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June 7, 2024

By  (MSW '24) RSW (they/she), Research Assistant, Faculty of Social Work
Cameron McKenzie, PhD (he/him), Assistant Professor, Faculty of Social Work

As we celebrate Pride Month in 2024, Canada is experiencing a resurgence of the Queer Movement after remaining relatively dormant. The emphasis continues to focus on individual human rights and identity formation, underlying neoliberalist goals of being accepted into mainstream society. While this has increased social equality for some, such as same-sex marriage and parenting rights, many members of the 2SLGBTQ+ community remain marginalized. Significant structural inequalities persist, and we are actively witnessing a regression in Queer and Trans safety and rights – including the recent violent stabbing at the University of Waterloo. Out of necessity, protests against this systemic violence and social exclusion spread across the world and on our own campus. While we continue to face violence and the reversal of our human rights, how can we move beyond Queer Acceptance towards Queer Liberation?

QLT team (left to right): Nick Mulé, Cameron McKenzie, Abbi Longmire

In 2023, the Queer Liberation Theory (QLT) team organized a Queer Activist Symposium where 69 participants, presenters and organizers met over the course of two days. This event was free and included meals, lodging, transportation and presentations by Canadian historians and activists across intersectional movements such as Black Lives Matter Toronto, O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp and more. The event concluded with the opportunity to re-emphasize the importance of liberationist thinking through a presentation on the emerging QLT followed by small and large group discussions.

After sharing the three core values of QLT – anti-assimilationism, political economy and solidarity across movements – these discussions revealed four additional priority areas including (1) access and diversity considerations; (2) decolonizing community and activism; (3) crediting and centring marginalized voices, concepts and history; and (4) practical applications and creating a platform for future generations. A more comprehensive alongside a summary are linked here. The QLT team has presented our findings at conferences across the world and will continue to do so in the coming years.

While only two participants identified as allies with the rest belonging to the 2SLGBTQ+ community, attendance represented diverse racial backgrounds, disabilities, immigration statuses and precarious housing. Gender identification included the option to select multiple pronouns (with 28 per cent doing so), and over half (60 per cent) using they/them pronouns. In addition to six predetermined gender options, eight more were written-in, totaling 14 unique terms. This representation highlights QLT’s call to reject assimilationism and embrace the complexity of our existence. 

Participants at the 2023 Queer Activist Symposium

This is especially important in light of the recent rise of transphobia, including the paradox of corporations and institutions repeatedly welcoming transphobic rhetoric and events while posting performative gestures spouting “love is love” during Pride Month. It is not only Queer and Trans existence that is impacted, but everyone, as social constructions normalize and enforce a hegemonic society attacking the beauty of difference and authentic self-expression.

Our community confronts ongoing oppression that requires collaborative activism. Focusing on the needs of those who are the most marginalized is the best path forward. This approach doesn’t compare levels of oppression and instead emphasizes solidarity. Removing the barriers facing intersectional marginalization creates a better society for all. By listening and following their leadership, we can drive action-oriented liberation. Pride is political, activism needs action, and success requires solidarity.