Come join us as Qu(e)erying Religion and the Centre for Women and Trans People discuss how varying gender expressions challenge our faith and spiritual communities to expand on the dominant and hetero-normative notions of the ‘female’ and ‘male’ gender paradigm.

Date: THURSDAY, March 15, 2012 

Time: 5 – 7PM

Location: Centre for Women and Trans People

Wheelchair accessible through the back entrance on Bancroft Ave.

All are welcome!

A light dinner will be provided

Optional Readings and Topics for Discussion:

Link to Readings: www.uua.org/documents/obgltc/crossingpaths.pdf

“Transparent” by Anonymous, page 6 of document

– how do faith communities reinforce dominant socially constructed ideas of male and female? How could these be expanded to include other gender expressions?
– is it possible to refrain entirely from reinforcing gender stereotypes in faith communities?
– how can we support someone in our faith community who questions or rejects the gender assigned to them at birth?

The Vessel by Anthony DeMello, page 53

A discussion of the roles of spiritual thought/practice/community/vocation/etc. in our journeys to come to terms with our bodies. Whether through acceptance or rejection, respect or devaluation, reconciliation or division, all paths are valid and have a unique character as individuals whose experiences of and relationships to, embodiment happen to fall outside of the norm and at least somewhat inside the realm of “transgender” as we understand the term today, in its broadest sense.

==>Trans Film Night: “Paper Dolls”

DIY VEGAN SKIN CARE WORKSHOP
FREE EVENT
Thursday March 1st from 5pm to 8pm
at The Centre for Women and Trans People at U of T
North Borden Building at 563 Spadina Ave. M5S 2J7

Join us at the Centre for Women and Trans people on for our DIY Vegan Skincare Workshop to create your own skin care products and find out more on how you can use the healing and beautifying powers of plants to nourish and care for your skin naturally—without burning a hole in your wallet or compromising your health and that of the environment with the toxins commonly found in commercial skincare products.

Make & take home your own creations such lip balm, body/face scrubs, moisturizers, acne treatments.

Swap and learn new skin care tips and remedies!

Materials and healthy vegan treats will be provided

We will also be having a dynamic and political discussion on the whys behind making our own vegan and plant-based skincare.

February 14th ‘No More Silence’ Rally and March Honouring Missing and Murdered Aboriginal Women. Make posters and march with us: meet Tuesday February 14th at 11AM at The Centre.

==>Trans Film Night: SHORT FILMS
==>Free Film! Free Snacks! Free Talk!

Trans Film Screening Series hosts a FREE screening of:

**COLLECTED SHORTS**

 Everyone welcome. Allies welcome.

 February is the shortest month – so we’re filling it with the best in short films?

Come fall in “love” with these shorts by/about trans people of colour. More to be announced.

► 36A – Alejandro Gabriel Cruz Gonzalez

Witnessing the death of his father ignites the transition and spiritual journey for a transsexual man whose top surgery leaves behind 36A.

► Ain’t I A Woman – Kebo Drew

Celebrates the luminous enduring beauty of Black Femmes and Black transgender women.

► Help Wanted – Truc Thanh Nguyen

In the heat of desperate times, “Help Wanted” doesn’t apply to a genderqueer Asian looking for employment.

► Like This – Alexander Lee

For a Chinese transman, balmy pleasures, music and joy intermingle in life just “Like This”.

► Toothbrush – Tonilyn A. Sideco

A young genderqueer’s sense of self fizzles after contact with each new girlfriend’s toothbrush.

► Bois Will Be Bois – Dai Ming An

Shaken by a break-up, Ace hits the town for a wild and reflective night.

► All of Me – Margaret Rhee

Follow the Bay Area’s first API drag king troupe as they lead us through their boogie woogie.

► The Interview – Xamuel Bañales

Delivers solid satirical performance piece born of identity, social justice and decolonization, Queer Xicano style. Spanish with English subtitles.

Date and Time:

Monday February 20, 2012

6:30pm – 8:30pm 

FREE

Location:             

William Doo Auditorium. 45 Willcocks st.

For info and accessibility contact: transfilmseries@gmail.com

|| gender-neutral washrooms* || trans-positive || accessible || TTC tokens || || food – vegan & nut-free ||  FREE ||

**Regrettably only one of the films have subtitles.

Closed-captioning not available.  

Open discussion afterwards.

Follow on Twitter @TRANSfilmseries                        

http://www.facebook.com/events/179364938837715/

Presented in associated with: Equity Studies Students’ Association

Appreciation for: QWOCMAP – THANK YOU

Dr. Chun Resource Library Presents: Radical Reads! Critical Reading Group

This year, 2012’s Radical Reads reading series will kick off with a discussion on the politics of SlutWalk. Born out of a reaction against a local police officer’s suggestion that “women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized,” and victim blaming culture at large, the contentious movement has seen its share of supporters and detractors alike. What effect has SlutWalk had on popular discourse regarding victim blaming? What groups have the power and privilege to reclaim the word “slut”? What are the benefits and limits in using the word “slut”? Join us for what we hope to be a lively late-afternoon discussion on the finer points of SlutWalk!

Date: February 16, 2012
Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm
Place: Dr. Chun Resource Library (at The Centre for Women and Trans People at UofT)

Tea, coffee and snacks provided!

Reading materials:

Let’s Do the SlutWalk (Guardian Cardiff)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/cardiff/2011/may/11/slutwalk-cardiff-comment

Ready or Not, New Delhi
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/world/asia/15iht-letter15.html?_r=1

SlutWalk is Not Sexual Liberation
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/may/08/slutwalk-not-sexual-liberation

Embrace your inner slut? Um, maybe not
www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/opinion/embrace-your-inner-slut-um-maybe-not/article2018828/

An Open Letter from Black Women to the SlutWalk:
https://www.facebook.com/notes/blackwomens-blueprint/an-open-letter-from-black-women-to-the-slutwalk/232501930131880

ABOUT THE DR. CHUN RESOURCE LIBRARY:
The Dr. Chun Resource library is a space for community members and University of Toronto students to access factual, critical, and alternative materials that facilitate resistance to oppression among and between diverse communities. In particular the library is committed to collecting materials that reflect the local voices of our community, and the voices of those who have been marginalized and oppressed in our daily lives and in political mobilizing.

Coming out? Questioning? New to campus, to Toronto or to Canada? Not sure about queer sex? Want to meet new dyke friends? Need to unload about the latest lesbian drama explosion at Cherry Bomb?

The Dyke Discussion Group is a drop-in group for support, conversation, and social networking for all queer and questioning women and dyke-identified trans people from both the U of T and wider Toronto communities. The group is an affirmative and supportive safer space where we can chat about and listen to experiences, ideas, and struggles that relate, however distantly, to being a dyke. The group is self-directed, meaning that topics for discussion are brought to the group by each evening’s participants. Topics include, but are certainly not limited to, coming out; homo, bi and transphobia; queer politics and culture; and local queer events and news. The group is collaborative and self-directed, so participants will also have the opportunity to visit with guest speakers and plan field trips, if they choose. Overall, the group is a place where we can learn from each other, meet other like-minded folks, and share space and energy with a bunch of queers.

Meets every other Tuesday from 7-9pm

Food available!

Questions or ideas?
Contact the group facilitator, Laura: laurakrahn@hotmail.com

The Centre for Women & Trans People will be serving food at the Raising Our Voice Together, a party fundraiser for the No More Silence! Rally & March for Missing & Murdered Indigenous women in Canada.

We are looking for more volunteers to help us with the food preparation on February 11, Saturday at 2PM (we will be cooking until 6PM). If you’re interested, or want to find more information, please email womens.centreATutorontoDOTca or call us at 416-978-8201.

Fundraiser details:
Date: Feb 11, Toronto Free Gallery, 8:00pm – 2:00 am
Address: 1277 Bloor Street (Lansdowne Subway)
Faith Nolan – Wabs Whitebird – DJ Ariel – DJ B# – DJs Farruhk & Audrey rock the house!

Let’s Unite Our Way!

We are Cisgendered Aboriginal women, women of colour, Trans, Two spirited, Intersex and gender non-conforming people of colour uniting, sharing, learning, teaching, relaxing, agitating, supporting, debating, socializing, and MORE. Join us for a Meet & Greet social on:

Date: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Time: 4-6PM

Snacks provided!

The Centre for Women and Trans People is seeking new Collective members from the University of Toronto campus and the larger Toronto community!

Deadline of application: October 29, 2012

What is the Centre for Women and Trans People?
The Centre is a drop-in space for University of Toronto (UofT) students and community members from surrounding areas. The Centre is committed to fostering an anti-oppressive, safer, communal environment through offering access to food security, alternative media, peer support, as well as educational and cultural programming. The Centre is a family-friendly space for women and trans people as well as their friends and allies. The Centre is committed to empowering its participants in their own creative self-determination and expression, collaborating with other social justice organizations to mobilize around the issues of oppression (including, but not limited to patriarchy, colonialism, racism, poverty, ableism, cissexism, heterosexism, monosexism), facilitating decolonization and dismantling privilege, and supporting marginalized voices.

The Collective
A volunteer collective governs the Centre. The Collective is fully responsible for the smooth operation of the Centre and for upholding its vision statement and mandate. The Collective takes responsibility for staffing, policy, programming, services, development, budgeting, and other initiatives and operates within a non-hierarchical model of consensus decision-making. The Collective is especially looking for people with a demonstrated commitment to feminist and anti-oppression politics, strong communication and leadership skills, and experience with non-profit organizations.

Collective Member Responsibilities
1. Actively participate as a Collective Member for at least 1 full year.
2. Commit to 4-5 hours of Collective work per week, including meetings.
3. Prepare for, attend and contribute during Collective meetings 2-3 times per month.
4. Complete annual mandatory Centre training sessions and Collective development workshops.
5. Facilitate and/or lead one (1) committee and participate in other ad hoc committees and roles as necessary. Standing committees include Development and Internal Communications, Finance, Library, Outreach & External Communications, Peer Support, Special Events and Political Action.

How to Become a Collective Member
1. Submit a written application form compromised of a completed Member Application Form, a resume and a half or 1-page Statement of Intent. If the Collective accepts your initial application, you will be invited to attend a group interview.
2. After the group interview, you will be invited to participate in Collective and/or Centre activities for a period of one (1) month. You will then review your experience and involvement with current Collective members and mutually decide if you may begin your year term as a Collective member.

You can download the full application form in .DOC form HERE,
or in .PDF form HERE:

The Centre for Women and Trans People at UofT practices equity hiring and believes that those on the margins are often in better positions to understand how systems of oppression, power and privilege work and are maintained. We strongly encourage people who are surviving racism, colonization, poverty, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, disablement and sexism to be a member of the Collective.