During this presentation, Dr. Gerald Walton will offer a situated and provocative reflection on the urgent need for cisgender and heterosexual co-conspiracy in queer activism. In response to rising anti-queer repression and authoritarianism in Canada, he will explore the possibilities and limitations of surpassing allyship, arguing that bold, united resistance across identities is essential for justice.

A sociologist by training, the focus of Gerald Walton’s research, teaching, and activism is exploring privilege in ways that support equity for marginalized groups of people in society. He identifies himself as both an insider and an outsider, drawing on both perspectives for activism toward social and institutional change.  

Coming out of the ‘cis-het’ closet. The time is now.

The 2SLGBTQIA+ Emerging Teachers and Educators webpage, now live on the Faculty of Education site, brings together a wide range of teaching resources, practicum support, and community links, providing a centralized hub for those learning about or working toward 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in educational spaces.

Dr. Robert Mizzi and Dean Jan Stewart championed the creation of the new Faculty of Education webpage dedicated to 2SLGBTQIA+ resources for teachers and educators.

At the heart of the project is Dr. Robert Mizzi, Canada Research Chair in Queer, Community, and Diversity Education and a professor in the Faculty of Education. The site, also strongly supported by Dean Jan Stewart, was created to address gaps in accessibility and visibility of supports for 2SLGBTQIA+ students and educators. 

“Dean Jan Stewart and I recognized that while important work around 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion was happening, it wasn’t always easy to access or well-known among students. This platform brings together queer knowledge, community resources, and real-world tools in one accessible place,” said Mizzi, who also presented at TEDx Winnipeg (at the University of Manitoba) on the “Power of Rural LGBTQ+ Pride”.

A resource for educators—and beyond 

While the website is tailored to emerging teachers and practicing educators, Dr. Mizzi emphasizes that it has value for a broader audience, including school administrators, counsellors, parents, and community organizations. 

“Inclusion is a collective responsibility,” Mizzi stated. “Even those who are already grounded in equity work may find new insights and tools here. The goal is to foster understanding and action across all levels of education.”

Supporting safer schools and courageous teaching 

Beyond its practical offerings, the site represents a public commitment by the Faculty of Education to create safer, more informed, and affirming educational spaces. It is both a teaching tool and a declaration of values. 

“We hope the website sparks open dialogue and helps educators feel more confident leading conversations about sexual and gender diversity,” said Dr. Mizzi. “It’s about creating space for courageous teaching.”

Features that inform and empower 

Key features of the website include: 

• Support for 2SLGBTQIA+ students on practicum, including guidance on navigating identity in school settings 

• Curated local and national resources, such as links to the Rainbow Resource Centre and the Manitoba Teachers’ Society 

• A glossary of key terms to support foundational learning 

• Balanced academic and applied content on topics like wellness, inclusive curriculum, and sexual health 

Dr. Mizzi notes that for many, simply having access to a centralized, affirming platform can be transformative in supporting inclusive practice. Says one current B.Ed. student after after reviewing the webpage, “As a queer Bachelor of Education student, finding resources that affirm 2SLGBTQ+ identities in education isn’t just helpful — it’s essential. Tools like this remind me that there’s a place for me in the classroom, and that inclusion isn’t an add-on, it’s the foundation for truly equitable learning.”

Bridging research, teaching, and advocacy 

One unique aspect of the site is a digital teaching resource developed in tandem with the 2SLGBTQIA+ History Mural now displayed in the Education Building. The mural, created as part of Dr. Mizzi’s ongoing research and public education work, illustrates key moments in Canadian queer history. 

One section of the webpage is dedicated to the 2SLGBTQIA+ History Mural at the Faculty of Education.

Through the website, users can interact with the mural and learn about the significance of each image, linking past struggles with contemporary classroom learning. 

“This is part of a broader effort to make queer history visible and teachable,” said Dr. Mizzi. “It’s a visual and educational anchor that supports our broader goals for inclusion.” 

Faculty support 

The website was funded through a grant from the Faculty of Education.  

“I’m deeply grateful to the Faculty for supporting this project,” said Dr. Mizzi. “This site reflects our shared commitment to equity, research-informed practice, and building inclusive communities inside and outside the classroom.” 

That commitment is demonstrated year round, most notably each June during Pride Month through UM’s active support of and participation in one of the most prominent community events, the Pride Winnipeg Parade.

As Pride evolves, so too should our visual experience and the look and feel of UM Pride. To help guide us on how UM should be represented and reflected at Pride, we want to hear from you, our community. Take a few minutes to fill out the

Bring your voice and ideas about how we appear at the parade, what a new or refreshed t-shirt design could incorporate, what giveaways could be and other new ideas to help elevate the UM Pride experience. All aspects of Pride are centered around community and inclusivity, and it is with this mindset that we embark on the next version of our visual experience of UM Pride.

You can participate in open in-person consultation sessions on the Fort Gary and Bannatyne campuses, or through the online feedback form. The online form will open on Monday, January 22 and close on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.

Fort Garry campus
Date: Tuesday, January 23, 2024
Location: Engineering – Room E2-150
Time: 12 -2 p.m.

Bannatyne campus
Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2024
Location: Brodie Centre – Room 405
Time: 12 -2 p.m.

Our community is diverse and we want to make sure that every voice is heard and represented in our new pride visual experience. We look forward to hearing from you!

Pride Month is an annual celebration each June. Pride Week is an annual celebration by Pride Winnipeg. The next Pride Week will take place May 24 – June 2, 2024 with the annual Pride Winnipeg Parade taking place on June 2.

The genesis of Litwiller’s project came about while they were a postdoctoral fellow at Dalhousie University in Halifax, working at the Youth Project, an organization that serves queer youth in Nova Scotia. Litwiller began by asking the youth themselves what kind of programming they were interested in that wasn’t currently happening, and many expressed interest in learning about drag performance. From there, Litwiller applied for a small grant and hired local drag mentors to teach the youth about makeup and movement.

“In working with the mentors and in working with the youth we realized we should make this a longer project,” Litwiller explains, “and that the research context actually could become a kind of curriculum.”

Now, working as a professor at the University of Manitoba, Litwiller has been developing that curriculum and bringing it to different communities in Winnipeg and rural Manitoba.

Litwiller says they are interested in coming to any community that would like to support the project, and that they usually partner with local organizations to connect with youth and promote the workshops.

“As a researcher I’m looking for the ways in which drag is helpful as well as not helpful to explore gender, youth experiences of drag and gender in everyday life and at the workshop” Litwiller explains.

Gender identity and gender play

Something they have noticed throughout the workshops so far is the variety of ways that youth may use drag and makeup to explore their gender, and also the way gender play can be both related and unrelated to personal gender identity.

Put simply, gender identity refers to someone’s personal identity, unrelated to biological characteristics. Gender is a highly personal experience but is also something that is constructed by norms and expectations, and that everyone, including cis-gender people (meaning those whose biological sex aligns with their gender identity), performs in one way or another.

For transgender and non-binary folks, learning everyday makeup practices and skills can be an identity-affirming tool that allows them to present in a way that aligns with their gender.

However, makeup can also be a way to exaggerate and play with genders that aren’t necessarily related to one’s personal identity, which is also an important type of expression.

Drag is an exaggerated performance of gender that is fun, theatrical and a bit larger than life. Learning drag performance and how to do drag makeup can help youth learn about themselves, become more confident and try new things.

Litwiller explains that some youth are interested in learning makeup as a serious endeavour and others are more drawn to performative, theatrical drag makeup styles.

“For some youth it’s about being authentic and confident in a gender and for others it’s just play, so we access both aspects of play and seriousness and we have fun.”

Gender and sexuality research in the field of leisure studies

Litwiller’s project contributes to research in leisure studies and sexuality and gender studies that demonstrates the importance of gender exploration and expression in youth recreation contexts.

Discussions about 2SLGBTQ+ issues in the field of recreation often focus on sports programming, Litwiller says, but that this is far from the only type of recreation programming researchers should be examining to better the lives of queer youth.

Still, in terms of making the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management a more inclusive space for queer students, Litwiller agrees that it is vital that organizers of sports programming start to accommodate the needs of trans and non-binary students.

This can start at the level of ensuring that forms are gender-inclusive, and that washrooms and changerooms undergo structural changes that follow principles of universal design.

Overall, Litwiller says the purpose of their research, which will now be running out of a mobile lab that they’ve secured through Canadian Foundation for Innovation is to build community connections, meet youth where they are at and provide them with the tools to explore and express gender in a variety of ways.

“Youth don’t always have spaces to be serious about gender or to be frivolous with it and fun with it, so I think this provides a space for both.”

Litwiller hopes to expand their program throughout Winnipeg, rural Manitoba and Ontario over the next few years, and continue to build a community-oriented curriculum that serves the needs the queer youth in these communities.

If you have any questions about the project, or are a community organization that would like to get involved, please contact: Fenton.Litwiller@umanitoba.ca

Registrants will:

• Walk in the parade for free – including U of M groups, associations and societies
• Receive a t-shirt (first come, first served)
• Be provided with swag to pass out during the parade
• Help carry our U of M Pride flag
• Meet other members of the U of M community

RSVP today!

UMQueer is also looking for volunteers to assist at U of M Pride Week events and at the U of M Pride Festival booth. Students who volunteer for 10 hours can add this opportunity to their Co-Curricular Record.

For information on how to volunteer, contact umqueer [at] umanitoba [dot] ca. To learn about the U of M Pride 2019 events visit the UMQueer website.

UMQueer is a group of faculty, staff and students working together to celebrate and advocate for diversity and inclusion at the University of Manitoba. We envision a campus and society in which all 2SLGBTQ+ peoples and their allies enjoy the freedom and dignity to live openly, authentically and safely.

Stay up to date on events, share your photos and join the conversation on Twitter and Instagram using #umqueer.