Trans Love and Care research presentation and panel

March 11, 2024

Join in person at the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work in Kitchener or via Zoom to listen to each of the speakers' presentations.

• When: Thursday, March 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• Where: FSW101 and via Zoom
• Registration

Presenters

Mattie James

Mattie James (they/them), aka Sasha Tease, is a Waterloo-based drag performer and organizer. They boost the local drag scene and support new talent through monthly open stages in Kitchener. Known as the "nonbinary bombshell," Mattie challenges gender norms and promotes feminism and body positivity in their performances, inspiring self-love in all.

“The world around us is increasingly becoming unsafe for queer people. The drive behind all the work I do with my drag and activism is to make sure that no queer folks feel alone in their struggles. By creating a healthy queer community, we can work towards ensuring fewer of our siblings suffering alone.”

Jac Nobiss

Jac Nobiss is an FSW PhD alum and is the Executive Director of Nelson CARES Society in the BC Kootenay Region. Jac’s experience has ranged from executive-level positions in health, education, social work, and political governance, bridging complex systemic understandings to grassroots meaningfulness. As a community social worker, Jac has worked in areas of homelessness, addictions, mental health, and community-based wellness initiatives.

2S Expressions Two-Spirit and Indigenous multiplegendered expressions (IMGE) are complex and often misunderstood. Two-Spirit is used as a specific identifier that also includes perspectives of identity, status, roles, and sexuality. Based on dissertation research, Jac will present an overview of Two-Spirit ways of being centring on ways of supporting Indigenous selfdetermination and identity.

Tin Vo

Tin Vo (he/him/his) is an equity-focused researcher and public health practitioner with over eight years of research and evaluation experience in the Ontario public health sector. He is pursuing a PhD in Social Work at the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work and writing his dissertation on the inclusion and safety of individuals with intersectional identities in LGBTQ2S+ leisure spaces.

Michael Woodford

Michael Woodford is a professor in Laurier’s Faculty of Social Work and an expert on discrimination and the mental health and well-being of LGBTQ2S+ youth. Woodford’s research explores how bullying, sexual violence, and everyday microaggressions can increase LGBTQ2S+ youth's risk for poor mental health and other negative outcomes, as well as the factors that can foster resilience. He is leading the Thriving on Campus Study, a province-wide study exploring the experiences mental health and academic success of LGBTQ2S+ university students in Ontario.