Sunday, June 05, 2022
a Venn diagram in honour of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee
Wednesday, June 01, 2022
[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.
Happy Pride Month to All!
And especially to the youth -- you are loved and you matter!
Tuesday, May 03, 2022
[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.
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
[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/
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
PHOOey
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 >
PIESA 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.
Tuesday, February 22, 2022
[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]
Tuesday, February 15, 2022
[takiwatanga]
"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/
Tuesday, February 01, 2022
blacker than...
Friday, January 28, 2022
[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
Tuesday, January 18, 2022
[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
Thursday, December 16, 2021
[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
Monday, December 06, 2021
[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
Wednesday, December 01, 2021
[museum of black joy]
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Skyways, 2019, Bartram's Garden (c) Andrea Walls |
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
Friday, November 19, 2021
[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
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
[what it's like growing up transgender and Deaf]
Monday, November 15, 2021
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...
Saturday, November 13, 2021
the beauty of transgender people...
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!
Thursday, November 04, 2021
[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."
Friday, October 22, 2021
[gender decoder for job ads]
Wednesday, October 20, 2021
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!
Monday, October 11, 2021
[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.
Wednesday, October 06, 2021
Tuesday, October 05, 2021
[face equality]
Friday, September 17, 2021
[Indigenous art in the public eye]
![]() |
Lori Blondeau, Asiniy Iskwew, 2016 |
Tuesday, September 14, 2021
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
Tuesday, September 07, 2021
[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."
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/
Monday, August 09, 2021
[evolution's rainbow]
Evolution's Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and People
For a quick peek at what kinds of things this book talks about, check out this visual summary by @alokvmenon on Instagram:
Friday, July 02, 2021
bon repos
Friday, June 25, 2021
[he drew a circle...]
He drew a circle that shut me out -
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle and took him in.
Edwin Markham1852-1940, "Outwitted"
(emphasis added)
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
march for peace
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
[celebrating Indigenous picture books]
I want to let you know about this amazing resource put out by International Board on Books for Young People (Canada) (IBBY) in 2018 - a catalogue of the 100 best of Indigenous picture books!
Plus, issued in June 2021, an additional catalogue of the best new 25 books!
From board books to picture books for older readers, this collection is a selection of 100 of the best books by Indigenous authors, many illustrated by Indigenous artists, published in Canada and currently in print. The titles reflect the diverse First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures, languages, perspectives, and experiences from sea to sea to sea. Attention was given to including picture books that promote and support Indigenous languages. All titles reflect authentic First Nations, Métis, and Inuit voices and offer insight into their distinct histories and current realities of these communities. (from IBBY website newsletter)
IBBY Introduction to the Catalogue
The Original "From Sea to Sea to Sea: Celebrating Indigenous Picture Books" Catalogue (PDF)
The 2021 "From Sea to Sea to Sea (2021 edition)" Catalogue (PDF)
IBBY Canada Special Edition Newsletter: From Sea to Sea to Sea: Celebrating Indigenous Picture Books
Monday, May 10, 2021
in memoriam: my dad, Richard Goetze
Tuesday, April 06, 2021
[LGBTQ2S artists from the north featured at Qaumajuq]
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
[Qaumajuq - "it is bright, it is lit"]
Thursday, January 07, 2021
tastawiyiniwak
Edmonton has recreated its electoral ward boundaries, and at the same time, named the new wards based on names gifted by the Committee of Indigenous Matriarchs.
I’d like to highlight one new ward in particular:
tastawiyiniwak - ᑕᐢᑕᐃᐧᔨᓂᐊᐧᐠ
You may have heard of the term “Two Spirit”, used to refer to Indigenous people who do not fit a Western gender binary and who had specific roles and responsibilities in their nations. The term is a cross-nation umbrella term for use only by Indigenous peoples, coined in contrast to Western labels and because many original Indigenous words have been lost due to the impact of colonization.
Tastawiyiniwak – pronounced TASS-TAW-WIN-EE-WOK – is the Cree-specific word for those who are Two Spirit. It means “the in-between people”, and “was only used when referring to all of the iskwêhkânak ekwah nâpêhkânak. Each was free to move between gender roles”.
To clarify, iskwêhkânak is the Cree word for “fake woman” (but without the negative connotations) and nâpêhkânak is the Cree word for “fake man”. Depending on the Cree nations, there were up to five additional words for gender beyond the “traditional Western” words male and female. Tastawiyiniwak is a word that refers to all Cree people whose gender roles are other than male or female.
So why was this name gifted to that particular new ward?
Terri Suntjens, Director of Indigenous Initiatives at MacEwan University, explains:
“We have grandmothers within our spiritual realm, within our ceremonies, that sit in different directions. We have the east, the west, the south, the north, the southeast. They each have different responsibilities. They look after different people and have different … responsibilities. And so, the grandmother that sits in the north direction, when the pipe is gifted and held up to the north, is the grandmother that takes care of our LGBTQ2S+ community” (shared at Edmonton Council meeting, Sept. 21, 2020)
For more information: