Author: Cheryl Clock
In her life, there are two important worlds. People of colour. And the queer community.
She embraces both, yet fits into neither.
Nona Bader, 25, was born in Sudan, and immigrated to Canada in 1999. She is a pansexual — a person who has romantic or sexual attractions to people of any gender or sex. She identifies as queer.
Yet, she feels like an outsider in both communities.
The Sudanese community doesn’t understand her queer self. “And coloured queers are invisible in the queer community,” she says.
“I want to create a space where coloured queers can shine.”
She is one of the organizers of Niagara Queer People of Colour, a group that formed last fall. And on Saturday, she will join a group of other women who will offer workshops and panel discussions on the challenges facing people in marginalized groups. Among the presenters at the Niagara Women and Youth Gathering: a survivor of sexual violence who will offer insight into her experience of disclosing and the court process; a Muslim woman who will explore common misconceptions and prejudice; and a person from the LGBTQ community who will discuss issues they face.
For Bader, it’s about putting a face to queer people of colour.
“Those people exist. Let’s talk about it,” she says.
She came out to her siblings at age 18; her parents at age 23.
“I didn’t want to live a lie,” she says.
“I shouldn’t be ashamed of who I am.”
Naheed Qureshi is a Muslim woman intent on dispelling myths and stereotypes of Muslim women in the western world.
Born in Pakistan, she lived in Saudi Arabia before coming to Canada 20 years ago.
She will talk about a common myth — that Muslim women are forced to wear face or head coverings.
They are not forced, not by religion or by their husbands, she says. “Women choose to for empowerment.”
She does not wear any coverings in Canada. She did in Saudi Arabia because government law — not religion — required all women to do so. In Pakistan, it is a choice.
The idea for the conference began with Sarah Burtch, women’s community development co-ordinator, with AIDS Niagara, and Tabitha Jamieson with the Niagara Regional Sexual Assault Centre. They wanted to create a safe space where people who normally wouldn’t feel comfortable sharing ideas, could do just that. The workshop is in an accessible downtown space, at the Folk Arts Multicultural Centre. It’s free and there will be a vegan lunch.
“When you’re exposed to other people and different ways of thinking, it helps you grow as a person,” says Burtch.
“It builds a better, more equitable community.”
“We see this as a drop in the bucket, but we’re sure there will be ripples that come out of it,” says Jamieson.
“We should be celebrating our differences rather than trying to create a homogeneous view.”
NIAGARA WOMEN AND YOUTH GATHERING
What: Niagara Women and Youth Gathering, workshops and panel discussion to identify and address the unique challenges facing people from marginalized groups.
When: Saturday, March 1, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Folk Arts Multicultural Centre, Robertson Hall, 85 Church St., St. Catharines.
Cost: Free. Includes a vegan lunch.
Details: For more information on the conference or to register, visitwww.niagarawomenyouthgathering.eventzilla.net. Registration on the day of the conference begins at 8:30 a.m.
