Hey everyone!
Things have started to start rolling for the 2010/2011 year, and change is a-comin'.
Particularly of note, we have changed the way we function on Facebook and on the Web in general.
Our new website is http://ulsupride.weebly.com so please update your bookmarks! Once some changes are made, this page should redirect you there. For now, click the shiny link provided.
If you're into Facebook, you can follow us on there at http://www.facebook.com/ulsupride
Don't sweat it if you're not, we are changing our workings to be more friendly to our non-Facebook members!
Finally, always check the Events calendar! This should be your PRIDE Centre Bible, as it will list everything you need to know about our upcoming events. http://ulsupride.weebly.com/events.html
Thanks to all the awesome new and old members who are making Lethbridge a queer friendly place, and the ULSU PRIDE Centre space to make friends! We love you!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
The Home Stretch
We're in the Home Stretch!
Spring semester is drawing to a close and we're all getting a little frantic to cope with final projects. It won't be a long before we're all frolicking in the spring and summer weather (well, except for the snow we just experienced today). Meanwhile, GALIA has been up to a lot in the past month!First off, the 2010/2011 executive can finally be announced:
- President: Emma/Skip/Spud
- Vice President: Tanner
- Secretary: Sarah
- Treasurer: Tristen
- Web Admin: Josh
- Activities Coordinator: Amanda
Also, GALIA has officially received a space on campus. The ULSU recently granted us sole access to rooms SU056/SU058 for the next few years. Over the coming year, we will be transforming the space into a Queer Resource Centre on campus. This is going to be a huge ongoing project, so your help will be extremely appreciated!
For over a year, we have heard and felt that our name is misfit, and this past meeting we decided it's finally time to change it. As we search for a new name, we would love your help brainstorming. Here's want we want to know: What name do you believe would represent the LGBTQ community? We are looking for one word that symbolizes our spirit and also includes all types of people in our community, including our allies.
Let us know either by attending our next (and final Spring 2010) meeting on April 20th, or by leaving a comment on this post!
Finally, we would invite everyone to the final few events of this semester! Come out and have a good time with us! We are having our regularly schedule movie night on April 12th, when we will be premiering "Talk To Your Daughter", a film by our very own Lisa Powell. Come support her and see yourself if you helped create this film!
On April 16th is the National Day of Silence, a student-lead action where hundreds of thousands of students nationwide take a vow of silence to bring attention to anti-LGBT name-calling, bullying and harassment in their schools. Check out more on their website and join us in participating in this important event. Then later that day, join us as we break the silence and celebrate the end of the schoolyear and the coming of summer at Queeraoke: Hello Summer!
Next up, Pretty, Witty, & Gay will be happening on April 17th. This collection of Queer performances has been hosted for the past 6 years by community members and fellow UofL staff and students, and is sure to be a blast. Come see Lethbridge's local talent as they celebrate all things Queer in a sexy, "androgolicious" go-go theme.
There are many more things happening this month, so definitely go check them out on the GALIA events calendar. See you all this summer!
Monday, March 22, 2010
New Exec and More
New Exec and More
The new exec has been voted for and the results will be announced soon. Make sure to join us on Wednesday, March 24th as we try to get a permanent space as a resource centre on the UofL campus. Check it out on Facebook.Until then, we have an interesting perspective by one of our members, Lisa, on OUTspoken and her personal religious beliefs. Check it out, and thanks to Lisa for writing it!
If you have any blog posts you wish to make, about OUTspoken or anything that's on your mind, feel free to send it to us at galia@uleth.ca.
Perspective on OUTspoken - by Lisa
Thanks to Lisa for providing our first blog post by a member of GALIA. Please be aware this post does not necessarily represent the beliefs of the GALIA club, but one person's experience of OUTspoken. Anyways, give it a read! :)
It has been well chronicled that OUTspoken was a huge success. Great, what does that mean? It drew large numbers of people to many events, didn't lose money, and sparked some interest and conversation in the wider community. Awesome. However, I'd like to look at this from a more personal level. What did OUTspoken do for you?
I'll start this conversation with my own story. Long known as the sarcastic voice at occasional club meetings and events, I may now be known hereafter as the girl who broke down crying during her comments at the Queer and Christian Q&A session. I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. On the plus side, you now know that I have feelings. On the down side, you now know that I have feelings. I digress.
Growing up in the Christian subculture and attending a Christian school, I didn't even know what homosexual meant for a long time. It wasn't something that was discussed, at all, when I was young. It never occurred to my parents that I could be gay, despite the fact that (in my own eyes, at least) I am a huge flamer. When I finally did start to hear about gay people, it was always in a derisive manner, and often with inappropriate humor. There was definitely a sense of “us versus them,” a fear that the homosexuals were out to commit unspeakable wrongs against the moral fabric of our society. I wish I were exaggerating.
As the gay marriage debate boiled over, this sentiment grew, and I started hearing about the subject more and more often. People started panicking. “What if the government has to censor or outlaw the Bible as hate literature?” “What if they start teaching our kids about gay people in school or, God forbid, telling them that it's an acceptable lifestyle?” Incidentally, this was going on during my mid-teen years, when I was questioning my own sexuality.
I won't go into details right now on the struggle that went on in my mind, because this is a blog post, not a novel. Suffice it to say, I didn't have anybody to talk to about these things, and I kept my feelings repressed until grade twelve, when I finally came out to a few people… including my boyfriend. Although I now discuss my sexuality openly, I still find it very difficult to discuss being a gay Christian, both because it is confusing and because I fear that no one will understand.
OUTspoken provided me with an opportunity that I hadn't really had before- to explore the intersection between faith and sexuality from another self-identified queer person's eyes. I have a friend in my hometown of Victoria who chose to live a celibate life rather than act on same-sex desires, and I have had many straight Christians tell me all about how I should live my life, but have had limited contact with other gay Christians. Doctor John Corvino's speech was certainly interesting because he tore down some of the moral arguments for why homosexuality is wrong. However, that can only go so far. I can reason with myself forever and still have a nagging feeling that I'm a bad person, due to how I grew up, if for no other reason. I doubt that that fight will ever be settled in my mind.
What was so special about the Queer and Christian Q&A was the fact that two people who I know and respect made themselves vulnerable and were brutally honest about their own thought processes as young gay Christians. I had never heard anyone go into so much detail as Tyson and Lindsey did at the workshop. They each read one of their own journal entries from a desperate night, and I identified with both heavily. I had to blink back tears a few times, especially when Lindsey pointed out after reading from her journal that it had been too shameful to even write that she might be a lesbian, and so she had resorted to referring to it in abstract terms. I completely understood. I had written something eerily similar as a teenager, begging God to pull this thorn from my side, because it was more than I could bear. I referred to my sexuality in abstract terms as well because, as I said earlier, it was almost unspeakable when I was growing up.
I have appreciated getting to know many queer people since coming out, but there have been so few opportunities to communicate this particular challenge to others. I laughed to myself when Tyson and Lindsey admitted that they had to come out as Christian to other queers and that it often had a negative reaction, because I have found the same to be true. Many people on both sides still see it as an “us versus them,” “either or” kind of situation, and so it is difficult to find an avenue to express oneself if caught in the middle. The most valuable thing I took from OUTspoken was the simple dialog around the issue, the honesty and openness that I have so rarely experienced. Communication is more important than some people realize, and now I know just how alone I am not.
This is a major reason why I am so excited that GALIA is poised to bring a queer resource centre to campus. We need people who are questioning their sexuality, or who identify as queer but feel alone, to have a place to come where they can speak honestly and feel safe. There are some things that are difficult to talk to just anyone about, even a counselor. Simply the presence of a safe space on campus where people can come to ask questions, spill their guts, or simply find company would go a long way to making life easier for queers in our city.
Now I put the question to you. What are your thoughts? How did OUTspoken most affect you?
--------------------------------------------------
It has been well chronicled that OUTspoken was a huge success. Great, what does that mean? It drew large numbers of people to many events, didn't lose money, and sparked some interest and conversation in the wider community. Awesome. However, I'd like to look at this from a more personal level. What did OUTspoken do for you?
I'll start this conversation with my own story. Long known as the sarcastic voice at occasional club meetings and events, I may now be known hereafter as the girl who broke down crying during her comments at the Queer and Christian Q&A session. I'm not sure if that's a good or a bad thing. On the plus side, you now know that I have feelings. On the down side, you now know that I have feelings. I digress.
Growing up in the Christian subculture and attending a Christian school, I didn't even know what homosexual meant for a long time. It wasn't something that was discussed, at all, when I was young. It never occurred to my parents that I could be gay, despite the fact that (in my own eyes, at least) I am a huge flamer. When I finally did start to hear about gay people, it was always in a derisive manner, and often with inappropriate humor. There was definitely a sense of “us versus them,” a fear that the homosexuals were out to commit unspeakable wrongs against the moral fabric of our society. I wish I were exaggerating.
As the gay marriage debate boiled over, this sentiment grew, and I started hearing about the subject more and more often. People started panicking. “What if the government has to censor or outlaw the Bible as hate literature?” “What if they start teaching our kids about gay people in school or, God forbid, telling them that it's an acceptable lifestyle?” Incidentally, this was going on during my mid-teen years, when I was questioning my own sexuality.
I won't go into details right now on the struggle that went on in my mind, because this is a blog post, not a novel. Suffice it to say, I didn't have anybody to talk to about these things, and I kept my feelings repressed until grade twelve, when I finally came out to a few people… including my boyfriend. Although I now discuss my sexuality openly, I still find it very difficult to discuss being a gay Christian, both because it is confusing and because I fear that no one will understand.
OUTspoken provided me with an opportunity that I hadn't really had before- to explore the intersection between faith and sexuality from another self-identified queer person's eyes. I have a friend in my hometown of Victoria who chose to live a celibate life rather than act on same-sex desires, and I have had many straight Christians tell me all about how I should live my life, but have had limited contact with other gay Christians. Doctor John Corvino's speech was certainly interesting because he tore down some of the moral arguments for why homosexuality is wrong. However, that can only go so far. I can reason with myself forever and still have a nagging feeling that I'm a bad person, due to how I grew up, if for no other reason. I doubt that that fight will ever be settled in my mind.
What was so special about the Queer and Christian Q&A was the fact that two people who I know and respect made themselves vulnerable and were brutally honest about their own thought processes as young gay Christians. I had never heard anyone go into so much detail as Tyson and Lindsey did at the workshop. They each read one of their own journal entries from a desperate night, and I identified with both heavily. I had to blink back tears a few times, especially when Lindsey pointed out after reading from her journal that it had been too shameful to even write that she might be a lesbian, and so she had resorted to referring to it in abstract terms. I completely understood. I had written something eerily similar as a teenager, begging God to pull this thorn from my side, because it was more than I could bear. I referred to my sexuality in abstract terms as well because, as I said earlier, it was almost unspeakable when I was growing up.
I have appreciated getting to know many queer people since coming out, but there have been so few opportunities to communicate this particular challenge to others. I laughed to myself when Tyson and Lindsey admitted that they had to come out as Christian to other queers and that it often had a negative reaction, because I have found the same to be true. Many people on both sides still see it as an “us versus them,” “either or” kind of situation, and so it is difficult to find an avenue to express oneself if caught in the middle. The most valuable thing I took from OUTspoken was the simple dialog around the issue, the honesty and openness that I have so rarely experienced. Communication is more important than some people realize, and now I know just how alone I am not.
This is a major reason why I am so excited that GALIA is poised to bring a queer resource centre to campus. We need people who are questioning their sexuality, or who identify as queer but feel alone, to have a place to come where they can speak honestly and feel safe. There are some things that are difficult to talk to just anyone about, even a counselor. Simply the presence of a safe space on campus where people can come to ask questions, spill their guts, or simply find company would go a long way to making life easier for queers in our city.
Now I put the question to you. What are your thoughts? How did OUTspoken most affect you?
Monday, March 15, 2010
ELECTIONS THIS TUESDAY!
Elections this Tuesday!
When Tyson said they were next week, he was lying. He's going senile in his old age. It is due time we clear out the antiques and bring in some fresh, better working models. If you are interested - and you are - you should consider running for President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Web Administrator, or the new Activities Coordinator position. It's a lot of work but even more fun. If none of those jobs really appeal to you, maybe you'd like to join the new Activities Committee.It'll be like a sub-exec responsible for putting on events. GALIA is known for its fabulous events; imagine being the person who makes it all happen. As usual, the meeting will be at 7pm in the clubs room in the basement of the Student Union. That's on level 0. Attendance is practically mandatory for this one - as mandatory as we can make it anyway. Just be there. If you're not, you cannot complain when we vote Ralph in as President. I love the sock to death, but I think his alcoholism might impede upon our integrity. Just sayin'.
To reiterate, a new executive will be voted in this Tuesday March 16 at 7pm in the SU clubs room. Only members can run, nominate other members, or vote. Membership is $5/semester (free movie nights and discounts to GALA/LA dances - pay it!).
On the off chance you are not avoiding all things GALIA after having been forced into countless jobs these past few weeks, you should plan to be in the Student Union entrance from 9am to 5pm on Wednesday (the 17th) through Friday (the 19th) to help with HIV Connection's Spring for Life. All you have to do is sit pretty at a table and sell flowers. It's hardly even mentally exhausting. But we do desperately NEED YOU for this. We are joining forces with the
IVCF and others as we have been doing annually for a number of years. Even if you can sit at the table an hour a day, we would love you long time. Email us at galia@uleth.ca to let us know when you will be available.
See you there!
Thursday, March 4, 2010
OUTspoken
GALIA's first workshop series, titled OUTspoken, is approaching! We are excited to host a number of speakers that will talk on LGBTQ issues and how communities can come together to overcome them, and much more. Anyone is welcome to attend, at no cost! Click here for more info.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
A Quick Update
Hey gang,
In case you missed it, GALIA elected a new president and web admin during last nights meeting. The new exec for this year is as follows:
President: Shalyn Martin
Vice President: Tyson Skriver
Secretary: Meg Johnston
Treasurer: Braden Yamamoto
Web Admin: Josh Willems
If you see these fabulous folks around campus feel free to introduce yourselves and give them a great big hug!
We've got a ton of stuff planned for this year, so be sure to keep yourselves updated and check the website, facebook group, and google calendar regularly.
Don't forget that October 11 2009 is NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY. Check out http://www.hrc.org/issues/coming_out/13476.htm for more info and join the Facebook Event page http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=163697758695&index=1
One other thing, during the last meeting it was suggested that the monthly meeting dates be changed. In order to get a better feel for what day works best for the majority we have created a poll. So, go to http://www.doodle.com/mgxnt5cknb2pxamn and tell us what works for you.
No changes will be made until results are in and we can discuss at the next meeting.
Okay, I think that is all I have for now. Have a great Thanksgiving!
-Shalyn
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)