Published by Communications and Public Affairs (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56982 or 53338
News Release
October 18, 2004
Queer Identities Week to educate, celebrate diversity
The University of Guelph’s annual Queer Identities Week, Oct. 22 to Nov. 1, will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Canada’s oldest queer club on a university campus, Guelph Queer Equality (GQE), as well as hold panel discussions, workshops, book readings, movie screenings and a drag show. All events are open to the public.
“This year, we hope to educate our queer community and allies to gain a better sense of ourselves and the political context in which we live,” said student and GQE member Scott Clarke. “The goal is to educate and have fun. We really encourage community involvement.”
The human rights office of the Central Students Association and GQE, along with volunteers from other campuses and the community, have organized and sponsored the 11 days of activities.
GQE will be recognized during the kick-off Queer Carnival Oct. 22 from 2 to 6 p.m. on Branion Plaza (rain location: Peter Clark Hall). The carnival will be followed by a drag show at 9 p.m. in the Grad Lounge on the fifth floor of the University Centre.
Celebrated Canadian video artists Shawna Dempsey and Lorri Millan will give a talk and performance called “Tales for A New World” Oct. 26 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Room 113 of the MacNaughton Building. Dempsey and Millan have created feminist, queer work in a range of media for15 years. Their work has been featured in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Royal Ontario Museum and women's centres in Sri Lanka.
A discussion on “Queering the Curriculum” will address queer content in the classroom and queer research opportunities Oct. 27 from 2 to 5 p.m. in Room 441 of the University Centre. It will be followed by a panel titled “Queers and Political Organizing” from 6 to 8 p.m. in the same location.
The week wraps up Nov. 1 with a full day of queer-related radio programming on CFRU 93.3 FM from noon to 8 p.m.
Other highlights:
Oct. 24
• 2 to 4:30 p.m. “Out On the Shelf: Readings and Spoken Word,” a benefit for Out On the Shelf at the Boathouse, downtown Guelph.
• 7 to 9 p.m. Screening of the film Sugar at War Memorial Hall. Director John Palmer will introduce the film and answer questions.
Oct. 25
• 6 to 8 p.m. Panel discussion on “‘Trans’forming Health Care: Health Care Services for Transgendered in Ontario” in Room 441 of the University Centre.
Oct. 26
• 1 to 3 p.m. Screening of the film I Exist: Queer Middle Eastern and Muslim People Living in America, followed by a discussion lead by a speaker from Toronto’s Salaam, Queer Muslim Organization in Room 335 of the University Centre.
Oct. 29
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Queer Resource Fair on Branion Plaza (rain location: floating lounge on the second floor of the University Centre).
For more information, or for a complete schedule of events, contact GQE at (519) 824-4120, Ext. 56702 or gqe@uoguelph.ca.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt (519) 824-4120, Ext. 53338, or Rachelle Cooper, Ext. 56982.
