Past Events
The Self-Made Man: Trans Masculinities and Performing the (Im)possible
A public lecture by Professor Dan Irving
Wednesday, August 20, 2008, during Pride Week
Ottawa Public Library Auditorium (enter in the basement), 120 Metcalfe St.
Doors open at 7:00; lecture at 7:30PM
Refreshments provided.
$5 suggested donation
Professor Dan Irving will discuss Female-to-Male identities in relation to the idea of a "self-made man". What is a "self-made man"? Where does the idea come from? How is it used by trans activists? What are the social and political ramifications of talking as "self-made men"?
Translation for academic types:
In this public lecture, Professor Irving raises critical questions concerning the current formation of Female-to-Male (FTM) subjectivities within the context of the Global North. Applying a materialist framework, Irving argues that trans activist discourses stressing sex/gender self-determination ought to be explored in relation to the heteronormative, patriarchal, racialized, colonialist and capitalist contexts from which they emerge. Through discussing the rhetoric of individual autonomy as a strategy employed by some FTM's to resist the restrictive sex/gender binary some broader questions are raised: can radical politics emerge from defensive strategies? How does rhetoric of sex/gender self-determination obscure the complex web of social relations mediating such a category (i.e. 'race', sexuality, class)?
How is "self-made" rhetoric influenced by neo-liberalism? Who remains marginalized as a result? How does rhetoric of autonomy obscure the social reproductive labour of our partners, lovers, friends and allies?
This lecture is open to all who are interested in debating the queering of sex/gender identities and its impact on building alliances.
Dan Irving is a FTM scholar who works as an Assistant Professor in Sexuality Studies and Human Rights in the Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies at Carleton University.
Presented by the Ottawa GBLTQ Grad Students' Group and the Carleton University Graduate Students' Association.
Divergence Movie Night and the GLBTQ Graduate Group Present the film....
“D’ici et d’ailleurs”
followed by a discussion by filmmaker Nada Raphael.
This bilingual feature length film tells the tales of 9 women of colour/two-spirited living in or around Montréal.
Come join us…
Saturday April 26th @ 2pm
Ottawa Public Library in the Auditorium
120 Metcalfe Street
Ottawa
Snacks and Refreshments will be provided
Everyone is Welcome!
Fee admission, $5 suggested donation.
Babies, Sex and Death: Katherine Arnup on Queer Families in all Stages of Life
Ottawa's Katherine Arnup* is the editor of Lesbian Parenting: Living with Pride and Prejudice, a resource for lesbian parents and a source of personal stories about lesbian parenting. She is also the author of Education for Motherhood: Advice for Mothers in Twentieth Century Canada, a history of the advice given by the likes of Dr. Spock to Canadian mothers. Her work on lesbian and gay parenting, child rearing, marriage, and the family covers all the stages of life: babies, sex, and death. Come to hear her discuss queer families in all the stages of life.
Ottawa Public Library Auditorium, 120 Metcalfe St.
Wednesday, November 21 2007
7PM
Suggested donation $2-$5
Presented by the GLBTQ Grad Students' Group
www.ottawagradgroup.com
for more information: academic_coordinator@ottawagradgroup.com
*Katherine Arnup is an Associate Professor of Canadian Studies and Director of the Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies at Carleton University. Katherine has recently been involved in starting up the new minor in Sexuality Studies at Carleton University.
Odd Girls Out
Thursday June 28, 2007 at 7:30 pm.
The Ottawa Public Library120 Metcalfe Street.The GLBT Grad Students' Group presents "Odd Girl Out": Lesbians in Pulp Fiction and Chatelaine Magazine. Please join us for a fascinating look at the recent history of lesbian life over the last 50 years, as seen through pulp fiction novels and one of Canada's best known women's magazines, Chatelaine. Maureen Cullingham has
been collecting paperback fiction about lesbians for many years and her extensive collection dates back to the 1950s. She has become personal friends with one of the icons of lesbian writing, "Ann Aldridge," an experience she will share with you. Barbara Freeman writes about women's history through the eyes of the news media, and is planning a book on lesbians. Starting from the 1960s, she will open Chatelaine's closet doors and show you its real-life stories about butches and femmes, lesbian activists and the "no logo" girls. Join Maureen and Barb as they show you what they have collected on their bookshelves, and provide an intriguing look at our past and our present.
Admission is free of charge.
Gay and lesbian seniors left in the cold when accessing health care
Februrary 20, 2006 at 2:00pm
Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation poses a very real problem for many gay and lesbian seniors, all despite recent legislative and societal changes toward gays and lesbians. According to a report by Bill Ryan of McGill University, many gay and lesbian seniors in Canada experience reduced quality of care and reduced access to health services directly attributable to long term homophobia. Seniors are put into situations where they may feel legitimate fear of homophobia from health practitioners, putting them at considerably higher risk than many other heterosexual-identified seniors of the same age demographic.
Ryan’s report, “The Health and Social Service Needs of Gay and Lesbian Seniors and Their Families,” outlines the experience shared by seniors in Canada through a series of focus group discussions. It outlines their stories and underscores the loneliness and isolation experienced by being the “oldest gay person” in one’s social group – and how that impacts on quality of life and access to health and social services. Indeed, the researchers point out that many gay and lesbian seniors will decide not to access certain services even when their personal health and security depend on it. The report calls for action from community services and governments to improving conditions for gay and lesbian seniors in Canada.
Ryan will be offering a free public lecture on February 20th from 2PM to 4PM at the main branch of the Ottawa Public Library at 120 Metcalfe Street to discuss his groundbreaking research, presented jointly by the Ottawa GLBTQ Grad Student Group and the Snowblower Festival for Gay, Bisexual and Trans men.
For more information, please contact Elizabeth Wright at ewright3@connect.carleton.ca or Adam Graham at the AIDS Committee of Ottawa at 613 238 5014 ext. 224.
Last Edited: Aug 21, '08 11:09 pm