After a week of inclusive and engaging activities and presentations, Queerientation 2000, a week-long orientation program for the queer community at Queen’s, will come to an end tonight.
According to Michael Follert, Chair of Education on Queer Issues Project (EQuIP), a committee under the Social Issues Commission of the AMS, the purpose of Queerientation is to raise awareness about Queen’s queer community among incoming students and to make students of all sexual orientations feel at home on campus.
“Our motive is to introduce the first years to the queer community and create a positive social environment to meet other people and learn about what resources are around so they can fit into the University,” he explained.
Follert told The Journal, that the week has been a tremendous success, and participation has doubled from last year, with an average of 25 people attending each event.
He explained that an intense campaign throughout campus and the residences to promote the week’s events helped to increase awareness and turnout at the week’s events by Queen’s queer community.
Among the week’s events was The Coming Out Discussion Group, which is a regular meeting of Queen’s students held in the Music Listening Room in the JDUC on Wednesday evenings.
According to D. Rajska, the coordinator of the group and an active member of the queer community both in Kingston and at Queen’s with the Kingston Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-Identified Association (KLGBTA), the discussion group is designed to provide of the community with a down-to-earth venue for discussion of numerous issues “from the casual to the sensitive.” The group also addresses the coming-out process by providing an open atmosphere for discussion bolstered by input from others who have already experienced it.
“We have some people who have been out for a few years and who can present a different viewpoint, [or] outlook on the possible ways to come out to different people, [and how to] react to different situations,” she explained.
“We’re not necessarily a group, but a place where people can discuss their ideas.”
According to Follert, EQuIP has worked hard to put an end to the misinterpretation that Queerientation attempts to replace Orientation Week. He explained that the goal of the week is to supplement frosh week activities and educate queer students on the centres and resources available both on campus and in Kingston.
Everyone is invited to celebrate the end of Queerientation 2000 tonight with a showing of a documentary on the Toronto International Gay and Lesbian Comedy Festival. The festivities will be followed up by a night out at Club 477, Kingston’s only gay bar.
- The Kingston Lesbian, Gay, Bixseual and Trans-Identified Association (KLGBTA) main office is located on the second floor of The Grey House at 51 Queen’s Crescent. Among the resources available is a library with more than 1000 titles in related lesbian, gay and bisexual print material. The KLGBTA also has a phoneline staffed by volunteers, which can be reached Monday to Thursday between the hours of 7 and 9 p.m, at 531-8981. The Coming Out Discussion Group meets in the Music Listening Room of the JDUC each Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. All discussions are confidential.
- In the event of heterosexism or homophobia, Julie Darke, Anti-Heterosexism Coordinator for the Human Rights Office, can be reached for assistance at 533-6000, ext. 75847 or at her offfice in the Old Medical Building room 106.
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