 10 Indigenous Lawyers, 2012.

a practical guide to the new world of pronouns

Here's a great learning opportunity that I've created for you -- a practical guide to the new world of pronouns. 

This 36 minute video covers key topics like:

• Correct Pronouns Matter
• People Who Might Use Other Pronouns
• Pronouns for the New World We Live In
• Getting Practical About Sharing Pronouns
• Messing up with Grace

Link to watch directly at YouTube.com: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdtVLgU6OxA&t=6s

[feeling through - film]

This is a pretty cool short film, featuring an unhoused youth and a DeafBlind man. 

"After a late-night chance encounter with a DeafBlind man on a New York City street, writer/director Doug Roland wrote the award winning short film, Feeling Through. Doug knew from the start he wanted to cast a DeafBlind actor to star, so he partnered with Helen Keller Services to realize that mission."

(from the website).

While casting a DeafBlind actor to play a DeafBlind character might seem like the logical thing to do, too often this does not happen and able-bodied people are cast to play disabled people.

 Watch this short film and read more about it at: https://www.feelingthrough.com/

Watch directly on YouTube