Support for LGBT2S students

The first few weeks at Fanshawe are focused on making students feel welcome to campus and ensuring everybody feels like a part of the Fanshawe community. LGBT2S — lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and two-spirited — students may feel especially anxious about coming to a new school in a new city, and may not be sure where to go for help in tough times.

Laurel Catton, a counsellor in Fanshawe's Counselling and Accessibility Services, said she sees the college as being very welcoming to LGBT2S students. "We're quite proud of the inclusiveness and the respect. We value all of our students. I think absolutely it is one of the most welcoming colleges for students from all walks of life." She said the College strives to create and maintain a variety of services, programs and clubs that make Fanshawe a welcoming environment to students.

Candice Lawrence, a Fanshawe counsellor who is currently on sabbatical, began working at the College in the 1980s. She remembered waiting for her first year at Fanshawe to end, then coming out to her colleagues, who were very supportive. "It's pretty risky, coming out in the '80s in your place of employment and I just got hired," she chuckled. "The environment and culture in all schools was very, very dangerous."

Today is a completely different story, Lawrence said. "I'm finding generally that for the most part, the student body and the age group that's coming now is way more open ... There's a lot less judgementalism."

"Fanshawe should be a very positive place for our students and they should know that they can bring all issues here," added Zack Dodge, President of the Fanshawe Student Union. "Just because we're an academic environment doesn't just mean you can (only) bring your school problems here ... We want students to feel comfortable with bringing their variety of life issues to the FSU and to Fanshawe because we have the services to aid them along their way."

He said he and his executive council want students to feel like Fanshawe is a welcoming and comfortable environment that supports diversity. "If we're not helping students, we're doing it wrong. We need to be open to all communities of all shapes and sizes." If you have feedback for the FSU, bring it to Dodge or VP Internal, Tory Holmes. "Our students' wellbeing and success here is our number- one priority."

Making Fanshawe a welcoming environment is even written into the College's policies. Catton said Fanshawe's Respectful College Community Policy and the Safe College Campus Policy in particular "really (show) Fanshawe's commitment to an inclusive environment where all students are respected and it's really taken seriously ... It's policy that we've created and that stand by very firmly that dictates that all students — regardless of who they are, where they're from, anything like that — are entitled to be treated respectfully and welcomed into the college community. It's aimed at inclusiveness."

The policies are there to protect students, and if you're being bullied on (or off) campus, come to Counselling, Catton said. They provide support for people dealing with emotional trauma, whether they're victims of or witnesses to bullying. If the bullying is occurring on campus, Counselling staff may put the student in touch with the ombudsperson to take action against bullies. "The ombudsperson basically looks out for the rights of all students and can certainly talk to that student about his or her rights, whether policies like Safe Campus were being violated and what sort of recourse or what kind of actions could be taken to ensure that the bullying stops."

Counselling and Accessibility offers scheduled appointments and same-day emergency appointments at no cost. Counselling sessions are confidential, and every member of the Counselling staff is an LGBT2S ally trained through the Positive Space initiative.

Positive Space is not an official College committee, said Lawrence, who founded the group after being inspired by Western University's "great" open LGBT2S network. The group trains Fanshawe College staff to be allies to the LGBT2S community, and they aim to raise awareness and sensitivity on campus.

"An ally is somebody who makes it clear that they are welcoming all people, regardless of gender identity, in this case. An ally is somebody who challenges their own heterosexism," explained Lawrence. She estimated that over 200 members of the college faculty and staff have been trained to be Positive Space allies.

"I think this is a community issue. It's up to the community and each member in it to make this a welcoming place for everybody. It's not just a counselling issue," she continued. "It's now becoming a community-driven venture ... It's no longer just the job of one counsellor in some tiny office."

If you're ever feeling lonely, there are many people you can turn to on campus. Wil Sorrell was a student, and now he works here as the Fanshawe Online administrator, so he can give the perspective about what it's like to be "out" at Fanshawe — though he is not a counsellor by trade, he said he can provide a listening ear that may be different from the Counselling staff, as he is a gay man in a longterm relationship.

Students living in residence will be pleased to know their Resident Assistants have also been trained in LGBT2S issues. Sorrell runs a training session in August to ensure all RAs are comfortable with dealing with students who have questions or concerns about LGBT2S issues.

"This is an adult learning centre where we should be ourselves ... and (what you do) in your personal life should have nothing to do with how you're successful and how you interact with this community," said Dodge. "At the end of the day, we're all here for the same reasons: we all want to be successful for ourselves, for our families, for our friends, for our communities, and there's nothing that should stop that — especially on a personal level."

If you need help, there are numerous resources you can turn to on campus and in the community — check the sidebar for a list.

ON CAMPUS

Spectrum A student club for LGBT2S students and allies. They provide a safe space for students to meet and socialize, and they also advocate for the gay community at Fanshawe.
spectrumfanshawe@gmail.com
fsu.ca/clubs

Positive Space A collective of faculty and support staff who host workshops and train Fanshawe staff to be LGBT2S allies.
Laurel Catton: lcatton@fanshawec.ca
Wil Sorrell: wsorrell@fanshawec.ca

Counselling and Accessibility Services Offers confidential and free counselling sessions to students. All staff are trained in LGBT2S issues.
F2010, 519-452-4282, counselling@fanshawec.ca

Chaplain Centre Rev. Ron Trojcak is a Catholic priest who comes to campus every Thursday during the school year and can provide support to LGBT2S students in need. D2030, 519-452-4430 ext. 4352

IN LONDON

London Transgender Coffee Social Club A social club that meets the last Monday of each month at the East Village Coffee House. According to Kimberley, a Fanshawe College professor who helped form the group, many attendees are allies. The group is closely aligned with PFLAG.
785 Dundas St.

Alphabet Community Centre Supports the transgender community through education, patient advocacy, employment programs, counseling and more. Also offers a support group.
info@acclondon.ca, acclondon.ca

PFLAG London A national organization that helps Canadians who are dealing with sexual orientation and gender identity issues.
Joanne King: 519-319-6934
pflagcanada.ca
facebook.com/groups/pflaglondon

Religious Associations

Unitarian Fellowship of London A church that welcomes LGBT2S people and their families.
557 Clark Rd., 519-451-0424
unitarianfellowshipoflondon.org

Metropolitan Community Church An ecumenical (welcoming to all religions) church that has proudly supported London's LGBT2S citizens for decades.
138 Wellington St. S., 519-645-0744
mcclondon.com

WEBSITES AND HOTLINES

HBT Working Group A collection of local agencies that respond to and advocate against homophobia, transphobia, biphobia and violence in our community. 1-866-920-1601
hbtlondon@yahoo.ca, hbtlondon.ca

Transgender London A site run by a Fanshawe community member with links to information and articles about transgender support services in London.
transgenderlondon.com

Out With Dad An award-winning web series that tells the coming-of-age story of a young woman as she comes out of the closet. Episodes seven and eight in season two featured Fanshawe's own learning technologist Kyle Stewart as David, who shares his story in an LGBT2S support group. outwithdad.com

iCopeU A site that features information about coping tools and community resources for students facing tough times. The site links to LibGuides from Fanshawe's library, which direct students to resources at the library and within the community.
icopeu.com/fanshawe

Rainbow Health Ontario A provincewide program with a website loaded with information focused on LGBT2S health.
rainbowhealthontario.ca

Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line A toll-free province-wide helpline for LGBT2S individuals.
1-800-268-YOUTH
youthline.ca