A research project is bringing together queer youth and elders to record what brings them joy in the face of rising hatred and legislation that limits gender-affirming care for minors.
The Edmonton 2 Spirit Society is working with Halifax-based Wisdom 2 Action for the Queer Joy Photovoice Project. Five queer people between the ages of 18 and 26 and five more over the age of 50 will gather weekly to share their lived experiences and "showcase how, despite significant barriers, our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities radiate joy as a powerful form of resistance and strength," E2S posted in its call for participants.
The participants will use Photovoice to capture happy little moments, such as getting a coffee with a 2SLGBTQIA+ friend, and then follow a structured process called SHOWeD to gather insights.
"Something that we need more of is that visual representation that is a positive representation of our community and what we experience and how we navigate this world," said Ari Para, a consultant with Wisdom2Action.
At the end of weekly sessions in January, Wisdom2Action will compile the photos and create an online gallery. It also plans to mount an in-person exhibition.
The project, funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada, is particularly important right now because of Alberta's passage of Bill 9, said Beth Omeasoo, program coordinator at E2S. The legislation, which the United Conservative Party government passed in mid-December, invokes the notwithstanding clause to override Charter challenges against three pieces of legislation related to gender-diverse youth.
"I think that, especially in today's society, with everything that's going on with government, it's really easy for us to focus on those hardships and those barriers," Omeasoo told Taproot. "Right now we need to be together and support one another and be able to express something beyond this fear-mongering that the government's implementing on us."
The legislation protected by Bill 9's invocation of the notwithstanding clause limits participation in women's and girls' sports to those who were assigned female at birth; requires schools to obtain parental consent for students who want to change their name or pronouns; and prohibits gender-affirming surgery for minors and hormone treatment for those under 16. "This was a gross abuse of power that affects us all, whether it's directly or indirectly, and we need to stand with our families and communities against this hateful rhetoric," Omeasoo said.
The Queer Joy project is deliberately intergenerational. That might be challenging at first, especially if the elder participants have trouble navigating tech tools, but Omeasoo foresees that being an opportunity for connection.
"I think it'll be interesting navigating that as well, and working together as teams to support one another in those aspects," they said. "I think it's going to be a really great experience. It's definitely a needed one."