UTM Alumni
Oral histories provide critical first-hand recounts of experiences which shed light on important under-researched topics, such as the history of the LGBTQ2+ community. Queer oral history has become more prominent in public history, as a response to the lack of historical documentation of LGBTQ2+ lives. Oral histories give voice to those who are usually excluded from traditional narratives by providing critical first-hand accounts of an individual's experiences. This is true of our exhibit, where we present alumni from the University of Toronto-Mississauga campus who identify as part of the LGBTQ2+ community. Their stories provide critical insight into their own experiences with sexuality and gender while enrolled in undergraduate programs at the university.
Explaining a wide range of difficulties, our narrators discuss their lives both on and off campus. Though certain programs appear more accepting than others, there is one main take-away: the University of Toronto- Mississauga campus has been working hard to create a safe space for queer folks, but still has some ways to go. From Positive Space posters and stickers, to OUT@UTM events, the campus has recently sought to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for the campus LGBTQ2+ community im recent years. With our exhibit, we hope to demonstrate the importance of archiving queer oral history as represented through the interviews of UTM alumni.
Below you will find four different interviews from undergraduate alumni at UTM. Following the interviews, there is an image gallery connecting the themes of the topics discussed.
Enjoy.
The Interviews
Arielle Kersey
Arielle Kersey is a 2019 graduate of UTM, and a current MA student in English Literature at the University of British Columbia. She discusses her experience being queer and trans in the UTM community, specifically while holding leadership positions, and how her advocacy for the queer community came through in her work. She elaborates on her engagement both in and out of the classroom with UTM’s various queer-inclusive initiatives. She remarks on the development of the queer community throughout her time at UTM, and argueus that the responsibility of inclusivity at UTM falls on the queer community itself.
Mackenzie Burton
Mackenzie Burton is a Brampton-born UTM alumnus breaking into the GTA theatre creation scene. After graduating from the university’s theatre and drama specialist program, Mackenzie has found work acting and directing in the region of Peel, where he brings his experience as a proud out gay man to his work. He does this by promoting representation and the breaking of binaries in theatre. Mackenzie also discusses what he hopes to see in the future of this campus’ queer safe spaces and how he navigates gender performance as an actor.
George Alevizos
George Alevizos is an alumnus from the University of Toronto-Mississauga campus who participated in the joint Sheridan program for theatre and drama studies. In his interview, George discusses his experience within the program itself, as well as his experiences of being out on campus. He also discusses accessibility on campus, the lack thereof, and how that had affected his time while attending the university. George then expresses how there is a strong underrepresentation of disabled queers within the community, and it wasn’t until recently that there has been slightly more representation within the community.
Gabriel Tran
Gabriel Tran is an alumnus from the University of Toronto- Mississauga after graduating with a double major in Anthropology and Biology. He discusses his view of LGBTQ+ community on campus from 2015-2019. Gabriel goes over his knowledge of LGBTQ2+ events on campus, the lack of gender-inclusive bathrooms, OUT@UTM, the campus’ overall culture, his involvement on campus during his four years, and what he believes could be improved in years to come.
Convocation - Erindale College
Photo of graduates at their 1970 convocation from UTM (formerly known as Erindale college). At this time, the Erindale campus had no LGBTQ2+ open activity. As we know now, there are several initiatives and campaigns that take place annually amopngst the campus.
Shared Interest Networks > LGBTQ+ Alumni
The University of Toronto alumni website has its own section specifically for the LGBTQ2+ community. Click the thumbnail to check out all the website has to offer!
LGBTQ spirit infuses Queer Orientation
As mentioned in all four interviews above, UTM holds Queer Orientation, a networking event for LGBTQ2+ students to meet industry professionals. Click the thumbnail to check out this article!
Generation T
Excerpt from article, "Generation T" in the University of Toronto Magazine, an alumni digest. The article goes over being a transgender student at the university, the obstacles, adjustments, and more. Click the thumbnail to read this article!
Mackenzie Burton's "KORE" 2018
Narrator Mackenzie Burton both wrote and directed one-act KORE in the 2018 Beck Creation Festival at UTM.
Trifles: bringing new relevance to a classic
Narrator Arielle Kersey was the artistic director for the 2018 production of Trifles at UTM. Trifles was not only a feminist intrpretation of Glaspell's text, but incorporated queer elements as well.
HIS395: LGBTQ2+ Oral History in Peel Class
A photo from Dr. Elpeth Brown's LGBTQ2+ Oral History in Peel class at UTM. This is from the first semester Professor Brown ran the class (Winter 2020).