Summer Open House/ Social

Where: The centre for Women and Trans People at UofT

563 Spadina Avenue

Room 100

North Borden Building

Wheelchair accessible throught back entrance (Bancroft ave)

When: June 15th 6:30-8:30pm

Come out and join us for the centre's summer open house and socail.

Do you have burning new ideas and suggestions for summer programing that you would like to see happen at the centre? Yay, cause we want to hear them!

Along with discussions and brainstorming:

-We will be giving a quick orientation to those unfamiliar with the centre space

-We will also be conituing to scarpbook centre memeoires and photos.

This your opportunity to share, mingle, make new friends, eat, brainstorm ideas, and make art!

JOIN US!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=218936851466980

You are a Racist!!!!!

Have you ever been in a conversation in which someone makes a racist remark, or is being discriminatory? I'm sure we all have time on to time. How do we handle these situations or conversations? Do we outright call a person out and tell them blatantly that they are being racist? Do we ignore and continue or shut down the conversation? Do we or how do we express concern with discriminatory remarks or actions?

NAME CHANGE: “What’s AWWOC without the T/2S?”

In response to Aboriginal Women and Women of colour group (AWWOC) participation in Trans week of Remembrance (Centre for Women and Trans People at UofT) we have officially changed our name to Let’s Unite Our Way. Let’s Unite Our Way organized a discussion on Monday November 16^th around making the space more inclusive to Trans, Two spirited, Intersex and gender non-conforming people of colour. This event was very successfully in furthering the growth and development of Let’s Unite Our Way towards one that is anti-oppressive. We would like to offer our sincere gratitude to Mandii MonHo Nanticoke for facilitating this discussion and making this event possible.

Let’s unite in our struggle....... Let’s Unite Our Way.......

TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

The Centre for Women and Trans People will commemorate this year’s Trans Day of Remembrance by offering a full Trans Week of Remembrance for Two Spirit, Intersex, and Trans people, and all who have been impacted by anti-trans violence and discrimination. A week is not enough – together let’s continue to actively resist violence and celebrate trans lives always. The Centre is honoured to be part of this work and hopes everyone has a chance to create a space for the remembrance of community members hurt or lost, and to collect and share in our own personal reflections.  

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 16

ABORIGINAL WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOUR GROUP: “What’s AWWOC without the T/2S?”  COMMUNITY discussion & POTLUCK

TIME: 4-6pm

LOCATION: The Centre for Women and Trans People UT

DESCRIPTION:

Participate in a facilitatated discussion by Mandy Longhouse Cayuga looking at how to build a more Two Spirit/trans inclusive group. We are hoping to begin examining AWWOC as the name of the group (how can it signify a trans inclusive space?) We feel asking the question “What is AWWOC without the T/2S?” is an important starting point in the growth and development of AWWOC furthering anti-oppression. Potluck event. Bring a dish or just bring yourself. All welcome. Allies welcome.

CONTACT INFO: Events may expand and details may change. Feel free to contact The Centre for full details, updates or accessibility needs. THE CENTRE FOR WOMEN AND TRANS PEOPLE UT 563 Spadina Ave. womenscentre.sa.utoronto.ca womens.centre@utoronto.ca     416-978-8201

SHADEISM

http"//vimeo.com/16210769

This link will lead you to a very powerful documentary about the issue of shadeism.  Shadeism, in this video, describes the discrimination between light and dark skinned women in the same community.

Have you ever experienced Shadeism?

TAKE BACK THE NIGHT

A few weeks ago a few members of AWWOC had the pleasure of meeting up for Take Back The Night in Toronto, a march where women literally and figuratively take back the night.  This march is to end sexual violence against women; I went to support survivors of domestic and dating violence. To me taking back the night was about turning something disempowering into something empowering.  I loved that they gave out whistles, something that in any other setting would be considered a rape whistle, and we used it as a tool for breaking the silence around sexual violence. I've heard a disturbing amount of news reports about men assaulting a women where they demonize the women for dressing a certain way, walking around alone in a bad area or walking around at night. No woman ever asks to be raped, even if she's walking around late at night in a short skirt through a dark alley it still isn't in any way her fault. Sexualized violence needs to stop.

These are some of my favourite chants from TBTN! 

Hey Ho, Hey Ho, Patriarchy Has Got To Go!

Women Unite Take Back The Night – STOP RAPE NOW

Hey Mister Mister Keep Your Hands Off My Sister!!

They Say Stay Home We Say FUCK YOU!

It was really nice to feel a sense of unity and sisterhood with other women in Toronto. The best part of the night was after the march when everyone was in Dundas Square they put "I'm Every Woman" on and it was a giant dance party!  Take Back the Night is a national event go to: http://www.takebackthenight.org/  to find out about events near you!