In Our Gaybourhood

BC schools didn't used to be the most inclusive spaces. But how do you change the system? Do you start with the teachers, the classrooms, or the policies?
JC Fung talks to Matt Carruthers, Brad Beattie, and Scout Gray on how the SOGI 1 2 3 initiative shaped a movement.

Guests:

• Matt Carruthers: lifelong educator and former BC SOGI Education Lead
• Brad Beattie: POP the People Agency founder and former ARC Foundation Executive Director
• Scout Gray: 2SLGBTQIA+ advocate and SOGI 1 2 3 National Program Director

References:

• Canadian Mining Hall of Fame: 2022 Inductee Robert Quartermain
• BC Gov News: B.C. Human Rights Code to include explicit protection for gender identity, expression
• BC Gov News: School anti-bullying policies enhanced to support and respect diversity
• Langley Advance Times: Langley mom takes inclusion movement B.C.-wide
• Egale Canada: Every Class in Every School
• Egale Canada: Still in Every Class In Every School
• BC Gov News: Minister’s, K-12 education partners’ statement on support for SOGI

Some organizations mentioned:

• BC Ministry of Education
• BC Teachers' Federation
• Défi sportif AlterGo
• Delta School District
• OneAbility
• Out for Kicks
• Out In Schools
• Pride Education Network
• Society of Christian Schools in British Columbia

Credits:

• Sound and recording: SJ Kirsch
• Logo: Cheryl Hamilton
• Storytelling advice: lisa g, Yasmeen Nematt Alla, and SJ Kirsch
• Production, writing, and editing: JC Fung

Share In Our Gaybourhood with your community.
Check Instagram for updates @inourgaybourhood
Reach out to us at [email protected]

Every student deserves to be safe. And when we feel safe, we can grow and succeed. Romi Chandra-Herbert wanted to help his high school peers find that safety, so he started the first GSA in British Columbia (...and maybe in Canada?)
Romi is a lifelong activist and an advocate for queer folks, for immigrants, and for human rights issues worldwide. He has worked with groups like Qmunity, North Shore Multicultural Society (now Impact North Shore), Vancouver Coastal Health, PeerNetBC, and Justice Institute BC. Listen as he shares his story with us.

Content warning: This episode contains brief mentions of homophobic (at 4:11 and 12:53) and transphobic slurs (at 4:13), and suicide (at 17:31).

References:

• Romi Chandra-Herbert and Hélène Frohard-Dourlent: "So You Wanna Start a GSA?," CALL OUT
• Anya Ventura: "The Radical History of the First Gay-Straight Alliance," The Nation
• Rhamona Vos-Browning: "Beyond Oppression: Opening the Door to Lesbian, Gay, Transgender & Bisexual Youth," Youthquest
• CBC Vancouver News: "LGBTQ advocate reflects on his experience being gay in high school in the 1990s," CBC
• "History of the BCTF," BC Teachers' Federation

Organizations mentioned:

• AIDS Vancouver (now Ribbon Community)
• BC Teachers' Federation
• BC School District 43 (Coquitlam)
• GALE BC (now Pride Education Network)
• Youthquest

Credits:

• Sound and recording: SJ Kirsch
• Logo: Cheryl Hamilton
• Storytelling advice: lisa g, Yasmeen Nematt Alla, and Skipper
• Production, writing, and editing: JC Fung

Share In Our Gaybourhood with your community.
Check Instagram for updates @inourgaybourhood
Reach out to us at [email protected]

As part of the Queer Arts Festival, In Our Gaybourhood is an oral history journey through the communities of so-called British Columbia, meeting our neighbours who work towards a world where everyone can be proud of who they are.
Hosted by JC Fung, In Our Gaybourhood premieres online on June 14.

Credits:

• Sound and recording: SJ Kirsch
• Logo: Cheryl Hamilton
• Production, writing, and editing: JC Fung

Share In Our Gaybourhood with your community.
Check Instagram for updates @inourgaybourhood
Reach out to us at [email protected]