The month of October is LGBT History Month, celebrated globally, and most prominently in the US, Canada, and the UK. At McGill, this means a full month of screenings, panels, workshops and community events revelling in queer resistance, activism, and beauty. Coordinated by Meryem Benslimane, part of the equity team as the Equity Education Advisor (Gender Equity and LGBTQ+ Education), in collaboration with 2SLGBTQIA+ and allied groups across campus and beyond, notably McGill JBSCE Subcommittee on Queer People, Queer McGill, , , and OSVRSE, the month was a booming celebration of queer pride and history. Let’s recall that its first iteration, in October 2018, was . And this year, the bar was raised.
“We are delighted to be celebrating this second edition of Queer History Month, the first of its kind in a Canadian institution. The goal of Queer History Month is to highlight and celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ histories and achievements, who are often erased, overlooked from the curriculum. It aims at raising awareness, advancing education and increasing the visibility of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities by recognizing their histories and contributions, building bridges and bringing together McGill students, staff, faculty, alumni and Montréal community members. I am so happy to see so many people attending the opening ceremony of what will be hopefully a beautiful month!” – Meryem Benslimane, Equity Education Advisor
The month kicked off with an opening ceremony that also served as a joint event for Return of the Rainbow, the homecoming event for 2SLGBTQIA+ students, staff, and faculty.
The Schulich School of Music presented a premiere of extracts of "Them" by Dr. Juanita Marchand Knight (recipient of this year’s Equity & Community Building award) as well as work from other presenters from the school. Knight’s piece is a multimedia Opera based on the life of surrealist 2SLGBTQIA+ artists and trailblazers and anti-Nazi activists, Claude Cahun and Marcel Moore.
, an inspirational story of a lesbian romance between two young women, Kena and Ziki, in Kenya, where queer communities continue to be stigmatized, was screened at Thomson House. The film was followed by facilitated conversations about stigma and violence faced by queer folks at McGill, and how to foster and create safe spaces on campus.
Beloved feminist killjoy, gave a moving lecture titled "Complaint as a Queer Method". Through stories of (in)formal complaints in universities across the English-speaking world, she held the sold-out room attentive to her every word. She called for challenging the linear presentation of complaints in academia and higher education – making complaints “come out” as queer stories. She also led a small-group discussion on her diversity work through considerations of what gets reproduced, rewarded, and interrupted in campus culture.
And this was just the first week.
The rest of the month saw an eruption of a series of panels and workshops ranging in themes and reflections: “Queer ASL”, “Celebrating Two-spirit Identity”, “Chosen Family Day”, “Queer Sexual Education Workshop”, “Queer Digital Futures” and so many more.
The closing ceremony was held on October 31, hosted by , renowned Montréal-based multi-disciplinary artist, writer, educator and cultural mediator.
“This second edition was even better than the first one, we had an amazing turnout and sixteen incredible events, it was a very moving and heartwarming month. My dream goal would be to see it (Queer History Month) happening not just at McGill but in every learning institution, including high schools. I would also add that the month might be over, but our work against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia continues all year long.” – Meryem Benslimane, Equity Education Advisor