Learning Together: LGBTQ2S+ Inclusive Teaching, Research and Scholarship

How do we teach and learn together in unsettlingly spaces marked by differences of ideas and perspectives, social divides, and disruption? In spaces of polarisation and contentious debates, what does it require of each of us to engage in difficult and unsettling conversations so that we can teach, learn, work, and think together? This Courageous Conversations is part of a series, "Together," which aims to create brave spaces for meaningful engagement, mutual understanding, and change. "Learning Together" delves into the transformative principles of queer pedagogy, which challenges conventional educational frameworks. By advocating for a pedagogical approach that fosters critical engagement, disrupts heteronormative assumptions, and values the diversity, complexity and fluidity of identities, this discussion hosted by Vice Provost (EDI) Dr. Malinda Smith, aims to cultivate inclusive mindsets, and dynamic teaching, learning and research environments.

Disrupting the Campus: Lessons from Queer Pedagogy – Dr. Safaneh Mohaghegh Neyshabouri

Join us for an enlightening and provocative exploration into the world of queer pedagogy with Dr. Safaneh Mohaghegh Neyshabouri. This presentation will dive into the transformative power of queer pedagogy, which challenges the status quo of traditional education by promoting critical engagement, dismantling heteronormative assumptions, and celebrating the complexity and fluidity of identities.

Drawing from her rich experience as an educator in Gender and Sexuality Studies and Muslim Cultures, Dr. Mohaghegh Neyshabouri will share how embracing queer pedagogical principles has revolutionized her teaching. Her approach fosters an inclusive, dynamic classroom environment where intersections of identity, power, and knowledge are not only acknowledged but deeply explored.

Discover how these principles have a far-reaching impact beyond the classroom, resonating with broader campus dynamics and challenging institutional norms, as exemplified by recent campus encampments. Through a compelling blend of theoretical insights and real-world teaching experiences, this presentation promises to reveal the profound influence of queer pedagogy on educational practices and social justice movements within academic institutions.

Prepare to be inspired and challenged as we uncover the powerful lessons from queer pedagogy and their potential to disrupt and transform our campuses for the better.

Critically queer as praxis: A transdisciplinary approach to research redressing heterosexism, homophobia, and transphobia - Dr. Tonya Callaghan 

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, two-spirit+ (LGBTQ2S+) communities continue to face discrimination in a variety of institutions and settings, whether as students or teachers in schools or as newcomers in Canadian cities. How can teachers, students, and policymakers work together to eliminate oppression of gender and sexual minority groups? 

Professor Tonya Callaghan’s comparative research spans continents, from Canada to the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, where they have found positive engagement with youth who are leading the revolution against religiously inspired homophobic oppression. Student activists can and do play key roles in affecting change in their communities, particularly in Catholic schools. Professor Callaghan’s work explores effective ways to resist homophobia and empower students who have felt silenced and shamed. 

Professor Callaghan will also discuss their current collaboration with Calgary’s Centre for Newcomers, a research project focusing on LGBTQ2S+ refugees, an already vulnerable group facing increased risks related to mental health, poverty, and homelessness. This research partnership is committed to ensuring that Canadian refugee settlement organizations are better prepared to support LGBTQ2S+ refugees to not only survive but thrive.