Q News
Posted on
December 16th, 2010
Editorial from Chair of Hall of Fame prepared for GBM News
On December 8, 2010 Canada’s Parliament voted in favour of Bill C 389 by a narrow margin of 143 to 131 which means that the bill will proceed to third reading, debate and vote in February or March. If this bill can continue to weave its way through the multitude of conservative roadblocks, if it can pass and become law, it will change the lives of Canadians in their right to freedom of expression. This Private Member bill being tabled by Member of Parliament Bill Siksay will become landmark legislation that will finally allow people who are considered to be outside the “perceived standards” for gender expression or gender identity to be protected under the Canadian Human Rights Act and the criminal code under the Canadian Hate Crimes Act.
I’ve been asked why this is so important, and to be honest I have struggled with how I could possibly identify with this segment of the community, I struggled until someone shed some light on the subject for me and in doing so made it ring true to my own life.
Gender Expression is best represented when one considers the way a person is perceived by others and how that perception fits into societies “ideal” of how gender should be expressed. So if a woman chooses to have short hair, no makeup, and wear baggy clothing… it doesn’t mean that she wants to be a man or even that she is a lesbian, it only means that she does not express herself as an individual according to the popular notion of what a woman should wear or how she should look.
Gender Identity gets a little more complicated, at least in my mind. Gender identity, simplified to the extreme, is the gender to which you personally identify with best or most comfortably – it does not mean that everyone will then obtain corrective surgery. As explained to me by a friend: “We are all assigned a sex when we are born based on one’s appearance, rather than, on what one thinks they know about the infant. In cases of an infant being born with an obvious intersex condition a forced assigning of sex happens. The point is that a person born with transsexualism is born with a brain and body misalignment (as someone once put it) The majority of people born with transsexualism will have some form of medical support needed in order to live life the best they can. This, especially for men, doesn’t always mean genital surgery.”
Gender Identity and Gender Expression are separate issues…
My gender identity is male, but I am not a “stereo typical guys guy” – I don’t like sports, I love shopping, cooking, I am well groomed, do facials, manicures, etc… But I do not wear makeup, or women’s clothing – so my gender identity is male, but much of what I do would be considered expressive of a woman.
I went to school with a girl who was a “tom boy”; she did and still gets bullied because she does not conform to the standards society sets for her. She doesn’t conform because she hates makeup, hates doing her hair, and generally likes to hang out with men better than women. She also loves her husband and children very much.
Does that mean that we are defined as “gender confused”, “trans” or outside the “norm”? Well (I can’t speak for my friend), technically maybe it does, but I don’t consider myself to be “trans”, nor have any gender confusion, but I also do not fit the “norm” of society. *SIGH* so what DOES it mean, are you confused? I honestly can’t explain it to you, and that is Ok!! I was confused too when I started to mull it over, and I still get confused if I think about it too hard. The only reason why I get confused is because I am using conventional definitions of “Normal” to figure it out when I never really think about it… I am after all… just me!
The point is that it is not as clear as people wish it was, and regardless of the “label” that may be given, people should not be persecuted because they don’t “conform”.
Wait though… society is far more progressive than it once was, Right, I mean it is 2011. If you have ever been to small town anywhere you know that is not the case (Not to generalize, there are exceptions… I hope). So how do we typically cope? Move to the big city, protection in numbers, progressive culture and all that. Sure, big city living offers some protection because of the ability to live somewhat anonymously, but is that because people are really more accepting?
My uncle once told me that the beauty of the big city is that there are so many different people, we can act out more because there will always be someone else who is further out of the “norm” than we are. The statistics tell us that abuse is just as prominent in the big city, so that poses a question. Are we more accepting in the big city, just too busy rushing from A to B and desensitized to notice it, or, as my uncle says; is the “norm” stretched more thinly? Who really knows and truthfully, it should not and does not matter. What matters most is that there are citizens, people, human beings that are oppressed living right under our nose and we need to do something about it.
So why is it this way? It’s actually not all that simple – but basically it is all about conformity, that because someone does not fit into the conventions of another person or groups beliefs they do not deserve to have the same freedom to live their lives. Think it sounds like a dangerous thought process? Well, you are correct. As an example, the extreme right tells us that it is immoral, deviant behavior, it is against the will of “God”, and the list just goes on and on. The not-so-funny reality is that the same arguments were used to justify slavery, withhold women’s rights, the holocaust, genocide, and almost every other atrocity we have faced as the human race. Sure, it is still used against the Lesbian and Gay community and others; the difference is that there are legal protections for discrimination in those cases.
So back to the bill and why it is so important! It’s important because regardless of how a person “fits” into the conventions of society, they are people. People who express or identify gender differently than the “norm” established by society come from all walks of life, they are lawyers, doctors, waitresses, musicians, mechanics, and they contribute to society; they pay taxes, walk, talk, breathe, love, cry, laugh, and everything else that you or I do. There is no reason what-so-ever that they should not have the exact same freedoms and protections. That right now a person can be accosted, denied housing, fired, is considered a deviant, a criminal, a predator simply because they do not conform to what we consider normal… is beyond reproach.
This is long overdue, Bill C 389 needs to pass, and it needs to become law. The people that this will protect deserve nothing less from the Canadian Government; in fact they deserve nothing less from their fellow human beings all over the world. The alphabetized community (LGBTT2QQ), as a group, needs to make a united stand for the freedom to identify with and express gender. Not just in Canada or North America, but all over the world, because enough is enough.
Paul Therien, Chair and Founder, Q Hall of Fame Canada
In 2009 Paul Therien founded the Q Hall of Fame a national Canadian recognition program designed to honor Canadians who have made outstanding contributions to the human rights movement. Inductees into the hall of fame are chosen through a public nomination process. For more information please visit www.qhalloffame.ca
Posted on
December 10th, 2010
Message from the Chair of the Q Hall of Fame Canada
It is fast nearing the end of 2010, and as we look back on our history there is much that we have achieved in Canada for LGBTQ Human rights. The right to marriage, the right to hold jobs and housing without discrimination, the ever important decriminalization of homosexuality 41 years ago and so many others – too many to list.
As we continue to move forward it is important that we continue to ensure that we remain a strong, united, and cohesive community, it is important that we remain a family. That we work together; set aside the conflicts in our own community and understand that those very differences make us stronger.
In recent months we have experienced much sadness with the increase in bullying and hate crimes targeted at the LGBTQ Community. It tells us all, that no matter how far we have come, we still have a long way to go.
Many in our community still suffer blatant inequality in modern Canada; they struggle for basic fundamental legislation to protect them from discrimination. We need to stand up, united, and ensure that not only do the lawmakers hear us, but that those family members who do not have protection know that we are here to support, and fight for them.
Canada is filled with many organizations, staffed by hero’s of our community that support and fight for each of us every second, of every day. They need our support, no matter how small, no matter how trivial it may seem. It is the support that we give that lends strength, and courage to continue to move forward.
A single person can create change in this world with the smallest of gestures; just imagine what a united community can do.
Food for thought:
The LGBTQ Community in Canada is the most economically influential group in Canada, with an estimated 30% contribution to total consumer spending in this country.
Paul Therien
Founder and Chair
Q Hall of Fame Canada
Posted on
June 19th, 2010
Q HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES Q GOLF INVITATIONAL
On June 24, 2011 we are proud to launch the first ever Q Golf Invitational. The event is being held at the University Golf Club in Beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia.
Tickets are limited to 144 players and are at a bargain cost of $150.00 per person. This includes: 18 Holes of Golf, Cart rental (for 2), Lunch, Dinner, and some great entertainment. There will be fun had by all!
If you would like to reserve your spot, please email: info@qhalloffame.ca
Posted on
May 11th, 2010
Q HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES DELAY OF NEXT Q BALL
For Immediate Release
The Q Hall of Fame issued a press release today announcing that Q Ball will be moved to a Bi-Annual event to better facilitate community participation in the Hall of Fame program and to launch a national scholarship program. There will be functions held through each year, but the main event will be held bi-annually to allow for full community involvement.
“Canada is a very large piece of land, and to try to reach everyone can be a challenge. We’ve done very well for our first year. We have had several nominations for potential inductees from across Canada and are quickly planning our next move to ensure that we are something Canadians can be proud of.” Paul Therien, Chair of the Hall of Fame said.
“By holding Q Ball Bi-Annually it allows the community to better participate in the nomination process and once it is launched, the scholarship program. It takes time to get all the nominations in from across Canada, and even though we set a deadline of May 1st, they are still coming in. We need to bow to the communities wishes, and they want more time to nominate their hero’s – so they are going to get more time.”
When asked if the lack of Sponsorship dollars is a contributing factor, Paul Therien – Chair of the Hall of Fame, responded that it is a factor which must be considered. “The Hall of Fame needs to be sustainable and fully accessible for all members of our community, and while big sponsorship dollars are scarce, we are still in talks with several national organizations. Lack of sponsorship dollars does mean that we need to re-evaluate and ensure that the Hall of Fame is positioned in such a way that it will be here for years to come.”
Last Year CIBC was the principle sponsor, and this year they declined to continue the sponsorship. “CIBC did decline to sponsor the Hall of Fame as we move forward.” When asked why Therien commented that CIBC was refocusing their sponsorship energies. “It happens all the time. Companies shift their sponsorship focus and although we were greatly disappointed when they declined this year, we can only move forward and build an organization that is sustainable. ”
The Q Hall of Fame is a community based organization that recognizes outstanding members of the Canadian LGBT Community for their efforts in the advancement of human rights. The inaugural event was a black tie affair held at the Westin Bayshore on September 19, 2009. Such notable persons as Olympian Mark Tewksbury and former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Of last years event, Therien commented: “It was a great success for a first year, and we have learned a great many things. First and most importantly is to establish Q Ball as an event that is accessible, affordable, and is a must attend event in Canada.”
The Hall of Fame is in preliminary discussions right now with other groups on to partner with other organizations to establish concrete and sustainable national initiatives for the LGBT community. This includes the formation of a national scholarship program that supports and encourages equality in our education system.
“As an example we have partnered ourselves with The Empress of Canada Foundation, and are continuing to find ways to ensure that we have a positive impact on the lives of people in our community – through other partnerships ” Therien noted. “We are excited by the limitless possibilities and the direction that we are taking.”
If you would like more information about the Q Hall of Fame or would like to become a part of the organization, please visit www.qhalloffame.ca