A pride flag is shown in this 2022 Postmedia file photo.
A Catholic Western University-affiliated school so conservative it only began flying the rainbow Pride flag in 2021 is now celebrating the success of the first year of a support group for LGBTQ students.
Three years ago, King’s University College flew the flag for the first time, following the University of Waterloo’s St. Jerome’s University to become the second Catholic university in Ontario to do so. It was not supported by the local Catholic diocese.
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The school has now also moved ahead with a support group for members of the gay community, which was launched last fall at the urging of two graduate students in the King’s social work program and will resume when students return in September, its co-facilitator says.
“There has never been anything ever offered like this at King’s,” Zoe Leyland said, adding events this year included a drag-queen performance and queer movie nights and book readings.
“We gave a space to students to tell us what their needs are and what is going on in their life and their queer identity,” Leyland said. “Really the focus has been to centre queer joy for students, and all of them have said they have been able to obtain that at some point or another while we were meeting.”
Queer joy, Leyland said, is “really to be able to fully exist as a queer person. It’s a feeling of euphoria and feeling seen, heard, listened to in your queer community.”
Joe Henry is dean of students at King’s. He said the purpose of the support group “is to provide a place and space where students can connect with one another, share experiences and build community.”
He added: “This was initiated with students to support other students on campus and I couldn’t be more proud of their efforts, along with our facilitators.”
Henry said it’s part of “a broader effort at King’s to acknowledge that every person is welcome in our community,” adding: “This is directly connected to our mission.”
Leyland called the support group an “excellent stepping stone” for the school.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done but I think this is a fantastic initiative and I’ve been so happy to work as a facilitator,” she said.
@HeatheratLFP
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