OUTspoken 2011
is an amazing five day workshop and lecture series that includes an evening of entertainment
and a dance party to finish off the fun. The second annual event is organized
by the ULSU PRIDE Centre and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Lethbridge and
Area (GALA/LA) and follows the successful three day inaugural event by the
University Campus Pride group in 2010.
Running from March 8 – 12, OUTspoken 2011 is the
largest annual event of its kind in Southern Alberta addressing a wide variety
of LGBTTQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, queer and allies) topics.
The workshops and lectures include something for everyone: students,
professionals, parents, youth, educators, and those wanting to increase their
awareness and understanding on these relevant issues. OUTspoken will be held in
Lethbridge, Alberta on the University of Lethbridge campus, Lethbridge College
campus, the Galt Museum & Archives and the Bill Kergan Centre.
Many of the
workshops provide important education unavailable in the region. Most are being
delivered by local people with particular interests and expertise in their subject
matter. In addition there are speakers and entertainers coming from across
North America. This year OUTspoken is pleased to confirm anti-bullying/anti-homophobia speaker Peterson Toscano, Canadian Two-Spirit
actor and playwrite Waawaate Fobister, Canadian transgender singer Rae Spoon
and the author of My Princess Boy™, Cheryl Kilodavis and her son Dyson, the
Princess Boy.
OUTspoken is free to everyone. You will not have to register. All of the events
are open to anyone who is able to attend. Come for a presentation, or a day, or
the whole week!
This year’s event is more exciting than ever so mark the date on your calendar
and tell your friends and family!
OUTspoken
2011 Schedule
Tuesday,
March 8, 2011:
Kick-Off (1:00pm – 3:30pm)
University Hall Atrium, U of L, 4401
University Drive
Join us as we officially kick-off OUTspoken
2011! Speakers and entertainers from
across the city and across the country will make this the biggest kick-off
yet. Also check out the information
booths of various groups and organizations from in and around Lethbridge.
Queer 101 (4:00pm – 5:00pm)
PE261, Health and Wellness Centre, U of
L, 4401 University Drive
This introductory workshop seeks to answer
the most basic questions you may have coming into OUTspoken 2011. What does the word Queer mean and why is it
used? What does GLBTTQ stand for? Why do people use these labels? Where do you fit in? All these and more will be discussed.
Identity, Bullying, and Building a
Better School (7:00pm – 9:00pm)
Peterson Toscano
Galt Museum & Archives, 502 1 Street
South
Using performance, storytelling, interactive
activities, and comedy, in small and large group activities, Peterson
facilitates a discussion about homophobia and the impact it has on all students
– lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning AND straight! Peterson helps students get beyond mere
tolerance to a deeper understanding and willingness to create and maintain a
healthy safe atmosphere for all students.
A perfect presentation for students, teachers, teens, adults, parents,
friends, and everyone else.
Wednesday,
March 9, 2011:
HIV/AIDS Today (1:00pm – 2:00pm)
Alison Clarkson
L1050, University Library Building, U of
L, 4401 University Drive
Alison Clarkson, Program Coordinator of the
Lethbridge HIV Connection, invites you to join her as she discusses HIV/AIDS as
it exists today and brings to light the common misconceptions that are often
applied.
Agokwe (2:30pm – 4:30pm)
Waawaate Fobister
Ballroom B, Students' Union Building, U
of L, 4401 University Drive
Waawaate
Fobister , identifies as two spirit and describes himself as an actor,
playwright, dancer, choregrapher and storyteller, and he both wrote and acts in
his one man show, Agokwe. When he was given his First Nations spiritual name
"Waawaate", the medicine woman who gave him the name visualized the northern
lights – which to Waawaate symbolized spirits dancing and telling a story. He
comes from many generations of storytellers, and will do a staged reading of Agokwe
(pronounced "agoo-kway; meaning "wise woman" or
"Two-Spirited") winner of six Dora Mavor Moore awards, explores unrequited love
between teenaged boys from neighbouring reserves.
Queer 101: Take 2 (6:00pm – 7:00pm)
Lethbridge College, CE 1365, E.C.
Fredericks Theatre, 3000 College Drive S
If you missed it the first time, here it is
again! This introductory workshop seeks
to answer the most basic questions you may have coming into OUTspoken
2011. What does the word Queer mean and
why is it used? What does LGBTTQ stand
for? Why do people use these
labels? Where do you fit in? All these and more will be discussed.
Parent's Perspective Panel (7:30pm –
9:30pm)
Lethbridge College, CE 1365, E.C. Fredericks
Theatre, 3000 College Drive S
Enter in to the lives of others as the
panel engages the audience with personal stories and thoughts on the struggles,
pain and joys of being parents of LGBTTQ children. Moderated.
Thursday,
March 10, 2011:
Human Rights: Understanding and
Protecting Yourself and Others:(1pm – 2pm)
Roy Pogorzelski
TH241, Turcotte Hall, U of L, 4401
University Drive
Helping
us to understand the basic framework of Human Rights, what they are what they
aren’t, Roy will teach us to know what is discrimination and what we can do about it?
A House Divided: Finding A Place In
Society (2:30pm – 3:30pm)
Braden Yamamoto
TH241, Turcotte Hall, U of L, 4401
University Drive
As cultural acceptance of LGBTQ people
continues to increase, opinions on how non-heterosexual people ought to act
within society are beginning to divide.
Braden will examine the concept of "the Good Gay vs the Bad Gay";
whether to integrate as best one can, or to remain somewhat outside the
norm. Combining theory with pop culture,
Braden hopes to offer both a humorous and engaging exploration of how LGBTQ
individuals fit (or don't) with the mainstream.
Claiming Space: Queer Oral History In
Lethbridge (4:00pm – 5:00pm)
Tiffany Muller Myrdahl
TH241, Turcotte Hall, U of L, 4401
University Drive
This presentation offers first reflections
on 'The Lives of (Sexual) Others', a new project that aims to collect oral
histories from LGBTQ people who live in the Lethbridge region. We will discuss research design, preliminary
findings, and the need for a public archive for queer histories.
Queer and Christian Panel (7:00pm –
9:00pm)
Mickey Wilson
PE264, Health and Wellness Centre, U of
L, 4401 University Drive
The Queer and Christian Panel returns this
year with both familiar and fresh faces.
Members of the community who identify as both Queer and Christian from
different backgrounds, including Pentecostal, Lutheran, Evangelical, and LDS,
tell their stories and then take time for your questions. An opening address by Mickey Wilson, retired
pastor and self-identified as Trans-Queer, will set the framework to hear real
stories of people’s struggles at the intersection of faith and identity.
Friday,
March 11, 2011:
Same-Sex Ed (1:00pm – 2:00pm)
Tyson Skriver and Liz Coderre
TH241, Turcotte Hall, U of L, 4401
University Drive
Everything you were never taught in Sex Ed but
always wanted (and needed) to know. Come
prepared with your questions!
Drag 101 (2:30pm – 3:30pm)
Britt Elder
AH177, Anderson Hall, U of L, 4401
University Drive
Drag 101 returns with more makeup, more
facial hair, and even more sass. This interactive workshop will give you a
hands-on experience of the world of drag.
As before, feel free to bring your own gender-bending tools and be
prepared to unleash your inner king or queen.
Allies: Why They Are So Awesome and
Necessary (4:00pm – 5:00pm)
Kristie McDonald and Sarah Kuhn
AH177, Anderson Hall, U of L, 4401
University Drive
In this presentation, Kristie and Sarah,
both self-proclaimed Allies, seek to answer the questions: What is an
Ally? What makes them so wonderful? Why are they necessary? How does one become an Ally? They will also explain the differences
between "out" Allies and "closeted" Allies and discuss the presence of Ally
organizations and Gay Straight Alliances.
Rae Spoon (7:00pm – 9:00pm)
Galt Museum & Archives, 502 1 Street
South
Rae
Spoon, transgendered Canadian singer-songwriter, was
born on the Canadian prairies of the 80’s. In his early twenties he hit the
road as one of the world’s only transgendered country singers and toured
Canada, Europe, Australia and the USA. Over the past few years there has been a
shift from his country music roots to emphasize glitchy melodies and dance
beats, with fragile lyrics of romantic longing and soul-searching but Rae’s
respect for well written songs and his folk music roots keep him connected to
his audience.
Saturday,
March 12, 2011:
Pangaea Diversity Cafe: Queer Edition
(10:00am – 12:00pm)
Bill Kergan Centre, 207 13 Street North
A cafe in the successful Pangaea tradition
with a queer focus. Global issues, community activism, coming out, youth
isolation and suicide, issues for queer immigrants, gsa’s...lots to talk about.
Bring your friends for coffee, tea juice and pastries provided by the
Lethbridge CMARD committee.
My Princess Boy (1:00pm – 3:00pm)
Cheryl Kilodavis
Bill Kergan Centre, 207 13 Street North
Cheryl Kilodavis, author of My Princess BoyTM
will bring her story and wisdom to us and share a reading of the book. My Princess
BoyTM is a nonfiction picture book about acceptance. It tells the
tale of a 4-year-old boy who happily expresses his authentic self by enjoying
"traditional girl" things like jewelry, sparkles or anything pink. It
is designed to start and continue a dialogue about unconditional friendship and
teaches children -- and adults -- how to accept and support children for who
they are and how they wish to look. there will be a strictly moderated Q &
A and a book sale & signing.
Trans 101 (4:00pm – 5:00pm)
Mickey Wilson
Bill Kergan Centre, 207 13 Street North
A much-needed basic primer perfect for teachers, parents, relatives,
colleagues, friends, allies, and even journalists who want to quickly get up to
speed on what it means to be transgender.
Rhino in the Room Film Screening (6:00pm
– 9:00pm)
Bill Kergan Centre, 207 13 Street North
Rhino in the Room International Queer Film
Festival, founded in 2008 in Lethbridge, invites you to a special film
screening as they wrap up OUTspoken 2011 for another year. Doors open at 6 pm,
screening at 7.
OUTspoken Dance Party (10 pm)
Travelodge
Downstairs Retro Bar (formerly Alley oops)1009 Mayor Magrath Drive S
Come celebrate the amazing week, who you
are. Bring all your friends and allies! Suggested donation $5
