'Who you are is who we need you to be'

International Day of Pink is a day to renew our commitment to diversity and inclusion, stand in solidarity with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities on campus and around the world, and raise awareness to stop homophobia, transphobia, transmisogyny and all forms of bullying. 

In honour of International Day of Pink, Jen McMillen, vice-provost, students, spoke with two 2SLGBTQIA+ identifying student leaders: Alexander Casucci, a second-year philosophy student, and Lhexen Rabit, a fourth-year fashion design student and member of the men’s volleyball team, about their experiences and what the day means to them. 

Building representation on campus, and creating a sense of belonging for students is one facet of the student experience and a primary objective for McMillen as a leader. The Office of the Vice-Provost, Students supports students to build connections, form friendships and navigate university resources to get help, and find the path that will make them most successful. The resources below will help students, as well as faculty and staff,  learn more about themselves and one another, and find ways to advocate for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.

Resources for students

• Centre for Student Development and Counselling (CSDC) - The CSDC offers free, confidential counselling services in a professional and friendly environment. Services are provided by our team of psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists and counselling interns.

• Centre for Women and Trans People (external link)  - The Centre for Women and Trans People provides a safe organizing space for self-identified women and trans people to come together around issues ranging from reproductive freedom, sexuality and gender empowerment to violence, racism, and the media. 

• Consent Comes First (CCF) - CCF provides free, confidential, trauma-informed, healing-centred support to community members affected by sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence. Together with campus partners and the broader community, CCF provides education, programming and advocacy to foster a world free from gender-based violence. 

• Navigate RU - A website and unique program designed to help our first-year undergraduate students navigate their university experience, identity, wellbeing, community, learning, and the systems and structures at the university.

• Resources for queer students studying abroad - Ryerson Global Learning has a list of resources, supports, and FAQs for 2SLGBTQIA+ students planning to study abroad that take into consideration other cultures and understandings of identity.

• RyePride (external link)  - RyePRIDE is an Equity Service Group of the Ryerson Students' Union (RSU). It represents the Queer and Trans voices of Ryerson University, including: gay, lesbian, bisexual, two spirited, trans, intersex, queer and questioning.

• Ryerson PRIDE Scholarship (external link)  - Supports exceptional first generation undergraduate students at the university who identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. 

• Student clubs - Many faculties, schools and departments have student-run 2SLGBTQIA+ groups to join, such as the Ted Rogers Pride Alliance (external link)  and EngOut (external link) .

• Trans Student Collective (external link)  - The Trans Collective exists to promote the empowerment, autonomy and freedom for trans, non-binary and otherwise non-cisgender students, and to combat transphobia, cissexism and trans misogyny that is pervasive throughout society and our campus.

• Transitioning at Ryerson - We know that students are most successful when they feel secure and comfortable at school, and recognize that updating their Ryerson student record to reflect their identity is important for many transitioning students.
  
  While transitioning is a highly personal and individual experience, the Registrar’s Office provides resources so transitioning students know that there are confidential options to make changes to their Ryerson student record so that it is consistent with their identity.

• Tri-Mentoring Program - The Tri-Mentoring Program’s (TMP) educational priority is to mentor each student using their individual experience to find their sense of belonging on campus. The “tri” represents peer-to-peer, career, and group mentoring activities. TMP offers mentorship opportunities to students of all identities across all faculties.

As well, there are several resources for faculty and staff on campus and in Canada:

• Human Rights Services - Human Rights Services Ryerson works with members of the Ryerson community to promote a study, work and living environment free of discrimination and harassment.

• Positive Space - The Positive Space Faculty and Staff Network is a volunteer-based group comprised of employees of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions, committed to creating and maintaining a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment at the university.

• Pride at Work Canada (external link)  - Through dialogue, education and thought leadership, Pride at Work Canada empowers Canadian employers to build workplaces that celebrate all employees regardless of gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

Upcoming event

• On April 19, 2022, Generous Futures will host a virtual discussion on Ending Gender-Based Violence and the role that non-profits, governments and community leaders play in addressing it. The event will be moderated by Farrah Khan, manager, Consent Comes First, Office of Sexual Violence Support & Education, Ryerson University.

Visit International Day of Pink (external link)  to learn more about the day itself, and gain access to resources, support services, and organizations that work to support 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.