This event is now closed for registration.
Please join us for a graduate student panel discussion about queerness in research, hosted by the Inclusive Research team.
Date: Thursday, June 20, 2024
Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. (Followed by a mixer from 3:30 - 4:00 p.m.)
Location: EC5 1027 (Master of Public Service space) or online via Microsoft Teams Town Hall
This hybrid event is open to all 2SLGBTQIA+ University of Waterloo community members and allies* and will include short research presentations as well as a panel discussion about queerness in research. The panel discussion will be moderated by Benny Skinner, a Two Spirit Indigenous Research Advisor on the University’s Inclusive Research team. Additionally, there will be a mixer after the panel discussion where in-person attendees can stay to connect and network over light refreshments.
Speaker information
Moderator: Benny Skinner
Benny (they/them) is a Two Spirit thinker, human rights advocate and scholar. On their patrilineal side they are L'nu from Harbour Round, Ktaqmkuk - a blended community with Mi'kmaq, Inuit, Beothuk, Keltic, and French ancestry. On their matrilineal side they are Kapampangan from Pampanga, Luzon. Benny holds a Bachelor's degree in Peace and Conflict Studies and a Master of Arts, Global Governance degree, both from University of Waterloo. They currently work in the Office of the Vice President, Research and International at University of Waterloo as an Indigenous Research Advisor on the Inclusive Research Team. Benny's academic work has primarily centered on decoloniality, queerness, gender expansiveness, gender based violence, and how governance has been influenced by mainstream colonial understandings of gender and sexuality.
Speaker: Laura Grafton
Laura (she/her) is a candidate for Masters English - Rhetoric and Communication Design (2026) at the University of Waterloo. Laura has published in the past as an independent scholar and freelance writer with The Middle Space and WWAC and has guest hosted on the “Gosh, Golly, Wow!”, “Voxpodcast”, and “MarvelMovieTalk” by GeekScape podcasts. Laura focuses on identity politics and representation in comics, especially as it relates to the stories of domestic violence survivors and queer folks.
Speaker: Jayden Bousfield
Jayden (she/her) is a recent graduate from University of Waterloo's Faculty of Arts. She completed a double major in Sexuality, Marriages and Families Studies and Psychology, and produced a stand-out honours thesis study entitled "Support Seeking for Gender Dysphoria" under Dr. Siobhan Sutherland from St. Jerome’s University. She is currently working as a Research Assistant with the University of Waterloo Psychological Intervention Research Team and is involved in other research projects through the Psychology department under the supervision of Dr. John Rempel. Jayden focuses on gender, sexuality, relationships and decoloniality as she works to explore pathways for improving queer healthcare.
Speaker: Adrian Quijano
Adrian (he/him) is a bisexual, trans and Filipino journalist. He is a recent graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Arts, holding a Bachelors’ degree in Honours Arts, English Literature. During his time as a student, Adrian has spoken at several academic events, advocating for a deeper understanding of queerness as it relates to various academic topics. Adrian is still currently involved with the University of Waterloo Drag Club, and has been pivotal in the growth of drag performance on campus. He does drag himself as Manny Manila, and is well-known in the queer social scenes of Kitchener-Waterloo and the Greater Toronto Area. When Adrian isn’t chasing down a new story or performing at drag shows, he enjoys taking care of his plants, listening to music and hanging out with his friends.
Speaker: Lucas Shumaker
Lucas (he/they) is currently an Environmental Engineering student at the University of Waterloo. They work as a Research Assistant in the WAMPUM Lab, Dr. Kelsey Leonard’s Indigenous Research Lab in the Faculty of Environment. On top of this, Lucas is also conducting their own independent research project called HRTimelines, which explores the physical effects of hormone replacement therapy in transgender individuals. In his spare time, Lucas works on designing and manufacturing parachutes for the University of Waterloo Rocketry team and reading queer literature.
*Allies used here is meant to include non-queer (non-2SLGBTQIA+) individuals looking to learn more about how to be inclusive and supportive of queer peers around them, as well as queer folks looking to increase their capacity to include and support other queer identities that may not apply to them. It is critical that guests come to this space with a genuine intention to learn more about queer research and support the queer campus community. It is our hope to cultivate an understanding that this intention must be underpinned by care and kindness. If you do not share these aforementioned values, we politely ask that you pass on attending this event.