Mr. Mac's Challengesmr. Mac's 6th Grade

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Queer and Trans Culture

This page is for YOU.

ACCI is a welcoming and inclusive environment, and we not only strive to remove all barriers that may hinder your academic success, but to help you through what can sometimes be a very challenging time in your life…

This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Mac teaches 6th grade Math and Science and has been with GSOTA for 1 year! After school, he leads the Fishing Club and the Garden Club. Before GSOTA, Mr Mac worked as an aquatic biologist in Baltimore, Maryland. His favorite fish is the striped bass and he loves to talk about the ocean.

…because high school is tough enough when you fit the mould and feel like you belong.

Well guess what?

While Queer and Trans Culture @ ACCI acknowledges the existence of a “mould” or “standard”, we also try to flip our thinking to believe the mould doesn’t really exist.

So, while acknowledging your lived experiences, in our eyes you already FIT, and you already BELONG (and you always have).

To be honest, the very idea of “creating an inclusive environment” isn’t in reference to anyone being different from the mainstream–it’s a reference to the fact that WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT.

And what’s “the mainstream” anyway?

Before you read further, click on this link for a discussion about Queer and Trans definitions, as well as an exploration of sexuality and gender:

What’s in a Word?

…on the other hand, the reality is that you may not feel welcome or included in the school community…or at home…or in media and society, and that’s why this discussion is important.

Mr. Mac

This page is an online resource specifically to help queer and trans students, as well as those who want to support those who identify as queer or trans.

This page has FIVE parts:

  1. Resources
  2. What’s in a Word?
  3. Your Truth: Coming Out
  4. 10 Ways to be an Ally, and a Friend
  5. Your Legal Rights!

Part 1: Resources

Here are a few resources for you. All of the sites are ever-changing, and each has something to offer. In the Time of COVID, the links that are listed first are offering resources specific to this time.
Click on a link for more info:

  • HRC.org (Human Rights Campaign)
  • EMYS.on.ca (East Metro Youth Services)
  • Support (on MrMacOnline)

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, you are encouraged to reach out to the adults in your life, and you can always send a message to Mr. Mac!

Part 2: What’s in a Word?

LGBTQ+. Hmm, why are there so many letters, and what do they mean? The intent of the letters LGBTQ+ is to include as many queer and trans terms, and to recognize room for ever-changing dialogue and understanding. Here’s a great article from Kid’s Help Phone:

What Does it Mean?

In basic understanding, LGBTQ+ (which is one of the most common references) stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Transgender, Questioning/Queer. People often add “2S” (Two Spirited) as well. Of course, that’s only a portion of the rainbow. Sometimes you’ll see LGBTQ2S+ (like in this page), or even LGBTQQIP2SAA, which refers to:

Lesbian…Gay…Bisexual…Transgender…Queer…Questioning…Intersex…Pansexual…2 Spirited…Androgynous…Asexual

But what about Gender-Non-Conforming? Curious? Gender Fluid? Non-Binary…and the list goes on, which brings us back to the reason for saying LGBTQ+ (where the + means “including and valuing those terms of identity not addressed”).

Thanks to the internet, you can explore how and where YOU fit into the spectrum.

Really, it comes down to YOU and HOW you identify– and and how you CHOOSE to be addressed (if it’s even anyone’s business anyway…). You live in a world where information is readily available, and easily accessed. Use the Google and community resources to develop your understanding.

Part 3: Your Truth: Coming Out

Your truth is very important. Also the definition of your truth may be different from someone else. This refers not only to how you identify, but to those in your life who know your truth.

  • Do your PARENTS know your truth?
  • Do your FREINDS know your truth?
  • Do your TEACHERS know your truth?
  • Wait a sec, do YOU know your truth?
Mr. mac

It’s probably a good exercise to first understand who you are and how you fit into the world (see Part 2), with the understanding that much of it is fluid and may change throughout your life, as you change, and as your awareness of who you are develops.

Btw, your truth is YOURS, and it’s important for you to know that if you want your truth to remain inside you, that’s fine. If you want to share your truth with the people in your home or school life, that’s fine. The fact is, even if you don’t think you are in control of your truth (whether due to family dynamic or expectations, or societal pressure), you have some level of control. Online support is always available through your teachers (hey, that’s me, and the Admin, and Guidance), and organizations like Youthline and Kid’s Help Phone.

Since each person’s journey is different, and many teenagers are on the side of the spectrum where they live in secrecy and isolation, the question of when–and HOW–to come out (to yourself, to your parents, to your friends…) is a big one. So, is it a good idea to come out during the current Stay-At-Home Order, when there is less chance to escape the family dynamic? Unfortunately, that’s a decision YOU have to make. Here is a current blog post from a Kitchener, Ontario youth service OK2BME.ca. It discuss the challenge of coming out to your parents–which is hard under the best of times.

OK2BME.ca: Coming Out to Parents,
by Washington Silk (April 29, 2020)

Mr.

Part 4: How to be an Ally and Friend

Mr. Mac's Challengesmr. Mac's 6th Grade Language Arts

This link outlines how to be a good ally–because, really, the onus shouldn’t be on someone to advocate for their truth. Instead, the onus is on all of us to make sure we create a community of openness and freedom.

10 Ways to be an Ally and a Friend

Part 5: Your Legal Rights!

Do you see the exclamation mark at the end of the title above?

Mr. Mac's Challengesmr. Mac's 6th Grader

exclamation mark: punctuation used to indicate strong feelings of high volume (shouting) to show emphasis…

Yeah, shout it as loud as you can. The Canadian Human Rights Act specifically includes sexual orientation as one of the prohibited grounds of discrimination in this country. This inclusion was a clear declaration by Parliament that gay, lesbian and bisexual (and the rest of the LBGTQ alphabet) Canadians are entitled to “an opportunity equal with other individuals to make for themselves the lives they are able and wish to have…”

If you ever feel that you are being denied an opportunity, or treated differently because of your truth, you can follow the “grounds of discrimination” link above, or contact the folks at Egale Canada. In fact, their site is probably one of the most comprehensive resources at this time because it talks about all of the topics on this page–and more!

Egale Canada

Egale.ca has an updated website that talks specifically about the challenges people are facing during this time of closure.

Mr. Mac Online Introduction

This site is an online resource for Dramatic Arts students.

The challenge for teachers in the online world is to engage you and light the fires of imagination and exploration, and I hope this site hits the mark.

If you have any suggestions or questions, please feel free to comment on any post.

Mr. mac

Also, if you feel the need to see me talk about stuff, feel free to reach out at any time via school email or through this site.

Finally, check out my Youtube channel: MrMacOnline Drama Teacher

October 2020: Menstrual Equity @ ACCI

September 2020: Orange Shirt Day

September 2020: First Day of School Eve

September 2020: Welcome to Room 103B–the Outdoor Drama Studio!

Summer 2020: MPP Jill Andrew has a special message for YOU!

(Don’t forget to check out Part 2–it’s on the
MrMacOnline Drama Teacher YouTube channel)

June 2020: ACCI is Still There!

Mr. Mac's Challengesmr. Mac's 6th Grade School Supply

Summer 2020: It’s a Fence!

Summer 2020: It’s Finished!

June 2020: Let’s Build a Fence!

May 29, 2020: It’s a REBOOT

May 27, 2020: We’re on the home stretch!

May 12, 2020: Just taking a Walk…and asking three questions

April 21, 2020: Help is out there if you need it.

April 16, 2020: Brrrr, it’s cold today!

April 8, 2013: International Day of Pink (Be kind to YOURSELF).

April 6, 2020: Day One is Done!

April 3, 2020: Get Ready!