{"id":76751,"date":"2021-05-25T17:00:57","date_gmt":"2021-05-25T21:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&p=76751"},"modified":"2025-08-19T09:37:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:37:14","slug":"pride-month-queer-students","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/pride-month-queer-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Pride Month and queer students: Why creatively drawing on virtual community during COVID-19 matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Pride Month and queer students: Why creatively drawing on virtual community during COVID-19 matters\n <\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/path>\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

As academics who are part of a collaborative research team<\/a> focused on the health inequities experienced by 2SLGBTQ+ people, we know that discrimination, mental distress and isolation<\/a> are the everyday reality for many queer people<\/a> internationally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, it amazes us to witness the range of creative strategies deployed by queer communities in Canada<\/a> and globally<\/a> as we strive to maintain connection during this pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Queer people are showing, as famously sung by Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye<\/a> (and by Diana Ross) that \u201cain\u2019t no mountain high enough<\/a>\u201d to keep us from each other. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Approaching Pride Month, we note both the challenges faced by queer students during the pandemic, and reflect on what queer theory and disability justice have to contribute to our awareness of the importance of staying connected for queer students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Challenges for queer students<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have serious potential to adversely affect queer people\u2019s well-being and health<\/a>. A study of how social distancing might affect gay, bisexual, queer, trans and two-spirit men in Canada notes that given that social support from friends, family and partners is a known protective factor against negative mental health outcomes among queer people, \u201csocial distancing may exacerbate negative mental health consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some queer students no longer have access to queer-friendly resources and social networks that the university campus once provided. Many found refuge in academic spaces, like student clubs and research groups and felt relief from newfound independence from family<\/a>. In-person Pride events are also cancelled and events have gone digital<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Data suggests graduate students across Canada are having their mental health affected by the pandemic<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Graduate students who identify as sexual minorities may experience additional stressors associated with gender or sexuality-based and<\/a> intersectional forms of oppression like racism, colonialism<\/a>, sexism<\/a>, classism<\/a> and ableism<\/a>, not to mention unequal effects of the pandemic on Black, racialized<\/a> and low-income communities<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the pandemic\u2019s public health response might mean returning to family environments where being \u201cout\u201d is not possible or safe<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond this, many doctoral students face expectations of prioritizing studies over personal life to be highly competitive in a \u201cpublish or perish\u201d mentality upon entering the academic job market<\/a> \u2014 all despite the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A
\n Some queer students are missing physical venues where where being \u2018out\u2019 is possible and safe. David Von Diemar\/Unsplash)<\/span><\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Chosen families<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Queer people have a history of combating our unique challenges by re-imagining who is responsible for caring for one another. For example, queer people have learned to build and rely on \u201cchosen families<\/a>,\u201d ties composed of members outside of a person\u2019s biological and legal relationships, developed to survive amidst hetero-normative societies. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Queer people often have to \u201ccode switch\u201d \u2014 change how we present ourselves<\/a> and hide parts of our authentic selves \u2014 when sharing space with others in everyday life to pass as straight (or at least, \u201cless gay\u201d), including online socials and family obligations during the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our scholarship draws on queer theory<\/a> to unsettle heterosexuality as a norm, to interrogate and disrupt varied ways we queer people encounter oppression and find ways to build solidarity. Disability justice also teaches us the value of interdependence, reminding us that no-one can make it on their own.<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two
\n Queer people have learned to rely on people in their communities as \u2018chosen families.\u2019 (Shutterstock)<\/span><\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Finding ways of staying connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Queer graduate students are harnessing the potential of digital technologies and finding ways to express themselves, access support networks and retain a sense of belonging<\/a>. Queer people are having to recreate the essence of lost safe physical spaces through virtual means that are unique from the countless Zoom calls and Jackbox Games nights everyone seems to be having.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our own experiences entering the pandemic as queer graduate students, we found support and mentorship from other queer students and faculty members. We have taken inspiration from what disability justice activist and performance artist Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha refers to as \u201ccare webs<\/a>,\u201d in their writing about \u201ca movement that centres the lives and leadership of sick and disabled queer, trans, Black, and brown people, with knowledge and gifts for all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a disability justice perspective, being aware of our interconnections means seeking empowering and grassroots ways to care for each other and form communities<\/a>. We reach out to those who we may not know as well to foster a connection and ensure they are OK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These networks of care are indispensable. With an interdisciplinary team of queer people, we discuss topics related to queer studies and report on progress of our academic work. We send meals to each other, eat virtually together, collaborate on publications and work simultaneously for hours on end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, we challenge the notion of business as usual in academia during the pandemic, for example, by disrupting notions of productivity<\/a>. At the same time, we feel joy for each other\u2019s success, and aim to foster a community of care and space for people to come as their authentic selves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Demonstrators
\n Demonstrators gather to speak in defense of transgender rights in Austin, Texas, May 20, 2021. (AP Photo\/Eric Gay)<\/span><\/span>
\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Queer adaptation to thrive<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re also mindful that some queer people lack access to networks and support relevant to flourishing in their lives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As universities and existing queer networks look ahead at supporting queer students, it is essential that communities of queer people and allies make space for marginalized voices and narratives<\/a> to be a part of discussions about student health and wellness outcomes, support and the pandemic. We need to consider those who may be more affected by systemic risks and inequalities, including those without class privilege, Black and racialized queer people and queer people with chronic health conditions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We believe research from colleagues in our network, like work being done towards increasing health and social service providers\u2019 ability to provide trauma-informed care<\/a> to 2SLGBTQ+ people, can contribute to this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent research about implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTQ communities<\/a> raise a variety of ways queer people are facing precarity in the pandemic in the United States and globally: for example, gay men and transgender individuals are at an increased risk for experiencing violence during the pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Canada, emerging urban planners Benjamin Bongolan and Jc Elijah M. Bawuah
\nnote that the voices of racialized queer youth need to be heard when considering the effects of COVID-19<\/a>, including when considering issues of domestic abuse or overall violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For generations, queer people have demonstrated their adaptability to navigate life outside the status quo, finding and supporting each other. Our creative and queer ways of fostering resiliency<\/a> are not impermeable to discriminatory social conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will continue, to the best of our abilities, this legacy of queer adaptation to thrive amidst adversity. Finding ways to creatively bolster and expand our networks of care has never been as important as it is now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Carleton University is a member of this unique digital journalism platform that launched in June 2017 to boost visibility of Canada\u2019s academic faculty and researchers. Interested in writing a piece? Please contact Steven Reid<\/a> or sign up to become an author<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All photos provided by The Conversation from various sources.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

—
\nCarleton Newsroom<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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As academics who are part of a collaborative research team focused on the health inequities experienced by 2SLGBTQ+ people, we know that discrimination, mental distress and isolation are the everyday reality for many queer people internationally. At the same time, it amazes us to witness the range of creative strategies deployed by queer communities in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":410,"featured_media":76752,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_story_type":[1623],"cu_story_tag":[],"class_list":["post-76751","cu_story","type-cu_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","cu_story_type-expert-perspectives"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":false},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/76751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/cu_story"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/410"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/76751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":76758,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story\/76751\/revisions\/76758"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76752"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_story_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_type?post=76751"},{"taxonomy":"cu_story_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_story_tag?post=76751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}