The Queen's Journal, Volume 149, Issue 2

the Queen’s University

News How a unicorn will teach gender expression and identity

—

journal

Vol. 149, Issue 2

—

Monday, June 28, 2021

—

Situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples.

Since 1873

THE QUEER ISSUE

Page 2

Features Celebrating Pride in a pandemic Page 5

Editorials Distrupting the dichotomy between queer and Muslim identities Page 6

Opinions Prounouns and performativity on social media Page 7

Arts The story behind Queer Muslim Resistance Page 8 ILLUSTRATION BY SHELBY TALBOT

Editors’ Note: Queer Issue Lifestyle The interplay between queerness and creativity Page 12

queensjournal.ca

The Queen’s Journal Vol. 149 Issue 2 is our inaugural Queer Issue.

In honour of Pride month, this Issue takes a special look at queer voices at Queen’s. It celebrates the joy and community created by queer students, highlights some of the work that needs to be done on-campus and abroad, and takes a look at some of the foundations of Pride. @queensjournal

We’re so excited to be introducing this Issue. We hope it’s one of many. As queer women, we have watched The Journal flourish to include more and more queer voices—a group we and the rest of Queen’s has historically excluded. We’re excited to watch this paper learn, each year, how to better represent and amplify the queer community. We’re excited @queensjournal

to learn, un-learn, and expand our outlook to include queer voices from all backgrounds— especially those that lie at the intersection of multiple oppressed identities.

We’d like to express our sincere gratitude to the queer contributors and allies who worked with us on this issue. This year, we seek to continue implementing policies @queensjournal

and practices that set us on a path to becoming a safe and adequate platform for queer students, staff, and faculty at Queen’s.

Above all, we hope that readers love and appreciate this issue’s content as much as we do.

—Aysha Tabassum & Shelby Talbot, Editors in Chief @thequeensjournal

News

2 • queensjournal.ca

Gegi provides educational and legal resources to foster an environment of acceptance.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY VIOLETTA ZEITLINGER FONTANA

How a unicorn is helping Ontario highschools teach about gender expression and identity ‘By providing Ontario K-12 students and their loved ones with cutting-edge legal information, we hope to facilitate access to justice’ Rida Chaudhry Assistant News Editor On May 5, gegi.ca (Gegi) launched as an educational and legal resource for high school students and administrators to help create an environment of

unconditional acceptance towards diverse forms of gender expression and gender identities.

The website offers policy documents and educational materials for both students and educators. Resources include tip sheets on implementing gender-friendly bathrooms, facilitating gender-friendly overnight trips, and packages to facilitate workshops.

The name Gegi is derived from the abbreviations of gender expression (GE) and gender identity (GI). It serves as a guide for Ontario school boards, students, and parents to pave the way for a discrimination-free environment and welcome gender diversity.

Little Giant’s Rockin’ Dog Town seeks volunteers New Kingston dog shelter set to open in July Larissa Zhong Contributor Little Giant’s Rockin’ Dog Town will hold its grand opening on Jul. 10.

Located at 3250 Creekford Road, Little Giant’s is a nonprofit dog shelter created by Chris

Developed by Lee Airton, assistant professor at the Faculty of Education at Queen’s, and Kyle Kirkup, associate

Monday, June 28, 2021 professor at the Faculty of Law experienced with relevant at the University of Ottawa, case law and policies, suggest “Gegi” takes the form short-term and long-term of a nonbinary unicorn. solutions, and track action steps Beyond the educational agreed upon by their merits, Gegi functions as a school administration.” legal reference.

According to DesRochers, each “Over the past two school board has a dedicated decades, governments at all webpage they can reference levels have added explicit to better suit their students’ gender expression and needs under Toby’s Law. gender identity protections “Gegi embodies welcoming to their human rights codes, gender diversity in a school but laws on the books don’t context, and Gegi is for necessarily translate into everyone,” he said. meaningful change on “Thinking back to the ground,” Kirkup said 12-year-old Jake as a in a press release. cisgender student in a K-12 “By providing Ontario K-12 school, I experienced gender students and their loved ones expression discrimination, with cutting-edge legal and I think of Gegi and information, we hope to facilitate gegi.ca as a resource I would access to justice.” have benefited from The Journal sat down as a youth.” with Jacob DesRochers, He added Gegi is a figure MSc, and one of the research of enthusiasm and passion assistants on the team for gender diversity. developing Gegi, to discuss “The team has put love and the conceptualization of care into creating that connection this resource. with Gegi, a symbol of DesRochers said Gegi seeks gender diversity that to ensure the implementation represents the beautiful of gender identity and work we’ve all been doing.” expression protections under DesRochers said the Toby’s Law, a piece of legislation website has resources for focusing on the right to students and parents to learn be free from discrimination about gender expression and and harassment based on identity advocacy. gender identity or He hopes school boards gender expression. across Ontario will incorporate The team b e h i n d the website as a resource Gegi has worked to research for students. and compile information “Dr. Airton and Dr. Kirkup regarding public and Catholic have done a beautiful job school board policies on at supporting the team. We gender-based protections. have a strong sense of “Currently, we are creating community, and I am a series of tools that students e x c i t e d and proud can use to tell their story to for the future of this project.” adults in positions of DesRochers said. power, align what they have

Founded after his chihuahua’s passing, Chris Kozanitis sets to open new nonprofit dog shelter in Kingston.

on accepting surrendered dogs within Kingston, but soon decided to accept dogs far beyond the city.

Kozanitis. Kozanitis founded the Farand-Taylor said Little Giant’s shelter in 2019 after his chihuahua, will be taking in stray dogs Giant, passed away in 2017. from Canada’s northern territories.

“When [Giant] passed away, “We’re not going to limit it kind of sparked [Chris’s] ourselves. A dog in need is a realization that he wanted to dog in need.” help dogs that needed help,” Little Giant’s is currently Danika Farand-Taylor, manager seeking volunteers to help with of operations and social media the operations of the dog shelter, director at Little Giant’s, said in Farand-Taylor added. an interview with The Journal.

“We’re accepting students “He wanted to give the life he and anyone in the community provided for [Giant] to other who’s a dog lover and who dogs that needed it.” likes being around dogs. If you The shelter initially planned have those qualities, then you

have the foundation of being an equipped volunteer.”

Farand-Taylor said she’s hopeful the shelter’s operations will be able to run smoothly come July. The shelter will respect Ontario’s COVID-19 protocols and prioritize the safety of their volunteers.

“Maybe we won’t be able to take as many volunteers in person yet, but there are lots of different virtual opportunities, such as encouraging donations and running online fundraising.

If people want to volunteer, there is always going to be something we can give them.”

Still under construction, the

PHOTO BY SPENCER HENDRICKSON

shelter is located on a facility that spans 5000 square feet, sitting atop 40 acres of land.

Farand-Taylor said the open space allows dogs to have enough room to roam around.

“We want to be different in the sense that we’re not going to trap our dogs in kennels all day long,” Farand-Taylor said. “They’re going to have the freedom to express themselves and run around, and there are trails behind our facility as well.”

Little Giant’s is welcoming monetary and in-kind donations at this time, including pet supplies.

News

Monday, June 28, 2020

queensjournal.ca

•3

‘More than your grade 12 history textbook’: New Indigenous Studies major to be launched in fall Indigenous studies program to expand into new major and medial offering in the fall Asbah Ahmad Assistant News Editor Queen’s will launch an Indigenous Studies major and medial this fall. The program will be administered by the department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures (LLCU).

“Two and a half years ago we started developing the major and the medial in coordination with the working group of the Indigenous council and other stakeholders,” Professor Nathan Brinklow (Thanyehténhas), interim head of Indigenous Studies, said in an interview with The Journal.

The Indigenous Studies major

and medial programme will highlight and elevate the voices of local Indigenous communities while shedding light on the work of many elders and Indigenous trailblazers both nationally and locally, Brinklow said.

“Indigenous people have always been present at Queen’s, like when we look at pioneers like Marlene Brant Castellano, who came to Queen’s in the 50s,” Brinklow said.

“Indigenous content has been at Queen’s for many years, and there has been a shift from people talking about us, to us talking about ourselves.”

Brinklow added the major and medial program is unique because it combines courses from different departments and knowledge systems.

“We don’t have a dedicated Indigenous Studies department.

As we were developing the major and medial there was advocacy work in other departments

Kanatakon’ha rocket was launched by proxy in California on May 15.

Professor Brinklow discusses the impacts and benefits the programme will have on campus.

and faculties. [...] Our goal is to show that traditional Indigenous knowledge is for everyone and about everything,” Brinklow said.

Along with the broad course offerings in the Indigenous Studies program, the LLCU department is developing collaborations with other Indigenous programmes on campus, such as the Indigenous teachers program administered by the Faculty of Education.

Since the Indigenous Studies program has a language requirement, Queen’s and the department of LLCU emphasized the possibility of individualizing learning

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY MARANDA CHERRY

Queen’s Engineering students become first Canadian team to participate in NASA rocket launch competition Kanatakon’ha Rocket came in second place behind University of California, Davis

Sci ‘22, and logistics officer attention by Melanie Howard, Cameron Bishop, Sci ’22, to coordinator for Aboriginal discuss their journey to the NASA- Access to Engineering at Queen’s sponsored First Nations Launch and the team’s faculty advisor Competition. in 2019.

The rest of the group is The team began preparing for comprised of four Indigenous the competition later that year, students and one Ugandan student: but their work came to a halt due Jeffrey McCaw, Sci ‘22, Metis Nation to COVID-19.

Rida Chaudhry of Ontario, Spencer Bundy, Sci ‘22 From a lack of funding to being Assistant News Editor Mi’kmaq Nation, Tyler Cowie, Sci unable to physically launch the ‘23, Métis Nation of Ontario, Eric rocket itself, Cherry said there Seven Queen’s students will be Birchall, Sci ‘22, Ulkatcho First were many challenges they had to participating in a NASA-sponsored Nation, and John Sekijoba, Sci ‘21, work through as the only Canadian rocket launch competition headed Buganda Kingdom. team in an American competition. in Kansasville, Wisconsin.

Cherry, who has always been “Being the first Canadian team to The Journal sat down with the interested in rockets, said the enter into the competition funded team’s leader Maranda Cherry, competition was brought to her by NASA, we were not eligible for

PHOTO BY SPENCER HENDRICKSON

experiences, Brinklow said.

“If there’s an Indigenous student that’s Mohawk, we offer their language and they can connect to their language. But we are more than happy to work with the Registrar and allow for students from different communities to access their own language education through transfers credits or mentorships,” Along with the teachers, Indigenous Studies will individualize programing through the capstone courses and field courses they wish to offer once hiring is complete.

Through the program approval process, which involves consultation with external organizations, university stakeholders, and the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities, a greater opportunity to hire more Indigenous academics will exist, Brinklow added.

“One of the recommendations through the program approval process is to have more dedicated hiring and resources, this is especially true for the land based courses and the capstone course.

We can do all of these things for the plan, but we need dedicated hires to support this.”

Along with the opportunities it provides for students, the Indigenous Studies plans will also focus on adherence to a move towards adopting Truth and Reconciliation guidelines. “[The] program creates spaces for Indigenous and

non-Indigenous students by creating a place for healthy discussion and dialogue.

Reconciliation makes sense on a national level, but on an individual level it’s learning how to listen, how to share, and getting to know each other,” Brinklow said.

The Indigenous Studies program will focus on supporting students in exploring career opportunities that exist with an Indigenous Studies major or medial. According to Brinklow, Indigenous Studies is everywhere, and this is something which will be emphasized in course work and career searching.

“There are also a lot of corporate opportunities, some of these examples are oil and gas, teaching, and scientific research,” Brinklow said.

In speaking directly to students who might be wondering if Indigenous Studies is for them, Brinklow said the program is about community, learning and sharing.

“The diversity, the range of experience, and the different learning environments combined with our encouragement of different modes of assessment will help build places where you can grow and learn together with your peers.”

“Indigenous Studies is not what you think it is, it is not based on your grade 12 history textbook.

There is so much more.”

cash prizes and funding by NASA,” Cherry said.

As a solution, the team sought out grants from Aboriginal Access to Engineering, the Loveland Fund, the Arts and Science Undergraduate Association, and the MacDonald Institute.

The team said they named their rocket Kanatakon’ha, or Sparrow in Mohawk.

“One of the meanings behind it is basically the sparrows have to work together as a team to get a task done—which is what we did,” Bishop explained.

“It also matches the Iroquois word Kanata, which is the root word for Canada, meaning they come from the village,” he said.

Since Queen’s is situated on traditional Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Territory, the team added that by naming their rocket Kanatakon’ha, it

allowed them to honor the Treaty Six territory.

Due to pandemic travel restrictions, the Kanatakon’ha was launched by proxy in California on May. 15 with the help of the University of California Davis team.

“We stayed on a four-hour long call to get the rocket assembled and set up for launch,” Cherry said.

“And then finally seeing it launch was kind of like the culmination of all our hard work for the year.”

While the team came in second, Cherry said they also won an award for the visual aesthetic of their rocket. The team said the rocket design included flags of all the members’ nations, allowing them to pay homage to their heritage.

The team is far from finished.

Cherry and Bishop told The Journal that they plan on building on their success in the 2021-22 year.

News

4 • queensjournal.ca

Queen’s action group aims to improve climate for gender and sexual diversity PAGGAS to act as a conduit for LGBTQ+ groups on campus Cassidy McMackon Contributor After committing to improving Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Indigeneity (EDII) standards within the university sphere, Queen’s has launched a working group to improve the climate for gender and sexual diversity.

The Provost’s Action Group

for Gender and Sexual Diversity (PAGGAS) was formed in late 2020.

Co-chaired by Deputy Provost (Academic Operations and Inclusion) Teri Shearer and Jean Pleiderer, the associate director of the Human Rights Advisory Services, PAGGAS is a small group consisting of faculty, staff, and students at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

The group acts as a conduit to connect groups at Queen’s involved in improving the climate for gender and sexual diversity on campus.

“Our purpose is twofold,” Pleiderer told The Journal in an interview.

Matt D’Alessandro hopes to improve queer advocacy on campus through PAGGAS.

“If there is a way we can be a conduit so people can know about each other and what they’re doing and we don’t have two or three different groups trying to do the same thing when they could be working together, and perhaps accomplish their efforts a little more efficiently and effectively, then we’re happy to play that role.”

“Or, if people can let us know that they are trying to accomplish something and they have a specific need for support then we can try to get that for them.”

PAGGAS is currently pursuing consultations with a number of groups on campus. Matt D’Alessandro, ArtSci ’22, who’s

PHOTO SUPPLIED FROM THE QUEEN’S GAZETTE

Monday, June 28, 2021 currently seated on the committee, is involved in reaching out to various queer groups on campus to hear what kinds of differences PAGGAS can be making.

“Right now, we’re doing a bunch of visits to different areas of the university, so the staff and faculty on PAGGAS are focusing on the different departments that exist within Queen’s,” D’Alessandro said.

“I’m focusing on the students’ side, so I recently had consultations with the SHRC [Sexual Health Resource Centre], the AMS Social Issues Commission, and on my list is also the various clubs underneath the AMS Social Issues Commission, as well as some of the other faculty societies’ equity representatives and executives there. Once we get into the school year, I’m also hoping to reach out to clubs and establish a connection with them.”

D’Alessandro joined PAGGAS in May 2021, following the end of his term as the Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Society (ASUS) vice-president.

He’s currently involved in forming a queer orientation week in the upcoming semester.

This is one of several projects being undertaken, including PAGGAS’s effort to restructure IT services to better support trans students undergoing name changes, and a project to add gender-neutral bathrooms and

Mark Gerretsen pens letter to Foreign Affairs Minister on ‘violent events in the Middle East’

Queen’s student leads fundraising ‘I’m looking forward to engaging initiative for Epilepsy Canada with members in Loryanne Bessette to run 100 km in 24 hours to raise awareness for epilepsy Rida Chaudhry Assistant News Editor “Epilepsy is a cause that’s very close and dear to my heart.”

On Aug. 14, Loryanne Bessette will be running 100 km in 24 hours for Canadians diagnosed with epilepsy. The funds she raises will go towards research for a cure through Epilepsy Canada.

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by unprovoked seizures in people of all ages. The causes for epilepsy can be attributed to an array of health problems. Over 50 per cent of those

diagnosed with epilepsy don’t know the cause of the disorder.

In collaboration with Epilepsy Canada, Bessette is working on providing fundraising packages and outreach necessary for the Kingston community to become more aware of and destigmatize the disorder.

“My big goal off the bat is to break the stigma about what people think epilepsy is like,” Bessette said in an interview with The Journal.

“I really want to raise awareness about epilepsy first-aid,” she added.

Epilepsy first-aid is a guideline that offers information of care and comfort for anyone experiencing seizure.

According to Bessette, stigma surrounding epilepsy can cause those diagnosed with the disorder to feel isolated or unwelcome in social settings.

Bessette was diagnosed with epilepsy at 14 years old.

Bessette said she remembers being admitted into the hospital for three days during her third year of university.

change rooms on campus.

D’Alessandro further credits his time as a student leader to better fostering a passion for queer advocacy. He hopes his experiences from previous positions will allow him to bring issues forward to the University.

When asked how he hopes the administration will act to proactively create a better campus culture for queer students, D’Alessandro said his biggest hope is to have PAGGAS remain an accessible resource for students, staff, and faculty.

“We hear the same tune every single time. Something happens, the University says it’s going to form a task force or working group, and then the group forms, we hear all about it, and then we hear nothing about it ever again,” he said.

“One thing I’m hoping PAGGAS does, with the connections and the faculty that we do have on it, is to have a public facing lens to the Queen’s community and really keep people updated on what we’re doing and the cool projects that we’re working on.”

D’Alessandro said he’s confident in the panel’s ability to listen to student voices.

“It’s my priority to be listening to as many students as I can and holding myself to that same active listening standpoint that I hope the administration uses.”

my riding on this matter further and will continue to advocate on their behalf’

After being prescribed medication for her epilepsy, Bessette realized the severity of her disorder and began her own research.

During her research, she came across a statistic stating that one in 100 people live with epilepsy.

“When I found out that number, knowing that as a kid I struggled Asbah Ahmad with epilepsy, I wanted to Assistant News Editor do something big, and show others what you can achieve Kingston and the Islands MP Mark Gerretsen sent a letter with epilepsy,” Bessette said.

Bessette said her own on Jun. 22 to Foreign Affairs research into the disorder Minister Marc Garneau about inspired her to take a stand the “violent events in the Middle East.” for epilepsy awareness.

The letter, addressed to “Raising awareness about epilepsy at Queen’s is huge. Even Garneau, is a result of Gerretsen’s if it’s one in 100, there’s a lot of virtual meeting with Muslim Jewish community students affected by it, whether and it be students themselves members on May 30 in which constituents highlighted their or family members.”

People who are interested in concerns over the human rights joining Bessette for the run can of Palestinians.

“The loss of human life do so virtually at 6 p.m. on Aug. 14 or set up a team for an ultimate is tragic and unacceptable.

100 km relay. Participants will Canada must continue to have a chance to virtually respond to the humanitarian celebrate reaching the finish crisis in the region to line at 7 p.m.

ensure innocent lives are protected,” Gerretsen wrote.

“Canada’s investment of $25 million to support Palestinians in the region is a good first step, however the human suffering continues and so there is more work to be done.”

Gerretsen added that he looks forward to continuing to engage with and advocate for Muslim and Jewish constituents.

“I trust that you will give careful review and consideration to the concerns that have been brought forward by community members.”

Attached to Gerretsen’s letter is a list of demands provided by his constituents.

“My constituents provided me a list of Calls to Action for the Government of Canada, which I have enclosed for your review and consideration. Some of these items include ceasing arms and weapons sales to the state of Israel, cancelling Canada’s $36 million drone contract with Elbit Systems.”

The attached calls to action were signed by “concerned citizens of Kingston and the Islands.”

Features

Monday, June 28. 2021

FEATURES

queensjournal.ca

•5

PHOTO BY CURTIS HEINZL

Three Queen’s students spoke with The Journal about what Pride means to them.

How Queen’s students are celebrating Pride 2021 Queer music, movies, and social media platforms are key to celebrating Pride Month in a virtual setting KIRBY HARRIS Features Editor Amelia Cockerham, ArtSci ’22, is used to spending Pride Month surrounded by other people.

“Normally, I’d go to parades and stuff like that,” she said in an interview with The Journal.

Now, as Canada continues grappling with COVID-19, her celebration looks a bit different.

“This year I’m more taking time to myself.” Cockerham said. “I’m using Pride almost as a recharge from the year that we’ve had.”

While Queen’s student organizations run events that celebrate queer identities all year round, Pride Month is an important time of year for the Queen’s queer community.

Although that celebration might look somewhat different this year, the core of Pride Month remains the same—it’s a designated time when queer folks can take the time to celebrate who they are while remembering those who came before them. *** Oliver Elsdon, Sci ’22, is using media and hobbies to celebrate this year, particularly queer music.

Elsdon is also celebrating by spending their time baking.

“I’ve been working my way up.

I think I’m going to do a rainbow cake. I need a little bit of practice before I can get there.”

Evelyn Poole, ArtSci ’21, has

also been using Instagram to celebrate Pride.

“When the last lockdown was announced I was really not in a great place […] I ended up making this lesbian pride flag blob art, and every blob was a different queer-coded or lesbian-coded thing. Then I noticed that Pride Month was right around the corner.”

Poole was motivated to create more art inspired by queer identities, and created an Instagram account where she could showcase her art. The page, @yourfriendlylocalqueer, is inspired by not only her own experiences but by other queer-identifying people she has been speaking to.

“Over the course of the past few months I’ve had phone calls with a bunch of different queer-identifying people that I know, and chatting with them about their experiences and what they want to see represented in media.” Poole said.

From those conversations, Poole created digital art pieces featuring queer affirmations and other celebratory content.

Social media has become a huge part of remotely celebrating Pride, with queer student organizations using their platforms to help students celebrate.

Cockerham’s recharge is fueled by the comfort of their favourite pieces of queer media.

“Pride’s a specific time of the year where I can dedicate my time and effort to celebrating my queerness. It’s a designated time for queer people to recognize themselves and be free.”

Cockerham is one of the co-chairs of the Education on Queer Issues Project (EQuIP), a group that works towards creating a safe environment for queer students on campus.

From September to May, EQuIP organizes a number of events like lectures, book clubs, and movie screenings.

Although students aren’t

on campus right now, EQuIP’s Co-Chairs are using Pride to implement “Feature Fridays” on EQuIP’s social media accounts.

“We’ll post on Fridays different queer artists, performers, musicians, or even films and stuff.” Cockerham explained.

“We’ve tried to include them from the Queen’s community and the Kingston community, but really just any different queer creators we can bring awareness to.”

Elsdon is the incoming vice-president of Operations at Queen’s EngiQueers, a club that aims to provide a safe and accepting environment for queer students studying engineering.

To help students celebrate Pride remotely, the EngiQueers social media pages are sharing recommendations on queer media to enjoy this June.

helped me as “aItyoung person

questioning myself and my identity to really feel comfortable coming forward [...] It was an overwhelmingly positive experience.”

“We’re going to be posting some suggestions on our members’ favourite queer books or whatever else to help people remotely celebrate Pride” Elsdon said. *** All three students interviewed highlighted that it is important to remember how Pride began.

While it’s a time for celebration, it’s also a time for remembrance and recognition.

“To me, Pride means a chance to celebrate but also recognize the history and the struggle that queer people have faced throughout history.

Although Pride is celebratory it’s important to remember

that’s not how it started.”

Cockerham said.

“We’re celebrating Pride as we do as an anniversary of the Stonewall riots.” Elsdon added.

“The politics of it and the activism of it is a big part along with the community and the love.”

The Stonewall riots are named for the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City where queer people rioted in protest in June of 1969 after patrons of the bar were taken into custody by the New York Police Department.

The Stonewall riots are an important part of queer history.

Remembering and recognizing the activists and leaders, like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, who fought for queer liberation decades ago is still a key part of Pride celebrations.

“The reason we celebrate Pride now is because of the work that trans women of colour and Black trans women have done before us,” Poole said. “[It’s about] remembering why we celebrate or why we feel proud the way we do now and that we don’t have to hide as much as generations before us might have had to. Pride is also about remembering why we are allowed to take up space and honouring the people who have done work before us, and who continue to do really important work.” *** For Elsdon, Pride is celebration of love and acceptance in the queer community. Pride parades have a special place in their heart.

“I was probably around 15 or so and I wasn’t out at the time.” Elsdon said about their first Pride parade. “I was going as a volunteer for the Ottawa public libraries float. I grew up in sort of sheltered area, so I didn’t see a lot of queer folks.”

“Seeing that were so many people, that was really wonderful that there was a community, something larger than just myself.”

Pride parades have become an important celebration for many

queer people, with the tradition going back to the 1970s in Canada.

Kingston has held Pride parades for over 30 years, with 2019’s parade seeing the largest turnout the city ever recorded—over 450 people marched.

“It helped me as a young person questioning myself and my identity to really feel comfortable coming forward knowing that so many people have the same experiences as me and are happy and celebrating.

It was an overwhelmingly positive experience.”

Some of Cockerham’s fondest Pride memories also involve the annual parades. Their favorite was when they took their friend to her first Pride.

“Seeing her reaction to the sense of community and having her first parade after coming out was really great” they said. “Just getting to spend time with friends and loved ones and seeing the parades is always a really great time and experience.”

As most of Canada is still operating under COVID-19 gathering restrictions, normal in-person events like parades and drag shows have been put on pause for the second year in a row.

“I’ve actually never been to a Pride parade. It’s really sad.”

Poole said.

Though Poole attended a few on-campus events pre-pandemic—like Queer Prom and Get Real’s biannual drag show—the pandemic has interfered with the ability to attend in-person events.

“I came out publicly only last year, but nothing has happened since then.”

Luckily, Pride events aren’t exclusive to June. Queen’s students can look forward to Kingston’s annual Pride parade and festival, which is scheduled this year for Sept. 25-26. As well, there are several student organizations like EQuIP and EngiQueers that plan events and make space for queer students during the academic year.

6 • queensjournal.ca

EDITORIALS

Editorials

Monday, June 28, 2021

The Journal’s Perspective

THE QUEEN’S JOURNAL

The false dichotomy between queerness and Islam only hurts queer people

Editors in Chief

Aysha Tabassum Shelby Talbot

Production Manager

Violetta Zeitlinger Fontana

Features Editors

Sydney Ko Asbah Ahmad Rida Chaudry Kirby Harris Julia Stratton

Editorials Editor Editorials Illustrator Opinions Editor

Anna Fouks Clanny Mugabe Laura Lowden

Arts Editor

Ben Wrixon

Assistant Arts Editor Sports Editor

Mackenzie Loveys Angus Merry

Assistant Sports Editor Lifestyle Editor Photo Editor

undeserving of rights because the Canadian government has been debating conversion therapy for many months now, without yet banning it.

Muslims, however, do not get to exist separately from Islamic states who enact queerphobic legislation, even though we make up the bulk of those suffering from their hands.

Critiques of queerphobia rooted in opposition to Islam aren’t coming from people concerned with queer rights. They’re coming from Islamophobes who have a vested interest in hiding behind the false dichotomy of Islam and liberation in order to shield their own prejudice.

I will be the first to tell you that there are deep-rooted issues in the Muslim community that make it hard for Muslims to be queer, to be women, to be Black, or to be anything other than an upstanding straight brown man.

But the whataboutism that non-Muslims

weaponize when we’re advocating for the dignity and livelihoods of Muslims here and abroad does not serve to address these issues.

Whether or not you feel queerness is compatible with Muslimness, there will always be queer Muslims whose voices need amplifying. They will always exist and resist. There is no queer liberation without Muslim liberation—because all systems of oppression are linked.

When you’re concerned that you will be persecuted in a Muslim state, remember that queer Muslims are as afraid as you are, if not more. Remember that here, in the so-called queer haven that is Canada, we’re still murdered for our Muslimness.

Aysha is a fourth-year Commerce student and one of The Journal’s Editors in Chief.

stoically, while girls grow up to desire unemotional men.

These harmful stereotypes are often reinforced in a cyclical nature, sometimes unconsciously.

This isn’t okay.

Knowing how to communicate emotions is important in becoming a well-balanced person. Suppressing feelings leads to sons lacking emotional maturity. Without understanding your own emotions, it’s difficult to build confidence in who you are.

Yet, in an age where queerness and gender fluidity are widely celebrated, many men still feel pressure to solidify their straightness and hypermasculinity.

Meanwhile, social media spawns criticism towards male celebrities for not being queer or vulnerable enough, similar to how fathers have criticized their sons for showing too much of these qualities.

No one needs to be forced into or restricted from expressing their emotions. Both have negative effects on an individual’s expression of their identity.

Our generation is more aware of this truth than those before us. As a result, we have a greater opportunity to make sweeping change.

We, as potential future parents, need to be mindful of our own identities and understand how different aspects of

Video Editor

—Journal Editorial Board

ILLUSTRATION BY SHELBY TALBOT

Curtis Heinzl Nathan Carter

Assistant Video Editor Copy Editors

Leah Smithson Martin Hayes Suzy Leinster

Graphics Editor

Dharmayu Desai

Podcast Coordinator BIPOC Advisory Board Members

Lauren Thomas Alysha Ahmad Anya D’Souza Yvonne Tan

Contributing Staff Contributors

Sophie De Freitas Cassidy McMackon Cat Rose Sania Sahi Michelle Zeng Larrissa Zhong

Business Staff Business Manager Sales Representatives Fundraising Representative Social Media Coordinator

these identities were impacted by how we were raised. Future fathers can set an example for their sons, showing them that emotional intelligence isn’t an inherently feminine quality.

Most importantly, we need to re-evaluate how we will interact with our own kids and the kind of expectations we may have for their future. Kids of all genders should be raised equally, defined not by outdated stereotypes, but by their characters and interests.

Through a united effort, we can initiate a new cycle of positive norms—one that allows men to be themselves.

Madeleine McCormick Spencer Hendrickson

Assistant Photo Editor

PHOTO BY SHELBY TALBOT

Natara Ng Alysha Mohamed

Assistant Lifestyle Edito

Healthy emotional expression is key in developing men’s identities Outdated and toxic expectations of masculinity discourage men from emotional self-expression. But it doesn’t have to be this way—we can change these harmful values.

Everywhere—in films, social media, literature—men are represented as unemotional and tough, the stoic support of the family. Any behaviour outside of these values is too often thought to be an affront to the definition of manhood.

This is why it’s still ‘controversial’ for an NFL player to come out as gay in a deeply masculine sports league. Because toxic masculinity is a breeding ground for homophobia, where queerness is seen as the opposite of masculinity, queer men can feel pressured to hide their identity for the comfort of fitting in.

The fact is, queer culture doesn’t devalue masculinity. The prevalence of the traditional male stereotypes simply makes us forget that.

This stigma comes straight from one’s childhood.

Oftentimes, sons see fathers setting boundaries as the head of the family, while mothers are the comforters in the aftermath of the fathers’ decisions. But being punished for showing fear or sadness can lead young men to think of emotional expression as a sign of weakness.

Strict gendered roles in parenting enforce these same norms in the heterosexual romantic relationships of the next generation. Children’s actions reflect the actions of their parents: boys behave

Editorial Board

News Editor Assistant News Editors

Aysha Tabassum You can either be queer or you can be Muslim.

This is something I’ve thought about more and more this pride month.

For Muslims worldwide, our identities are trapped in this dichotomy. Sometimes the problem is caused by the bigotry present in mainstream Muslim communities, largely driven by colonization and the interests of western powers. But in many instances, we are forced, by western societies, to choose between our dignity and our Muslimness.

Queerness is apparently a gift you’re given when you abandon your faith and its associated culture.

When, as a Muslim, you say that you don’t feel people should die for being Muslim, particularly those residing in majority-Muslim states, you take a difficult stance. You are strongly opposed by some queer people—especially white queer people. These opposers will say they don’t support a religion—and by extension a people—that doesn’t support queer rights.

It’s an argument I have heard repeatedly.

Every time I dare to speak out against racism and Islamophobia, I am told to try going to a Muslim country to see how I like it there.

How dare I ask for more when, apparently, here in the west I’m safer than I deserve to be? How dare I open my mouth when Canada has given me so much? Never mind that I was born here.

White non-Muslim Canadians get to exist separately from their governments, even when those governments enact queerphobic legislation. No white Canadian is told they’re

Volume 149 Issue 2 www.queensjournal.ca @queensjournal Publishing since 1873

Yoli Wang Medhavi Maurya Will Stewart Riya Shah Francesca Lim

Want to contribute?

For information visit: www.queensjournal.ca/contribute or email the Editor in Chief at journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca Contributions from all members of the Queen’s and Kingston community are welcome. The Journal reserves the right to edit all submissions.

The Queen’s Journal is an editorially autonomous newspaper published by the Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University, Kingston.

Situated on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples. The Journal’s Editorial Board acknowledges the traditional territories our newspaper is situated on have allowed us to pursue our mandate.

We recognize our responsibility to understand the truth of our history.

Editorial opinions expressed in The Journal are the sole responsibility of The Queen’s Journal Editorial Board, and are not necessarily those of the University, the AMS or their officers.

190 University Ave., Kingston, ON, K7L 3P4 Editorial Office: 613-533-2800 Business Office: 613-533-6711 Fax: 613-533-6728 Email: journal_editors@ams.queensu.ca Please address complaints and grievances to the Editor in Chief and/or Managing Editor.

Contents © 2021 by The Queen’s Journal; all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission of The Journal.

Opinions

Monday, June 28, 2021

queensjournal.ca

OPINIONS

•7

Your Perspective

SUPPLIED BY SOPHIE DE FREITAS

Sophie feels that the pressure to add pronouns to your bio is a result of performative activism.

Putting your pronouns in your bio is not the revolutionary step you think it is Hypervisibility on social media is just another way queer people are being pushed to perform their queerness This article uses “Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender, Queer, and TwoSpirit (LGBTQ2S+)" when referring to students with diverse experiences with gender and sexuality. While many of these labels are popular among those who self-identify, they are not universal.

This pride month, I’ve had the privilege to actively reflect on what I want to advocate for within the LGBTQ2S+ community.

As a white queer woman, I think it’s important to listen to the voices of those more marginalized than myself and take steps to fight for queer rights however I can. In this reflection, I’ve come to a conclusion—stop making a big deal out of pronouns.

It shouldn’t be so difficult to be compassionate and call people what they want to be called.

The pressure to perform your identity manifests in many ways. Through clothes, music, makeup, or a specific social media presence, there's never been more hypervisibility on sexuality and gender identity.

The increased visibility of pronouns has provided a window into the pressure put upon queer youth in particular to maintain and perform a "queer" identity online.

The use of alternative, fluid, or rapidly changing pronouns has thankfully become increasingly accepted. Instagram, for example,

recently added a pronoun feature Posting touting messages like to their bio options, giving “put your pronouns in your bio individuals the opportunity to put to express support for queer their pronouns on display. people!” encourages a false There is, however, a downside narrative that only queer people to the constant presence of and have or use pronouns, which is pressure to disclose pronouns. categorically untrue.

As any university student Everyone has pronouns. You who actively uses Instagram will have pronouns. That conservative know, infographics—designed to f—ker who comments “there quickly and aesthetically inform are only two genders” on Hunter viewers about social justice Schafer’s Instagram has pronouns. movements—have become a Your parents have pronouns, staple of Instagram stories. even if they claim to be "confused" After the addition of the by the whole thing. Coworkers who pronouns feature to Instagram, claim that they "respect pronouns," there was an influx of postable but posit that they/them pronouns infographics urging users to add are grammatically incorrect, also their pronouns to their bio in have pronouns. order to express solidarity with Pronouns aren't only for queer the LGBTQ2S+ community and people. We’re just rising to the normalize the use of pronouns. simple task of calling people what The sentiment is valuable, and they want to be called. there are obvious benefits to Secondly, putting pronouns the normalization of disclosing in your bio doesn’t necessarily one’s pronouns. help queer people. It does help Non-binary or gender to normalize gender-neutral nonconforming individuals are pronouns like they/them, but able to let others know they unfortunately, it also reinforces use the more neutral they/ the narrative that the LGBTQ2S+ them pronouns, as opposed to community is obsessed over she/her or he/him pronouns. I arguably mundane issues. would like to acknowledge that While normalizing not every non-binary or gender gender-neutral pronouns nonconforming person chooses is a worthy cause, there these pronouns. are other pressing things However, mass pressure on on the proverbial queer social media to disclose pronouns, agenda—conversion camps, even among well-meaning youth everyday homophobia, abuse on Instagram, also has a downside. of young gay men and women

by the Catholic church, state-sanctioned violence against queer people, suicide rates among queer youth, violence against transgender people, specifically Black transgender people, or violence against sex workers, queer or otherwise.

If you want to help queer people, educate yourself. Take a queer theory course—Queen’s has an excellent one. Sign petitions, donate to charities, and stop supporting homophobic companies.

Don’t act like putting your pronouns in your bio is the next big step towards queer liberation and safety. It’s not. It’s basic human decency.

My last grievance with the pressure to put your pronouns in your bio is the removal of autonomy. As a queer person who's fairly open online, there are still parts of my identity I choose to keep private. I don’t necessarily want people knowing what pronouns I use.

I have no problem with people knowing or even guessing my pronouns. I will give my pronouns when asked and will always respect others’ pronouns. However, this fixation on hypervisibility on social media is just another way queer people are being pushed to perform their queerness—online and in real life.

People don’t have a right to accessing my pronouns,

personhood, or gender identity just because I have a girlfriend.

It’s not simply the act of putting pronouns in your bio that I reject, but the pressure put upon queer people to do so as part of their identity, and the pressure put on straight people to do so as an act of solidarity.

You are under no obligation to make your pronouns public or visible. It doesn't make you a bad person. It doesn't make you not an ally. It does, however, make you a bad person if you don’t respect other pronouns and how they want to be addressed—full stop.

I reject the guilt I feel for not having my pronouns in my bio.

That information is for me, and while I’m happy to give it out to anyone who wants to ask, it’s something I reserve the right to keep offline.

It’s also important to reiterate that if you do put your pronouns in your bio, whether it be because you want to express solidarity, or you’re concerned about being misgendered, or literally just feel like doing it—there's nothing wrong with that. Go for it! But don't pressure others to do the same, especially queer people, who are already viewed as having to live up to their own queerness.

Sophie De Freitas is a fourth-year English student.

Arts

8 • queensjournal.ca

Monday, June 28, 2021

How a semester-long practicum turned into ‘Queer Muslim Resistance’

ARTS

GRAPHIC BY VIOLETTA ZEITLINGER FONTANA

Maha approaches Queer Muslim Resistance with a political, anti-colonial, and anti-oppressive perspective.

‘As a queer Muslim, we’re often faced with this idea of impossibility’ Aysha Tabassum Editor in Chief “As a queer Muslim, we’re often faced with this idea of impossibility—like it’s impossible to be queer and Muslim. And that’s coming from all sides.”

Maha,* MA, started a practicum project under Professor Burcu Baba in Sept. 2020 that has since evolved into the Queer Muslim Resistance podcast—she now produces it with the help of dedicated team of volunteers and partners, and partial funding from OPIRG Kingston.

“That [impossibility] is coming from mainstream queer communities, where

secularity and whiteness predominate,” she said in an interview with The Journal.

“And there’s also the unfortunate existence of anti-queer sentiment in mainstream Muslim communities which, of course, comes from legacies of colonialism and the spread of Wahhabism.”

The project was only supposed to last one semester, but after her practicum Maha knew she wasn’t done.

“It’s a political approach, anti-colonial approach, and an anti-oppressive approach to thinking about what it is that queer Muslims do, and the ways in which we think, and the ways in which we love.”

Queer Muslim Resistance is currently releasing monthly episodes, each featuring an interview and a debrief session.

Though the project is no longer for her practicum, Maha noted during the debrief, she often refers to concepts and readings from her degrees in gender studies.

During her initial search for guests, Maha did a call-out on the podcast’s Instagram and received an overwhelming response. Her calls centre on finding folks

who can share their lived experiences, as queer Muslims or otherwise, to participate in collective healing.

“Though it’s not perfect with its censorship […] before I started the podcast, Instagram was how I met other queer Muslims, all over the world.”

Maha knows it’s important to acknowledge this isn’t a single-issue project.

Muslims come from a wide range of ethnicities, races, genders, sexualities, and class backgrounds. With each episode, she hopes to emphasize how ideas of faith and justice in Islam are tied to concepts like resistance to anti-Blackness and challenging settler colonialism.

“The idea of queer Muslim resistance is not just about creating space for queer Muslims, though that’s a good foundation.

It’s about exploring what queer Muslims can do from our social locations, from the distinct ways we’re positioned.”

Notably, Maha’s second social media call-out has attracted more folks rooting their perspectives on queerness and practiced faith rather than theory.

“The academy is not accessible to everyone, and it’s lovely to get a wealth of experiences of folks on the podcast. And most importantly, it challenges what is considered legitimate knowledge.”

Queer Muslim Resistance has now branched out beyond the podcast in its community-building efforts. On top of events scheduled throughout pride month, the project hosted a virtual hang-out during the holy month of Ramadan called “Queer Ramadan Resistance.”

“There’s a huge need for queer Muslims to hear and see themselves and being a part of that is not just about creating a community for other people, it’s also about creating space for me as a queer Muslim myself.”

You can support Queer Muslim Resistance on Patreon, and listen to the show wherever podcasts are available. *Name shortened for anonymity due to safety reasons.

‘The Intangible Queer’ explores identity through abstraction and experimentation YIKES! A Theatre Company releases production at Reelout’s Summer Queer Showcase Mackenzie Loveys Assisstant Arts Editor Combining theatre, film, and abstract art, YIKES! A Theatre Company’s The Intangible Queer embraces unconventional storytelling.

The show premiered through Reelout’s Summer Queer Showcase on Jun. 4th and will be available until Aug. 31. Directed by Kemi King and Lisbet MacLean, both ArtSci ’21, this production adapted well to its virtual format despite originally being intended for live theatre.

Drawing inspiration from David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive—an avant-garde film that deliberately confuses spectators by not having a straightforward narrative—The Intangible Queer delivers its story through an abstract lens without following a traditional structure.

The show’s first act is immediately ominous and perplexing, with four characters drifting behind an abstract geometric art piece. Confusion is amplified when a chaotic audio clip of multilingual shouting from Mulholland Drive is played.

Part of The Intangible Queer’s beauty is how it rejects the belief that answers are necessary in art.

An eerie, uncertain atmosphere is created by the character’s unexplained actions and the seemingly random voices and noises The show simply exists, never feeling a need to prove its significance.

Throughout The Intangible Queer, unexplained creative choices complement one another, reminiscent of the praised yet often polarizing Mulholland Drive.

Even the show’s characters follow an unapologetically abstract

The Intangible Queer celebrates creativity and self-expression.

theme. They don’t represent actual people, but rather the four temperaments of humoural theory—an ancient system of medicine aimed to understand the human body’s inner workings.

Characters reflect the Phlegmatic, Choleric, Melancholic, and the Sanguine. The actors play these four humours to reflect their stereotypical traits in the second and third acts, revealing the personalities of the humoural theory.

In act two, Sanguine exhibits positive, cheerful energy as they smile and stack sugar cubes with a childlike wonder. Meanwhile another humour, Choleric, appears ambitious and goal oriented in their meticulous measuring of ingredients, implying a need for perfect order.

Throughout The Intangible Queer, these frequent references

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY YIKES! A THEATRE COMPANY

to personality types as well as astrological signs challenge society’s insistence on attaching labels to people. The production explores how the normalization of these labels imposes on our beliefs and influences how we perceive the world around us.

By the show’s final act, it’s made clear that labels aren’t definitive explanations of oneself and shouldn’t be taken at face value.

“As a society, we want to place a permanent definition of something,” King said in an audio clip included as part of the production. “I think that’s why there’s been so many personality tests, as people we’re not just one thing.”

The production also condemns harmful labels of gender and sexuality as unnecessary societal binds designed to control people and their self-expression.

By exploring the freedom found in unapologetic self-expression, The Intangible Queer reflects on the absurdity of social norms and labels, demanding a freedom that queerness deserves but has not yet received from mainstream society and culture.

“I think as a queer or marginalized person, you’re constantly in flux. It’s like you realize you’re different from everything that has been prescribed to you, and from there every decision you make must be intentional because you’re defining yourself,” King said in the production’s final act.

“It’s like you’re almost able to liberate yourself by deciding if you want to walk in line or opposite to a stereotype—like, there’s liberation because it’s an active choice.”

Arts

Monday, June 28, 2021

queensjournal.ca

•9

PHOTO SUPPLIED BY HANNAH BUSH

Volume 33 is an emotional journey of self-reflection.

‘The Undergraduate Review’ publishes 33rd annual issue Co-Editor-in-Chief Hannah Bush discusses the creative process behind the magazine

Mackenzie Loveys Assisstant Arts Editor Editor’s Note: Two members of The Journal’s Editorial Board contributed to The Undergraduate Review.

The Undergraduate Review (UR), a Queen’s arts and literature-focused magazine, released their 33rd annual issue on June 4th. Featuring work from 38 contributors, the issue is available online through UR’s website and Instagram, as well as in print at the ASUS office.

Hannah Bush, ArtSci ’23, one of UR’s Editors in Chief, sat down with The Journal to discuss creating the magazine during COVID-19.

While the pandemic imposed extraordinary circumstances on this year’s issue, Bush believes the team behind UR ultimately made this issue special.

“The really nice thing about The Undergraduate Review is that each year it’s a whole new editor-in-chief, a whole new team for the most part,” Bush said.

“That really creates a unique outlook and

perspective on the issue itself. So, I think every single issue is its own entity and its own kind of arm on the overall [tree] of The Undergraduate Review.”

Unable to collaborate in person, the UR team connected virtually to bounce ideas off one another in a tight-knit, safe space.

“Everything was over Zoom and we were able to create something beautiful and amazing without even meeting each other. I think that was really special.”

By including all voices in meetings and the editing process, the UR’s cultivation of a connected, engaging environment ensured that the entire team felt represented in this year’s issue.

“That’s the special thing about every single issue, it represents who made it—the artists that are in it and who made it that year,” Bush said.

“Everyone has a piece of themselves, has a piece of their own creativity within the works.”

While the pandemic didn’t dishearten UR’s passion for creation and collaboration,

it undoubtably influenced the emotional work submitted by many contributors.

“I think they kind of internalized, went into themselves, and reflected on things, be it pain or happiness or memories,” Bush said.

To capture the pandemic’s impact on Queen’s artistic community, this year’s issue emphasizes the importance of art by deeming it essential.

“People are using art forms as a way to convey their emotions and deal with things throughout COVID,” Bush said. “It very much felt like the works that we were seeing were used for people to heal.

And so, to us that meant that art— especially during this year, especially during COVID—has been an essential aspect of people getting through this year.”

By listening to these thoughts and feelings conveyed in the submitted work, UR is proud to have fostered a space where creatives feel heard and appreciated.

The staff is thankful that their contributors weren’t afraid to be vulnerable.

“Some of the ones that

we chose may not have been the most amazing, perfectly done things, but we noticed that someone put their heart into it,” Bush said.

“We wanted to just convey that art is art, whether it’s a Van Gogh piece or it’s what someone did for the first time ever, art is art and all of that needs to be explored.”

Bush expressed her appreciation for UR’s team and contributors.

“We’re super thankful that they feel comfortable submitting their work and putting it out into the world for us to put into this magazine,” Bush said.

Looking ahead to UR’s exciting future, Bush hopes people will apply for staff positions in September and contribute their work to next year’s publication.

“I’m sure it’s gonna be an amazing experience for anyone who has an interest or loves art. I think The Undergrad Review is a really safe place for people to explore their creativity.”

Sports

10 • queensjournal.ca

Monday, June 28, 2021

The Journal’s look inside Canada’s leading sports analytics think tank Natara Ng Assistant Sports Editor Hours upon hours of practice. Fierce dedication. Heart and soul. Raw talent. This is what comes to mind when measuring an athlete or sports team’s ability to compete.

Do these attributes alone define the winners and losers? Today’s professional sports world would say absolutely not.

Coaches and team management are turning to a different dimension of the game to gain the competitive edge: sports analytics.

Helping to fuel the flame of this industry is the Queen’s Sports Analytics Organization (QSAO), an AMS-ratified club that’s quickly became one of Canada’s leading organizations on this side of the sport since its founding in 2018.

In an interview with The Journal, QSAO Co-Head Nic Osanic, Comm ’22, described the club as a thinktank on sports analytics, comprised of like-minded individuals with a passion for sports and some hard coding skills to back it up.

The club has a team of analysts who perform deep-dives into programming and data from professional sports leagues to generate articles for the QSAO website.

Behind each article is a step-by-step process, which QSAO Co-Head Catherine Wu, CompSci ’22, explained in simple terms.

Once an analyst decides on a project they want to pursue, they progress from initial research stages, to data collection, then on to coding, where they manipulate numbers and arrive at their results.

“Once they’re done and they have their results, they have a chance to write their article where they describe the motivation, the work flow they went through and

Quarterback and Head Coach reflect on progress since becoming a ratified club Natara Ng Assistant Sports Editor “It hasn’t been an ideal year.”

Quarterback and President of the Queen’s Women’s Football team Emily Coulas, ConEd ’21, articulated what most university athletes would likely say after a year of unpredictability and lost seasons.

But Coulas also had a big smile on her face as she spoke to The Journal. Her enthusiasm for women’s football at Queen’s perseveres despite adversities faced by the newly ratified club this past year—many of which were out of their control.

According to Coulas, COVID-19 was the greatest of these obstacles. Not only did the pandemic cost the team their season, as it did to all university sports, but it also hindered their ability to engage new members and cement their place in the Queen’s community.

“Not being able to physically be at sidewalk sales or be at those big Queen’s events, where clubs are able to promote, has been big,” Coulas told The Journal as she reflected on the team’s progress.

The upside to a quiet year on the field was having more time to focus on the logistical end of the team. Fostering good relationships within Athletics and Recreation was one important step the team took.

“We’re a new club, so we still have lots of questions. Thankfully, we have those good

Statistics and sports go hand in hand.

SUPPLIED BY QSAO

Crunching Numbers with the Queen’s Sports Analytics Organization ultimately the findings or maybe the predictions that they make, which is super exciting,” Wu said.

For example, QSAO’s most recent article, “Fixing the Toronto Maple Leafs,” tells readers exactly what Leaf’s management should do regarding free agents and trades if they ever want to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

QSAO’s articles encompass the crux of sports analytics—to use data and statistical principles to enhance decision-making and optimize player performance.

QSAO’s sports content is both impressive and eye-opening to the regular sports fan.

Their articles are laid out in an accessible format so that anyone can read, enjoy, and learn, no matter their level of statistical or analytical knowledge. Furthermore, the club hosts an informative podcast where analysts and content creators talk about their projects.

“As a club we really aim to foster accessibility […] and make sure Queen’s campus knows that there are opportunities to get involved with it and understand it even though it seems kind of like a complicated topic,” Wu said.

Wu, a big Toronto Blue Jay’s fan, explained that growing up watching sports with her

Despite setbacks, Women’s Football continues to forge its place at Queen’s relationships to be able to just ask when needed,” Coulas explained.

In an interview with The Journal, Head Coach Kwame Osei described the team’s establishment within Queen’s Athletics as an ongoing process. The cancellation of last year’s season and Spring Training Camp were big setbacks to building their foundation.

“Even though we’re not able to play games and we weren’t able to have our Spring Camp, we still want to find a way to get better and to help these players physically improve so that when we’re able to actually have practices and get together they’ll be ready to move forward,” he said.

One of the first steps Osei took this summer was assembling a wellrounded coaching staff. This included reaching out to men’s team coaches Cam Davidson and Reed Anderson, as well

The team is eager to kick off another season.

as interviewing members of the Queen’s men’s football team who “could not only coach, but teach the game of football to the players.”

On the heels of the cancelled spring training camp, the team is back in full swing with a virtual off-season summer training program. Accessible to any athlete who wants to join the team in its upcoming season, volunteer coaches from the Queen’s men’s football program post bodyweight exercise videos tailored to women in football. Participating athletes are then able to view, perform, and receive feedback on their execution of these exercises through the online platform ENK Academy.

“It’s a small thing. But we’re hoping that the coaches are gaining valuable experience for training women in football,” Coulas explained. “It gives our athletes a chance to see these exercises that will help them

SUPPLIED BY QUEEN’S WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

family was a springboard for piquing her interest in sports analytics when she came to Queen’s for Computing.

“I thought QSAO would be a cool opportunity to apply the skills that I was learning in courses and in class to something that I’m really interested in and passionate about,” she said.

Watching the Pittsburgh Penguins win the 2009 Stanley Cup—when Sidney Crosby was still “Sid the Kid” and the youngest captain ever to win—was where the passion began for Osanic. He also said watching the Tampa Bay Rays consistently beat the Toronto Blue Jays got him thinking more deeply about how data can help teams win.

“The Rays never had any money but they kept beating us and they kept being a consistent contender in baseball, so really just seeing how data can give teams the edge to separate them in such a competitive sports environment has been huge.”

Sports analytics isn’t just for the benefit of the team, management, or franchise—it also enhances the viewing experience for fans. Being knee-deep in QSAO has changed the way both Wu and Osanic watch sports.

“Now instead of seeing a great performance by someone and thinking wow this guy’s amazing sometimes I just dig deeper,” Osanic said. “Maybe some regression could play into these performances.”

“I think I watch a little bit now to confirm some of the findings from my own research projects or not confirm them and realize that maybe we went wrong somewhere,” Wu added.

Currently, QSAO hopes to increase their exposure locally with teams here in Kingston and in the wider sports community. On campus, they’re exploring partnerships with Queen’s Hockey—a collaboration to which Osanic credits his own involvement with QSAO. The club will be hiring for analyst positions in the fall, and they encourage anyone who loves sports, has hard programming skills, and some basic knowledge of sports analytics to apply. improve their performance in the sport of football and add them to whatever routine they normally would have.”

Moving into next season, Coulas said the team’s biggest change since ratification will be greater structure. This comes from hiring Osei and gaining better access to Queen’s facilities. “[Kwame Osei] will be able to create an overall plan of how the team will work, including both offense and defense,” Coulas said. “He’ll be able to further promote that professional environment which is involved in legitimizing the sport.”

The legitimization of women’s football is a key cornerstone for this team, among other things. For Osei, player development is also at the top of his mind. “[My] first goal is definitely to ensure that every player that joins the team is a better version of themselves at the end of the season, whether that means on the field production or just in their daily lives […] I’m more than just about the Xs and Os. I’m all about building a person up in every aspect of themselves,” he said.

Coulas explained that creating a safe and positive opportunity for women in sport has always been an important team value—being an official Queen’s club only makes this value easier to uphold. For example, Coulas hopes it will be easier to schedule practice times when it’s still light out, so athletes can walk home at a safe hour.

Despite the year of obstacles, Osei anticipates that when they’re ready to go Women’s Football will indeed have a full team—a team he believes will thrive in an encouraging environment and strive hard to achieve another goal at the top of his mind: winning.

“You play the game to win. So, we want to approach every practice and every game that way and hope that we achieve that goal.”

Monday, June 28, 2021

Lifestyle

queensjournal.ca

• 11

Kehlani has created space for fluid, authentic queerness in the R&B world The singer-songwriter proves that queer identities are free to evolve alysha mohamed

Senior Lifestyle Editor When I first heard Kehlani’s “Nights Like This,” I immediately noticed the subtle hints that she was singing about a woman. It was the bridge that piqued my interest, when Kehlani sings, “You gon’ get my hopes high, girl,” in the old school R&B voice I’ve been in love with forever.

Though it may not seem like a big deal, it undeniably stood out to me, a girl whose playlists consist of Summer Walker, Jhené Aiko, Rihanna, and of course, Kehlani. I’d never heard a woman R&B singer sing openly about a queer love interest.

It validated something in me that I had no idea needed validating. Kehlani’s lyrics were a reminder that queer relationships are everywhere, don’t need a label, and don’t need to be performed. There’s an unspoken expectation that celebrities need to define their sexuality and publicly showcase their relationships. Kehlani’s identity transformation and subtle lyrics

Kehlani normalizes queer relationships through her lyrics. reminded me that no one owes the world a performance of their queerness.

“Nights Like This” was my introduction to Kehlani’s sexuality, but their 2017 single “Honey” was the beautiful track I couldn’t stop listening to for months.

I was the last of my friends to become obsessed with the song—everyone else had it on repeat two years prior—but I quickly became infatuated with the soft, romantic lyrics and Kehlani’s stripped-down voice. The chorus is still one of my favourites, especially when Kehlani sings, “I like my girls just like I like my honey; sweet/A

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DHARMAYU DESAI

little selfish/I like my women like I like my money; green/A little jealous.”

In the R&B and rap worlds, romantic relationships between women are often fetishized and perceived as primarily sexual. Kehlani has carved a space for romantic, queer love songs to exist in a heteronormative music industry.

My heart flutters when they sing, “all the pretty girls in the world/ But I'm in this space with you[…]my fire was fate with you.”

There was intense speculation surrounding Kehlani’s sexual and

Reclaiming the Word: 'We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it!'

How the word "queer" has transformed over time.

Tracing the origins and evolution of the word "queer" Michelle Zeng Contributor “Queer” is a word with a complex and contentious history.

Today, we associate the word “queer” mostly with the

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY DHARMAYU DESAI

LGBTQ2S+ community. The term is often used in contexts like “queer theory” and “queer history,” or as a positive self-identifier among queer people.

However, there’s an ongoing debate about whether or not “queer” is an acceptable term to use.

The word “queer” can be traced back to 1513 when it meant peculiar or eccentric. The current definition of “queer” in the Oxford English Dictionary is

“a homosexual; esp. a homosexual man.” However, “queer” is also used as an umbrella term for all LGBTQ2S+ people—not just for those who are gay or lesbian. The Q in LGBTQ2S+ actually stands for both “queer” and “questioning.”

For years, “queer” was considered derogatory. However, since the 1980s—particularly during the AIDS epidemic and the ensuing resurgence of the gay rights movement—it has

gender identity after they released “Honey,” and I felt so seen in the way the singer-songwriter addressed the rumours.

In a 2020 interview with DIVA Magazine, Kehlani discussed their fluidity: “My energy has always been extremely fluid between masculine and feminine so that’s why I use ‘queer’, and also, queer is inclusive to non-binary people.”

Since then, Kehlani has opted for she/they pronouns and labelled themselves a lesbian on TikTok. To me, Kehlani has always seemed to prioritize the energy

increasingly been used as a positive term by people within and outside the LGBTQ2S+ community.

Some attribute the origins of the movement to reclaim “queer” to Queer Nation, an organization combating anti-LGBTQ2s+ violence that was founded by members of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP).

The group championed for the adoption of “queer” as a “sly and ironic weapon we can steal from the homophobe's hands and use against him.”

Recently, “queer” has entered the mainstream as a term that’s more inclusive of non-normative sexual and gender experiences than “gay” or “lesbian” or even “LGBT” and its associated acronyms can be.

“Queer” defies categorization.

As an umbrella term, it embraces everybody—especially those whose identities are sometimes overlooked within the LGBTQ2S+ community, including but not limited to non-binary, intersex, multisexual, and asexual/ aromantic-spectrum people.

There’s a reason why “queer” is a term often rejected by TransExclusionary Radical Feminists (TERFs) and supporters of respectability politics who believe that catering to cisheteronormative society is the only way to achieve so-called “equality.”

The open-ended, allencompassing connotations of “queer” mark it as an explicitly anti-assimilationist term that rejects binaries and rigid

and aura of an individual before their gender. It’s the soul connection that matters—not the labels or stereotypes. After her daughter Adeya was born, Kehlani spoke openly about raising her surrounded by “loudly queer” loved ones, vowing to normalize healthy queer relationships for her daughter.

Kehlani unapologetically embraces her masculine and feminine energies in fashion, prolific music, and everyday life—you’ve probably seen an iconic picture of them in a suit—along with celebrating their sexual and gender identity through language that’s freeing, not confining.

Watching Kehlani talk about the gender spectrum, use more pronouns, and adopt new labels for her sexuality reminds me that our identities are constantly evolving. Growth and fluidity are a part of human nature, and though social media and societal expectations demand categorization, queerness can be a personal, individual facet of identity.

When I listen to Kehlani’s music, I’m reminded of my own humanness, vulnerability, and capacity for growth. From “Toxic” to Thank U,” she reminds me to embrace my identity in every chapter of my evolution—flaws and all.

definitions of sexuality and gender.

As Queer Nation puts it, “[queer] is a way of telling ourselves we don't have to be witty and charming people who keep our lives discreet and marginalized in the straight world.”

In other words, queerness frees us from adhering to society’s standards of acceptability and so-called normalcy.

Despite the growing use of “queer” in both academic and social contexts, its usage remains a topic of debate even among members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.

Some resent the term for its implications of peculiarity, while others embrace it for the same reason. Another common argument is that “queer” is still considered a slur against LGBTQ2S+ people and, therefore shouldn’t be used by anyone.

As with any reclaimed word, nobody is obligated to use the term “queer” to describe themselves if they don’t wish to. However, to argue that “queer” should be avoided entirely due to its history of being used in a derogatory way would also, by extension, eliminate the usage of other words that have been reclaimed by marginalized communities.

As queer people, we should be allowed to call ourselves queer without being told to censor our own identities. As the rallying cry goes, “We’re here, we’re queer—get used to it!”

Postscript

12 • queensjournal.ca

Monday, June 28, 2021

POSTSCRIPT

An exploration of queerness, creativity, and mental health at Queen's PHOTO SUPPLIED BY CAT ROSE

Cat Rose's piece entitled "Quarantine: Creativity and the case of chronic loneliness."

How I found self-validation in creative expression Cat Rose Contributor This article discusses mental health and may be triggering for some readers. The Canadian Mental Health Association Crisis Line can be reached at 1-800-875-6213.

This article uses “Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender, Queer, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S+)" when referring to students with diverse experiences with gender and sexuality. While many of these labels are popular among those who self-identify, they are not universal.

I’ve always grappled with my identity and how to express it.

"

For a long time, exploring my identity on my own terms through art and through creative expression seemed completely off the table.

Before Queen’s, I understood my mental health, gender, and sexuality as complex aspects of myself that I wanted to unpack, but growing up in a rural conservative community denied me the affirming space needed to do it. Instead, I tried to push

it all out of my mind as much as possible.

In high school, I put all my creative efforts into my classes and community advocacy, but the shame I attached to my identity and my reliance on external validation kept me deep in the closet. I felt uncomfortable in so many spaces where I was supposed to feel at home, and I couldn’t acknowledge my identity through creative mediums.

For a long time, exploring my identity on my own terms through art and through creative expression seemed completely off the table. I couldn't self-reflect or connect with other LGBTQ2S+ students, and the thought of engaging in LGBTQ2S+ activism terrified me.

When I started at Queen's in the fall of 2019, I experienced burnout and lacked both a strong sense of self and an affirming community—I hadn't yet found the means to express myself creatively.

On top of feeling incredibly disconnected from my community and identity, my then-undiagnosed bipolar and anxiety disorders caused depression, paranoia, and impulsive, erratic behaviour and further isolated me from those who couldn’t understand my often intense and overwhelming emotions.

My lack of knowledge regarding Ontario’s mental health system, combined with misdiagnosis and experiencing invalidation while trying to access care, prevented me from getting effective treatment until my second year at Queen's.

Navigating the system for the first time during a crisis proved incredibly difficult. My aversion to being vulnerable made it hard for me to recognize that I needed help and impeded my ability to accurately describe my symptoms without diminishing my own experiences.

It took months to find an affordable therapist who was both part of the LGBTQ2S+ community and had training in understanding my unique identities and experiences.

Accessing equitable and effective care is even more difficult for racialized members of our community, especially those who experience racism and homophobia on top of the stigma surrounding mental health.

"

My creativity has bloomed since I started treatment.

While getting a diagnosis and proper medication was difficult enough, I struggled most with how my mental health intersected with my gender and sexuality.

In group therapy, I tried prioritizing one aspect of myself over others, but found that categorizing my identity using labels and hierarchies just made describing my experiences even more complicated.

Even now, months after my diagnosis, I’m still learning about my condition and understanding my identity as so much more than just clinical labels or a difference in brain chemistry.

"

No amount of societal acceptance or medical diagnosis could ever validate my identity in the same way as my authentic self-expression.

My creativity has bloomed since I started treatment. I've begun combatting my harmful behaviours and seeking out safe spaces for Queer creative expression. While the support of my friends has shown me the value of community, I’m learning to find validation within the individuality of my queerness.

No amount of societal acceptance or medical diagnosis could ever validate my identity in the same way as my authentic self-expression.

I started shooting film photography for fun last fall, experimenting with expired film and different cameras. Growing up, I always believed that my presentation within images represented a performance of what I thought others wanted from me, rather than a creative exploration of self-expression within the context of my gender, sexuality, and mental health.

I experimented with self-portraiture for the first time when creating the visual for this piece. The image, titled "Quarantine: Creativity and the case of chronic loneliness," is a celebration of the newfound self-affirmation I find within my identity, of being

vulnerable in my art.

It’s also an exploration of overstimulation through substance use, creative expression, and media consumption. Making art has helped me cope with the complex isolation connected to being Queer and mentally ill during the pandemic.

When creating my visuals for the article this week, I attended a Queer Art Night event hosted by Sexual Assault Centre Kingston (SACK), and Queen's Collage Collectives. Celebrating Pride alongside a supportive group of LGBTQ2S+ creatives while exploring my identity through photography is more than I ever could have hoped for as a closeted kid.

I’m grateful for LGBTQ2S+ student leaders at Queen’s like Matt D’Alessandro, ArtSci ’22, who I’ve had the privilege of working alongside in campus activism.

My own advocacy is inspired by his commitment to creating healthy support systems for LGBTQ2S+ students on campus, as well as the collective efforts of our community.

I’ve only just started understanding myself and my identity, but I’m excited to continue my self-discovery on campus in spaces that welcome LGBTQ2S+ expression and creativity.

To all incoming LGBTQ2S+ students struggling with their mental health: you're not alone. Your experiences and identities are valid, regardless of how and where you choose to share them.