A 2SLGBTQIA+ lens (and resources) on Planning and Pride

The Progress Pride flag, a pride flag with several more colours and a circle

2SLGBTQIA+ peoples have always existed, across cultures, and for a long time the field of Planning has addressed strategies of inclusion and accessibility. 

1978’s pride flag and its celebration is a key point in LGBTQIA2+ history.  Flying a flag of tolerance is not an accomplishment of tolerance, but a promise of tolerance: those who display one are in so doing committing to be a safe harbour to all people of diverse genders and sexualities. We talk the talk, and we walk the walk.

Feel free to enrich yourself with the insights below and the events happening on campus and beyond!

Some 2SLGBTQIA+ lenses on Planning

"How to plan and design a gay-friendly city"

Layla McCay, Director of the Centre for Urban Design and Mental Health, on how marginalisation of LGBT+ people in their own neighbourhoods may contribute to mental health problems - and how planners and designers might help.

Sex(uality) in the city: Planning for queerer public space

Kiri Crossland, a Transport Planner at MRCagney, writes from her lens as a Pākehā queer femme to consider how planners can make public spaces safer for queer communities.

Queer(ing) Urban Planning and Municipal Governance

A full academic article by Alison L. Bain, Utrecht University, and Julie A. Podmore, John Abbott College. It elaborates counter‐hegemonic reactions to hetero‐cis‐normativities; queering plans and policies, and governance coalitions and LGBTQ+ activisms.

Queer Erasure: Why Is There No Space for LGBTQ+ People In Our Cities?

Processing some practical avenues for further inclusion in cities

Planning, Justice and LGBT Urban Politics in Tel-Aviv

A full academic article exploring three avenues of planning justice for 2SLGBTQIA+ peoples: distributive, procedural and recognition justice.

Urban policy, space and wellbeing: a move towards LGBTQIA+ inclusive planning

A full academic article filling a void of research linking inclusive policies with improved outcomes for 2SLGBTQIA+ populations.

Why do so many queer folks love urbanism?

Exploring an apparently robust representation of 2SLGBTQIA+ peoples in the field of Planning, why their identities inspired them to think critically about urban planning, and what insights their lived experiences bring.

UBC Resources and initiatives

  • There are numerous Pride flags, each celebrating different 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. UBC has showcased and introduced each, each with their own extraordinary context and insight into diversity.
  • The Positive Space campaign is a university-wide initiative intended to raise awareness and visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirit, trans and queer students, staff, faculty, alumni and allies at UBC.
  • This UBC advanced orientation in gender diversity is a great resource for allies and all staff students and faculty for how to actualise UBC's commitments to a positive space for all.
  • This UBC advanced orientation in SOGI orients UBC educators in inclusive education, context, and best practices.

Student groups at UBC-V

  • Colour Connected Against Racism is an AMS resource group that works to end racism, and all forms of oppression, discrimination and prejudice.
  • Gears and Queers is a club comprised of LGBTQ2SIA+ engineers and allies. They are dedicated to creating an open, accepting space for queer engineering students at UBC.
  • The Pride Collective is an AMS resource group that offers educational and social services dealing with sexual and gender diversity to the UBC community.
  • UBC Students Against Bigotry seeks to promote freedom of expression and empower those whose safety or dignity are threatened.

More resources

Man with neon green glasses

B.C. poet Michael V. Smith on finding family as a queer working-class person

UBCO creative studies professor Michael V. Smith discussed his new poetry collection, Queers Like Me, which reflects his experiences being queer in a small town. 

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