S2E4: Transgender Inclusion, Uplifting LGBTQ+ Voices, and Building Bridges between Communities with James Demers

James Demers (He/Him) has worked as a professional facilitator and LGBTQ diversity educator for 9 years and as a community builder for 14 years. Working across a variety of sectors in Treaty 7 Territory (Mo'kinsis) and around the world. He is also a trans activist, athlete, bunny dad, performer, public speaker, and lucky drag producer with Fake Mustache. He has committed his life and career to uplifting LGBTQ voices and building bridges of understanding between all of us. 

Local Resources for Education and Support Services

• Queer Education Foundation  https://www.qefoundation.com/
• Skipping Stone Foundation  https://www.skippingstone.ca/
• Centre for Newcomers/ Rainbow RailRoad  https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/
• AROC - Anti-Racist Organizational Change Project/ Resources -  http://communitywise.net/aroc/
• Calgary Queer Arts Society - https://www.calgaryqueerartssociety.com/
• Rainbow Elders -  http://rainbowelderscalgary.ca/
• Calgary Pride -  https://www.calgarypride.ca/
• Calgary Outlink - https://www.calgaryoutlink.ca/
• HIV Community Link - https://hivcl.org/
• 519 Community Services Toronto -  https://www.the519.org/education-training/training-resources/our-resources

Indigiqueer and Two Spirit Education/ Speakers

• Joshua Whitehead (he/him)  https://www.joshuawhitehead.ca/
• Mòkinàn Consulting - Gabriel Castilloux https://www.mokinanconsulting.com/
• Dr. James Makokis http://speakerscanada.com/james-makokis/

Further Education and Media Recommendations Podcasts

• Making Gay History https://makinggayhistory.com/
• Queer As Fact https://www.queerasfact.com/
• Nancy https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/nancy
• AfroQueer Podcast https://afroqueerpodcast.com/
• Native Calgarian Podcast https://www.nativecalgarian.com/
• The Secret Life of Canada https://www.cbc.ca/radio/secretlifeofcanada
• The Unlearning Channel https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-unlearning-channel

Books - Can be found on www.goodreads.com

• Stonewall: The Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution by David Carter
• And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts
• Transgender History by Susan Stryker
• Our Past Matters: Stories of Gay Calgary by Kevin Allen
• I’m Afraid of Men by Vivek Shraya- local U of C Professor and artist
• So You Want to Talk About Race- by Ijeoma Oluo
• Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad
• The Skin We're In: A Year of Black Resistance and Power by Desmond Cole
• How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi