June 1 marks the beginning of Pride month – a time to celebrate the unique diversity and remarkable contributions of the LGBTQ2IA+ communities to #UofG and around the world.

It’s also a time to reflect on the progress made toward justice, equity, and inclusion. A time to say thank you to those who have fought tirelessly for a safer and more welcoming society – and to recommit to building strong communities where everyone is valued and experiences an authentic sense of belonging.

We have a responsibility to stand against discrimination, injustice and persecution, to listen and support those experiencing them, and to learn and put our learnings into practice.

Pride month gives us an opportunity to come together and celebrate as the diverse community we are. We encourage all of our community members to participate in the many opportunities to celebrate and support justice, equity and inclusion, not just during the month of June but every day.

Resources:

• The Office of Diversity and Human Rights has developed an online training module called Positive Space Project that explores the concept of language, pronouns, allyship and more.
• The eBook Building Community: An Introduction to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion provides guidance on how to interrupt systems of oppression and support those from equity-deserving communities.
• The McLaughlin Library has developed an online collection that features a wide range of fiction, histories, films and memoirs that explore the many ways in which queer identities can intersect to shape the lives of those within the LGBTQ2IA+ community. This selection explores the intersection of gender, race, religion and more – providing a comprehensive look at the multi-dimensional facets of identity and the spaces in which these identities overlap.

Happy Pride U of G!

 

Charlotte Yates
President and Vice-Chancellor

Indira Naidoo-Harris
Associate Vice-President, Diversity and Human Rights