The McGill Daily Vol. 109 Issue 7 by McGill Daily

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Volume 109, Issue 6 | Monday, October 21, 2019 | mcgilldaily.com i used to be straight since 1911

Queer History Month Special Issue

Content

October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Table of Contents 3 EDITORIAL Vote in Solidarity with Indigenous Concerns

4 NEWS “Complaint as a Queer Method”

14 Commentary Support Science, #VoteScience

Pinkwashing in Israel SSMU Legislative Council US Debates LGBTQ+ Rights

7 Culture Feminism, Activism, & Privilege Hello Sappho, It’s Me, Margaret

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EDITORIAL

Volume 109 Issue 6

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Vote in Solidarity with Indigenous Concerns content warning: colonial violence ith the Canadian federal election occurring on October 21, it is important to take note of the way different parties are addressing the concerns of Indigenous peoples. Tara Williamson, a researcher and consultant at the Yellowhead Institute – a First Nation-led research centre based at Ryerson University in Toronto – noted that “Indigenous issues are glaringly absent from [the] election campaign.” References to Indigenous issues covered in the recent electoral debates and party platforms were largely focused on pipelines, ignoring key issues such as healthcare equity, adequate child welfare, and the approval of Bill C-262, a motion to harmonize Canadian law with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The Liberal Party has consistently disregarded Indigenous communities despite previous campaign promises. On October 4, Justin Trudeau’s government decided to appeal and dismiss the decision of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) to compensate First Nations children who were harmed by the on-reserve child welfare system, although previously maintaining that this would not be challenged. The ruling would compensate each child who was removed from their home with $40,000, as well as compensating some parents and grandparents. Trudeau and his government have also reneged on their promises regarding Canada’s pipeline projects, ignoring concerns about the disastrous effects on numerous First Nations communities whose land will be, and has been, desecrated by these projects. Indigenous communities have continually warned that, besides destroying land and habitats, the proposed pipeline projects would also have an irreparable impact on the salmon population – a crucial

source of sustenance for First Nations communities by the Salish Sea. An oil spill is almost inevitable according to the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, who estimate a 79 to 87 per cent chance of a spill in their waters. Trudeau and the Liberal party continually violate UNDRIP, which instructs governments to “consult and cooperate in good faith with the Indigenous Peoples [...] through their own representative institutions.” Besides UNDRIP, the Liberal government’s platform has promised to work toward reconciliation, yet they have actively worked against Indigenous communities and hindered any form of meaningful progress. Trudeau and his Liberal government only seem to prioritize Indigenous communities’ rights to self-determination and “communities granting permission” during the election cycle. In line with its history of human rights violations, the Conservative Party’s platform, which was issued on October 11, only 10 days before the election, continues to neglect the concerns of Indigenous peoples. The party states that they will “work to remove barriers to prosperity [for Indigenous peoples],” although only in the context of building pipelines, and still these references remain vague and lack concrete action. During the recent debates, leader Andrew Scheer said that he would not be guided by UNDRIP while carrying out his proposed economic plan, many sections of which directly impact Indigenous communities. Leaders of First Nations within Scheer’s home riding of Regina-Qu’Appelle have also expressed distrust in the Conservatives. Vice-Chief of Saskatchewan’s Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations David Pratt expressed that many First Nations leaders are concerned by Scheer’s apathy toward Indigenous issues... [Continued on page 6]

Errata In our October 7 news article, “Honouring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Trans, and TwoSpirit People,” the name of the Centre for Gender Advocacy’s Programming and Campaigns Coordinator was misspelled. Her name is Dayna Danger. The Daily sincerely regrets and apologizes for the error. In our October 7 feature, “Federal Elections Primer,” the Conservative Party’s stance on Indigenous Issues and Reconciliation was misquoted – their Education platform was printed instead. The issue has been updated online, and the Daily sincerely apologizes for the error.

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October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

McGill

“Complaint as Queer Method” Sara Ahmed Lectures at McGill Nelly Wat Michaela Keil Editors

content warning: mention of sexual violence

n October 4, around 600 people filled a lecture hall in the McIntyre Medical Building to attend a talk by the renowned feminist writer and scholar, Sara Ahmed. Ahmed has continuously participated in efforts to address sexual violence at universities, and has protested against institutions’ failures to acknowledge and act on complaints. In late 2016, Ahmed resigned from her position as Professor of Race and Cultural Studies at Goldsmiths, University of London, in protest against the university’s failure to address complaints of sexual violence. “Thank you everyone for being with me here today, killjoys and complainers, misfits and troublemakers,” Ahmed began. “You might have a fight on your hands. [...] You might have to fight to find a safe path through life, a way of progressing,

of getting through, without having to give up yourself, or your desires.” Ahmed’s “Complaint as Queer Method” discusses the event of making a complaint, specifically in terms of sexual harassment, in the institutional sphere of a university. She argues that the institutional mechanics of complaint – formal complaint policy, and the subsequent resolution, or lack thereof – are used to give the problem a new form; procedures come into existence without coming to use. The shape of complaints, therefore, become circular where they should be linear. The complaint is lodged, nothing is done, and it has to be reasserted again and again. This exhaustion is an institutional method for discouraging complaints. Ahmed describes this temporality as “queer,” reflecting on the cyclical nature of the queer community in repeatedly having to come out to the world, forever stuck in a correctional cycle. Ahmed asserts that institutions hide complaints because complaints are stored in a metaphorical filing cabinet and become a record not just of what happened to a person, but also

of what happened to an institution. Unfortunately, institutions favour their reputation above all else. Using over 40 anecdotes from multiple different universities, Ahmed makes her point clear. The institutional decision to push complaints aside means that complaint requires a new understanding, beyond institutional policy and procedure. She considers a quote by Audre Lorde: “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.” The queer methodology that Ahmed applies to complaints reimagines a new mode of resistance to the complainers, one that brings some agency back to the complainer, and takes it away from the oppressive, hidden structure of universities. With each complaint, you leave a piece of yourself behind, like writing on the wall or a leaky pipe – these records are something that universities want to contain. Eventually, though, the pieces left behind add up, and are used to create a new atmosphere, a new shelter. Complaint finally transforms from a reactive resistance, to a productive force that (eventually) cannot be ignored.

Throughout her lecture, Ahmed comes back to a metaphor of a post box occupied by birds nesting, which she uses to visualize what a complaint can feel like; the post box, though it was not created for the birds that nest within, becomes a safe shelter. Yet the nest can also be disturbed by the letters within. “We know so much from trying to transform the worlds that don’t accommodate us. But that fight can also just be so damn hard. When we have to fight for an existence,

Pinkwashing in Israel

Nelly Wat | Managing Editor you can end up feeling that fighting is your existence. And so, we need each other. We need to become each other’s resources.” She also uses the post box to describe “the queer map of the organization:” “Queer maps, as we know, are useful; because they tell us where to go to find queer places [...] places that might provide temporary shelters. Those gay bars can be our nests. Where we want to be.” “Complaint is writing on the wall, ‘we are here, we did not disappear.’”

SPHR Holds Workshop for Queer History Month Willa Holt Sci-Tech Editor content warning: colonial violence, homophobia, transphobia, antiLGBTQ+ violence

n October 18, McGill Students in Solidarity with Palestinian Human Rights (SPHR) held a workshop on “pinkwashing”: the hijacking of LGBTQ+ rights and struggles for a specific political agenda, namely one which reinforces oppressive systems. The workshop, sponsored by McGill as a part of Queer History Month, included a presentation, followed by an open discussion, during which attendees were free to ask questions and reflect on their experiences as well as the information presented. After an overview of the term “pinkwashing,” the workshop moved into examples of its use in Israeli propaganda, emphasizing the way Israel distinguishes itself from surrounding countries. The 2017 promotional video for Tel Aviv Pride was shown as an example. The video advertises a very sanitized, party-like atmosphere, presenting the event (and, by extension, the city and country) as an appealing and cosmopolitan

tourist destination, rather than a political protest for LGBTQ+ rights. This strategy works to improve Israel’s image and strengthen the perception of Israeli social rights – despite the fact that Israel still allows conversion therapy, and that there is only one doctor in the country who is allowed to perform gender-affirming surgeries (and even then, only after approval by a committee). The presenters then deconstructed the dominant narrative that Israel is the only “Westernized,” democratic country in the Middle East. By aligning itself with “American” (and “Western”) values and by opposing itself to Muslim-majority surrounding countries, Israel casts its neighbors as the “other,” and presents itself as uniformly progressive. This, they added, is a common narrative passed down from the rhetoric of colonial-era scholars that depicts Muslim and Arab communities as “backwards,” which provides “legitimacy” for Western interference and imperialism. Further, as the presenters explained, this progressiveness is used as a shield from outside criticism: often, critiques of Israel’s human rights abuses are met with questions about

social issues (LGBTQ+ rights, in this context) in neighboring countries. This “whataboutism” – redirecting the focus from one issue to another – helps to distract from the real problems at hand. During the discussion period, one attendee asked if the presentation was denying that Israel is progressive on certain social issues. The presenters clarified that, while Israel is in some ways accepting, it is most important to recognize the ways that Israel takes advantage of its “progressive” appearance to advance its political goals and provide cover for its human rights abuses. They provided the example of Israel’s explicit acceptance of queer soldiers in its military: this leads to the idea of a “progressive” – or justifiable – military, ignoring the reality that those who refuse to serve in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) are jailed, and ignoring the numerous documented human rights abuses committed by the IDF. Especially during Queer History Month, spreading understanding of pinkwashing is crucial, both in the context of the Middle East and globally. During the discussion period, this question was raised: “What can

Phoebe Pannier | Illustrations Editor we do now, and from a distance?” The presenters emphasized the importance of raising awareness of this issue in North America and of challenging both external assumptions and internalized prejudices. They also expressed that pinkwashing is not specific to Israel, and it exists – and can be addressed – in Canada and the US as well. Beyond its purely educational aspects, the workshop opened the

floor for personal questions and conversations that could otherwise be difficult. Several attendees shared their perspectives on how pinkwashing, and institutionalized anti-Arab sentiment, has appeared in and affected their lives. In the coming months, SPHR plans to host a workshop on “greenwashing” – environmental progressiveness as a political tool.

October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

NEWS

McGill

Leg. Council

Climate Change Moratorium Passed Alex Karasick News Writer

n October 10, SSMU reconvened for the third Legislative Council of the year. On the agenda were a number of notable motions and presentations, bringing in both motions that had been announced in previous meetings, as well as new ones. Of particular note were motions regarding a moratorium on auxiliary fees, a response to Bill 21, and a new athletics fee. Due to the sheer number of new motions, as well as the significant time spent on debate, the council was an exceptionally long and heated session. Kat O’Donnell presented research on the University’s tenure processes. Given that the tenure process is quite central to how McGill functions, the presentation put significant emphasis on how tenure worked and possible areas that it can be improved, as well as specific methods through which students could get involved in the process. (Currently, there is no student involvement.) Some of these include prioritizing teaching out of the three criteria of the tenure process (teaching is currently ranked second to research). Additionally, the issue of equity in the tenure process was brought up, with O’Donnell pointing out that “right now, women, racialized professors, Indigenous professors, [and] professors with disabilities are underrepresented amongst tenure and tenure track positions,” meaning that “relative to their population in society [...] we’re below the percentage we would expect to see.” In addition to this, there were concerns regarding disciplinary records, as they are “currently not included in the tenure dossier, [as] the professor producing their own tenure dossier has no reason to include those.”

A Debate on the Motion for a Moratorium on McGill Fees Following the presentation, councillors debated the Motion Regarding Policy on Moratorium on McGill Fees Until Fossil Fuel Divestment, which was announced at the last council meeting. Proving to be a significant point of debate, questions arose as to whether the motion constituted an effective solution, or if it was a proper way of addressing the issue of McGill’s divestment from fossil fuels.

Phoebe Pannier | Illustrations Editor Arts Councillor Adin Chan asked “if this might antagonize the relationship [of the SSMU] with the administration,” to which VP University Affairs Madeline Wilson responded, “the short answer is: it absolutely will.” She then elaborated on the already complex relationship between the administration and SSMU, and spoke to the fact that so far no other options have proven to have any effect. During debate, the proxy for Senator Lametti, Sebastien Duckett, brought up that student senators had recently decided to vote against this motion, arguing it only served to take away student voices from the current process of having a say over what fees and funding-based changes take place. He also argued that the University may increase international student tuition as a means of raising funds for

Questions arose as to whether the motion constituted an effective solution, or if it was a proper way of addressing the issue of divestment.

projects if referendums are not available. In response, however, VP External Adam Gwiazda-Amsel pointed out that McGill has already made it clear that they plan on raising international student tuition, and that there is Quebec legislation that requires student consultation. Additionally, a significant discussion took place regarding the merits of divestment as a whole, with some arguing that it would instead be better to attempt to use the stakes McGill has in fossil fuel corporations to pressure these companies at stakeholder meetings, and become so-called “activist shareholders.” Amongst others, environment representative Michael Rhamey pointed out the issue with attempting to push divestment of fossil fuels from within fossil fuel corporations. Ultimately, the motion passed by a wide margin, with more than 20 councillors voting in favour of it. Motion on the Athletics Facility Improvement Fee Referendum Question Following the passing of this motion, councillors discussed the Motion Regarding Creation of an Athletics Facility Improvement Fee Referendum Question. While this represented a new auxiliary fee, and thus would be directly affected by the prior motion, there was significant desire to bring it up for debate anyways, and to vote on it as well. SSMU President Bryan Buraga began by motioning to object

to the question, under the grounds that it would go against the motion that had just been passed. However, that was not the end of the issue, as councillors made attempts to bring it up for debate, eventually succeeding by appealing the decision of the chair. Once in debate, questions included asking whether it would be “possible to change the name of the motion” so that it would not be considered a new fee, whether councillors could vote on it despite it going against the previous motion, and whether the Board of Governors could change their agenda to vote on the Moratorium motion after the athletics fee. In the end, a major portion of the debate focused on whether this would violate the prior motion as well as the spirit of the motion. After the motion was voted on, it did not end up passing. Additional Motions A number of other important motions were presented this council, including the Motion Regarding Condemnation of Judicial Challenge of Human Rights Tribunal Ruling Regarding First Nations Children, as well as the Motion Regarding Condemnation of Bill 21, both of which passed with relatively little debate. Other motions debated included a Motion Regarding Creation of the Gerts Reopening Fund and Fee, which failed, a Motion Regarding Increase and Nature of SSMU Equity Fee Referendum Question which

was approved, a Motion Regarding Creation of SSMU Student Academic Support Services and Fee Levy, and finally a Motion Regarding Changes to the Health and Dental Review Committee Terms of Reference which also passed. The motion to open Gerts in Winter 2020 with a one-time fee levy of $7.50 proved to be controversial, with nine councillors voting in favour of opening the bar, ten voting against, and four abstaning. (The motion mentions how the bar “would operate at a significant financial loss if it were re-opened during the Winter 2020 Semester.”)

The motion to open Gerts in Winter 2020 proved to be controversial, with nine councillors voting in favour [and] ten voting against. Due to the significant time constraints, the rest of the motions and reports which did not require immediate approval were pushed back to the next meeting. Finally, regarding announcements, it was noted that the Fall SSMU General Assembly will be taking place October 28 at New Residence Ballroom.

NEWS

October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Editorial: Continued

[...] During a December 2018 meeting, Scheer was booed by First Nations chiefs for refusing to explain how he would be different from Stephen Harper and telling the chiefs that they needed to “have a little bit of patience” until the Conservative Party platform was released. The platform ultimately does not address Indigenous issues, and includes only a vague promise to “facilitate engagement” with Indigenous communities regarding jobs, climate change, and pipelines. While the Green Party touts a seemingly progressive platform toward reconciliation, including honouring treaties, respecting UNDRIP, and fully implementing recommendations from the TRC and MMIWG reports, Elizabeth May’s stance against commercial seal hunting shows a serious disregard for Inuit peoples and their livelihoods. May states

Beyond

on her platform that the party “support[s] hunting by Aboriginal peoples and local communities,” but does not consider the fact that the commercial seal industry has been part of many Inuit peoples’ livelihoods for over a century. The Green Party’s “Vision Green” platform, released during the 2019 Nanaimo by-election, also presented a number of inaccuracies in its section on Indigenous issues, and used recycled sections of Jim Harris’ 2006 election platform. “These errors, typos, contradictions, and ill-considered proposals make up the Green Party’s policy for Indigenous people,” Robert Jago, a Montreal-based businessperson and member of the Nooksack Tribe and Kwantlen First Nation, wrote in an opinion piece for The Tyee. “It makes you wonder if any Native person has ever seen this policy.”

The NDP promises to invest in access to broadband internet and cell service for rural and remote communities, and to co-develop a National Action Plan for Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and create a National Council for Reconciliation to hold the process accountable. However, they have been criticized for their lack of focus on Northern Indigenous populations. Catherine Lafferty, a councillor for the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, acknowledged the distrust among Indigenous communities in the voting process as a whole. “[...] the issues that matter to me as an Indigenous northerner,” she wrote, “are obtaining the full right to self-determination, and having the necessary supports for improving the health and wellbeing of my family, my home, and my community.” While Lafferty credited the NDP for its pledge to close

the health gap in Indigenous communities, she also argued that it needs to focus more on the North. Additionally, the NDP does not have a concrete plan for moving the Alberta economy away from its dependence on the production of oil – a necessary component of any promises made to Indigenous communities. It is crucial to centre Indigenous concerns when voting on Election Day. We must demand real, concrete, and resolute action regarding these issues, as well as numerous other legacies of Canadian colonialism. We must respect the hesitation to vote felt by some Indigenous peoples, which stems from constant disregard for their voices and activism. As settlers, we must include, uphold, and centre Indigenous voices when voting and continue to pressure the elected government.

US Debates LGBTQ+ Rights

Supreme Court Examines Discrimination Laws Kate Ellis and Michaela Keil Editors content warning: homophobia and transphobia

he United States Supreme Court announced on October 7 that it will begin hearing three cases regarding LGBTQ+ workplace discrimination. The Supreme Court’s role is to determine whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on sex (as well as race, colour, religion, and national origin) applies to LGBTQ+ individuals as a subset of sex discrimination. In short, these hearings will “settle the question of whether lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals may be lawfully fired on the basis of their identities.” This decision comes at a precarious time for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States, as Anthony Kennedy, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court who was considered an advocate for LGBTQ+ retired last year and was succeeded by Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Although Kavanaugh’s stance on LGBTQ+ issues is unclear, he has been heavily backed by The Family Research Council, who are a vocal antiLGBTQ hate-group. As it stands, 29 US states do not have explicit legislation to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from workplace discrimination. Beyond this legislation, Wisconsin has existing protections based on sexual orientation, but not gender identity. Despite not having explicit legislation, Michigan and Pennsylvania reinterpret existing sex discrimination laws to apply to sexual orientation and gender identity. However, Michigan is in the process of passing House Bill 4688, which will protect sexual orientation and gender identity as protected under the state’s Civil Rights Act. Three cases are currently being heard in the Supreme Court. The first, a lawsuit by Gerald Bostock, a former advocate for children in foster care, states that he was fired after joining a

recreational LGBTQ+ softball league. This is being reviewed alongside a lawsuit by the late Donald Zarda (represented by his partner and his sister), a New York skydiving instructor who stated he was fired after telling a female client that he was gay to reassure her when they were strapped together for a tandem jump. Pamela Karlan, a Stanford law professor representing the case, is arguing that the discriminatory act was based on sex because Bostock and Zarda would not have been fired if they were women that were in relationships with men. The third case is that of Aimee Stephens, who was fired in 2013 by Harris Funeral Homes in Michigan, based on what she states was discrimination after she came out as transgender, informing her boss that she would be presenting as female in the workplace. After the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in March 2018 that she was unlawfully fired, her case has moved to the Supreme Court, where she will Phoebe Pannier | Illustrations Editor be represented by the American Civil Liberties Association. Stephens’ case is the first time that sexual orientation is discrimination because of democratic candidates (as discussed at CNN’s LGBT Issues Town Hall) for greater equality. the rights of transgender people will directly be sex in violation of Title VII.” These cases – Altitude Express Inc, v. Zarda, Over 200 businesses have signed a brief dealt with under US law. in support of their LGBTQ+ employees, as Bostock v. Clayton County, R.G. & G.R. Harris a direct response to these cases. As per the Funeral Homes Inc. v. Equal Employment brief: “These businesses are committed to Opportunities Commission – require the creating workplaces that afford lesbian, gay, support of five justices to pass and cement bisexual and transgender (‘LGBT’) employees that Title VII applies to LGBTQ+ workplace the opportunity to earn a living, excel in their discrimination. A decision is expected by early professions, and provide for their families free summer 2020. Though there is no petition regarding these from fear of unequal treatment.” If the Supreme Court does not vote in favour specific cases at this time, individuals can sign of advancing protections for LBGTQ+ workers, the petition in support of the Equality Act, it would be the first legal denial of LGBTQ+ a bill currently being considered by the US rights following a stream of protections and Senate that protects LGBTQ+ individuals from Chief Justice John Roberts, a possible swing laws meant to help LGBTQ+ communities. discrimination under civil rights law. LGBTQ+ members of the McGill vote in the cases, feels that, “If we’re going to be According to CNN, this could suggest “a break expanding the definition of what ‘sex’ covers, with the steady pattern of advancing gay community who are interested in working in what do we do about that issue?” However, rights.” This break is consistent with the Trump the United States can access more information the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity administration’s continued efforts to roll back regarding protections for LGBTQ+ workers Commission (EEOC) states that “discrimination rights for transgender people. These setbacks on the EEOC website. American students can also contact their local against an individual because of gender identity, are at odds with the resounding support from including transgender status, or because of American citizens, businesses, and current Senators and urge them to vote to pass the bill.

29 US states do not have explicit legislation that protects LGBTQ+ individuals from workplace discrimination.

October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

culture

Feminism, Activism, & Privilege Interview with Strange Breed

Phoebe Pannier Illustrations Editor

n October 5, The McGill Daily had the chance to sit down and talk to three-fourths of Strange Breed, a queer feminist garage-rock band from Vancouver. Montreal’s Diving Bell Social Club was the last stop on their cross-country tour. Unfortunately, guitarist Terra Chaplin was trying to find a parking spot and we had to start without her, figuring it would take five minutes or so. As a result, the rest of the band (drummer Megan Bell, vocalist Nicole Dupas, and bassist Ally Von Wallis) spent a lot of time bemoaning Montreal’s construction. I’ve cut those parts out of the transcript (you’re welcome). Forty minutes later, the interview was done and Terra was just in time for sound check. The McGill Daily (MD): You’ve mentioned being a political band. What sorts of political messages do you talk about?

Nicolle Dupas: The biggest theme at the time that we were writing a lot of the songs was the #MeToo movement. [Our single] “Sharks” was very much about a culture of predatory men, or individuals in general, but rather than it just being a dark, scary thing, it was about power in unity. We were inspired by people finding strength in their own vulnerabilities and speaking out about their stories. So the first half of the song is like, watch out, be careful, these are the people that are out there, and here’s what they’re doing. But it’s also like, look what we can accomplish together, and this is why it’s important to talk about these things. And you shouldn’t be ashamed or embarrassed or scared [of talking about sexual assault] because we’ve got to. But of course, we did it in our style. It’s very metaphorical. And then on the other side of the same coin, we have “The C-Word,” which is about consent. As heavy as the topic can be at times, we did it in a kind of fun, upbeat way. It got into some Sex and the City references. We just had fun with it. And I think that really comes across in our shows. People, especially in Vancouver, where people really know us, they know that song and they know that it’s a fun call-andresponse song. And, that’s what we want, you know? A lot of the themes on the album are to do with LGBTQ+ issues,

gender discrimination, [and] sexual assault. These are the things we deal with every day. We also touch on issues like mental health, which kind of ties into some of those themes, but is also kind of a standalone issue that we all deal with. The first song in the album is called “Twenty Five” and one of the lines that resonates with all of us is “It took me twenty five years to want to stay alive.” I just turned 27, so I wrote that song this year because it said all the things I wish I had been able to say that I was feeling. And the fact that the last two years I’ve been more stable than I’ve ever been. And it just feels really good. It was just something that I finally had the strength to find the words to talk about. I’m really glad that we got it on this album with all these other more political things. But it’s still a stigmatized subject. [We sing about] a lot of fucking things. But also we have some songs or parts of our songs that are just to rock out to, just for fun, you know?

“Lets get more queerness out there, queerness looks like so many different kinds of people, and it sounds like a lot of different styles of music.” — Nicolle Dupas

Left to right: Terra Chaplin, Megan Bell, Nicolle Dupas, Ally Von Wallis Courtesy of Bailey Morgan Photography MD: Outside of feminism, what movements are important to you either as a group or as individuals? Megan Bell: Definitely Black Lives Matter. To me, that counts as feminism as well. Nicolle Dupas: We’re all struggling. And our struggles are different. And I acknowledge that I am privileged and that privilege blinds me from exactly understanding those struggles, but we try to understand it and help out where we can.

and we sometimes do shows where there’s no cover but we ask people to donate things if they can: coats, socks, hygiene products, all that. While on this tour we actually did a fundraiser in Kingston for a youth arts and film festival. We raised a bit of money for them, but unfortunately it’s not something you can do all the time. Because, honestly, we’re not the most well-off people, but we are very privileged in a lot of ways, too. It’s hard to be a part of everything all the time. You know, we do our best. We’re not perfect, but we do our best.

MD: If you could change one thing MD: What does “helping out” about the Vancouver music scene, look like? What sorts of activism or the Canadian scene in general, what would it be? do you do?

MD: What is feminism to you Ally Von Wallis: I personally work personally? with Indigenous children. That’s my Nicolle Dupas: I think all of us day job, but I also think that it flows are pretty much on the same page. into other parts of my life. We all We really do see it as equality for employ our ethics in different ways. everybody. And I think in this new So that’s my personal work. And I’ve wave of feminism there’s no room for learned a lot about myself through TERFs [trans-exclusionary radical that and how much privilege I have. feminists] or SWERFs [sex workerexclusionary radical feminists]. Megan Bell: I used to volunteer for There’s room for all genders here. a 24-hour emergency shelter for atWe do make a priority to always play risk homeless youth. They ended up with other female musicians and non- hiring me on. I feel like we chose binary musicians. But at the end of to kind of dig our teeth into the the day, it doesn’t mean we don’t love resources that we saw the necessity playing with our dude friends and for, and then we both happened to bands too. Like, we have our reasons find employment there. for working together as women because we feel like we understand Nicolle Dupas: There’s a very high homeless population [in Vancouver], each others’ stories better.

Ally Von Wallis: Community. There is very little sense of genuine community, especially among musicians and other artists. I feel like it’s uncool to care about those things and showing genuine interest is not really something that we see a lot. And it feels weird to be on the opposite end of that because I don’t understand how people can not get excited about their community and music. We could have made so many more connections if other people allowed us to develop more creative projects with them. When I lived [in Montreal], I saw that a lot. Everybody wants to work with everybody else. But [in Vancouver] there is more of a

circle of people. And those people are all in other bands together. Nicolle Dupas: I would say the biggest thing for me is having women in music, and more visibly queer people in music of all different kinds. There’s sort of a type of queer person that’s more [palatable], but there needs to be more diversity. Let’s get more queerness out there, because queerness looks like so many different kinds of people, and it sounds like a lot of different styles of music.

“There’s room for all genders here. We do make a priority to always play with other female musicians and non-binary musicians” — Nicolle Dupas

Megan Bell: I’d make Canada smaller, so [on] our next tour we don’t have to drive so far. Or we can change the concept of touring altogether where the band stays stationary and people from all over come to Vancouver so we don’t have to drive anymore. Interview has been edited for length and clarity.

October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

content warning: grief

culture

Are You There, Sappho? It’s Me, Margaret

Niagara By Willa Holt

I turn to set the pan on the stove and the sun is like a lover on my back, so warm I close my eyes like a calico and when I reach in my mind I can feel her fingers brushing my shoulder, steadying me with her warm orange glow, a thick slice of sky laced with church bells, a warm milky bath of light.

Ee Our Funeral By Kate Ellis

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that the love we once had died today. It was sudden, unexpected, but should have been anticipated in a way that only God knows. We will not be lived on by anyone, not a single soul except for my mother, who tells me that you’re still the one over the dinner table when I say your name and she says that we’re “bad at being broken up,” as if it is a game that we are somehow supposed to be winning. Friends are asked not to call, family is begged to stay away from the private funeral, which will be held every day in my heart until the real one comes around. In lieu of flowers, send me the breath of fresh air that I have missed

u Moving In By Emily Black

it’s nearing 7 in the morning and the air is in the negatives. my breath is condensed on the thin glass but the warmth doesn’t last long. stretching my limbs brings cracks and pops and strains and aches. my feet hit the hardwood, and I’m reminded of the way you looked at me the last time it was this cold. i shuffle along, avoiding the splinters and sinking into the hesitation of every contact. the feeble touches stick around no longer than the tiny pockets of hot air on my lips, no longer than the memory of yours on mine.

every day since you walked out of my life. Thank you.

October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

features

Beyond the

“Other” Box

Artistic Representations of Non-binary Experiences

content warning: gender dysphoria, transphobia.

introduction

Kate Ellis (curator) I’ve spent a long time trying to explain my gender to cis people. Non-binary as an identity, category, and label is often oversimplified – half-man/half-woman, in between men and women on some sort of spectrum or line, or something like that. But that’s not quite it.

But that wasn’t right either. Personally, I like this one a little better:

I thought that maybe my gender looked a little more like this:

To combat the misconceptions around non-binary as a category, I wanted to prioritize non-binary representations of gender within our Queer History Month issue. I wanted to show that being nonbinary means so many things that go beyond the “other” box. So, The McGill Daily reached out to non-binary artists and asked them to represent their gender in any way that made sense to them. Their submissions are a reminder that genders outside of the binary cannot be boxed into one category.

October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Evolution

Fern Lou Fernandez Started Jan 2016, completed Oct 2019

features

October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

features

Carina and Ganymède William Vanden Abeele @cyber_chartreuse

“Carina”: Gender is often connected to genitalia. I wanted to deconstruct the idea by illustrating a body that possesses both male and female sexual characteristics. My second purpose was to express femininity with its opposite sexual organ in order to demonstrate that femininity can take on different aspects than what we would usually expect.

“Ganymède”: His nipples have been removed. He was born as a woman. A little mockery of the censorship of female nipples, juxtaposed to a male body.

October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Mad-âme

Nahar Al-Nuhas Excuse me Sir! Excuse me Ma’am! Excusez-moi Monsieur! Excusez-moi Madame!

up with endless hollow My body stood in vain as the venom flooded my veins The same bare body could never bear the pain

Please excuse my goddamn WHISPER

Where is the novocaine to make me whole again

In a world full of wars My body must resist with words In words I trust but they justify their hatred With words And swords

Beyond my control my body is nothing but a canvas Or an atlas for Snow White to conquer and restraint For other people to paint To name To blame To shame That Maine gal said she liked my body Then left me in the dirt for some bodies Never once was I her main body I am no-body

My knackered body stands silently naked In this pig pen Big Ben must be jealous My body is penned down on this sheet of paper Giving birth legitimacy to my feeble existence “My” body is pinned on dirty loo doors Just to be unpinned and re-pinned on other doors I don’t see my soul inhabiting the silhouettes of the signs My body might be worth ten cans or one tin can with no outlines At all At all Maybe my body is not mine but a land mine A booby trap strapped to my flesh and spine Maybe my body is a site where “bad” genes intertwined A cursed design a label assigned a big confine I defiled my body with Bacchus’s wine Just to whine to an ex-lover from forever ago Oh golden ale you failed to soothe my deep ailings Unveiling a bruised body patched

Why did you tear me apart when my body was just tears? Why did you treat me like dough just to kill me like Jane or John Doe? Why does the absence of the Y chromosome have to silence my soul? Oh sorrow it seems like there is no tomorrow nowhere to go My soul is not allowed so I SHALL SCREAM ALOUD MY BODY MY VOICE MY SOUL ARE ALL OWED TO ME I SHALL GIVE THEM MEANING LIFE WISDOM HARMONY MY BODY WILL BEND GENDER MY VOICE WILL SEND PRAYERS MY SOUL WILL FEND OFF PRETENDERS I WILL ENGENDER MY OWN REBIRTH AND LIKE A BIRD I WON’T SURRENDER

This poem is the fruit of my reflections on my dysphoria and disorientation in a world that always tries to orient bodies in different ways, whether race-wise or genderwise. I always come off as an “ambiguous-looking” person in my home country and in the West, so the whispers, the gazes, and the misgendering – not to mention the racism and queerphobia – always follow my trails, When the empirical domain doesn’t accommodate my existence, whether temporally, spatially, or discursively, I find solace in the metaphysicality of poetry to survive. Poetry enables me to say a lot of things that I have never had a chance to say to different people and power structures, in addition to allowing me to float freely in space and time and rendering all the absent elements in reality more present. It seems like I am just yelling into the void, but this void is not devoid of meaning or space for queer bodies to resist and exist.

October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

features

untitled self-portraits Nelly Wat

My favorite subject to paint is myself. I realize this sounds narcissistic and egotistical, but I find myself drawing selfportraits again and again... and each time I closely study something else about my body that I had never noticed, or appreciated, before. As a child, I avoided mirrors, even when standing in front of one in the bathroom, because I experienced gender dysphoria every time I saw my face and my body. The more I drew myself, however, the more comfortable I became with myself. I would experiment with my appearance in my self-portraits; I tried out glasses, hairstyles, clothing, in ink. You know when you walk past a store window or a mirror and catch your own reflection? Now I try to document every time it happens in sketches. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gender-affirming.

October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

LETTERS

Support Science, #VoteScience Olga Koppel, Martha Lee, Travis Moore, Stefanie Perrier, Anh-Khoi Trinh Commentary Contributors

his September, millions of young people worldwide marched at climate strikes protesting government inaction. The message, delivered by Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg, was clear: “Listen to the science.” Young adults dominated the turnout at these marches and acted as a driving force, with their heads held high and voices calling for change. This generation is connected and passionate about their community, willing to engage with peers on politics, and protest for political change based on science. We, as members of Youthnited Nations, aim to inspire the youth community to engage and bring about changes to their local communities. We ask you to support the #VoteScience campaign by bringing science to the forefront of this year’s federal election and to support evidence-based policymaking. In collaboration with Evidence for Democracy, Science & Policy Exchange and many other scientific communities, we ask of you to build upon this vision for change, and to vote for science in Canada’s upcoming federal election. The value of science is immeasurable. It drives forward our knowledge of many fields in society including public health, renewable energy, education, and agriculture. Science is at its best impartial, providing an empirical nonpartisan assessment of the underpinnings of the challenges that face society. Thus, it is crucial for evidence-based facts to form the foundation for policy design. Science has acted as a catalyst in many important policies that have propelled changes in society. Policies regarding asbestos, smoking, and ozone layer destruction were made possible only because policymakers across the political spectrum listened and worked together with the scientific community in order to deal with societal problems. We worked together, as neighbours, members of the electorate and public servants shaping policies for a better tomorrow.

Sequoia Kim | Illustrator Today, in an age of misinformation, we are in dire need of leaders who will engage with the scientific community and actively support sciencebased policies.

Over 6 million people across the world marched for the climate strikes; we now ask you to elect policymakers that will implement their vision. Consider the recent antivaccination movement. The scientific evidence is well established: vaccination is a seminal achievement in public health. As such, this is a clear case where policymakers must consult with the scientific community to address this problem. Fortunately, policies

for mandatory vaccinations have gained momentum. Following numerous outbreaks of preventable diseases in Canada, the United States, and Europe, the provincial government of British Columbia implemented mandatory immunisation records. Moreover, the city of Toronto recently voted to limit exemptions for standard vaccinations within their students’ populations. These policies are clear examples of policymakers actively responding to problems identified by the scientific community. As evidenced by the recent wave of climate strikes, it is clear that climate change is another key area in which a better collaboration between policymakers and scientists should be promoted. The scientific community overwhelmingly agrees that human activity does contribute to climate change. However, not all political parties recognize the urgency of climate change. Since the People’s Party of Canada actively denies the scientific community’s consensus, Elections Canada proposed considering any discussion about climate change to be a “partisan activity.” Similar policies that disregard the scientific community’s

Greta Thunberg’s words were conclusions misrepresent science policy and are an affront to the clear, simple and decisive: “Listen to the science, act on the science.” scientific community. The youth of today are often perceived as politically apathetic. However, the recent global climate strikes and increasing youth voter turnout since 2011 clearly demonstrate the contrary. We believe that our generation of youth is actively involved and passionate about building a better world for both current and future generations. Increasingly, young people demonstrate that they are amply informed and should be seen as able to influence policy. We By co-signing to the Paris cannot afford to fail in our duty to Climate Agreement, the Canadian be engaged in the political sphere. On September 27, 2019, Greta Government pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions Thunberg rallied a crowd of by 30% by 2030, yet Environment 500,000 climate change activists and Climate Change Canada’s in Montreal and said: “If the own report estimates that people in power won’t take their its current policies will only responsibility, then we will. achieve 19% at best. This is not It should not be up to us, but enough. The science is sound: somebody needs to do it.” Connect and engage with disastrous consequences will result from our inability to your MPs. Email, tweet and call maintain global temperatures them. Ask about their views on below a 1.5 degree Celsius science and for their opinions increase. Over 6 million people on issues that are important across the world marched for the to you. On October 21, unite for climate strikes; we now ask you your beliefs, stand up for science, to elect policymakers that will and vote in support of evidencebased policies. implement their vision.

On October 21, unite for your beliefs, stand up for science, and vote in support of evidencebased policies.

October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Horoscopes

HECK’in HOROSCOPES Aries (Mar 21 Apr 19)

Take your significant other out on a hot date ;) maybe a museum? ;) the planetarium? ;) see some stars ;)

Cancer (Jun 21 Jul 22)

Have your tea leaves read by a Taurus.

Taurus (Apr 20 May 20)

Stay at home this weekend. Brew some mushroom tea. Read your tea leaves.

Leo (Jul 23 Aug 22)

Gemini (May 21 Jun 20)

Make that move. We all know you have a crush on that person.

Virgo (Aug 23 Sept 22)

Allow yourself to be taken on a hot date ;)

Go down on your partner. They’ve been waiting.

Libra

Scorpio

(Sept 23 Oct 22)

(Oct 23 Nov 21)

Sagittarius

Your season’s almost over, binch. Wear your hottest sweater. Show off those gorgeous natural features. We love you.

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)

Your nurturing tendencies have paid off. Take time to take care of yourself instead of your dependents.

You’re wrong. Apologize to the person you’ve been fighting with. It’s okay.

(Nov 22 - Dec 21)

Don’t go clubbing this weekend. Don’t drop molly this weekend. Just go to Value Village and do your fucking homework.

Aquarius

Pisces

(Jan 20 Feb 18)

(Feb 19 - Mar 20)

Don’t force a Sagittarius to drop molly this weekend. Go with them to Value Village instead.

Allow yourself to feel. Don’t stop yourself from exploring your full emotional range. We all know you like to cry.

October 21, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Compendium! Lies, half-truths, and hee hoo. Women.

Big Suze Says “Trans Rights!” The HRT Conglomerate content warning: transphobia, misgendering

ccording to sources, Principal Big Suze allegedly declared “trans rights!” this past weekend in conversations with the Buddle Huddle. This utterance came as validation to all transgender students on campus, verifying that McDill has now reached true equality for students of all genders. When reached for comment, Big Suze was happy to discuss her work as a queer rights advocate. “It’s only natural that I would say trans rights,” she said. “McDill is proud to be a school where people can be misgendered equally, regardless of how they identify.” When asked about students’ inability to modify their honorific on Minerva, she said that “this is actually a way that McDill is promoting gender diversity. We’re showing transgender students that it’s okay to be flamboyant. McDill wants to promote a culture where trans men can embrace being called Mrs. We need transgendereds to understand that it’s the 21st century and gender roles are dead.” She also told The McDill Gaily about improvements in the Glossy Hellness Wub. According

(Loudly.)

to an insider tip to the Gaily, psychiatrists have learned, over years of asking students to explain their genders, to only take two months to correctly gender patients, a fantastic improvement from the previous ten-month record. Students also have access to special queer therapists now, so that they can explain their identities not to white cishet men, but rather to GAY white cis men. Buddle was also reached for comment by the Gaily regarding

“McDill is proud to be a school where people can be misgendered equally, regardless of how they identify.” — Big Suze

his experiences witnessing this proclamation. “I’m so glad I could witness such a historic event,” he said. “As a proud heterosexual twink, I feel a strong connection to the BLT+ community.” *The HRT Conglomerate is comprised of Hellish Rat Titty,

Ally Cisgenre | The McDill Gaily Hard Rod Todd, Hentai Rigatoni Tagliatelle, Haha Really Tall, Hardwarestore Realestate Thursday, Handcuff Riddle Toenail, Hippies R. Terrible,

CLA S S I F I E D S

Helen Relen Telen, Hedonism Rare Trouble, Hairy Raspberry Tequila, Hole Rot Tambourine, Hotn Ready Tambourine, Haphazard Raclette Taglines.

Mile End Sublet

ISO dad hats quirky but

thrifted flannel pop-

missed connection

turns out moving in with

not too quirky y’know?

selling

you were wearing a sweater

stick & pokes and handmade

with a goose on it. i am BISEXUAL.

partner of two weeks was

sale.

also

not a smart idea. must be

advice wanted! i can’t

soaps. 2 AM, plateau. be

okay with cats, my ex has

tell

there or be str8.

three fosters.

years is in love with me or

suspect

(my

wife)

just

every

wife

being

day

she

WANTED:

solidarity,

friendly.

twelve gays in search

tells

cigarettes

one

brain

cell

that can do math.

pretty

girl

light

for,

gay

wanted in connection

she’s grateful i’m in her

to a crime. she stole my

life,

heart!! sandra if you’re

says

her

in search of: a reason

reading this give it back!

friends. am i reading too

to not re-download tinder;

Help!

i am so in love with you!

much into this?

or,

personality

source

isn’t

manic

but

she

probably

that

all

cheerleader

WANTED: plant therapist.

just wanted y’all to know

i am a vegan thanks

messy scorpio.

succulent

very

and

for

hand to hold.

new

source

superficial validation

PSA i am vegan

sex,

looking the

that pixie

dream girl trope. ideas?

ISO driving lessons

find me looking pensively

i am gay and cannot drive

at the sky.