Trans Activism: Fae Johnstone
Fae Johnstone (they/she) is a nonbinary and transfeminine educator, organizer, writer and trouble-maker based on unceded, unsurrendered Algonquin Territory (Ottawa, ON). Fae is a trainer focused on building the capacity of health and social services to deliver LGBTQ2+ and trans inclusive care. Over the past year, Fae’s work has centered on defending comprehensive, LGBTQ2+ inclusive sex-ed in Ontario, and advocating for real action to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of trans and LGBTQ2+ youth locally, provincially and federally. Outside of her work, Fae spends too much time on Twitter, drinking coffee and binging Gilmore Girls (shamelessly).
BIPOC Activism: Aanya Wood
As a 25 year old trans woman of South Asian heritage with lived experience, my work comes from a place of understanding that my communities (trans/2-spirit/gender non-conforming, sex-working and/or drug-using) are at the highest risk of violence. As a peer, a support and a community health professional, I operate from a place of understanding that my communities deserve more than we are afforded in terms of public health, material resources and access to services. My work is informed by the privileges I’ve had of having mentors who have been pivotal to the movements I am a part of and I strive to live and work by the legacies of Marsha P Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, Moka Dawkins and Miss Major.
Queer Activism: Tamar Brannigan
Tamar is a black, queer, and non-binary educator and activist, who finds their energy in building and supporting communities of care, especially for young people, survivors, and 2SLGBTQ folks. They have lived and traveled all over Ontario teaching from a radical and compassion based pedagogy, doing crisis work, and helping to develop supports for two spirit, queer, and trans youth. Anti-oppression, decolonization, and inclusion are at the centre of their relationship development in their personal life and beyond. Their passions have all come to intersect in online spaces where connecting with others in creative ways has endless potential. They believe that love, interdependence, a bit of fortitude, and the courage to work from a hopeful place are the ingredients we need to save the world.
Academics: James Schlonies
Waawaate (James Schlonies) of the Hawk Clan is a 19 year old Anishinaabe Two-Spirit person residing in Owen Sound. James has been involved with Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) and M’Wikwedong Native Cultural Resource Centre (MNCRC) over the past year. James has been assisting OFIFC by being involved as a member of the Indigenous Youth Reconstruction Committee (IYRC) and as a volunteer at MNCRC. James has been a valued member of IYRC who ambitiously advocates for considerations of the LGBTQ2S needs and sensitivities and their rights and freedoms by promoting the use of non-labels. James is looking forward to continuing to lay positive groundwork to ensure that we can change mindsets and break through stigmas.
Arts & Culture: Dinaly Tran
Dinaly Joyce Tran is an artist of sorts and identifies as a queer, non-binary, ace, person of colour. For four years as a youth advisory committee member for Planned Parenthood Toronto’s LGBTQ Youth Initiative, they’ve been part of creating programs, safer spaces, a campaign, and facilitating a drop in for nonbinary BIPOC youth. They aim to continue to make work that explores the intersections of their identities with themes of belonging, culture, family and diaspora through film, other mediums, and community organizing, hoping to be the representation they needed when they were younger.
Social & Health Services: Iehente Foote
Iehente Foote is Bear Clan from Kahnawake, Quebec, Mohawk Territory. Iehente is a youth activist, an Indigenous Full-Spectrum Doula & an elementary school teacher. She loves art based learning, workshops, research & reproductive justice work with the Native Youth Sexual Health Network. She is the Chair & Quebec representative on the National Indigenous Youth Council on Sexual Health & HIV/AIDS. She is passionate about justice around sexual violence, abuses, mental health and other social injustices imposed by life A.K.A. colonialism. She has been involved with Theatre and the arts for 14 years and uses art as a medium to talk and work through difficult issues. She is an actor, stage manager, costumier & production for various theatre, film & TV projects based in Montréal (Tiohtiá:ke), Toronto (Tsi Tkarón:to) & New York (Kanón:no).
Social Justice & Community Empowerment: Beze Gray
Beze Gray is a two-spirit Anishnaabe, Delaware, and Oneida from Aamjiwnaang First Nation, treaty #29 territory. They are an organizer of grassroots events based on culture and environment through the group Aamjiwnaang and Sarnia against Pipelines. Events like Toxic Tour and Aamjiwnaang Water Gathering. They focus on telling their experience of living in Canada’s Chemical Valley. Beze is currently attending Georgian College in the Anishnaabemowin & Program Development.