Simply Beyond

Hey, Cis; Hey, who?

Cis = latin preface for 'on the same side as.

Cisgender is someone whose gender identity aligns with their sex as assigned at birth.

Cisgender is someone who has the ability to make the world safer, brighter and more inclusive for trans people young and old. Cisgender is someone who needs to be an intentional part of the conversation -- so let's talk.

​

The International Transgender Day of Visibility takes place every year on March 31st and we are celebrating!

This is the 12th annual TDoV and it was founded by US-based transgender activist Rachel Crandall in 2009 as a way to have a special day designated to celebrate the transgender community.

Today we hear from people, young and old, from around the country on what TDoV means to them. Isaac shares what TDoV means to them, as trans and non-binary person living in Nova Scotia and Cynthia shares a little about why this day is significant to her as a cis, white woman and parent of a trans child.

We talk about ways you can take part in your own spaces and help raise awareness, learn and engage in intentional allyship.

Celebrate with us and tune-in to this extra special episode of Hey, Cis!

Celebrate with Music and Film #TDOV2021​

• One event featuring musicians is through Transgender Health and Wellness Center. While it's sold out, they've great info on their page. Check out Ryan Cassata's video below, Skylar Kergil, Niko Storment or 
• Tune-in to OUTLOUD Queer Music. We featured Kenney Fitzpatrick and OUTLOUD in S1: Ep #5: For every Ariana Grande find yourself a Kim Petras Podcast
• https://www.qreview.ca/podcast.html
• Cowboys is a 2020 movie: 'Cowboys explores emotionally charged themes with a steady hand, highlighting the humanity of its characters in a story of fraught family dynamics and gender identity.'

Celebrate with Art and Downloads #TDOV2021

• These downloads are AWESOME! Click the photo above to connect with these great educational downloads to share and post with pride
• Hands-On Weekly Crafting Circle is on Mar. 31st via Simon Frazer Student Society

#TDOV2021 #TD0V #transvisibility #lgbtq #transgender #transhealth #inclusionmatters 

Hey, Cis! is a beyond binary conversation in being a better human.

 We are about current affairs and gender-based issues affecting trans and non-binary youth, students and adults within our Maritime community.

We take on difficult topics; (and this week it is a difficult topic), breaking us out of the binary, smashing stigma and fostering greater connection between our cisgender community and trans, gender creative and non-binary community. 

Thanks for your support:

Hey, Cis! is a volunteer podcast and we'd love your support in producing sustainably high-calibre content. Consider supporting with a ko-fi - it's easy and every sip counts.

Produced and edited in-house.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm 

Hey, Cis; Hey, who?

Cis = latin preface for 'on the same side as.

Cisgender is someone whose gender identity aligns with their sex as assigned at birth.

Cisgender is someone who has the ability to make the world safer, brighter and more inclusive for trans people young and old. Cisgender is someone who needs to be an intentional part of the conversation -- so let's talk.

Kastin Bradley is creating safe space for the queer community to explore their vocal chords, their voices and form a new connection with their voice. And it's happening at Trans-formative Voices starting now.

"If they're feeling any dysphoria from it; if they're doing hormone replacement therapy and their voice is affected or not affected," Kastin tells Hey, Cis! how this new program provides a safe space to learn how to take care of your voice.

Did you know, there are healthy ways to change the way you communicate... and non-healthy ways?  

​

It's not all about tone and pitch -- there is cadence and even sentence structure. 

Did I go up at the end of that sentence? What does that say about who I am?...

This week we're joined by Kastin Bradley, a music therapist at Find Your Voice Music Therapy.  Together with Isaac, who holds a degree in linguistics, and Cynthia... who just likes to talk,

we break down some of the binary standards around the way we're "air quote"... "supposed to communicate"... "un-air quote".

​

Kastin uses they/she pronouns and identifies as non-binary. 

Born in PEI, they went to Acadia university where they studied Music Therapy. They're now living in Halifax and loving it.

​

So what is music therapy all about?

​

Kastin describes it as the use of music and elements of music in order to attain non-musical goals. In this instance, music therapy is used to help you learn how to communicate more efficiently, or rewire your brain around memory and communication. It's a non-traditional therapy.

​

'It can be really challenging to talk about what you're feeling...but it can be really less threatening to be handed a drum,' laughs Kastin as they describe their non-threatening and accessible approach to curated music therapy.

'Our voice is a very individualized aspect of ourselves. It portrays who you are, it can inflect mood and communication...I'm really excited about my program to start,' says Bradley, referring to Trans-formative Voices, a virtual program launching this month, supporting trans and non-binary people in a gender affirming way.

What does Trans-Formative Voices involve?

• virtual bi-weekly 1 hour meeting
• vocal warm-ups
• breathing exercises
• throat help
• how to care for your voice to avoid damage
• finding comfort range around vocals and more...

Cis-sexism is the idea everyone is cisgender and/or the idea that everyone wants to be cisgender or that being cisgender is better than any other way of 'being'.

'Not everybody wants to be male or female and there's so much room in between to find a comfort zone,' shares Kastin. That comfort zone can be how you find comfort in how you talk.

'I just really want to strive to provide a space and the resources for everyone to explore themselves, to explore their voice, to find what feels comfortable for them to not feel like they have to fit into any certain box,' says Kastin.

Hey, Cis! is a beyond binary conversation in being a better human.

We are about current affairs and gender-based issues affecting trans and non-binary youth, students and adults within our Maritime community.

We take on difficult topics; (and this week it is a difficult topic), breaking us out of the binary, smashing stigma and fostering greater connection between our cisgender community and trans, gender creative and non-binary community.

#mentalhealth #musictherapy #lgbtq #transgender #transhealth #inclusionmatters

Produced and edited in-house.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm 

Hey, Cis; Hey, who?

Cis = latin preface for 'on the same side as.

Cisgender is someone whose gender identity aligns with their sex as assigned at birth.

Cisgender is someone who has the ability to make the world safer, brighter and more inclusive for trans people young and old. Cisgender is someone who needs to be an intentional part of the conversation -- so let's talk.

'Your story isn't black enough,' recalls DeShanna Neal, as she was told by publishers that her child's story needed more discourse. 

​Intersections of being a child, transgender and autistic come together in a beautifully written storybook by mother and daughter duo, DeShanna Neal and Trinity Neal.

'All of these different things, all of these parts of her make her a masterpiece of a human being. And intersectionality is so vastly important. Sometimes we just focus on gender identity and forget there is a whole person in there.' 

In their home, she explains they use gaming terms. So when she knew her daughter is trans, in her mind, her daughter simply levelled up some more!

'I wanted people to see her blackness as something that was so beautiful. The only time you hear about black trans femmes and girls and women, was usually after they died...we are more than our deaths,' shares DeShanna.

My Rainbow is a newly published children's book about a transgender girl named Trinity who was struggling with growing her hair and a family who listened with their heart. This intersectional story introduces the world to Trinity, a young black girl with autism who knows who she is and shines her story out to the world. 

My Rainbow is a featured book in Simply Good Form's 2021 Inclusive School Reads Nova Scotia event. Part 1 of 4 conversations with DeShanna Neal as we talk about trans youth inclusion, gender identity and breaking down stigma.

In Part 1 of Cynthia's conversation with DeShanna, the mother of 4 children shares about the intersections of raising a beautiful black, transgender child with autism and the importance of giving space to children, to really hear them. And listening with your heart.

Check out our Blog post from this episode and see some fun picts of Trinity and their mom!

Produced and edited in-house.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm 

Hey, Cis; Hey, who?

Cis = latin preface for 'on the same side as.

Cisgender is someone whose gender identity aligns with their sex as assigned at birth.

Cisgender is someone who has the ability to make the world safer, brighter and more inclusive for trans people young and old. Cisgender is someone who needs to be an intentional part of the conversation -- so let's talk.

"Human rights don't start at 18. They start at birth." 

Barry Bedford, former school principal, parent, Pflag educator and fierce ally.

"Policies on paper aren't actually worth the paper they're being printed on, if they're not being enforced."

Barry Bedford says the school board and teachers have a primary role in educating and creating safe inclusive spaces.  Schools have children more than their families do. He says it's not ok to lump LGBTQ+ education into bullying and anti-bullying.

Call it what it is - it is transphobia; it is homophobia.  Barry says, if we don't call it what it is, it's hypocritical at best.  

"We have the trans flag up 12 months of the year at my school.  We have the PRIDE flag up 12 months of the year at my school," says Barry, school Principal and Pflag Canada educator and volunteer.

From forms that don't work, to safe spaces that really aren't so safe, this week's podcast breaks down what it means to be an ally.  And what it means to NOT be one.  We talk about COVID and the effects of online schooling in Ontario for youth who are forced back into the closet while on lockdown.

The marginalization is real. And time is up for educators wanting to bury their heads in the sand, while putting a pride flag on their desk but refusing to be a safe space for their gender diverse or sexually diverse students.

On Barry's watch, he's got your back and takes allyship to a real level and offers up some great advice to Hey, Cis! on how you can be a better human.  

If you listen to any episode this season -- 

This.  Is.  The.  Episode.

Ally is a verb - not a noun. 

Produced and edited in-house.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm 

Hey, Cis; Hey, who?

Cis = latin preface for 'on the same side as.

Cisgender is someone whose gender identity aligns with their sex as assigned at birth.

Cisgender is someone who has the ability to make the world safer, brighter and more inclusive for trans people young and old. Cisgender is someone who needs to be an intentional part of the conversation -- so let's talk.

​

'I saw that video and although I've never been beaten like that... I could certainly relate to what that child was experiencing, in some way. 

And my questions are really about:

• What is happening there?
• Where was the staff? 
• Why are these kids cheering them on?"

This Podcast we are joined by the President of Pflag Vancouver, Colin McKenna

As a 13-year-old, Colin was kicked in the back in a homophobic assault in B.C. while at a phone booth on a call to his mother.  In 2020, Cynthia removed her 13-year-old from their public Jr. High School in Nova Scotia because of transphobia. 

This. story. is. not. new.

It is happening across Canada. And many of these hate crimes go unreported.

This month a 13-year-old, Grade 8 student experienced a vicious assault on Jan. 11th in British Columbia. 

The scene is too familiar:

A person lies on the ground covering their face; tucking in their head; while being physically assaulted. A circle of bystanders gather around mocking and videoing. A bet was shouted out by a bystander on where she would be kicked next. 

Nobody intervened.

'That playground situation was painful in so many ways...Nobody wants to see 13-year-olds being arrested. But if they're assaulting other people, that's the consequence,' says McKenna.

It is a conversation deserving of everybody's attention; especially cisgender folks across Canada.

The first response by the Mission Schools Super Intendant was that it could have been Covid-instigated, when it was transphobic bullying. And not bullying - it was a full on assault.

The story also remained provincial - meaning many Canadians aren't aware this even happened - or does happen, in our Canadian schools. CBC didn't air the story until a rally took place in an action of solidarity to support the young girl, four days after the attack.

Be the change:

We asked Colin what can Cisgender parents and caregivers do.

• Those parents can be the ones who explain to the kids what it means to be LGBTQ;
• Explain to your children the fact that beating someone up for being differently is inherently wrong;
• Call out the bigotry you hear.  'If you're in a parents group and you hear somebody say something about gay, trans, coloured people; call it out and be the person who really owns that. Squash it.'

Hey, Cis! is a beyond binary conversation in being a better human.

We are about current affairs and gender-based issues affecting trans and non-binary youth, students and adults within our Maritime community.

We take on difficult topics; (and this week it is a difficult topic), breaking us out of the binary, smashing stigma and fostering greater connection between our cisgender community and trans, gender creative and non-binary community.

Produced and edited in-house.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm 

Produced and edited in-house.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm 

Hey, Cis; Hey, who?

Cis = latin preface for 'on the same side as.

Cisgender is someone whose gender identity aligns with their sex as assigned at birth.

Cisgender is someone who has the ability to make the world safer, brighter and more inclusive for trans people young and old. Cisgender is someone who needs to be an intentional part of the conversation -- so let's talk.

'I think a lot of entomologists kind of identify with the minority
or side of diversity of people. 

People don't understand you...right...so we have to help you understand us in order to appreciate it in the diversity that exists,' says Aaron Fairweather, PhD Entomologist, University of Guelph

As an openly trans scientist, it's not all about the food... but when it comes to diversity, University of Guelph is multi-faceted.

(University of Guelph is rated #1 in Canada for having the best university food engulfing student stomaches.)

During our conversation, Aaron shares their account of 'coming out' throughout their journey undertaking multiple degrees at U of G. 

And Twitter played a positive bridge at one point of the journey. 
​
​'It happened that my advisor was paying attention to the hashtag,' and said, I'm not going to share this but I saw this and I'm here for you to talk to me. I'm here for you to be yourself; if you have a name change or you want your new pronouns used on my website, I'm here for you.'  

Aaron says this was their biggest mentorship moment that helped them feel like it's just going to be OK.

Aaron (they/them) is completing their PhD and studying at University of Guelph in Ontario.
They are currently working in environmental sciences studying ants in agriculture and how ants interact with crops in Ontario.

Let's ponder that a moment...

Specifically, their current field of study involves looking at the diversity and ecology of these ants with a perspective on ecotoxicology and how pesticides interacting with the species is impacting what we grow and eat. Like bees... and just as impactful.
​
They say there are around approximately 27 species of ants associated with 37 crops in Ontario.

Aaron's journey with sciences has been a long one that began when they were about the age of 2-years-old and fascinated with caterpillars; raising them, documenting them and cataloguing them while watching them turn into butterflies.

It was a book written by Author and Professor Steven Marshall that inspired their journey to University of Guelph.

In our conversation, Isaac brings up how the smallest species can be often be overlooked, yet they're so important; for food and agriculture. Of course we had to parallel the life of ants and small species with the way marginalized communities experience being invisible.
Is it possible we can take a lesson in nature on the value of diversity?
Aaron recalls hearing remarks from others like, 'You're working with this gross thing' or 'You're gross for with working this gross thing...'. As an entomologist, they say, they can identify with this. It resonates.

'Minority... the side of diversity of people... people don't understand you, so we have to help people understand us and the diversity that exists.'

'The University of Guelph has supported that quite a bit, specifically the environmental sciences Department,' regarding new hires, grant and support chains and the BIPOC community.  They say many conferences they have attended has had gender neutral washrooms, women in STEM and other aspects of inclusion that they haven't seen at other conferences outside the insect world.

'I found Guelph to be one of the most inclusive spaces of all (universities and places)...I've travelled to,' reflects Aaron.  '

Challenges faced as a trans scientist?

The biggest challenge, Aaron says, is the lack of effort on some faculty around supporting events, helping with the use of correct pronouns at conferences. 

They suggest faculty could do better at helping to correct when someone mispronouns someone, ensuring pronouns are added to name tags, etc.

The onus has to fall on the faculty and staff to help push for change. 'Those who are making the push

for inclusion and diversity, generally tend to be those who have a vested interest,' says Cynthia referring to profs who are already teaching courses like Gender Studies, Women's Studies, Human Rights.  

But it has to be consistent across all departments. Advocating has to go beyond those within the LGBTQ2+ community.

Advice from the field:

• Find someone who will champion you and speak up on diversity. Someone who will have your back around pronouns. They can be an amazing role model for other cis people to take on more of leadership role around diversity inclusion.
• Biology is complex and goes way way beyond two simplified gender binary boxes. Aaron was part of compiling comprehensive literature based on scientific studies exactly on this topic.​​  There is this huge body of scientific literature that supports gender diversity and ​'there are so many facets to biological sex and gender...really blocking people into these blocks,' they say is outdated and unnecessary, aside from being false information.  

• Spotlight on Aaron Fairweather:

• Fave Food: Sushi!​
• Fave Read: The Fire Ants, Walter Tschinkel and How to Understand your Gender; A Practical Guide for Exploring Who You Are by Alex Iantaffi and Meg-John Barker. And it's a Workbook!
• Cats of Dogs? expanded for all animals: Lethocerus Americanus, a.k.a. Giant Electric Water Bug. This is largest insect found in North America found commonly in ponds. 'It's my most nostaligic feeling of like my introduction to biology...as a kid."
• Follow Aaron here: @insectaaron on Twitter

Produced and edited in-house.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm 

Produced and edited in-house.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm 

Produced and edited in-house.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm 

Produced and edited in-house.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simply-good-form/ 

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/SimplyGoodForm