Vincent
Vincent talks about negotiating a trans identity while growing up in northern Ontario – there was bullying and othering, depression and internalized transphobia and all the earmarks of discrimination from his Catholic school and peer group – but wait till he reveals to his traditional Italian Nona the real secret he’d been hiding… Vincent is now a trans activist and most recently has worked with the Police Service in Sudbury to produce a video on ways for the RCMP to support the trans folks they interact with. You can see their video here: Creating Awareness and Understanding of the Transgender Community
Vincent’s story is one of a series of stories collected at the Moving Trans History Forward Conference in 2014 (MTHF), put on by the Transgender Archives at the University of Victoria in March of 2016. The MTHF conference provided onmyplanet.ca with a space to record stories on site during the conferences of 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Graham
Graham is a professional dancer and choreographer. He is a principal dancer in national and international works. Here he talks about growing up in a small western Canadian city, his relationship with his mom and his experiences as a gay man in the world of dance. Graham is currently the Head of Contemporary Dance at the Alberta School of Ballet.
Graham’s story is one in a series of videos recorded in conjunction with Out Saskatoon, in 2014. Heart felt thanks to the sponsors of this series: media-net.bc.ca in Victoria, BC and Out Saskatoon in Saskatoon, SK. Special thanks to Liz Senecal at Out Saskatoon.
Wes
Wes’s Story was recorded in November of 2014 in Saskatoon SK. at the Avenue Community Centre (Now OUT Saskatoon). It was with great sadness that I learned that Wes passed away on October 10th, 2015 in Edmonton, AB. Wes was a perpetually cheerful, glass half full (especially in a Star Trek outfit) kind of guy. He consistently produced his own writing (author of four books and a book of poetry), promoted fellow Saskatchewan Writers and literature through his Shaw Cable show ‘Lit Happens‘, and taught workshops on self-publishing and promotion. Wes will be sorely missed. Wes always found the good in people and situations, and never apologized for who he was or how flaming a creature he truly was. Rock on Wes.
Wes’s story is one in a series of videos that were recorded at OUT Saskatoon, in November of 2014. Heart felt thanks goes to the sponsors of this series: media-net.bc.ca in Victoria, BC and www.outsaskatoon.ca in Saskatoon, SK. Special thanks to Liz Senecal at OUT Saskatoon.
Bradley
Originally from Australia, Bradley’s been living like a true Canadian in Winnipeg for more than 20 years. Bradley went through the ringer trying to deny his sexual orientation at first and now he delivers some great advice for those who are just coming out.
Did you miss us? onmyplanet.ca is back after a 6 month hiatus with lots more stories and more issues of Lesbian News circa 1990s! Stay tuned, we have a number of stories coming up from World Pride in Toronto last year and a handful from Saskatoon SK.
Bradley’s story is one in a series recorded at World Pride in Toronto, Ontario in 2014. Heart felt thanks go to the sponsors of this series: www.medianetvictoria.org in Victoria, BC, www.trinitysquarevideo.com in Toronto and the Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies – Lynch History Grant. Special thanks to Milada Kovacova at Trinity.
Francisco
Francisco, an artist and activist, talks about how his gravitation towards the arts made for a relatively easy coming out process. Francisco has been involved in many LGBTQI initiatives in Toronto, he was a founding member of the Inside/Out Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, is a founding member of Nuit Rose, is on the advisory committee for Nuit Blanche and is currently on the board of Toronto Pride, organizers of World Pride 2014.
Francisco’s story is one in a series recorded at World Pride in Toronto, Ontario in 2014. Heart felt thanks go to the sponsors of this series: Media Net in Victoria, BC and Trinity Square Video in Toronto and The Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies, Lynch History Grant. Special thanks to Milada Kovacova at Trinity.
Peggy
Peggy talks about leaving the convent in Ireland to come to Canada and her life adventures once she got here. Please take a moment to watch Peggy’s story.
Peggy’s story is one of a series from the Victoria Lesbian Senior Care Society (VLSCS) Coffee Talk group, shot with the generous sponsorship of VLSCS and an anonymous donor. The purpose of the VLSCS is to support lesbian health and social needs as we age by providing safe, accessible, welcoming spaces to build community through public education and social action. www.VLSCS.ca
Shara Layne
Shara Layne talks about the realities and her fears of coming out in a Catholic high school.
Shara Layne’s story video is part of a series of videos from Whitehorse, YT that were facilitated by the Yukon Queer Film Alliance with the generous support of Arts Fund Yukon. YQFA is responsible for OUT North, the first queer film festival north of 60.
Some of the news stories that covered the situation that Shara was involved in at Vanier high school:
CBC News March 6th 2013
Yukon News March 6th, 2013
DailyXtra.com March 17, 2013