new mentality
issue 7 | still free | winter 2014
the
t he lGbtq+ issue
in search of truth
check out the gay glossary lGbtq+ poetry, stories & drawings help lines, resources, etc.
| to subscribe to this magazine, please contact us at kathy@wyndhamhouse.org | facebook the new mentality Guelph | call 519.822.2768 |
on learning Sarah Chown
The label they used, “asexual”, helped me to make sense of my experiences throughout my life.
I had heard the word before, once. My best friend casually asked one day if I had ever read about it, and suggested I might find it interesting. As someone who likes to read and often gets suggestions for interesting topics, I filed it as something to look into another day.
Fast forward a few years… I was searching around the Internet trying to better understand gender identity, but instead found myself reading a blog entry that could have been written by me – “I didn’t really understand the big deal about dating in elementary and high school. I dated some people after high school, and while I was keen to spend time together, we were just never on the same page about sex” – and I knew immediately: there was no question that my experience of my sexuality fit into exactly what this person was describing. The label they used, “asexual”, helped me to make sense of my experiences throughout my life. The ‘textbook’ definition of asexual is a person who does not experience sexual attraction.
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I was completely overwhelmed by emotions that seemingly came out of nowhere – relief that I finally had an excuse to get me out of conversations about which people are the ‘hottest’, anxiety about what kind of family I will create in the future, fear about trying to explain asexuality to others when I know so little about it myself, excitement that I am not the only person who feels this way. There were a lot of tears cried that night, in the weeks and months to come, and I am sure there will be more.
personal growth and a lot of lessons learned about myself and the people I care most about during this time. It has been 18 months since first coming across asexuality, and I am still learning about what exactly that means for me. I’m still trying to figure out the answers to some of the questions I had when I first realized I’m asexual, and I’m still learning about how sex and romance and dating and partners will or won’t fit into my life. I also know, now more than ever, that I am surrounded by many, many people who care deeply about me, and that while these relationships might not include sex, filing taxes together or reciting vows, I am not sure those things would make them better.
But, tears are not always a bad thing. There has also been much
LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer and beyond) is an
acronym used to recognize the plethora of queer sexual and gender identities beyond the first few letters in the acronym. These identities include two-spirit people, pansexuals, intersex people, and asexuals, among others. Many people within this grouping consider themselves queer, meaning that they are outside the assumed norms of being cisgender and heterosexual. Like many people within LGBTQ+ communities, I love that being a queer person gives me a little bit of space to really think about gender and sexuality and the kinds of relationships that I want to be in. There are also a lot of moments when I’m hurt by wellintentioned statements people make based on assumptions and their own experiences, like assuming I experienced sexual abuse as a child, I have not met someone I’m really attracted to yet, or if I just tried hard enough to have an orgasm, I would outgrow this ‘phase’. Lucky for me, I get to help challenge the assumptions people make on a day-to-day basis in the work that I do at the AIDS Committee of Guelph and Wellington County (ACG). ACG’s work includes running Qlinks, a website with social events, health information, and news for queer communities within Guelph and Wellington. We also have an app, H3: Halt Homophobia and HIV, that puts sexual health information and comebacks to homophobia at your fingertips. If you need support on the topics of sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity, OUTline is a confidential chat service run by the University of Guelph that we support. We also provide some in-person social and educational opportunities, such as our periodic webinars, and a monthly group we will soon be offering in partnership with Out on the Shelf.
For organizations looking to learn about ways they can support LGBTQ+ people, ACG offers training and facilitated discussions to help service providers learn about LGBTQ+ people and work towards creating services that are responsive to, and inclusive of, the needs of people of every sexuality and gender. Our ultimate goal is to provide programming that meets the needs of people in our communities. We would love your help in spreading the word about our programming, to see you at our events or in our online forums, and to get your feedback on our programs. For me, realizing my asexuality is just another reminder of the importance of continuing to learn about ourselves and about others. It’s also a reminder of all the different opportunities there are for us to learn in our day-to-day lives: in our conversations with other people, in our personal day-to-day experiences, our communities, the things we read, and in the more formal places where learning happens, such as classrooms and training sessions too. Whether queer or not, there are many things we can learn about ourselves and those we share the world with. While the learning may not always be easy, it certainly can be an empowering process, and helps us to build a world that is safer for ourselves and those we love.
More information: OUTline ONline www.qlinks.ca/outline H3: Halt Homophobia & HIV is available on the App Store and Google Play.
new mentality
the
youth led magazine
the new mentality Guelph is a youth led initiative which focuses on reducing stigma. Thanks to all for their creative contributions. Wyndham House & Sandy Anger Studios
Sarah Chown is the Educator at the AIDS Committee of Guelph & Wellington County, and uses the pronouns ‘she’ and ‘her’. Don’t hesitate to be in touch at education@aidsguelph.org if you have questions or would like to get connected to ACG’s services.
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glossary Agender A person who is internally ungendered or does not have a felt sense of gender identity.
to traditional expectations based on gender, or punishing or excluding those who don’t conform to traditional gender expectations.
Ally Someone who advocates for and supports members of a community other than their own. Reaching across differences to achieve mutual goals.
Dominant Culture The cultural values, beliefs, and practices that are assumed to be the most common and influential within a given society.
Asexual A person who is not sexually attracted to any gender. Bigender A person whose gender identity is a combination of man and woman Biphobia The irrational fear and intolerance of people who are bisexual. Bisexuality Also bi. A person who is attracted to two sexes or two genders, but not necessarily simultaneously or equally. This used to be defined as a person who is attracted to both genders or both sexes, but since there are not only two sexes (see intersex and transsexual) and there are not only two genders (see transgender), this definition is inaccurate. Cisgender A person who by nature or by choice conforms to gender/sex based expectations of society (also referred to as “Gender-straight” or “Gender Normative”) Cisgenderism Assuming every person to be cisgender therefore marginalizing those who identify as trans* in some form. It is also believing cisgender people to be superior, and holding people 4|
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Drag The act of dressing in gendered clothing and adopting gendered behviors as part of a performance, most often clothing and behaviors typically not associated with your gender identity. Drag Queens perform femininity theatrically. Drag Kings perform masculinity theatrically. Drag may be performed as a political comment on gender, as parody, or simply as entertainment. Drag performance does not indicate sexuality, gender identity, or sex identity. FTM/F2M Abbreviation for a female-to-male transgender or transsexual person. Gay Men attracted to men. Colloquially used as an umbrella term to include all LGBTIQ people. Gender A socially constructed system of classification that ascribes qualities of masculinity and femininity to people. Gender characteristics can change over time and are different between cultures. See “Gender Identity” and “Gender Expression” for more on gender. Gender Conformity When your gender identity, gender expression and sex “match” accord-
ing to social norms. See “Gender Identity,” “Sex” and “Gender Expression” for more on gender. Gender Diverse A person who either by nature or by choice does not conform to genderbased expectations of society (e.g. transgender, transsexual, intersex, genderqueer, cross-dresser, etc) preferable to “gender variant” because it does not imply a standard normativity. Gender Fluid A person whose gender identification and presentation shifts, whether within or outside of societal, genderbased expectations. Gender Identity an individual’s internal sense of gender, which may or may not be the same as one’s gender assigned at birth. Some gender identities are “woman,” “transman” and “agender” but there are many more. Since gender identity is internal it isn’t necessarily visible to others. Additionally, gender identity is often conflated with sex, but they are separate concepts – please see GenEq’s Gender/Sex Infosheet for more on the difference between the two. Genderism The system of belief that there are only two genders (men and women) and that gender is inherently tied to one’s sex assigned at birth. It holds cisgender people as superior to transgender people, and punishes or excludes those who don’t conform to society’s expectations of gender. Gender-Neutral/Gender-Inclusive Inclusive language to describe relationships (“spouse” and “partner” instead of “husband/boyfriend” and “wife/girlfriend”), spaces (genderneutral/inclusive restrooms are
for use by all genders), pronouns (“they” and “ze” are gender neutral/ inclusive pronouns) among other things. Gender Role How “masculine” or “feminine” an individual acts. Societies commonly have norms regarding how males and females should behave, expecting people to have personality characteristics and/or act a certain way based on their biological sex. Heterosexuality Sexual, emotional, and/or romantic attraction to a sex other than your own. Commonly thought of as “attraction to the opposite sex” but since there are not only two sexes (see “Intersex” and “Transsexual”), this definition is inaccurate. Heterosexism Assuming every person to be heterosexual therefore marginalizing persons who do not identify as heterosexual. It is also believing heterosexuality to be superior to homosexuality and all other sexual orientations. Heterosexual Privilege Benefits derived automatically by being (or being perceived as) heterosexual that are denied to gays, lesbians, bisexuals, queers and all other non-heterosexual sexual orientations. Homophobia The irrational fear and intolerance of people who are homosexual or of homosexual feelings within one’s self. This assumes that heterosexuality is superior. Homosexuality Sexual, emotional, and/or romantic attraction to the same sex. Institutional Oppression Arrangement of a society used to benefit one group at the expense of
another through the use of language, media education, religion, economics, etc. Internalized Oppression The process by which an oppressed person comes to believe, accept, or live out the inaccurate stereotypes and misinformation about their group. Intersex Intersex is a set of medical conditions that feature congenital anomaly of the reproductive and sexual system. That is, intersex people are born with “sex chromosomes,” external genitalia, or internal reproductive systems that are not considered “standard” for either male or female. The existence of intersexuals shows that there are not just two sexes and that our ways of thinking about sex (trying to force everyone to fit into either the male box or the female box) is socially constructed. Invisible Minority A group whose minority status is not always immediately visible, such as some disabled people and LGBTIQ people. This lack of visibility may make organizing for rights difficult. It A pronoun used to refer to a thing; the use of “it” as a pronoun for a person is extremely offensive in its complete dehumanization of the subject; for appropriate, gender neutral pronouns, see chart of gender neutral pronoun usage at the bottom of this page. LGBTIQ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer. Marginalized Excluded, ignored, or relegated to the outer edge of a group/society/ community.
MSM Men who engage in same-sex behavior, but who may not necessarily self-identify as gay or bisexual. MTF/M2F Abbreviation for male-to-female transgender or transsexual person. Pansexual A person who is fluid in sexual orientation and/or gender or sex identity. Queer An umbrella term to refer to all LGBTIQ people. A political statement, as well as a sexual orientation, which advocates breaking binary thinking and seeing both sexual orientation and gender identity as potentially fluid. • A simple label to explain a complex set of sexual behaviors and desires. For example, a person who is attracted to multiple genders may identify as queer. • Many older LGBT people feel the word has been hatefully used against them for too long and are reluctant to embrace it. Rainbow Flag The Rainbow Freedom Flag was designed in 1978 by Gilbert Baker to designate the great diversity of the LGBTIQ community. It has been recognized by the International Flag Makers Association as the official flag of the LGBTIQ civil rights movement. Sex A medical term designating a certain combination of gonads, chromosomes, external gender organs, secondary sex characteristics and hormonal balances. Common terms are “male, “female” and “intersex.” Sex identity The sex that a person sees themselves as. This can include refusing to label oneself with a sex.
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glossary continued
Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS)/Sex Confirmation Surgery A term used by some medical professionals to refer to a group of surgical options that alter a person’s sex to match their sex identity. Sexual Orientation The deep-seated direction of one’s sexual (erotic) attraction. It is on a continuum and not a set of absolute categories. Sometimes referred to as affection, orientation or sexuality. Sexual orientation evolves through a multistage developmental process, and may change over time. Asexuality is also a sexual orientation. Stereotype An exaggerated oversimplified belief about an entire group of people without regard for individual differences. Straight Person who is attracted to a gender other than their own. Commonly thought of as “attraction to the opposite gender,” but since there are not only two genders (see transgender), this definition is inaccurate.
which refers to levels of masculinity and femininity. Often, society conflates sex and gender, viewing them as the same thing. But, gender and sex are not the same thing.Transgender people are those whose psychological self (“gender identity”) differs from the social expectations for the physical sex they were born with. For example, a female with a masculine gender identity or who identifies as a man. • An umbrella term for transsexuals, cross-dressers (transvestites), transgenderists, gender queers, and people who identify as neither female nor male and/ or as neither a man or as a woman. Transgender is not a sexual orientation;transgender people may have any sexual orientation. It is important to acknowledge that while some people may fit under this definition of transgender, they may not identify as such. Transition A complicated, multi-step process that can take years as transgender people align their anatomy with their sex identity and/or their gender expression with their gender identity.
Tranny A derogatory term used to refer to a trans-identified person. Sometimes a term reclaimed by trans* people for empowerment.
Transphobia Fear or hatred of transgender people; transphobia is manifested in a number of ways, including violence, harassment and discrimination.
Transgender • Transgender (sometimes shortened to trans or TG) people are those whose psychological self (“gender identity”) differs from the social expectations for the physical sex they were born with. To understand this, one must understand the difference between biological sex, which is one’s body (genitals, chromosomes, ect.), and social gender,
Transsexual Transsexual refers to a person who experiences a mismatch of the sex they were born as and the sex they identify as. A transsexual sometimes undergoes medical treatment to change his/her physical sex to match his/her sex identity through hormone treatments and/or surgically. Not all transsexuals can have or desire surgery.
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Transvestite Individuals who regularly or occasionally wear the clothing socially assigned to a gender not their own, but are usually comfortable with their anatomy and do not wish to change it (i.e. they are not transsexuals). Cross-dresser is the preferred term for men who enjoy or prefer women’s clothing and social roles. Contrary to popular belief, the overwhelming majority of male crossdressers identify as straight and often are married. Very few women call themselves cross-dressers. Triangle A symbol of remembrance. Gay men in the Nazi concentration camps were forced to wear the pink triangle as a designation of being homosexual. Women who did not conform to social roles, often believed to be lesbians, had to wear the black triangle. The triangles are worn today as symbols of freedom, reminding us to never forget. Two-Spirit American Indian/First Nations/Native American persons who have attributes of both men and women, have distinct gender and social roles in their tribes, and are often involved with mystical rituals (shamans). Their dress is usually mixture of men’s and women’s articles and they are seen as a separate or third gender. The term “two-spirit” is usually considered to specific to the Zuni tribe. Similar identity labels vary by tribe and include “one-spirit” and “wintke.” Ze Gender neutral pronouns that can be used instead of he/she. Zir Gender neutral pronouns that can be used instead of his/her. Source: UC Berkeley Gender Equity Resource Center
I really hate how homophobic the world still is even though its almost 2014. I grew up with my best friend G, who taught me all about equality and queer rights and indifference, so to me, hating on someone who is different, no matter what the reason, makes no sense to me and I don’t understand how someone could have such hate and anger in them. I personally identify as straight but some of my best friends and people are not “society normal”. And some of my best memories are of queer dance parties and going to rallies in support of my friends and many strangers to fight for their way of life. The fact that people are still afraid of anything or anyone that is different makes my blood boil and makes me very angry. I actually think they should make a mandatory class all about equality and queer issues. We need to make growing up queer easier and more welcoming. I have so much respect for all those who have grown up in these difficult times and circumstances because it must take soooo much courage to stand up and come out in this extremely judgemental world. I have so much love for all those who have made this difficult choice. And much love to everyone who identifies as LGBTQ and thank you so much for standing up for what’s right and never giving up the fight because I will always stand beside you, shoulder to shoulder, with my pink bandanna on and my fist in the air! Love you so much G. xoxoxoxox Dave
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TIFFANY’S IDEA people think people are goin g to look at them different but people should accept you the way you are. you should never c han ge who you are bec ause a girl or boy dosent like you. tell them “I am n ot c han gin g f or n o one” and some say “ok then , I am n ot goin g to be with you” then tell them “ your n o t wor th my time” then walk away an d say “someone eles will accept me the way I am”. just don’t c han ge f or n o one and make sure they kn ow that. I don’t kn ow how boys feel but but jus t DONT c han ge f or n o one. people should accept you as you are. you should make your life the way you want it to be and don’t c han ge it bec ause of a girl or boy.
Scientists say every action initiates an equal and opposite reaction. I say that’s just the start. I say every action initiates a most unequal and unpredictable chain reaction, that every filament of living becomes part of a larger weave, while remaining identifiable.
and if yo u wan t t o b e a boy b e a boy
That each line of latitude
and if yo u wan t t o b e a g i r l b e a g i rl.
obtains meaning.
it s a l l up t o yo u.
That every universe is part of a bigger heaven, a heaven of rhythm and geometry, where a heartbeat is the apex of a triangle.
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By nick bolton
O u r count ry n eed s to l earn m o re r e s p ec t f or peopl e wh o ar e gay, b i s e x ua l a nd tran sgen d ered . T h e g overnment n eed s to put in ne w s tat utes t hat woul d al low th e LG BTQ communit y to get mar ried i n ev ery p rov in ce. Cu rr en tly, only a f ew count ries al low gay marr i ag e y et there is n o r eason wh y eve ry cou ntry cou ldn’t allow it . T he world s h oul d h ave more re s p ec t f or equal it y.
I t hin k t hat people who have a same s ex part n er, s hould be t reat ed t he sam e as people w ho do n’ t. It doesn ’ t matter if they’re gay, bi s ex ual, les bian , or t ran sves t it es . We all have feelin gs an d a heart whic h c an al s o be hurt when they’ re abused. It c an al s o c aus e t hem to harm themselves whic h w e don’t want be c ause they’ re p eo ple jus t lik e everyon e el se. Everyon e s hould be t reated t he same. I t hin k t hat peo ple s hould realize t hat bul ly in g or pic k in g on peop le who have same s ex part n ers is n ot fair to t hem at all. they don’ t under s tan d t hat as lon g as th e pers on is happy t hen t h ere shouldn’ t be a problem w ith w ho they’ re w ith o r what t heir s ex ualit y is . So n ex t t ime you wan t to go aroun d an d mak e fun of s omeon e who is gay or etc may be tak e a quic k , d eep breat h in an d jus t realize t hat t hey are happy t he way t hey are. Cory Robb
I f a s tra ight man an d s traigh t woma n c a n get mar ried an ywh ere, a nyone sh ou l d be al lowe d to. Our country tal ks a lot about equa lit y but so many peopl e are t r e ated p oor ly bec au se of w h o t hey lov e. I n t h e lon g ru n , th e wor l d n ee d s to t reat t he LGBTQ commun it y th e sa m e a s ev eryone el se, after al l , w e ’ re all human and we all h av e c hoic es in life and if you don’ t li k e it, t urn away.
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“
“
BEFORE WE KISSED EVERYTHING WAS GRAY AND DEAD AND QUIET EXCEPT FOR THE DISTANT SOUND OF CARS.
kiss me hard before you go
It
seems like yesterday when we kissed on top of that still train cart. My hands in his hair and his on my shoulder. His lips were soft like fine silk and his breath tasted slightly of cigarettes, which I did not mind. I actually loved it, it reminded me of when I got my first ever teddy bear as a kid. I was so happy and I felt so ecstatic when I received it, this kiss was just like that. Before we kissed everything was grey and dead and quiet except for the distant sound of cars. But after we kissed everything around me was bright and colourful and surreal like an Andy Warhol painting. When we finished he said “Ah, just need a little practice that’s all.” I blushed when he said that, like a little child would when complemented. We had only been speaking since Monday and we planned to meet each other on Wednesday during my lunch break. It was the best day for me; I felt like I was in pure ecstasy. It was my first “true” kiss with another
“
“
BUT LIKE ALL THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE, YOU HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR THE CONSEQUENCES, AND IT SOMETIMES HURTS, BUT IN THE END IT WILL MAKE YOU A STRONGER PERSON.
guy. He walked me back to my school. We went to the smokers pit and we spoke for a bit before he had to leave. I gave him a hug and one last kiss on his lips, not knowing it would be the last. Almost two days had passed and he had not responded to any of my messages. My brain was telling me to relax, but my heart gave me the feeling that I just had a one night stand. It was Friday after school when I noticed he was online so I sent a message to him. He
saw it and began to respond. It was strange; instead of being happy I was terrified because somehow I knew it was not going to be a joyful message. When I saw the message my heart stopped I kept reading one line that stood out from the message. He said “I don’t think we are right for each other I’m sorry”. I had given him my first kiss and he knew that and I knew I was never going to get it back. Just like when a child lets go of their balloon they will never get that same balloon back. I remember that night one line from a Lana Del Rey song Summertime Sadness kept repeating in my head. It went “Kiss me hard before you go” just like that day if I knew that was the last time I would see him I would have never kissed him. But like all the decisions you make, you have to be prepared for the consequences, and it sometimes hurts, but in the end it will make you a stronger person. Aaron Tlucko the new mentality | 11
Take pride Take pride on the go Show it off Show it off all the time Be yourself With pride by your side Smile bigger than most Smile with pride
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The shy girl BY SAMANTHA NICHOLS
There was once a girl who
gela then said “Why don’t we
they both love.
was very, very, very shy. She
go to my house after school?”
They finally arrived at Angela’s
was the type of girl you would
All three of them nodded and
place and all of them went into
see with her head lying on the
went into the school to start
Angie’s room to eat their treats.
desk, hood up and ashamed
the day.
“This Rocket Blaster tastes better
of what she is. She is Bi-sex-
School ended a lot quicker
than the last one I had. I think they
ual. Her name is Angela, and
than the friends expected.
taste better everytime you buy
she had so much shame about Angela and Bre meet up right
one.” The three friends laughed
it, she wouldn’t even tell her
after class and walked down
and laughed until it was time for
best friends, Kevin and Bre,
M hall together to meet Kevin.
Kevin to go home.
who have been her best friends “Hey Kevin, got a treat for me
Bre looked at Angie. Then Angie
since kindergarten. But that all
and Angie today?” Bre asked
asked her, ‘Is it wrong to be in
changed......
hoping he had two candy bars
love with a female?” Bre looked at
On a cold, chilled semptember
and two pops left. He nods,
her and said “No it’s not.” Angie
morning, the three friends met
reaches into his locker and
leaned in and kissed Bre. Angie
at their usual meet up spot on
pulls out a Snickers for Bre and finally accepts the fact that she is
the corner of Young St and
a Rocket Blaster for Angela.
Bi-sexual. This goes to show that
Devin Rd. As they headed
Rocket Blasters are the best
you have a beautiful body, use it
towards the school, Bre said
chocolate bars ever; they are
the way that makes you happiest!
“Hey guys, what are we doing
loaded with caramel and pea-
after school?” They looked at
nuts. Yum! Then he handed
each other and shrugged. An-
both girls a cream soda, which
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Some Days Just Remember
Some day’s I’m sad Some day’s I’m happy. Today I’m lucky. Just remember, you’re you and I am me. Tomorrow will be better. Learn from your mistakes. As I learn from mine. To have a future that is oh, so divine. As that is what I’m doing for mine. Just take your time. Be proud of being you................ Tish Brown
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YOU ARE AMAZING / YOU ARE BRAVE / YOU ARE KIND / YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL / YOU ARE ADORED / YOU ARE SMART / YOU ARE GENEROUS / YOU ARE IMPORTANT / YOU ARE INCREDIBLE / YOU ARE BREATHTAKING / YOU ARE MY HERO / YOU ARE GORGEOUS / YOU ARE A GREAT FRIEND / YOU ARE ONE COOL CAT / YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE / YOU ARE A WINNER / YOU ARE IN A CLASS OF YOUR OWN / YOU ARE ONE IN A BILLION / YOU ARE A DREAM COME TRUE / YOU ARE THE WIND / YOU ARE REALLY SOMETHING / YOU ARE ALWAYS ON MY MIND / YOU ARE FABULOUS / YOU ARE IMPORTANT / YOU ARE NOT MISTAKEN / YOU ARE EVERYTHING I EVER DREAMED OF / YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE / YOU ARE ON FIRE / YOU ARE NEVER ALONE / YOU ARE LOVED / YOU ARE A SUPERSTAR / YOU ARE SPECIAL / YOU ARE FREE TO DREAM / YOU ARE ON TOP OF THE WORLD / YOU ARE HAPPY / YOU ARE THE FUTURE / YOU ARE UNIQUE / YOU ARE THE SAME / YOU ARE SEXY / YOU ARE PERFECT JUST THE WAY YOU ARE / YOU ARE A MIRACLE / YOU ARE LOVE the new mentality | 17
LGBTQ+ Resources for Guelph and surrounding Area
OUTline
uoguelph.ca/~outline/ OUTline is the University of Guelph’s resource and support service specializing in questions relating to sexual orientation and gender identity. OUTline has a number of different services to help you find lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer, two-spirit, ally information and resources.
QLinks.ca
Your link to everything LGBTIQ in Guelph/Wellington and surrounding area OutOnTheShelf.ca Guelph’s Queer library and resource centre youthline.ca 1.800.268.9688 Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line is a youth to youth phone, email and instant message support service for queer, trans and questioning folks 26 and under in Ontario. Confidential, free, and non-judgemental peer support. Guelph Pride organizes annual events for the Guelph community which aim to bring together the Guelph queer and ally communities as well as address issues surrounding the queer community in a safe, educational manner.
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Guelph Resource Centre for Gender Empowerment and Diversity UC Room 107 University of Guelph 519.824.4120 x58559 GRCGED is a student funded, collectively run resource centre for people of all or no genders. They advocate anti-oppresison issues within a feminist framework, and provide resources and support for students, faculty and community members, who can use their extensive library, computers an dother accessible technologies.
ourspectrum.com Waterloo Region’s rainbow community space 42 Erb. St. E., Waterloo, ON rainbowhealthontario.ca Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO) is a province-wide program that works to improve the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people in Ontario through education, research, outreach and public policy advocacy.
thegaily.ca The Gaily is a Montreal-based independently-owned and volunteer-operated lifestyle magazine. Mostly we rant and rave about things. slapupsidethehead.com A funny, Canadian website writing and drawing about gay issues, usually with satire :)
idontdoboxes.org A magazine for and by queer youth gathering stories from the south east and beyond. The website features many true queer stories.
HELP LINES Community Torchlight Crisis Line 1.877.822.0140
queerattitude.com QA is operated for young people who are looking to engage with their peers about issues related, but not limited, to sexuality. A “a cyber village full of young people from around the world. Most of us fall into the category of LGBT Youth, and the rest of us are either unsure, curious or just straight but supportive.” rainbowhealthontario.ca Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO) is a province-wide program that works to improve the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people in Ontario through education, research, outreach and public policy advocacy. soytoronto.org Supporting Our Youth (SOY) is an exciting, dynamic community development program designed to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and transgendered youth in Toronto through the active involvement of youth and adult communities.
everyoneisgay.com Everyone Is Gay works to improve the lives of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning/Queer (LGBTQ) youth by providing honest advice to these youth while keeping them laughing; talking to students across the country in an effort to create caring, compassionate school environments; and working with parents of LGBTQ kids to help foster an ongoing dialogue and deeper understanding.
Community Torchlight Distress Line 1.888.821.3760
YouthLine 1.800.268.9688
Women in Crisis’ Crisis Line 1.800.7233
OUTline 519.836.4550
To Contact The New Mentality Guelph
f
facebook.com/TheNewMentalityGuelph
t
519-822-2768
e
kathy@wyndhamhouse.org the new mentality | 19
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