What does it mean to be an Ally to the LGBTQ+ Community?
Pagan and Indigenous communities around the world are filled with LGBTQ+ People who challenge colonial gender norms, engage in diverse relationships and celebrate individual expression of identity. As a community, we welcome people from all walks of life. Often, we don’t have the tools to build meaningful relationship or create authentic safe and inclusive spaces for everyone. This workshop helps you build the skills and understanding to support LGBTQ+ Pagans.
This workshop will:
- Introduce participants to the diverse gender and sexual identities within the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, genderqueer, queer, intersexed, and asexual community) community.
- Participants will learn about LGBTQ+ communities in Canada, discussing their history and current status of LGBTQ+ rights in Canada.
- Discuss Pagan and Indigenous perspectives on gender and sexual diversity
- How to be a true Ally to the LGBTQ+ people within the Pagan and your local community
- How to build cultural safety for Gender and Sexual Diverse people
Here are some helpful LGBTQ+ resources:
- You can visit the RE:searching for LGBTQ+ Health website and listen to the podcasts that Dr. Margaret Robinson recorded by Two-Spirit Community Leaders including myself.
- You can read the glossary of terms on the RHO website by clicking here.
J. Andrew Baker
J. Andrew Baker is an educator, community worker, counsellor, fire dancer, holistic health specialist, fundraiser, writer, and activist from Simcoe County, Ontario. For the past 20 years, Andrew has focused his career and volunteer work on community development, the environment, language & culture revitalization, the arts, life-long learning, holistic health, and spirituality within Indigenous and LGBT communities. He works with Earth and Sky Connection as our Senior Administrative Team member.
He worked as the Rainbow Health Ontario Community Outreach Worker for the North Simcoe Muskoka Region from 2008 to 2014. He is a founding member of the Simcoe County LGBTQ Network. He is the Vice President of Governance for Fierté Canada Pride, the President & Chair of the Board for Fierté Simcoe Pride, the LGBT representative on the Simcoe County Suicide Awareness Council, the Co-Chair of InterPride‘s Methods and Standards Committee, and a member of InterPride’s Finance, Solidarity and Human Rights committees.
A faculty member and curriculum development consultant at Georgian College for the School of Liberal Arts & Access Programs, the School of Aboriginal Studies and the School of Health and Wellness. Baker was the program lead for employment and training initiatives at the Georgian Bay Native Friendship Centre from 2009 to 2016. He established 9 programs and projects at the centre. He continues his work with GBNFC as a programs and management consultant.
Sunday, July 22 @ the Tent @ 2pm
