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gulgbtqplus · 5 years

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AGM Candidates

This year, due to coronavirus, we are having out AGM online. We are also taking questions online via this form, https://forms.gle/kh2gkvKt8LQdzDct7 , and answers to questions will be updated on this website.

We are still tweaking the voting but are hoping to open it on the 25th, the original planned date of our AGM. Stay tuned for updates!

We will update the candidates as more applications come in! Here’s what we have so far...

President

1) Emily T (she/her) Why do you want this position? “ I believe I'd be very well suited to this position due to already having two years of experience on the GULGBTQ+ Committee so far, one year as First Year OM and this year as the Events Officer. In these roles I have run coffees, helped to organise large and small events, been in charge of the organisation of this years Queerfest and been involved in collaborations with the SRC and with other Societies on Campus such as the Quidditch Society, Food and Body Positivity Society, Feminist Society and the Self-Defense Society, as well as communicating with organisations and individuals outside of university. I have great time management and organisational skills that I've been applying to these positions on committee, and I feel they will be even more useful in my role as president. I'm a very friendly and welcoming individual, which I know doesn't come across so well in a written speech but hopefully to those that have met me in person and are currently talking to us on our brand new, lockdown-friendly discord channel will see it more. Hopefully I would be a very welcoming face and presence for the society and I can continue to carry on building links with other societies on campus, working with the SRC and welcoming new and old members to the society. I would also hope to continue to improve how welcoming we are to these new members, as I know that is a criticism we have had previously. As part of this I will continue our work with the BAME Society and the SRC to make our society more welcoming to people of colour in the community, who can often feel excluded from the very white scene in Glasgow and from this society as well. As well as this I will continue the committees efforts towards making the society as accessible as possible so that we are available as a space for anyone and everyone who wishes to come along to our events. I hope you vote for me because I'm really committed to making this society as good as it possibly can be for all who want it and need it as a safe space, a social space, a supporting space or just somewhere to go for a good time. I know that this society has been a real lifeline for me and for others, even through more difficult times like losing our Twitter earlier in the year, but I think that it's still a really incredible and important place for LGBTQ+ folks on campus and I'd be really grateful and honoured if you'd elect me as president so that I'd be able to carry on that legacy. “ VP Secretary

1) Will (they/them)

Why do you want this position? “ I'm running for the VP Secretary position because, in the year I've spent on committee so far as both Men's Officer and Non-Binary Officer, I have been able to put a lot into the society which I will elaborate on further in the manifesto. I believe in this position, I would be able to go above and beyond what I have already achieved, which would help the society to thrive. As for why I think I'm well suited for the role - I have successfully run 3 different coffees this year, 2 of which I introduced myself. My attendance is extremely reliable at all of our events, especially on Wednesday evenings, whether in the form of organisation, running them, or just making an awful joke to entertain. I ran two panels this year - the Trans Food and Body Positivity Panel, and the Mental Health panel - which were both extremely well attended, and successful (despite my tendency to get my own pronouns wrong!) I helped to run not only our Waverley Care bake sale, wherein we provided free HIV spot tests, but also the Trans Day of Remembrance event, and the Winter Ceilidh. I contributed to both the Ceilidh and TDOR - the former by sourcing and collecting raffle prizes, and the latter by speaking about my journey and experiences as a non-binary person. I have showcased my cross-campus skills on multiple occasions by working with individuals from the QMU, GUSA, the SRC, as well as a number of GU societies. These have included BAME, the Food and Body Positivity Society, BEAT, and Aloud. Moreover, I have contacts outside of the university - such as Category Is, and the Scottish Trans Alliance. I feel that this is important to mention, as working with others is an important part of the VP Sec role. As such, I believe this showcases my ability to handle the responsibilities and the pressures of the role. In addition to these qualities, which would benefit me in the more formal aspects of the role, I feel that I am a kind and approachable person. I am a keen attender and snack provider of our Monday lunchtime drop-ins, at which I try my best to interact with, and welcome, as many society members as possible. As for what wish to achieve in this role, my primary aim is maintaining the high standards of the previous committee. Though I might be biased, as a current committee member, I think that the committee has done an excellent job at bouncing back from previous years’ hardships. I aim to continue this in the following year, as well as continuing the work that has been done to make the society more welcoming and accessible place. This is especially prevalent in regards to our disabled, POC, and international student members. I aim to further this, and to uphold the constitutional standards of safety for our members. I want new students, as well as current students who may be unsure about joining the society, to view the society as a place will not only accept them, but that they want to be. Being elected as your next VP Sec would be an honour, and I will ensure that everything I do is the best that I can for everyone. Thank you, and vote for me!”

VP Treasurer

1) Judith she/they Why do you want this position? “Why do I want this position? - GULGBTQ+ has given me so much, and I want to give back to it - my year as international officer has made me want to take on more responsibilities - among the positions with greater responsibilities, I believe I am most suited to the role of treasurer How am I suited to this position? - I can count (no seriously, I do stats as part of my degree) - I'm very organised and this will help handle my role both as VP and as treasurer - over the past year on committee, I have emailed a lot of societies and got in touch with the Rosey Project, so I am ready to maintain relationships with other societies and organisations as well as try to establish new ones - having been a member of the committee for a year, I have a good idea of how things run and issues we've run into this year that I would try to fix What do I hope to achieve? Considering the current situation due to the cancellation of the farewell dinner, I am aware that this puts us in a difficult situation. I am hoping to palliate to this by: - increasing the amount of fundraising by organising bake sales and fundraising events whenever the circumstances will permit - looking into fundraising that does not involve face to face contact, for instance by seeing if some of our members would be open to having art commissions to benefit the society, possibly through the use of Patreon I am aiming to raise enough funds to enable us to run our annual ceilidh next year, while still being able to raise funds for our charity of the year. I am also hoping to establish more stable contact with inclusive businesses in Glasgow, such as: - Category Is, by working with them more closely regarding our book club - both the venues included in the Scene Tour (Katie's, Polo, Delmonica's, etc) and other venues with regular LGBT-oriented nights or events such as The Flying Duck or Nice'N'Sleazy, by proposing sponsorship agreements or collaborating on events - accessible cafés around the university, by proposing sponsorship agreements or collaboration to improve the safety and accessibility of our coffee meet-ups To conclude: - I am aiming to increase fundraising and collaboration with other organisations - Again, I'm a gay who can count “

Welfare Officer

1) Enea O (he/him)

Why do you want this position? “I want this position because I have come to care about this society so much over the past year, and would give anything to keep channeling my time and passion into this society and improve its position on campus. I specifically want to help improve it to become the best and most welcoming and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ students. Over the past months as part of the committee I have proven myself as a reliable committee member and for Queerfest 2020 I had the honour to edit and curate the society zine Uniqueer, displaying art and poetry by many GULGBTQ+ members. As Welfare Officer I will set up the society family system, which I intend to do to welcome new members. As of recently though, GULGBTQ+ has also created a Discord server to keep all members in contact, and I very much intend to maintain this server permanently and see that it thrives. In regards to the safety of members, I will see that all committee members are trained in suicide and sexual violence awareness in accordance and collaboration with the SRC, Positive Minds and other student welfare societies on campus. In order to help the society grow I plan to implement an official feedback system for all members to contribute thoughts on how to improve events and accessibility. Protecting and providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ students is my top priority. Vote for me :)”

2) Orla She/They

Why do you want this position? “ I am the current welfare officer for the figure skating society and have really enjoyed it, I feel I am well suited for people to come and talk to if they need it whether it be good or bad news. I'd like to join the GULGBTQ+ committee this year, as the society has helped me a lot. Having found people who understood the complex feelings you can have regarding your sexuality and gender; it made me feel a lot more comfortable with myself. And I would love to give back. I would like to help maintain a safe space on campus, especially given the times, and just be a grounding point for people to come to in times of need. I also make really good cakes, and cake can make pretty much anything better. “

Events Officer

1) Valentine they/them

Why do you want this position? “ I want to continue the amazing work Emily T has done this year on events! I want to think of various ways for us to advertise our fundraising events, particularly Launch Night and Queerfest. As well as this, I want to work with other societies and student unions to collaborate on various fundraising events. I also want to create specific events, such as bringing back the conversation about trans swimming which was incredibly successful a couple of years back. I also want to focus on making the society more accessible, which includes events we host, including (but not limited to) autism friendly events, maybe more online events for those with limited mobility, and working towards finding people who could interpret or translate certain events. I also want to acknowledge constructive criticism we've received in the past and try to make events feel welcoming, particularly to people of colour, disabled people, transfeminine people etc.”

2) Sol they/them

Why do you want this position? “ I would want to continue the great work that has been done to reform and adapt our events to make them accessable and as intersectional as possible. I would want to increase the representation and recognition of migrants and international students. I would want to particularly focus on those who are diasporas and whose identity is mixed or conflicted. This is because, due to my own experience, I have found it hard to have discussions around being LGBTQ and from two conflicting cultures. I would do this by ideally creating a consistent outlet for diasporic students in the form of either panels, an inclusion in the annual Queerfest day or a specific focus from the zine. Linked to this I would like to work with societies like BAME to increase the lacking accessibility of our events to people of colour. I would do this by taking advice from and including people of colour in the organising processes around all events. However I would like to target specific large events such as Queerfest, Launch Night and meet and greets. This is because these are some of the society's largest events and so would gain the most from people of colour being included in the discussion around how to make our society more accessible. To add I have been on committee the previous year as the bisexual/pansexual officer and so have an understanding of how the society's events are structured and run. While the events officer position is distinct there is overlap with my previous position. This comes in the form of organisation and managing people. For bi/pan officer I was in charge of organising, and running biweekly coffees. Most importantly I was also in charge of helping create a relaxed and positive atmosphere at the coffees, which requires people management and personal awareness skills. In all I would like to use the position of events officer to create more of a space for diasporic students to add another angle to the ongoing discussion of being LGBTQ. In addition, I would like to help make up for our lacking accessibility to people of colour by including them in the organisation of the society's events. Thereby empowering them to make significant decisions that increase the beautiful intersections of this society. “

Women’s Officer

1) Fatima S she/her

Why do you want this position? “ hi i am a first year history/economics student who is a passionate feminist. Over the past year i have been involved with the GU feminist society and i also am a QMU board member. It has always been my priority to ensure the welfare of all especially women.”

2) Judith she/they

Why do you want this position? “ Why do I want this position? - GULGBTQ+ has given me so much, and I want to give back to it - I feel very strongly about being woman-aligned and a lesbian How am I suited to this position? - during my year as international officer, I gained experience running coffees and it is something I will happily keep doing - over the past year on committee, I have emailed a lot of societies and got in touch with the Rosey Project, so I am ready to maintain relationships with other societies and organisations as well as try to establish new ones - having been a member of the committee for a year, I have a good idea of how things run What do I hope to achieve? - I hope to collaborate more with the feminist and women-specific societies on campus - I would like to work with the Rosey Project in raising awareness for available support networks for survivors of abuse, having self-care and mental health-oriented workshops, and developing LGBT-specific support systems”

3) Ursula she/her

Why do you want this position? “ I have found my involvement with the GULGBT+ society to be a very positive and beneficial experience over the past two years at Glasgow. I have met so many wonderful people, some of which are now close friends who have then introduced me to many other now close friends (because all the gays know each other!). Having like-minded friends is something I longed for during my teenage years and I’m beyond grateful for the society in helping that dream become a reality. I’ve gained so much confidence from this and feel it’s my duty to help create that experience for others in a similar situation. I’ve attended many events that have formed memories to last a lifetime. The opportunity to play a greater role on Wednesday evenings and running women’s coffee would be very exciting. I’m also quite partial to a night out in Polo so would be available for chauffeuring (not literally -please DON’T drink and drive) and as a general friendly face in the crowd. I would, therefore, like to take a more active role in the society in the coming academic year to continue providing a safe, supportive and fun space with my peers in the hopes that other uni students can have an equally (if not more *winky face*) amazing experience!!”

4) Anest ‘Ani’ Williams she/her

Why do you want this position? “ I'm suited to this position due to me being a woman. I consider attending GULGBTQ+'s many events this past academic year to be the highlights of my second year, and I want to give back to Glasgow Uni's LGBTQ+ community by providing other individuals with the same joy. I hope to be someone that all women of the community could speak to in a time of need, in the coffee hours, at events, or at any other time. I would love to represent the women of our community on GULGBTQ+'s committee.”

5) Lauren she/her

Why do you want this position? “ As a member of the GULGBTQ+ society in my first year of university, I found a great sense of inclusivity and community within the events I attended, and through the people I met. The idea of being able to continue my involvement within the society as an officer would not only be an honour, but something I would take on with great passion and vigour. The role of women’s officer within the GULGBTQ+ society is such an essential role, the issues dealt within the society surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity encapsulating also the issues dealt with by ALL women, may that be cisgendered, trans or nonbinary folk. I feel very strongly about women’s rights and issues we face, and would hope to make a welcoming and safe space for any women within the society, and be a friendly face for all members, whether it is to do with a sensitive subject or just for a chat! I have no previous experience as an officer within the society, but we all need to start somewhere, and I think this would be the perfect place to begin as an officer to all the amazing LGBTQ+ women out there!”

Men’s Officer

1) Sanskar R he/him

Why do you want this position? “I am Sanskar from India. I feel that POC and Asians are not represented enough in the society. Not just that, I feel that a lot of events the society is running isn't reaching the right crowd. I would like to contribute in whatever way possible to help change that and be able to learn and grow in the process.”

2) Jack L he/him

Why do you want this position? “ I have a keen interest in raising awareness about men's health and several ideas on how to do so. Other than that, I want to bring people together in nice and easy ways so that they can, if new to the community, find their feet. (Completely honest moment, if another person runs for this position, maybe consider putting them first. I'm now one of the string managers for the Kelvin Ensemble and I'll be in final year and I won't have a proper abundance of time. Perhaps if another candidate wants to work together. I also have many ideas on joint events that could happen)”

Trans Officer

1) Valentine they/them

Why do you want this position? “ I was nonbinary officer year before last and I believe I took to the roll quite well. I fully came out as nonbinary last year, and since have done a lot of research into the uni's procedures for name changes, as well as trying to deal with Sandyford etc. Therefore I believe I would be a great resource (as well as a creator of great resources!! wink wink trans zine wink wink) for those who have just come to terms with being transgender / transitioning. I would love to work with the student unions to work on being inclusive to trans and nonbinary folks, as well as more widespread campaigning about these things where members of the society think it's important. I also aim to raise the voices of those who are often spoken over within our community, being inclusive of trans women, disabled trans people, trans pic, etc.”

2) Eden it/its

Why do you want this position? “ I want to give back a little to this society, as it's been so good for me over my first year. I try to be a friendly face that people can talk to, be it about specifically transition-related topics (I don't pretend to be an expert, but I've been doing this for a while!) or just everyday things. Given the current trans healthcare crisis, informing people about our options and working together is critical - I've done work spreading awareness and information about doing self-med HRT safely before and I'd be happy to do it again, for example, and I know enough people doing this kind of work to be able to point people in the right direction for questions I don't know much about.”

3) Aster they/them

Why do you want this position? “ I am running to be your next Trans Officer. I want to do this because being trans is a very important part of my identity, and I think this would be a great opportunity to be able to represent my fellow trans folk here at Glasgow Uni, and even the wider Glasgow community as well as campaign on trans and non binary related issues. I am excited to work on committee again, and in this role closely with the Non-Binary Officer, as I enjoy collaborating with others, so I will work to build and maintain good working relationships with other members of committee. Also I’m a very sociable person, so I’m confident I can make people feel very welcome at society events. I am very excited about the opportunity to run an identity coffee again, two years ago I ran Gay Men’s Coffee (despite not actually being gay or a man 👀) so I already have experience with this. Again I’m a very sociable person and thrive in large groups (Trans and Non-Binary Coffee often has one of the biggest attendances) and so I am confident that I will be able to ensure the inclusion of anyone who joins the coffee so that they feel welcome. I am also excited to take opportunities to co-run events, such as Trans and Non-Binary 101 and of course working with the Events Coordinator for events surrounding Trans Day of Remembrance. I’d also be happy to work with the Campaigns Officer to do the Pronoun Pledge with the unions and some societies on campus if needed (as well as any other campaigns that the society will be running or involved with). For those of you who have met me, you’ll know I am a very confident, theatrical (and I’d hope fabulous) person so I would have absolutely no issue speaking in front of a large group of people (I’m a theatre student, it’s pretty much all I can do). In closing, I think I’d be a great addition to committee because this society is such an important part of my life here at uni, and so I will dedicate so much time and energy to this role, and in general just helping any way I can to making this society as great as it can be. Hopefully this dedication has been reflected in my recent win as GULGBTQ+ Keenest Member 2020.”

4) Ollie S he/him

Why do you want this position? “ Moving away from my safe, accepting bubble at home to come to Glasgow University was a terrifying experience for me, as I did not have the confidence to stick up for my gender identity and was scared of any transphobia I could've encountered. However, the GULGBT+ society immediately made me feel welcomed and safe and allowed me to create a new home away from home. I have met inspiring people that have showed me that I am definitely not alone in the trans experience and this has given me a lot more self confidence and allowed me to accept who I am. I would absolutely love to take on this position, to be there for scared freshers like I was and to be a person to turn to for those struggling with trans issues. I am very early on in my transition and I very much feel the pain of long waiting lists and the frustration of being misgendered and have found many ways to cope with such problems that I would love to share with others that may be tackling similar obstacles. I think the representation of pre-transition trans people is so important as it enables people to see how everyone's journey is different and everyone is going at their own pace. I would be honoured to host Trans & Nonbinary Coffee and would love sharing my knowledge and the things I've learned from my experience, but also, would love to learn from others and their experiences. I am so excited for my second year as part of this society and really hope to gain a leading role here.”

Postgraduate and Mature Student’s Officer

1) Andrei he/him/they/whatever

Why do you want this position? “ Hey Andrei, you're queer and also old. You should run for Post/Mat officer" - Literally everyone for the past couple of months. I've had the entire postmat experience, after starting my undergrad at the tender age of 23 I am familiar with the unique stresses involved in adapting to academic life while also integrating with peers who are almost generationally different from oneself (as it says on my LinkedIn "Down With the Kids"). Five years and a lot of hard lessons later I find myself having grown in experience and empathy, and I would find it a privelage to be able to support any member of the society in any way possible. I'd like to say that I'd bring the benefit of wisdom and maturity to committee meetings but to be honest I'll probably just end up bringing sarcasm and a strong tie game. However, if you're looking for a warm body with a pulse that can still be an absolute menace in Polo then I may be the human you're looking for. My major objectives if elected: Building bridges with GUSA Getting freshers home safely Biting Will Getting distracted by cats... Andrei for Post/Mat officer: "Because someone has to" “

Campaigns Officer

1) Gwen she/her

Why do you want this position? As campaigns officer for this last half year, I've tried my hardest to push the society members to fill in the Gender Recognition Act draft reform consultation. When the Scottish Government responds I would like to either organise for them to improve the bill or (if they have already improved it) get society members to lobby their MSPs to back the improved bill. While we wait for that response, I will focus on tackling transphobia on campus, putting together a cross-party campus pronoun pledge (the SNP, Labour, and Green clubs have already responded positively). I would like to continue our work with Hidayah and other charities. Our society has sadly seen a nasty increase in transphobia, particularly with awful messages left on doors to toilets. As campaigns officer, I will try and create a "Hear it from us first" campaign. It's likely that transphobia will get out regardless of what we do, but by making sure people hear our side first we will be able to make the campus are more sympathetic place. I also want to lead a discussion in the society and with local GPs and trans organisations about the future of trans medicine. While the current Gender Identity Clinic system is clearly underfunded, it is not clear if it should be funded further, or if responsibility for prescriptions should be the job of GPs. In line with my view of the society as "political, but not partisan" if we can agree on a position or even just start a conversation, we will be in a better place to lobby the support of politicians and advocacy groups. 2) Valentine they/them

Why do you want this position? “ In my previous roles on committee (nonbinary / bi/pan) I have been involved in campaigns including meetings with previous Charities of the year we have chosen and thinking about fundraising opportunities, as well as presenting many pronoun pledges. I plan on continuing what I have already done, as well as picking up on other campaigns and fundraising opportunities, for example a more widespread awareness of transphobia on campus and how to prevent this, as well as creating resources of safe places for lgbtq+ people. For fundraising, I want to help advertise our launch night better, as well as creating more communication between the student unions to possibly collaborate with us for fundraising events / nights out / etc.”

Communications and Technology Officer

1) Summer they/she

Why do you want this position? “I am running for the position of Communications and Technology Officer because I love this society, want to help it and have the skills needed to help out in this position. As last year's ComTech officer I am familiar with everything that keeps the GULGBTQ+ committee running behind the scenes - as such, I can help make the handover to the new committee smooth and painless and ensure everything keeps running. Last year I helped streamline some of the systems we use which helped reduce complexity and running costs for the society. Additionally, there were some projects for the committee that I did not finish last year due to time and mental health (e.g. an updated website) which if I am reelected I will endeavor to complete.”

2) Belinda she/her

Why do you want this position? “ As a nervous fresher this past year, the only society I wasn't afraid to take part in was the GULGBTQ+ society. Now that I'm part of this big 'ol family, I'd love to be able to give something back. I, like many others, rely heavily on emails and social media to keep up with whateverthef*ck is going on. I hope that my skills as a seasoned introvert will help me to communicate society events in a way that can reach and encourage every member of our society to join in and feel welcomed and included. My inexplicable need to be organised will almost certainly be useful too I suppose (hit me up with any pronouns, names or other changes that need to be made on the system and I'll get on it ASAP). I hope this role will allow me to contribute to this amazing society, whilst I get to keep being an introvert in my natural habitat, hidden behind a computer screen (and going to events too of course). Keep smiling, be gay and do crime ~ your local comp sci sapphic ace”

First Year Ordinary Member

1) Meris she/her

Why do you want this position? “Hi I’m Meris (she/her) and I’m running for First Year Ordinary Member. In the past months I’ve attended almost every Freshers’ coffee and actively helped out as much as I could. I wish to continue Enea’s work within the society, representing all the first year students and freshers at the university. Being a fresher at the start of last term and completely new to Glasgow, I was more than a little lost, but GULGBTQ+ has helped me find a community where I feel safe and at home. As an officer, I would like to ensure the safety of First Year Students within the society and a safe space for them to open up and/or listen to others’ experiences. I believe that First Year Students often find it hard to feel welcome in spaces where people seem to already know each other really well and I wish to make sure every new member feels welcomed and cared for like everyone else!”

Bi/Pan Officer

1) Bethany she/them

Why do you want this position? “ I want to provide a safe space for bi and Pan people like they deserve! I would be suited to this position because I always try my best to be kind to everyone and I try to be social. I always go to the Bi coffee’s and I’m close friends with Sol so I will have a lot of useful guidance. This society means a lot to me in regards to me accepting myself and I’d like to help it do the same for others!”

2) Valentine they/them

Why do you want this position? “I was bi/pan officer briefly last year before leaving to take role as secretary in another society. Although I wasn't in the role for a long time, I feel I achieved a lot and would like to continue this and campaign to create awareness on different ways to be bisexual, to combat biphobia within the LGBTQ+ community and outwith, and to raise the voices of bisexual/pansexual people who are often silenced.”

3) Aster they/them

Why do you want this position? “I’m running to be your next Bi/Pan Officer. This role specifically interests me because being pansexual is such an important and fundamental part of my identity, and one I struggled with for a while, trying to fit in as either a heterosexual or homosexual, trying to make myself ‘choose a side’, having my sexuality erased both externally and internally. Going through this, I know how important Bi and Pan visibility is and why I want to be able to represent this community in both the society, and across the university. I am excited to take the opportunity to once again run an identity coffee (I ran Gay Men’s Coffee 2 years ago, despite not being gay or a man), so I have experience doing this. However, Bi/Pan Coffee is possibly the most attended identity coffee, which, if elected, I would be running mostly single handedly. I have utmost confidence that I can handle this, as I am a very sociable and friendly person, and thrive amongst large groups of people, so I will have no issue in making sure everyone feels both welcome and included. I am also excited to be able to run events, for instance I will certainly want to do something to mark the occasions of both Bisexual and Pansexual Days of Visibility, as I said earlier how important visibility is to our community. I was also like to do something around the awareness of non-monoromantic identities as I feel this is something that is often ignored or looked over, and again, visibility is important for all of these identities. Finally, I think I’d be a good committee member in general as I’m a good team worker, and will work to build and maintain good working relationships with other committee members, which will be greatly important when working with 15 other people. The society is also a largely important part of my life, hopefully as reflected by my recent win as GULGBTQ+ Keenest Member, and so you can be assured that I will dedicate so much time and energy both into this role, and to helping make this society as great as it can be.”

4) Emrys they/them

Why do you want this position? “ * I’ve been a very active member of the LGBTQ+ community for a few years now - I’ve made countless social media posts with information about all kinds of LGBTQ+ related things, promoting awareness days/weeks and making it known that I’m always happy to have conversations about LGBTQ+ things and answer any questions - as I know personally how important it is to have all the right information available to help you, and to have people to talk to about it - I’ve made efforts offline as well to raise awareness for both bi/pan specific issues and other LGBTQ+ related issues, as I was very involved with my sixth form’s LGBTQ+ society and helped run events, and have taken the time to answer people’s questions about bi/pan issues * I have already had experience as GULGBTQ+’s Ace/Aro officer for about 5/6 months - I gave a presentation for Ace Awareness Week in October - I made an informative video about aromanticism and shared it on our social media accounts for Aromantic Awareness Week in February - I have helped run many of GULGBTQ+’s main events throughout the year so far - I have a good track record of attendance to GULGBTQ+’s main events * if I was elected for Bi/Pan officer - I would continue with the work and effort I have already put in to this society, making sure that bi and pan voices are heard and uplifted - I would work to combat biphobia and panphobia wherever I see it - whether it’s outside the LGBTQ+ community or from within - to raise awareness and debunk the myths about bisexuality/biromanticism and pansexuality/panromanticism to help people better understand orientations that are often erased - I’ve spent the last few years struggling to figure out if I really am bi(romantic), and being a part of this society has helped me understand and accept that I am, which I will always be grateful for - so I want to give back to the society, and help others who may be similarly questioning! - I like to think that I am a very empathetic person, a good listener and very open-minded, so I will always be open to chat for anyone who has questions about LGBTQ+ issues, or needs a shoulder to lean on!”

5) Anest ‘Ani’ Williams she/her

Why do you want this position? “ Why do you want this position? - Please write a short paragraph about how you would be suited to this position and what you would hope to achieve. I'm suited to this position due to my being a bi/pan individual. I consider attending GULGBTQ+'s many events this past academic year to be the highlights of my second year, and I want to give back to Glasgow Uni's LGBTQ+ community by providing other individuals with the same joy. I hope to be someone that other bi/pan people could speak to in a time of need, in the coffee hours, at events, or at any other time. I would love to represent bi/pan people on GULGBTQ+'s committee.”

6) Lauren she/her

Why do you want this position? “ As a member of the GULGBTQ+ society in my first year of university, I found a great sense of inclusivity and community within the events I attended, and through the people I met. Going into my second year I would love to help introduce new and old members into the society, creating a welcoming and safe space for Bi/Pan folks, and of course all other members. Stigma around Bi/Pan folks within the LGBTQ+ community is something that needs to be discussed, and a light needs to be shone on. Bi and Pansexual folks often feel invalid or excluded within the community, this is not the case and I would love to help any members who feel this way if I were to be elected as Bi/Pan officer! I currently don’t have any experience as a previous officer within the society, but I think this would be a great place to start my journey. The society has already helped me accept myself more and feel a sense of belonging within the university, and the idea of being able to create that sense of belonging for other members, whether Bi/Pan or not, would be amazing!”

International Students’ Officer

1) Fatima S she/her

Why do you want this position? “ hi i am a first year history/economics student who is from India. i want to be the international officer because i truly believe i can help international students, because i understand how difficult it is to accept our own identity when all our lives we have lived in a society who considers it a taboo. Coming from a diverse background i can bring a fresh perspective to this society and really make a difference for all international student members.”

Asexual and Aromantic Officer

1) Emrys they/them

Why do you want this position? “* I’ve been an active member of the ace community for a few years now - I’ve made many social media posts with information about asexuality for LGBTQ+ events throughout the year (but especially for Asexual Awareness Week), because I personally understand the importance of having the right information available wherever possible - especially for an identity that is less known than others and is widely misunderstood - as well as online, I’ve made efforts offline to raise awareness for asexuality (and aromanticism) - I’ve made it known that I am always happy to have a conversation about it, and explain to people anything they don’t understand. At my sixth form, I often helped run the weekly LGBTQ+ society meet up, and held a presentation for Asexual Awareness Week to inform my fellow students * I have already had experience as GULGBTQ+’s Ace/Aro officer for about 5/6 months - I gave a presentation for Ace Awareness Week in October - I made an informative video about aromanticism and shared it on our social media accounts for Aromantic Awareness Week in February - I have helped run many of GULGBTQ+’s main events throughout the year so far - I have a good track record of attendance to GULGBTQ+’s main events * if I was re-elected for Ace/Aro officer - I would continue with the work and effort I have already put in to this society, making sure that ace and aro voices are heard and uplifted - I like to think that I am a very empathetic person, a good listener and very open-minded, so I will always be open to chat for anyone who has questions about asexuality or aromanticism, or other LGBTQ+ issues, or needs a shoulder to lean on!”

Nonbinary Officer

1) Valentine they/them

Why do you want this position? “ I was nonbinary officer year before last and I believe I took to the roll quite well. I fully came out as nonbinary last year, and since have done a lot of research into the uni's procedures for name changes, as well as trying to deal with Sandyford etc. Therefore I believe I would be a great resource (as well as a creator of great resources!! wink wink trans zine wink wink) for those who have just come to terms with being nonbinary / transitioning. I would love to work with the student unions to work on being inclusive to trans and nonbinary folks, as well as more widespread campaigning about these things where members of the society think it's important.

2) Eden it/its

3) Aster they/them

Why do you want this position? “ I’m running to be your Non-Binary Officer for the coming year because I am excited to work on committee again, and specifically in this role, in close collaboration with the Trans and Welfare Officers. I enjoy working and collaborating with others since I’m a very sociable person, which will be very useful, as in committee I’d be working with 15 other people, so it’s important to build and keep good working relationships with everyone. This role specifically interests me as being non-binary and genderfluid is such an important and fundamental part of my identity, which I struggled to realise and accept for so long, so now I want to burst out of the closet and represent my fellow enbies in Glasgow Uni and well as campaign for trans and non-binary related causes. I am very excited about the opportunity to run an identity coffee again, two years ago I ran Gay Men’s Coffee (despite not actually being gay or a man 👀) so I already have experience with this. Again I’m a very sociable person and thrive in large groups (Trans and Non-Binary Coffee often has one of the biggest attendances) and so I am confident that I will be able to ensure the inclusion of anyone who joins the coffee so that they feel welcome. I am also excited to take opportunities to co-run events, such as Trans and Non-Binary 101 and of course working with the Events Coordinator for events surrounding Trans Day of Remembrance. I’d also be happy to work with the Campaigns Officer to do the Pronoun Pledge with the unions and some societies on campus if needed (as well as any other campaigns that the society will be running or involved with). For those of you who have met me, you’ll know I am a very confident, theatrical (and I’d hope fabulous) person so I would have absolutely no issue speaking in front of a large group of people (I’m a theatre student, it’s pretty much all I can do). In closing, I think I’d be a great addition to committee because this society is such an important part of my life here at uni, and so I will dedicate so much time and energy to this role, and in general just helping any way I can to making this society as great as it can be. Hopefully this dedication has been reflected in my recent win as GULGBTQ+ Keenest Member 2020.”

4) Summer they/she

Why do you want this position? “ This society means a lot to me, in large part because it has been a massive part of helping me to explore and understand my gender identity. I want to be able to help more people through their own process of discovery as the Non-Binary Officer. If elected I intend to continue to help raise awareness of issues affecting non-binary people as well as make sure that our non-binary spaces are open and inclusive. I know that many people when first questioning their gender identity worry about not being perceived as "non-binary enough" (I personally did not attend many events for a while because of this) and so want to make sure all of our non-binary events and resources are as open as possible and not intimidating for newcomers.”

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thebestintoronto · 5 years

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Things to do this week in Toronto

What's happening in Toronto April 15-19, 2019

MONDAY, APRIL 15

3rd Monday Nights Free at the Royal Ontario Museum: Bring family and friends to the ROM on the 3rd Monday Night of each month and enjoy free admission from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Education Town Hall with Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath: Discuss the impact of Doug Ford’s education changes. This is a free event and the venue is accessible. Light refreshments will be served.

TechTO April Edition at RBC WaterPark Place: Join the TechTO Community to meet and learn from Toronto’s technology leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts.

Pop Music : Better Now or Better Then? Is music better now or was it better back in the day? We play a new number one hit, then pick a random year out of a hat and play the number one hit from that year and let the audience decide: better now or better then?

Etobicoke Camera Club presents Rob Stimpson: The Challenges (and Rewards) of Travel Photography: professional photographer, Rob Stimpson, will discuss capturing images on the go focussing on the challenges and rewards of travel. Guest fee of $10.00 in effect for non-club members.

Jaymz Bee's Caravan of Music at Old Mill Toronto: Jaymz Bee’s Caravan of Music is a four hour event where you can explore the various rooms at Old Mill Toronto. Experience 20 bands in 10 rooms. Proceeds will support the Unison Benevolent Fund.

Eric Andersen and Scarlet Rivera: Performing at Hugh's Room Live. Doors open at 6 p.m., concert at 7:30 p.m.

'This Is Me' at Fairview Library Theatre: showcases talented artists from Centennial Colleges PAFS before they make their leap into stardom.

TUESDAY, APRIL 16

Humber Docs Film Screening at The Assembly Hall

Humber College School of Media Studies and IT would like to cordially invite you to the annual Humber Docs Screening, showcasing the documentary film work of the Third Year Bachelor of Film and Media Studies Students. Free admission.

ALSO ON TUESDAY

Toronto Lit Up: Alexandra Kimball at The Ossington: Alexandra Kimball is releasing The Seed: How the Feminist Movement Fails Infertile Women and will be celebrating its publication with a Toronto Lit Up book launch.

Canadian Children's Opera Company's Junior Open House: Does your child love music, drama, and theatre? The CCOC is just who they're looking for. Join them to find out what a CCOC music education looks like and learn about our programs for kids aged five and up.

F*ck Sh*t Up: Trans + Non-Binary Cabaret: A night of performances by trans and non-binary artists and performers! Featuring M A N G O S A S S I, Ravyn Wngs, Robbie Ahmed, Ben Agiter and Velvet Earl. Hosted by Babia Majora and Fluffy Soufflé.

Pro-Case Tuesdays at Absolute Comedy Toronto: Event features headliner Tommy Savitt and host Alastair McAlastair, with Joe Vu, Noor Kidwai, Perry Perlmutar, Rhiannon Archer and Sam Feldman.

Kelvin Wetherell at Cafe Mirage: Cafe Mirage Grill and Lounge presents Kelvin Wetherell on Nov 6. The performance runs between 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm in the evenings with a 15 minutes break in between. Cafe Mirage is one of the leading restaurants in Scarborough.

Hot Breath Karaoke at The Handlebar: Ridiculous game show style karaoke, with prizes.

Westway Christian Church Food Bank: The Westway Christian Church Community Food Bank is open for clients to receive food on Tuesday evenings from 5-7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17

Caught in the Net by Ray Cooney

Teens Gavin and Vicki happen to meet surfing the internet. They are attracted to each other and yet are amazed by all the coincidences — each having a father with the same name, same age, and same occupation. Why? Find out in this farce.

ALSO ON WEDNESDAY

2019 Cannabis Capital Conference: Benzinga is the go-to source for investors who need the latest news in the cannabis sector. This is the event that connects companies with investors.

Coloured bodies: Material Moves by Dori Vanderheyden: Dori Vanderheyden’s work layers and enfolds themes of sexuality, the body and colour as a way to evoke questions of what it means to be a human in the universe at this time.

OCAD University’s President’s Speaker Series presents: Burton Krame: Kramer was a professor at OCAD University for over 20 years and in 2003 was one of the first to receive an honorary doctorate from the institution.

'My Father's Son' releases new single at The Dakota Tavern: Montreal's 'My Father's Son' releases his new single, "Ribbon in the Wind", ahead of his second full-length album, The Greatest Thaw.

Who run the world? QTBIPOC: A free drop-in workshop series on relationships for youth. Learn skills and connect with other 2SLGBTQ Black, Indigenous and youth of colour (16-29) at this Beyonce-themed workshop series on relationships-- with pals, family, partners and yourself.

Off The Rails Comedy Competition at Comedy Bar: 'Off The Rails Comedy' is an interactive, improvised stand up show where Toronto's bravest comics make up their acts based on your suggestions! You have the power!

Christian Bernard Singer and Heidi Leverty: HABITAT: In this exhibition we bring together two artists whose artistic practice embraces our relationship with our Habitat, the exhibited works create a striking narrative between the chaotic and the sublime.

The Liveable City? Transportation: As Impressionism in the Age of Industry takes viewers on a journey through a period of immense change in 19th century Paris, we invite speakers across various disciplines to enter into conversations around urgent issues facing Toronto today.

Chocolate Groove: A weekly social dance celebration featuring Toronto’s best DJ’s in one of the most visionary alternative venues in Canada: Alternity.

THURSDAY, APRIL 18

Great Art: Rembrandt in Black and White: The Printmaker

Art historian Anne Thackray shows how Rembrandt’s immensely creative and fertile imagination embraced the expressive possibilities of prints, the most widespread art form of his times.

ALSO ON THURSDAY

Toward environmental rights in Canada: A panel discussion: To mark Earth Week, educators, activists and thought-leaders will convene for a half-day symposium on environmental rights. The event will map a rights-based approach to climate, water and health challenges in Canada.

The Experiment at Comedy Bar: Come see a hilarious improv show featuring performers from CBC's Workin' Moms, Baroness Von Sketch, Sunnyside, and Netflix's Umbrella Academy!

Sketch Swap Showcase: The best of Toronto's Sketch Comedy Scene will be performing the best sketches seen on Toronto stages in the last year and they're not allowed to do their own material! A fun night full of laughs, drinking, and stupidity!

Casual Chess Club at Beaches Library: Join other chess players in a friendly and welcoming environment for casual play. All ages and skill levels are welcome.

Online Reputation Management with Veronica Chail: The CEO of VC Strategies examines the current online culture and provides tools to help you: Curate content that aligns with your brand; Build trust with your audience; Monitor your reputation; and React promptly to avoid crises.

Rock for Dimes Toronto 2019: The annual fundraiser supports MODC's After Stroke suite of programs. Acts include Fresh Water Sharks, Oui B. Jamon, Bit o' Brit Collective, Martha Rocks and Envy & The Cants. Maie pauts of boom 97.3 will host.

Earth Love & Learn - Yoga, Meditation & Earth Talk: Join Irina Andreea and Cassidy Thedorf for this celebration of earth day. A portion of proceeds will be donate to One Tree Planted to help support global reforestation.

RuPaul's Drag Race Viewing Parties: Fans of the hit reality television series can watch new episodes every Thursday at several spots around the city, including The Gladstone Hotel, The Beaver and Striker.

FRIDAY, APRIL 19 (GOOD FRIDAY)

The Toronto Passion Play at Church on the Queensway

The Christian Performing Arts Centre presents 'The Toronto Passion Play' this Easter Season. This spectacular musical depicts the life of Christ, in a brand new riveting story that is sure to delight and please audiences of all ages. April 19-21.

ALSO ON FRIDAY

Mike Rita's 'Pot Comic' album release party: A fresh voice in a haze-filled room, Mike Rita's Pot Comic riffs on being at the forefront of the “weed generation”, how his mom came to love pot, and the hilarious ways in which legalization has changed Canadian lives.

Hey Girl Hey: Bad Friday! Come get bad with us at The Baby G at your fave queer hip-hop and r&b dance party celebrating female and non-binary artists.

International Fan Festival Toronto at Metro Toronto Convention Centre: International Fan Festival Toronto is the newest Anime Convention in Toronto. IFF Toronto is a multi-day, multi-fandom, Japanese focused event. Our featured events include, exclusive Fate/ stay night talk shows with the main casts of the series.

Kidnetix 13th Annual Easter Egg Hunt: Egg-citement for the whole family! Hunt for thousands of Easter candies in our indoor playground. Free photo booth with the Easter Bunny. Crafts, fun interactive petting zoo, and video game theatre.

Friday Night Jazz at Ripley's Aquarium of Canada: Explore the waters of the world the second Friday of every month with live jazz music as you sip on a drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic available) under the sea.

C'mon, Angie! at The Assembly Theatre: Told with humour, heart, and unflinching honesty, C’mon Angie! is a new play by Amy Lee Lavoie that dramatizes a difficult and all-too familiar situation, as two character navigate consent and sexual assault following a one-night stand.

Brooklynn Bar Comedy: We’ve put together some of the best Pro Comedians in the city with help from 'Perfect 10 Comedy' for a VIP comedy show.

Redwood Comedy Cafe: A weekly comedy showcase featuring Canada's top comedians at the intimate Redwood Cafe in Little India.

After Hours: Comedy Bar's beloved late night ensemble party show returns with a fun lineup of some of Toronto's favourite stand ups.

ONGOING

Annual Beaches Easter Parade Weekend: Easter weekend celebration includes: Good Friday Easter Egg Hunt at Kew Gardens, which includes children's entertainment and a meet and greet with Peppa Pig. Easter Sunday Parade on Sunday at 2p.m. along Queen Street East.

Neighbourhood Trust at Lakeshore Arts: A collaborative project examining the state of affordable housing in Toronto through the lens of those directly affected. Runs until April 18.

Angélique at Factory Theatre: Inspired by historical transcripts from the infamous trial, Angélique is a moving account of Black Canadian history beyond the Underground Railroad.

Winter Stations 2019: Featuring six unique art installations. Runs until April 21.

Art Show & Sale by Marley Berot at Starving Artist Restaurant: Trini-Ja Canadian Marley Berot is opening her first show at the Starving Artist Restaurant and Gallery at 467 Danforth Avenue. Her acrylic paintings will stay on the walls until May 18th.

PRECIOUS: An Exhibition of Contemporary Art and Jewellery: By creating precious artwork and art jewellery from everyday and discarded items, Micah Adams, Christine Dwane and Lawrence Woodford remind us that our world is shaped by the decisions we make. Whether disposable or sustainable, beauty is everywhere. On display through May 23.

Being Japanese Canadian: Reflections on a Broken World at the ROM: Explore the original exhibition through the eyes of curators Bryce Kanbara and Katherine Yamashita. Runs until May 25.

The post “ Things to do this week in Toronto “ was originally seen on toronto.com by Whatson

IV Vitamin Drip Therapy Toronto Clinic - The IV Lounge

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rollinbrigittenv8 · 7 years

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How the Disenfranchised Navigate the World in a Time of Permanxiety

Travelers have many digital resources to help them handle and prevent discrimination. Bing Qing Ye / Skift

Skift Take: Discrimination has long caused travel anxiety for demographics underserved by the travel industry. Historically, travelers looked to their respective tribes for intel, but the burgeoning friend economy may be reshaping that concept.

— Sarah Enelow

Skift launched the latest edition of our magazine, Travel in an Age of Permanxiety, at Skift Global Forum in New York City in September. This article is part of our look into the current state of the traveler mindset through the lens of the pervasive case of anxiety felt worldwide.

Download the full version of Skift’s Travel in an Age of Permanxiety magazine here.

In 2017 — with xenophobia, hate crimes, and discrimination top of mind — travelers from disenfranchised groups are looking to their tribes for reliable safety information online.

LGBT travel concerns are high, from discriminatory bathroom bills and the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting. Muslim travelers deal with Islamophobia and President Trump’s travel ban, which the ACLU identified as a discriminatory “Muslim ban,” and which prompted hundreds of lawyers to volunteer at airports across the U.S. Hispanic travelers face an increasingly unwelcoming environment in the U.S. amid calls for a border wall with Mexico and immigration crackdowns. Black travelers express fears of re-surging white nationalism and police brutality alongside the NAACP’s first state-specific travel advisory, for Missouri.

Where can these groups turn for help? What’s the modern-day equivalent of the Green Book, which advised black travelers during the violent and segregated Jim Crow era?

LGBT and Female Travelers

According to a 2017 report by the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), “The role that small businesses play is crucial. Often set up by LGBT people or their allies, small hotels and guesthouses, tour companies, bars and cafés offer a local welcome that benefits from a shared LGBT identity and provides a degree of reassurance of acceptance.”

John Tanzella, president and CEO of IGLTA, said there is a real fear among same-sex couples and transgender people of interrogation at the U.S. border. “The rhetoric of the White House certainly puts fear into travelers,” he said.

IGLTA is currently expanding the safety-related information on its site to empower the community. The organization already has a trip-planning tool featuring LGBT-owned and -friendly providers, as well as discounts for members. “We tend to be on the pro-travel side of that conversation, encouraging people to travel,” said Tanzella.

Every year the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association publishes world maps of death penalties and sexual orientation laws to keep travelers informed. In 2016 Marriott and IBM sponsored the LGBT Guide to Business Travel, which puts much of the onus on the traveler: “Do your due diligence… don’t become a target… ambiguity may be best.”

At this point, guidebooks for women and women-friendly hotel rooms are old news. On the newer side, Wanderful, which hosts events and provides resources for female travelers, launched a female-focused homesharing platform, though with a subscription fee and few listings it may struggle to gain popularity. UK-based Maiden Voyage provides educational and support services to solo female business travelers as well as consulting for the travel companies hoping to capture that market. Indian airline Vistara even has a free service for solo female flyers, giving them a safe escort as well as preferred seating.

Muslim Travelers

Every year Mastercard and consultancy CrescentRating release a Global Muslim Travel Index to map out which destinations best welcome Muslim travelers, a global market estimated to reach $220 billion by 2020. Fazal Bahardeen, CEO of CrescentRating and HalalTrip, said in the 2017 report, “We are definitely seeing the influence of a new breed of young travelers… combining technology with a real desire to explore the world while still adhering to their faith-based needs.”

In a time of Islamophobia, London-based homesharing site Book Halal Homes does for Muslim travelers what homesharing sites Innclusive and Noirbnb do for black travelers. All three aim to provide a more welcoming and multicultural-friendly alternative to Airbnb, spurred by discrimination on Airbnb’s largely unregulated platform. But new players in this space must fight hard to acquire enough listings for travelers to actually use them.

Karima Bihaki, founder and CEO of Book Halal Homes, said, “In the mosque people are talking about it because there’s a lot of fear, especially after the travel ban, what happened in the States when Trump became president. A lot of Muslims feared going to America from any country at the moment even though the ban is just on some certain countries. Because of that people are considering, ‘Should we travel to the states or not?’”

Bihaki elaborated, “There are stories from sisters traveling from Italy back to the UK being asked to take off the hijab. They are dressing differently when they travel abroad. They still dress modest. I heard stories even that people are being selected for extra security measurements because they think they are Muslim while they are not.”

Black and Hispanic Travelers

Kent Johnson, co-founder of the black travel community and group tour operator Black & Abroad, said that since November 2016, “We encountered a lot more questions around what places can I travel where I’ll be safe. Especially with the travel ban happening, people’s anxiousness has slowly ratcheted higher over the last few months.”

About Trump’s policies, Johnson said, “Nothing seems definite, but it all seems immediate at the same time, and those are two prime ingredients [for anxiety].” The company recently launched a new product, a group tour to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Johnson identified anxiety and safety as “key deciding factors” in selecting this inaugural destination.

Evita Robinson, founder of the 15,000-member majority-black and majority-female travel community Nomadness Travel Tribe, which organizes group trips and events globally, held a panel last year on black safety at her company’s conference. Robinson said that her members “respect and love having these outlets.”

Robinson described to Skift the tribe’s concerns in 2016: “I have members who have children who say, ‘I’m raising a young black boy in America. Where can I travel to or potentially move to where I don’t feel like I have to fear for his life every time he wants to go outside and play?’”

Nomadness’ membership is around five percent Hispanic and while something like an organized Hispanic travel movement remains elusive, Hispanic travelers face their own chronic anxieties. President Trump’s proposed border wall between the U.S. and Mexico isn’t yet a reality, but the rhetoric has already inspired some Mexican vacationers to take visa-free trips to Canada instead.

Travelers With Disabilities

BrettApproved provides extensive accessibility ratings on hotels and other venues based on user generated content, separating the brands that understand anxiety from those that resent ADA compliance laws.

“One of the things you probably never think about is: Am I going to be able to get into my hotel room?” Brett Heising, founder and CEO of BrettApproved, told Skift earlier this year. “What we try to do at BrettApproved is give our community that knowledge so that takes away some of that guesswork.”

In the realm of developmental disabilities, more airports are helping travelers with autism by offering simulations and quiet rooms. Autism on the Seas provides services for cruisers with such disabilities in collaboration with Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines.

The Friend Economy

So what’s the next step in making travelers feel safe and welcome? Maybe today, when travelers are looking online for intel within their tribe, they can reimagine who’s actually in that tribe.

The burgeoning friend economy — which operates like the sharing economy but is focused more narrowly on one’s actual acquaintances — might provide a new solution that’s not specific to one race, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc. Homesharing platform Overnight offers places to stay through a person’s extended network of existing friends, which should maximize familiarity, and minimize discrimination and safety concerns between host and guest.

“There’s more implicit trust,” said Overnight CEO Asher Hunt. “If we can create that network and that community that makes it a more safe experience, that’s pretty awesome. And we want to do it many times over,” he said about curated groups within the platform.

The challenges? De-stigmatizing financial transactions between friends and that familiar dearth of listings.

The networks we use to help and inform each other may be evolving, but they still rely on the same principle used throughout history: knowledge is power.

Download Travel in an Age of Permanxiety magazine here

0 notes

touristguidebuzz · 7 years

Text

How the Disenfranchised Navigate the World in a Time of Permanxiety

Travelers have many digital resources to help them handle and prevent discrimination. Bing Qing Ye / Skift

— Sarah Enelow

Download the full version of Skift’s Travel in an Age of Permanxiety magazine here.

In 2017 — with xenophobia, hate crimes, and discrimination top of mind — travelers from disenfranchised groups are looking to their tribes for reliable safety information online.

Where can these groups turn for help? What’s the modern-day equivalent of the Green Book, which advised black travelers during the violent and segregated Jim Crow era?

LGBT and Female Travelers

Muslim Travelers

Black and Hispanic Travelers

Travelers With Disabilities

The Friend Economy

So what’s the next step in making travelers feel safe and welcome? Maybe today, when travelers are looking online for intel within their tribe, they can reimagine who’s actually in that tribe.

The challenges? De-stigmatizing financial transactions between friends and that familiar dearth of listings.

The networks we use to help and inform each other may be evolving, but they still rely on the same principle used throughout history: knowledge is power.

Download Travel in an Age of Permanxiety magazine here

0 notes