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UID:20250430T104841EDT-0695Rti2Hj@132.216.98.100
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DESCRIPTION:Expert panel + graduate students networking\n\nHow has the land
 scape changed for 2SLGBTQI+-centered policymaking in Canada?\n\nIn recent 
 years\, advocates\, academics\, and policymakers in Canada have continued 
 to underscore the importance of embedding 2SLGBTQI+ issues into policymaki
 ng to address historic and ongoing systemic barriers faced by community me
 mbers in accessing education\, healthcare\, and legal systems.\n\nMost rec
 ently\, the Government of Canada released its first Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Acti
 on Plan\, earmarking a $100 million budget commitment over five years\, in
 cluding establishing an implementation Secretariat. The Action Plan priori
 tizes supporting 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations\, advancing 2SLGBTQI+ r
 ights\, and engaging the Canadian public.\n\nThis panel seeks to highlight
  diverse perspectives of individuals and organizations working on policy i
 ssues affecting 2SLGBTQI+ communities across Canada. Speakers are invited 
 to reflect on how changes in the policy landscape have created opportuniti
 es\, or posed risks to their work\, and to share their recommendations for
  the way forward in Canada.\n\nAfter the panel\, there will be a space fo
 r attendees and panelists to network and share ideas. All are welcome to s
 tay!\n\nAbout our speakers and their organizations:\n\nCurt Wackett (he/h
 im/his) is Programs & Policy Research Officer at Rainbow Railroad with a v
 ariety of international development\, NGO\, and start-up experience in cit
 ies including Guadalajara\, Kalamata\, Fredericton\, and now in Tkaronto. 
 Curt is humbled to have landed his dream career working in service of a qu
 eer community beyond borders\, advocating for a queer internationalism bui
 lding a network of care for those seeking a new way of life free of persec
 ution. Curt holds a MSc in Local Economic Development from the London Scho
 ol of Economics\, a Master of Global Affairs from the Munk School at the U
 niversity of Toronto\, and a Bachelor of Philosophy with a minor in Politi
 cal Science from the University of New Brunswick where he was also an open
 ly queer two-sport varsity athlete.\n\nRainbow Railroad is a global not-fo
 r-profit organization that helps LGTBQI+ people facing persecution based o
 n their sexual orientation\, gender identity and sex characteristics. In a
  time when there are more displaced people than ever before\, LGBTQI+ peop
 le are uniquely vulnerable due to systemic\, state-enabled homophobia and 
 transphobia. These factors either displace them in their own country or pr
 event them from escaping harm. As a result of Rainbow Railroad\, more LGBT
 QI+ individuals will be able to access lives free from persecution.\n\nJa
 ime Sadgrove (they/them) is a storyteller\, advocate\, and theatre maker b
 ased on the unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg. In their
  role as the Manager of Communications and Advocacy at the Canadian Centre
  for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD)\, Jaime works to elevate the voic
 es and needs of 2SLGBTQI+ youth on a national level. Jaime holds a degree 
 in Communications and Media Studies from Carleton University\, and has exp
 erience in of nonprofit communications\, arts administration\, youth educa
 tion\, and community-driven policy development.\n\nThe Canadian Centre for
  Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) is a national youth-led\, youth-servi
 ng organization dedicated to building a future free from discrimination th
 rough education and advocacy. The CCGSD is headquartered on the unceded\, 
 unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg people in what is col
 onially known as Ottawa\, and its staff live and work across Turtle Island
 . CCGSD's core programming focuses on in-classroom workshops to grow youth
  knowledge on topics like queer history\, comprehensive sexuality educatio
 n\, and intersectionality and diversity. CCGSD also engages in advocacy at
  the local\, provincial\, and federal levels to push for policy that respo
 nds to the needs of 2SLGBTQI+ youth.\n\nChris Karas (he/him) is a frequen
 t keynote speaker and panelist. He is also the present litigant in the fed
 eral case of Christopher Karas v. Canadian Blood Services and Health Canad
 a. He is challenging the MSM\, men who have sex with other men\, blood don
 ation deferral policy at the Canadian Human Rights Commission to change Ca
 nada's blood donation policy. He challenged the policy when he was barred 
 from donating lifesaving blood at a local blood donation clinic. The feder
 al legal challenge was accepted September 3rd 2016 and could result in sig
 nificant public policy. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to end the pol
 icy in 2015. Principal at Karas Legal Services P.C.\, Christopher Karas\, 
 is a litigant in some high profile cases\, a licensed Paralegal of the Law
  Society of Upper Canada and mediator. He mainly focuses on provincial and
  federal Human Rights matters.\n
DTSTART:20230118T190000Z
DTEND:20230118T213000Z
LOCATION:Thomson House\, CA\, QC\, Montreal\, H3A 1Y2\, 3650 rue McTavish
SUMMARY:Power\, Policy & Queerness: Panel & Networking
URL:/maxbellschool/channels/event/power-policy-queerne
 ss-panel-networking-344272
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