What makes a space positive and safe?

On Saturday, a thousand people danced down George St. to celebrate diversity and LGBTQ Pride and Fleming students and staff were a part of the fun. Here is a link to a YouTube clip by the Peterborough Examiner:

http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/2012/09/16/peterborough-pride-parade-celebrates-10th-anniversary

Fleming students have been providing volunteer security and support since the event was founded 10 years ago. This year was no exception, and Pride organizers made sure to let me know how amazing Fleming students are - responsible, polite, engaged, professional are some of the words they used to describe them. Hats off to Jon and Anna (FAQS leaders) and Thomas (security coordinator) for their leadership!

Some of the same activists who founded Pride in 2002 also founded the Fleming Positive Space campaign, which we have expanded this year with training. This week I have added the Positive Space Education Program outline to the Diversity wiki for those who would like some background and indepth info on the program (click on the gold "Diversity" logo at upper right). The Level one launch is going well and we hope to see you at an upcoming session.

As we are reflecting on what a positive, safe space is, I thought I'd share a story from the weekend. After the parade, a show and all ages dance was held at Market Hall. This event always draws a wide range of people; gay, straight, trans, young, old, dressed down, dressed up, in drag, every body size, shape and range of the gender continuum you can imagine - but all there to have fun. It is an amazing experience of inclusion. I and several other middle-aged organizers were watching young people dancing and expressing themselves, and we shared how exciting it was to see them so happy.

You see, we hear more about the sad stories. Like when I drop in on a FAQS club meeting and hear students talk about being rejected by their families or high school peers. Or when PARN outreach workers like Peter and Anya who do our training meet clients in distress, after having been attacked in the streets, or who are homeless after being thrown out by their parents. The normative culture of college life can make it seem like this does not happen anymore but unfortunately it does. We continue to receive students here coming with terrible secondary school experiences, hoping that now they are adults, they can achieve some control of their lives.

Our class rooms, hallways, pubs and washrooms can be safe and positive for all students. Every person adds to that positive space when they decide that defending human rights is not just a role for the Diversity Coordinator, but their role as citizen.

Join us, give us your feedback, help us make Fleming an amazing college experience for LGBTQ students.