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COVID-19 and the LGBTQ2+ community: Rising to unique challenges through unprecedented times

  • Writer: QUnited
    QUnited
  • Jun 20, 2020
  • 9 min read

Updated: Jun 21, 2020

Every year, during the month of June, the LGBTQ2+ community gathers through Pride Month events to celebrate the freedom to be themselves across the globe. Moreover, this is an excellent opportunity for allies outside the LGBTQ2+ community to show support, amplify voices, listen, and learn.


However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, Pride Marches have been cancelled across the globe for the first time in nearly half a century. In addition to the cancellation of Pride, the intersection of the BLM movement and Pride month have shed light onto the commonly forgotten history of how Pride started. Marsha P Johnson and other POC trans women were the foundation for the rainbows and parades known as pride today; a time of connection, education and love. This pride, it is imperative that we move forward in support of the BLM movement. It is extremely important to acknowledge intersectionality and the disproportionate impact on BIPOC LGBTQ2+ students during this time. Please see our other blog post for more information on support for BIPOC.


The cancellation of Pride is not the only struggle the LGBTQ2+ community is facing right now. Moreover, in particular, after being sent home for online classes in the fall, the LGBTQ2+ community at Queen’s University has been disproportionately impacted.


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To raise awareness and discuss these new impacts, we have interviewed Breana Dudemaine (she/her). Breana is in her third year studying in the Commerce program at Queen’s University. She is currently the Co-Chair of Q+, a committee designed to provide a safe and inclusive environment to the LGBTQ2+ community at the Smith School of Business while also promoting networking, mentorship and development opportunities. In this interview, Breana touches upon her experience coming to Queen’s University in her first year, how that has changed under the new circumstances, and how to be an active ally.


“I would lie and say I had a boyfriend at home when it was actually my girlfriend”

Coming to Queen’s University


For Breana, moving to Queen’s was a very drastic transition. Coming from Toronto where she had been out and comfortable for a very long time, it was very hard for her to identify who she was comfortable coming out to at Queen’s. She constantly worried about the possibility of ruining friendships by opening up about her sexual orientation. She explains that during frosh week, “I would lie and say I had a boyfriend at home when it was actually my girlfriend”. It was not until one of her Commerce classes brought in a panel of upper-year students to discuss their experiences in Commerce. Breana says that she distinctly remembers one member coming out to the class and discussing her experience as part of Q+; “her presence on that panel made me feel more included and more like I actually belong in the program”, she explains. Before experiencing the panel event, Breana did not know anyone at Queen’s who was able to empathize with her concerns. She goes on to explain that this individual on the panel “opened up [her] eyes to the fact that there was a Queer community in the Commerce community, and more broadly, at Queen’s”. After setting up a meeting with her, Breana was encouraged to get involved with Q+, where she has since been able to do her part to bring together and uplift the LGBTQ2+ community at Queen’s.


Problems Inflicted by COVID-19’s Restrictions and Remote Fall Delivery


Due to COVID-19, there are additional challenges facing the LGBTQ2+ community such as the safety of some of their homes, access to recruiters, and other important resources and opportunities the community at the University provides.


Many students will be losing opportunities to meet role models within the Queen’s community that could help them cope with their experiences. This may make incoming students feel as though there is no LGBTQ2+ community at Queen’s, causing further impediments to their mental health and feelings of isolation, especially for those who may not have support in their home community.


For many, university is a time of change; it is a time where students are able to start developing their interests, passions, and, above all, who they are. However, one result of the pandemic in its early stages was the shutting down of schools, leaving many students to pack their bags and move back home. Living at home can be a challenging experience for some. With some students in the LGBTQ2+ community being forced to go home to parents who may not be supportive of who they are. Breana explains, “It is hard for a club and as an institution to provide support to those students who we would very easily be able to reach at Queen’s when they are at home because in order to reach them, they need to have access to Zoom or access to the internet. They might not feel comfortable downloading them on a computer if they share a home computer. It can be very challenging”.


From a professional front, Breana explains, “Something that has come up with Q+ sponsors is recruiting. Because the Q+ community is an invisible “minority group”, it is really challenging for recruiters to reach LGBTQ2+ students without them needing to self-identify to begin with”. Without the ability to hold conferences such as the Q+ Summit, it is challenging for recruiters to access diverse talent, and conversely, for LGBTQ2+ students to access recruiters, especially if they are at home and fear their family overhearing their networking conversations.


Finally, with the cancellation of the Pride Parade, students miss out on yet another opportunity to come out and celebrate who they are. The Pride Parade and Pride Month events, alike, occur annually, and many take place in the month of June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City, a pivotal moment in modern LGBTQ2+ social movements. Breana describes the parade as an “opportunity to be out and proud”, and explains that her first Pride March is an experience that she will never forget.


Without the opportunity of accessing the LGBTQ2+ student community, moving away to explore who they are, and celebrating being themselves, Breana explains that “A lot of the responsibility now falls on the clubs they were part of and it is our job to connect the community”.


How can we become allies?


Through this blog, we are hoping to bring the entire Queen’s community together. Therefore, we encourage students outside of the LGBTQ2+ community to show support, to observe, listen, and educate themselves. Below are just a few recommendations from Breana on how we can all do our part to bringing the community together:


1) Acknowledge that work needs to be put in to become an ally.

  • It is important to first educate yourself. A great way to do that is through taking various electives at Queen’s. Courses at Queen’s aim to educate with an intersectional approach that connects gender, race, nation, sexuality, class, and ability. Please see the resources page or the end of the article to find classes that you might be interested in taking to better educate yourself on the topic of gender diversity.

  • There is a Certificate in Sexual and Gender Diversity that is available to all undergraduate students regardless of their degree concentration. The Certificate in Sexual and Gender Diversity allows students to explore human diversity across a range of sexualities and gender identifications. Please see the resources page or the end of the article to learn more.

  • There are many other ways to educate yourself in the community including accessing resources from the Levana Gender Advocacy Group, Queen’s Equity Office Training Resources, Queen’s On-Campus Clubs, Positive Space Training, and more! Please see the resources page or the end of the article to learn more.

2) Show signals and initiate those signals.

  • One way Breana says that you can show signals of allyship to the community is by Introducing yourself with your pronouns. Breana explains that she always included her pronouns (she, her) in her Zoom name, and email signature.

  • For a list of pronouns, we recommend visiting https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/ gender-neutral-pronouns to learn more.

  • It is important to always use people’s pronouns properly. Breana says to always ask prior to assuming pronouns, which is a great way to show that you are open to learning and understand there are different ways to identify.

3) Help to spread awareness.

  • A great way to do this is to post via your social media pages to raise awareness of Pride Month in your network.

  • Moreover, if you know some of your friends are part of the LGBTQ2+ community, wish them a happy Pride Month!

4) Be supportive.

  • If you have a friend that is open and part of the community, encourage them to seek out various support at Queen’s and reach out to people who have self-identified in the Queen’s community for advice and resources.

  • In addition, acknowledge that this is a very difficult time for many members of the LGBTQ2+ community. Reach out and ask questions including, ‘I know you just came out to your family, how has life been at home?’

5) Always ask questions!

  • It is important to ask questions, however, continue to be mindful not to gaslight someone's experience. Moreover, it is best practice to utilize the resources below to ask your questions (such as Q+ members or Levana Gender Advocacy Group), as these are people who have made themselves open to educate. If you are genuinely curious, use every question as a learning opportunity.

Resources


It is important during these times to have someone to support you and your mental health in whatever capacity you need. Whether you are a current or incoming student, we strongly encourage you to reach out to any of the following resources. As Breana explains, having a role-model to look up to has been so helpful and everyone truly is here to bring each other up.


Please keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list. If there is a resource that you know of that has truly helped out you and/or your friends in the Queen’s community, please reach out to us so that we can continue updating the list accordingly.


Below are just a few select courses that you can take to properly educate yourself on gender diversity:


Undergraduate studies (GNDS 100s/200s)

  • GNDS 120 (Women, Gender, Difference - Online)

  • GNDS 125 (Gender, Race, and Popular Culture - Online)

  • GNDS 215 (Introduction to Sexual and Gender Diversity - Online)

Graduate studies (GNDS 800s/900s)

Certificate in Sexual and Gender Diversity:

Levana Gender Advocacy Group

Queen’s Human Rights and Equity Offices:

  • The Human Rights Office provides confidential advice to Queen’s community members on human rights issues and a variety of educational programming. The Equity Office provides leadership, information and liaison on equity matters throughout the University.

  • To request an appointment with a Human Rights Advisor, Email: hrights@queensu.ca, or Call at (613) 533-6886

    • (When back on campus ~ Come to Reception in room B506, Mackintosh-Corry Hall)

  • Please see their website to learn more about connecting with a Human Rights Advisor and access their online courses and training modules.

Education on Queer Issues Project (EQuIP)

  • The Education on Queer Issues Project (EQuIP) aims to create a safer environment for individuals at Queen’s and in Kingston of all sexualities and gender identities. EQUIP provides a welcoming and educational community for queer and queer-positive individuals while advocating for human rights and raising awareness about queer-related issues. You do not have to be a Queen’s student to be involved - everyone is welcome!

Queen’s On-Campus Clubs:


Q+ - committed to fostering the LGBTQ2+ community within the Queen’s Commerce program

  • Q+ is going to begin hosting biweekly virtual socials that anyone can join from any faculty (stay tuned for the start ~ potentially around July or August).

GetReal Club - a chapter of a youth-focused non-profit organization that energizes LGBTQ2+ students and their allies to voice their stories to promote unity and foster compassion in the community.

EngiQueers - The Queen’s chapter of a Canada-wide organization. It all started in June 2013, when five engineering students from McMaster University attended Toronto Pride. Inspired by the movement, they started a student club focused on social events. Today, EngiQueers Canada is a nationwide non-profit organization that represents over 30 similar member groups at engineering schools across the country. It aims to celebrate LGBTQ2+ Students in Engineering and their Allies.

Queen’s Mental Health Resources


Peer Support Centre (PSC) - The Peer Support Centre is a group of student volunteers who provide confidential peer-based support to other students at Queen’s University. Students are encouraged to come and speak with volunteers who will listen, offer support for any and all issues, and suggest resources available on campus and in the Kingston community.

AMS Empower Me Services through Student Care

  • Empower Me is a 24/7 phone service for crisis situations and scheduled sessions that allows students to connect with qualified counsellors, consultants, and life coaches for a variety of issues. All Queen’s students can access sessions delivered in person, by telephone, by video-counselling, or by e-counselling. Empower Me is available 24/7, 365 days per year and is confidential, multilingual, culturally sensitive, gender inclusive, and faith inclusive. Call the number below from anywhere in North America to be directly connected to a trained counsellor.

    • Call the 24/7 helpline at: 1-844-741-6389

  • https://www.queensu.ca/studentwellness/empower-me

Please see https://www.queensu.ca/positivespace/resources for further resources in Kingston and the community.

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