Strong Day of Pink turnout supports 2SLGBTQ+ community members

This year, Positive Space welcomed over 100 community members to their Day of Pink celebration in the Student Learning Centre on April 12. This represents a massive increase in community turnout and the largest Day of Pink celebration to date, including pre-COVID celebrations. The event was co-organized with the Careers, Co-op & Student Success Centre.

TMU community members wore pink and listened to Day of Pink event speakers in the Student Learning Centre amphitheatre. This annual event brings people together in solidarity against homophobic and transphobic bullying, and to celebrate equity, diversity and inclusion.

Positive Space Network co-chairs Dan Cantiller (second from left) and Michael Turco (right), and Day of Pink event MCs, Annabelle De Jesus and Ryan Kerr, together following the event.

Tamara Sylvester (partnership and resolutions officer, TMU Human Rights Services) offers remarks about the necessity of creating equitable and inclusive spaces on campus and the supports that Human Rights Services provides to the community.

Jennifer Simpson (special advisor to the president, equity, diversity inclusion and decolonization (curriculum transformation)) quoted Gloria Anzaldúa's book Borderlands/La Frontera, highlighting the radical act of being ‘excruciatingly alive.’

Nika Zolfaghari (manager, equity and community inclusion, Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science) discussed the transformation of her office within FEAS, a bottom-up approach to having an equity office within the Faculty to supplement the support of the OVPECI, and the model for inclusive outreach and support to equity-deserving groups within engineering.