In the summer of 2023, the Faculty Association and Staff Association teamed up to distribute more than 5,000 pride flag stickers to employees, with the hope that thousands of pride stickers displayed all over our four campuses would help send the message that all members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community belong at Waterloo.
Now, the associations are excited to announce that departments can order both the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag sticker and a new Two-Spirit Pride Flag sticker through the W Print online ordering system. Thank you to the Queer-Trans Alliance at UWaterloo (QTA) for providing input on flag selection. Stickers are available in batches of 20, 60, or 100.
About the flags
Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag: In 2017, the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs commissioned an updated pride flag with black and brown stripes to represent communities of colour often overlooked in the mainstream LGBTQ+ movement. The Progress Pride Flag soon added white, pink, and light blue stripes to represent the trans community. In 2021, a purple circle on a yellow background was added to represent the intersex community, giving us the current version.
Two-Spirit Pride Flag: The UBC Equity & Inclusion Office offers this explanation of the flag design: “The two feathers at the center represent masculine and feminine identities, and the circle to which the feathers are attached represent the unification of masculinity and femininity into a separate, unique gender. Its placement in front of the rainbow flag signifies explicit inclusion of two-spirit experiences in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.”
You can learn about the whole range of pride and sexual orientation flags on the Human Rights Campaign website.
If stickers in your area have been removed or damaged and you feel it may be hate-motivated, you can report these incidents to gethelp@uwaterloo.ca.
Supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ students and colleagues
If you choose to display a sticker and are approached by a student or colleague looking for support:
- Listen and acknowledge what they’re experiencing.
- Ask if and how you can help.
- If they want, refer them to on- or off-campus resources, either for specific supports or to connect with the 2SLBGTQIA+ community.
To equip yourself to support students and colleagues in a range of situations, consider taking training or reviewing resources on:
You can also contact the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO) or Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism about custom training for your department.
Referring students and colleagues to services and supports
Depending on the situation, you might refer someone to a range of on- or off-campus services:
STUDENTS: If they’re looking for community
- The Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity is a student group with a physical space in the Student Life Centre. GLOW offers social events, online resources, Trans Student Bursaries, and peer support appointments.
- Waterloo Womxn + Nonbinary Wednesdays is a social and support network of womxn and nonbinary grad students, post-docs, staff, and faculty.
- QTPOC KW is a student-run club that provides the space for individuals at the intersection of 2SLGBTQ+ and racialized (Black, Indigenous, POC) identities to play freely and build community.
- EngiQueers is the University of Waterloo's branch of EngiQueers Canada. They focus on bringing together LGBTQ+ students in engineering and providing a space where they can feel accepted and at home.
- The Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre (WISC) is a friendly space on campus for Indigenous (First Nation, Inuit, and Metis) students and members of the Kitchener-Waterloo community. WISC is located in United College at the University of Waterloo.
- Willow River Centre is a group of TwoSpirit IndigiQueer folx and queer/trans or LGBTQ+ settler accomplices located at 243 King St. E., Kitchener.
- The Queer-Trans Alliance at UWaterloo (QTA) is open to all UWaterloo students, faculty, staff, and alumni belonging to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who are interested in advocacy and community-building.
- Find more in The Missing Manual post about Waterloo’s resources for the 2SLGBTQ+ community
Students: If they need support
University of Waterloo resources
Community resources
- Here 24/7 is a first point of contact for addictions, mental health, and crisis services provided by 11 agencies across Waterloo Wellington.
- SPECTRUM is an organization that serves, affirms, and supports the well-being of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals in Waterloo Region and the broader community through peer support, community partnerships, education and training, resources, and events.
- LGBT YouthLine is a *2SLGBTQ+ youth-led organization that affirms and supports the experiences of youth (29 and under) across Ontario by providing anonymous peer support and referrals and providing resources so youth can make informed decisions.
- OK2BME is a set of supportive services for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) and questioning kids, teens, adults, and their families in Waterloo Region.
COLLEAGUES: If they’re looking for community
- The Queer-Trans Alliance at UWaterloo (QTA) is open to all UWaterloo students, faculty, staff, and alumni belonging to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who are interested in advocacy and community-building.
- Pride Circles are informal discussions open to all faculty and staff at the University of Waterloo who identify as members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Contact Jeremy Steffler for information.
- Waterloo Womxn + Nonbinary Wednesdays is a social and support network of womxn and nonbinary grad students, post-docs, staff, and faculty.
- Willow River Centre is a group of TwoSpirit IndigiQueer folx and queer/trans or LGBTQ+ settler accomplices located at 243 King St. E., Kitchener.
COLLEAGUES: If they need support
- Homewood Health is the provider for our Employee and Family Assistance Program. The program provides short-term, confidential counselling that includes face-to-face (flexible hours), telephone or online sessions. Call 1-800-663-1142 or visit Homeweb.ca to access.
- You will need the customer account (University of Waterloo) and the invitation code (UAL823) when registering for Homewood’s online services.
Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride Flag: In 2017, the Philadelphia Office of LGBT Affairs commissioned an updated pride flag with black and brown stripes to represent communities of colour often overlooked in the mainstream LGBTQ+ movement. The Progress Pride Flag soon added white, pink, and light blue stripes to represent the trans community. In 2021, a purple circle on a yellow background was added to represent the intersex community, giving us the current version.
Two-Spirit Pride Flag: The 
