Dear members of the McGill community,
We are delighted to announce next week’s launch of Queer History Month (QHM), which has been celebrated at McGill every October since 2018. QHM gives all of us an occasion to learn about and celebrate the contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, both within and beyond McGill, through a full calendar of events.
Centring the theme “Visibility”, McGill QHM begins officially Tuesday, October 8, with an Opening Ceremony and keynote delivered by , a proud Cree, Two-Spirit physician from the Saddle Lake First Nation in Northern Alberta, and a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and Two-Spirit visibility. The Opening Ceremony will be in-person and livestreamed at Tanna Schulich Hall and community members are invited to register to attend. Dr. Makokis’s lecture will launch the month-long calendar of events that includes the virtual panel discussion, McGill’s annual Homecoming celebration, and several community events.
I am most grateful to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, in particular the Department of Family Medicine and the Indigenous Health Professions Program, for partnering with the Equity Team for the Opening Ceremony, and to all units organizing QHM events this year. I also signal my thanks to the McGill Equity Team, who have worked diligently to curate another edition of QHM with an exciting lineup of events. For any questions about QHM or to share an event that you are organizing, please contact shannon.wood [at] mcgill.ca.
While QHM is a time of pride and celebration, it is also a moment to recognize the efforts being made on our campuses to challenge transphobia, biphobia, and homophobia and to foster a robust sense of belonging for all within our campus community, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. Notably, the historic and ongoing work of the Subcommittee on Queer People, , the McGill Equity Team, the , and the McGill Queer Alumni Association continues to positively impact the lives of 2SLGBTQIA+ students, staff, faculty, and alumni of McGill.
At the same time, the University’s work is far from done, especially in the wake of continued 2SLGBTQIA+ discrimination and protests and political mobilization against gender identity and sexual orientation equality in Canada and around the globe. We are resolute in our efforts to build an inclusive campus environment where persons of all genders and sexual orientations can flourish—our ongoing work will continue.
Happy Queer History Month 2024 to all!
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Christopher Manfredi
Provost and Executive Vice-President