Workshop Outlines
For those who have already registered yet still need to pick workshops, please send your workshop selections (Session 1, Session and Session 3) to Bria@youthproject.ns.ca! If you have any trouble with registration please feel free to contact her!
Session 1 (11:20-12:05)
1 – Drag Workshop hosted by Eureka Love and Kowyn, two of Halifax’s best drag performers. Drag has been a tool in the LGBTQ community for activism, performance, resistance, and being fabulous! Join Eureka and Kowyn for performance and costume tips, a lil drag history, and try some stuff out! Makeup & supplies provided. This is a chance to really prepare for the lunch time Lip Sync Battle! (Youth only)
2 – A Poetry workshop hosted by Des Adams. Join Des, frequent public-speaking poet and wordsmith, in a workshop on using poetry. Develop your creative voice, learn more about poetry, and try out your skills. (Youth only)
3 –[FULL] Cosplay. A chance to learn more about cosplay and how to make your costumes really work. Make some props with supplies on hand and chat about your fandoms ^_^ . (Youth only)
4 – Constellations of gender. How have concepts of gender and sexuality shaped us across our lifespan? Map your own constellation as we look at gender stereotypes, attractions and language. We’ll do activities that explore this and that you can take back to your community! (Youth only)
5 – Ace Space. A discussion space for asexual folks to talk, get resources, ask questions, and hang out. For youth only, open to youth who are asexual-identified.
6 – Lesbian/Bi/Queer Femme Space. A discussion space for female identified folks to talk, ask questions, and hang out. (Youth only)
7 – Gay/Bi/Queer Masculine Space. A discussion space for male identified folks to talk, ask questions, and hang out. (Youth only)
8 – Two Spirit Workshop. This workshop will provide an overview of two-spirit identities and how it relates to other Indigenous sexual or gender identities, with time for questions and discussion.(Open to All)
9 – Integrating LGBTQ in the classroom. Curriculum looking a little heteronormative? Join YP Staff Kelly for a look into the education outcomes and ways to include LGBTQ content, visibility and information! Get some resources and fun stuff too! (Advisor only)
10 – [CANCELLED] Tip of the Aceburg (Advisor only)
Session 2 (1:20-2:10)
1 – Non binary space. A discussion space for non-binary-identified youth to talk, ask questions, connect with others, and hang out! (Youth only)
2 – Trans space. A discussion space for trans-identified youth to talk, ask questions, connect with others, and hang out! (Youth only)
3 – COMING OUT! Telling your story. Coming out stories can be powerful, and it is an experience that often connects us as LGBTQ people. How can we use the idea of “coming out” in our work as GSAs? How can we use our stories to help others? When do we challenge the concept of needing to come out? Explore all this and more with Claire and Kevin! (Youth only)
4 – [FULL] Drag hosted by Eureka Love and Kowyn, two of Halifax’s best drag performers. Drag has been a tool in the LGBTQ community for activism, performance, resistance, and being fabulous! Join Eureka and Kowyn for performance and costume tips, a lil drag history, and try some stuff out! Makeup & supplies provided. This is a chance to really prepare for the lunch time Lip Sync Battle! (Youth only)
5 – Activism 101. How to create an activism movement in your own schools & communities. We’ll be brainstorming up some issues LGBT+ youth face in their communities. Then we’ll write a few down and discuss step-by-step what we can do to change things. (Youth only)
6 – GSA Makeover! Jumpstart your GSA with new ideas and possibilities. Join Dre, a GSA member who made some big changes in his community, for activities, roles and projects your GSA may have never thought of before!
7 – Intersectionality. “There’s no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we don’t live single-issue lives” – Audre Lorde. Join Gabriel Enxuga for activities and discussion around intersectionality, which is how the different identities within us (or sexuality, our gender, our race, our abilities, etc.) create our unique lived experiences.
8 – Using the Human Rights Act to tackle discrimination with Kevin Kindred
Did you know? The NS Human Rights Act includes the right to be free of discrimination based on our sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression (as well as other important identities!). How can we use the law in our work against discrimination? Join Kevin Kindred for discussion and strategy!
9 – Constellations of gender. How have concepts of gender and sexuality shaped us across our lifespan? Map your own constellation as we look at gender stereotypes, attractions and language. We’ll do activities that explore this and that you can take back to your community! (Advisors only)
10 – Advisor Chat Space. This workshop is an open discussion forum for educators and advisors. What issues are at the forefront of your work with LGBTQ youth? What supports do you need? How can the YP best support you? Bring what’s on your mind! (Advisors only)
Session 3 (2:15-3:05)
1 – Healthy relationships. We don’t see LGBT relationships well represented in our world, which means healthy LGBT relationships are often left out of the conversation. How can we better include LGBT youth when we talk about communication, consent, emotions and boundaries? We gotta be represented! Join YP staff Leigh as they take us through it. (Youth only)
2 – [FULL ]Total Drama. Join us for some theatre and improv games! Let’s queer up this drama. (Youth only)
3 – Bam! Pow! COMICS! With Sophie Labelle. Comics are a useful tool in the fight against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia. Draw your stories and bring them to life, to share with others and create a visible impact. Join Sophie, writer and illustrator, as we explore the world of comics. (Youth only)
4 – Making spaces better for black, indigenous and people of colour (the BIPOC community). (Open to all)
The LGBTQ movement is frequently represented by people who aren’t from the BIPOC community – but LGBT history has been started and shaped by the BIPOC community! How can we make our GSAs and school communities more inclusive of people of colour? Join us for a discussion.
5 – Venus Envy safer sex queered / Binder & Gaff safety and use.
This is the fun, informative, and pleasure-focused sex ed class for queer and trans folks often left out of mainstream conversations. We’ll talk about different kinds of bits responding to different sensations, and opening up our minds to different pathways to pleasure! We’ll cover the ins and outs of STI transmission, some risks involved in having different kinds of sex, how to talk about STIs and safer sex, and how to use barriers and make them sexy. (Youth only)
6 – Queerbaiting. A workshop where we discuss the harmful effects of queerbaiting and negative trans representation in movies, tv shows, etc. We talk about why and how show creators queerbait, what kind of message the constant victimisation of trans/gender non-conforming people sends, how cisgender people playing trans characters is offensive and more. We also talk about positive queer & trans representation and what that looks like. (Youth only)
7 – How to talk Religion & Spirituality
Religion can be a deeply personal, and yet very contentious issue. We will learn more about how to discuss our own experiences with religion (good, bad, or other), how to talk about LGBTQ+ issues in religion, and develop an appreciation for various religions.
8 – Supporting Rainbow Refugees. How can GSAs support LGBTQ refugees coming to Nova Scotia? Join the Rainbow Refugee Association on what it’s like to come from places with harsh laws around LGBTQ identities, and what supports newcomers need.
9 – Elderberries. The Elderberries are a group of elder LGBTQ people from Nova Scotia and a GSA Conference favourite – and they’re back for 2017! What was it like in their day to be lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans? Join us for storytelling and an exploration of our history.
10 – Trans 201 / supporting trans non binary youth
Got the intro down, but want to know more about supporting transgender youth? Join us for a more in-depth discussion around the unique needs of trans youth. It is recommended participants should have a comfortable knowledge of transgender terms and definitions. (Advisors only)
For those who have already registered yet still need to pick workshops, please send your workshop selections (Session 1, Session and Session 3) to Bria@youthproject.ns.ca! If you have any trouble with registration please feel free to contact her!