Written by Naomi (she/her), student
Whether you’re in the process of coming out, proudly queer, or confused and questioning, I can tell you one thing for sure – you’re not alone.
University is commonly labelled as the time to figure your life out and find yourself. While these are inspirational and motivating phrases, they can also bring a lot of pressure. Figuring out who you are can be a terrifying and difficult experience, especially if you feel alone. When I started questioning my sexuality, it was a scary, isolating process. After I came out, I realized being queer didn’t have to be a form of solitude, rather it was a new opportunity to become part of an amazing community. This desire for a sense of community sent me on the hunt, looking for clubs around campus to join that provided a safe space for me to feel comfortable in. I’m glad to say I found more than a few. Whether you’re in the process of coming out, proudly queer, or confused and questioning, I can tell you one thing for sure – you’re not alone.
Glow
The Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity is the first service I stumbled upon, and it also happens to be the oldest continuously-running queer and trans student organization in all of Canada. Glow advocates for a healthy attitude towards all sexual orientations and gender identities, promoting an inclusive and accepting environment. Located on campus in the Student Life Centre and constantly active on their Instagram, they lead advocacy projects, provide confidential peer support, host events and meetings, and even have their own collection of resourceful books and movies that students can check out.
Peer support
We all need someone to talk to, and sometimes friends or family might not be an option – and that’s completely okay. Glow provides a strong support network for all 2SLGBTQ+ students, with appointment times for peer support available every week, which can be booked through their website. The nice thing about Glow is that it’s completely run by student volunteers, so everyone there wants to be there, and wants to give their support. Midas Beglari, a service coordinator for Glow says that "volunteering with Glow has been one of the most educational and formative experiences in my life. I know it can be overwhelming to put yourself out there and come to Glow, and we are here to support you in any way that you're comfortable with". Through active and confidential listening, Glow members help to provide a safe space for students to be heard and understood.
If you’re looking for ways to get involved, Glow also hires new volunteers every term, so you can be part of an inclusive environment, and help provide one for others as well. I volunteered with Glow during the spring semester, and they were incredibly welcoming and grateful to all volunteers! They hosted weekly board game nights that were open to all and had fun events like ice cream socials. They even organized a bus to Pride Toronto in June, so the whole team could go and celebrate together at one of the largest pride festivals in the world!
I also got to help run a few booths on and off campus, one of them being Glow’s booth at tri-Pride, the annual non-profit 2SLGBTQ+ pride celebration in Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo, held at Victoria Park. Not all clubs run during the summer, so it was nice to be part of a student community in the off-season that didn’t require too much of a time commitment. Plus, it was great that the student community was a place I felt so comfortable in, and that I was able to make a couple of friends. Glow is super appreciative of their volunteers too — at the end of the term, they even gave us all gift cards to Indigo, Walmart, or Amazon!
Glow gave me a sense of purpose and belonging, as well as the opportunity to advocate for myself and my community. It's been my home for the last few years—I have made amazing friends that have helped me grow as a person and as an activist. Glow taught me about community, equity, advocacy, and even myself.
All-gender washrooms
In close cooperation with the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association and the Glow Centre, the University of Waterloo is making campus more inclusive for Two-Spirit, Trans, Non-Binary and Gender Non-Conforming members of the campus community by increasing access to all-gender washrooms. Not only is it important for students to know that there are safe spaces for them on campus, but it is crucial that these spaces extend to their home away from home – residence. Each first-year residence building has at least one all-gender washroom in their central complex area to use when studying and hanging out with friends, dining at an eatery, or visiting a front desk.
Women’s Centre
The Women’s Centre at Waterloo is another group run by dedicated student volunteers, committed to creating a safe and supportive atmosphere for women and transgender individuals across campus. Through their Facebook and Instagram, you can stay updated on information about guest lectures, workshops, film screenings and resources on women's and trans* folks’ health and sexual violence, all of which work towards making the Centre a positive and connective space for everyone. They also have an annual zine, Voices, which gives people who are commonly underrepresented in media a chance to share their thoughts and speak from their hearts. On this platform, different artistic expressions and experiences are recognized and published; artwork, stories, poems, you name it!
The Women's Centre is a female-positive and supportive environment for everyone! Whether you're dropping by to pick up some resources, hanging around and doing work, or looking for peer support, you are welcome at the Centre!
Equity Office
Promoting inclusivity and providing a safe environment is a campus-wide responsibility, which is why Waterloo’s Equity Office exists, along with many other resources across campus. The Equity Office strives to create a sense of belonging for all, removing systemic barriers against marginalized groups, and striving for an equitable and accepting atmosphere. They supply students, faculty, and staff from underrepresented groups with guidance and advice on equity issues, while building campus awareness on these matters. As a member of more than one marginalized group, it was comforting to see that there’s a place that recognizes the experiences faced by people with diverse identities.
Opportunities for involvement
Not only are the experiences of marginalized groups recognized, but they’re acted on too, as seen by the various opportunities offered to all campus members to get involved and educate themselves. Waterloo’s Equity Office provides different training opportunities, workshops, and initiatives to help everyone develop a deeper understanding of 2SLGBTQ+ identities. People can learn about their rights, become an ally, and help continue to shape Waterloo into the welcoming and united school that it’s become.
Pride at Waterloo
An annual event that I look forward to from the Equity Office is Pride at Waterloo, which is packed with panels and workshops throughout the month of June. Despite Pride month being once a year, the Pride at Waterloo web page is always available and is filled with lots of resources dedicated towards creating a more inclusive atmosphere. These resources range from articles about 2SLGBTQ+ challenges, informative videos on understanding and respecting identities, and interviews from queer and trans folks and advocates. Plus, there are clubs like EngiQueers, QTPOC-KW, UW Drag Club and many more that strive to empower the 2SLGBTQ+ community at Waterloo.
You now have the ability to add your pronouns to your student account. This is one of several equity-related plans that the University has implemented to create an inclusive and welcoming environment, where everyone feels valued and affirmed for who they are. The thing I’ve come to love about Waterloo is that there’s a place for everyone. Finding out about all the places and clubs geared towards the 2SLGBTQ+ community makes me feel that much more comfortable walking through campus, knowing I’m surrounded by peers and allies alike. Hopefully, by increasing your familiarity with these resources, you can feel more at ease in the Waterloo environment too. Regardless of where you are in your journey, whether you’re figuring yourself out or you’ve already found yourself, there’s a safe space for you. So, enjoy your journey in the company of one of the many groups across campus that work to display and empower the voices of the 2SLGBTQ+ community – because there’s nothing more liberating than solidarity.
*The asterisk in trans is to refer to all the gender identities on the gender spectrum, who are not cisgender men or cisgender women.
