UGDSB students speak their truth and show the love at annual Rainbow Coalition Conference
May 2, 2018
GUELPH, Ontario – Hundreds of Upper Grand youth were encouraged to find their voice at a powerful conference for LGBTQ youth.
Wednesday was the Upper Grand District School Board’s annual Rainbow Coalition Conference (RCC). The event celebrates, supports and provides resources for LGBTQ youth and their allies. The conference is open to students in grades 7 to 12+ from across the district.
Each year, the conference features keynote speakers who encourage and inspire students with their experiences and personal stories. The conference also features a wide variety of workshops that explore identity and diversity, and help youth learn, gather resources, express themselves and connect with like-minded people.
The day kicked off with words and song by Elder Jan Sherman, giving thanks for the sun and clean water and the land.
This year’s keynote speaker was Holly Painter, a spoken-word artist and public speaker from London, Ontario. Passionate about sharing her stories with youth, Holly has travelled the country speaking to students and sharing the message of “speak your truth” and “show the love.”
Holly first got involved in the world of poetry at a local poetry slam in 2011. Since that time, she has become a three-time Grand Slam Champion and Director of the London Poetry Slam, the National Director of Spoken Word Canada, and represented London at four national spoken word festivals.
Holly’s personal stories touch on mental health, diversity and inclusion, bullying and violence prevention, using art as a powerful advocacy tool, and staying strong in the face of adversity.
During her keynote at the RCC, Holly introduced students to the world of spoken-word poetry as a forum that allows people to share their stories in an accepting and welcoming environment. She explained that the spoken word stage is a place where people show the love, meeting other poets and their stories with love, before they even speak.
Holly shared a poem she wrote about home. She discussed growing up in a small town, no longer feeling at home on that place, moving to Toronto and feeling lifted up at the sight of rainbow stickers in shop windows, of coming out to her parents, of dealing with their divorce, and eventually finding her home on the stage.
She ended her keynote with the message that all of us have an enormous impact on those around us, by our actions and the words we use. She encouraged the youth to find their voice, find that thing that’s just theirs. It could be football, or dance, or Pokémon – any number of things. Whatever that thing is, hold onto it tight.
This year’s workshops covered an incredible range of topics for LGBTQ youth, their allies and educators.
During an art workshop, students tapped into their creative minds and used art to express themselves. Participants had the option to make either a felt and embroidery pronoun pin or nail and embroidery wood art.
“Get Real: How to Be an Effective Ally” was led by Get REAL, a non-profit organization that works to break down barriers and challenge stereotypes with respect to heteronormative groups of students. The workshop included ways to not only be a good ally, but was an effective agent for fun and impactful change.
The highly popular “LGBT 101” workshop was applicable and accessible to a wide range of groups. The goal of the workshop was to expose people to the infinite variations possible and normalize LGBTQ+ experiences and identities by explaining topics such as gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, and romantic orientation, as well as a full introduction to the meaning of LGBTQ+.
“What Transition Can Teach Us” featured a lively and fascinating discussion on how medical and social transition can teach us about ourselves, our bodies, our genders and even how we form connections to each other. It covered topics such as the role hormones play and asks questions like ‘Do hormones make us think differently?’ and ‘How does it feel to have walked in the world as multiple genders?’
“Speaking our Truths” was led by Elder Jan Sherman. Youth participated in a smudging ceremony and drumming circle, celebrating who they are and what they stand for. They learned about Indigenous teachings of love and acceptance.
Other workshops included Media and Representation, Coming Out, debunking the myths of Transness, Gender Diversity and Sports, a gender-bending Jazz Funk dance class, Exploring Identities, Out of the Closet and Onto the Stage, Mindfulness and Meditation, poetry workshops with Holly Painter, a Two-Spirit workshop, and sessions for educators.
For more updates from RCC 2018, follow the hashtag #RCCGuelph2018 on social media.