A presentation given by Nick Mulé, Chairperson of Queer Ontario, at the We Demand: Sex / Activism / History in Canada Conference that took place in Vancouver, BC from August 25 to August 28, 2011.

Summary:
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A mere three years and four months following the 1971 “We Demand” demonstration in Ottawa, the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario (CLGRO) was founded. Very much based upon the principles of the “We Demand” document, over the next 34 plus years CLGRO was at the forefront of the lesbian and gay movement in Ontario. This paper examines how CLGRO was influenced by the “We Demand” action and how it in turn became an influential forerunner within the LGBT movement not only provincially, but nationally and internationally. Underscoring the work of CLGRO and its successor Queer Ontario is the politic of queer liberationism. As such, a queer liberationist perspective has and continues to distinguish the work of CLGRO and Queer Ontario. In a climate in which a neo-liberal, mainstreaming, assimilationist approach dominates both from within and without the LGBT movement, the work of queer liberationists is compounded and multi-layered requiring a critical discourse that questions and challenges on all fronts including within the movement itself. With the number of political LGBT groups decreasing across the country, and fewer and fewer of those remaining undertaking a liberationist agenda, the movement is at risk of sliding into a heteronormative and cisgendered worldview. Queer liberationists, as exemplified by CLGRO and Queer Ontario, through principled work based on the integrity of the original “We Demand” calls for change provide a progressive, alternative voice to the status quo, towards ensuring diversity both within LGBT communities and in broader Canadian society.
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The PowerPoint Presentation:

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Employer
York University and Queer Ontario,
Queer Community Development Research Project

Employment Opportunity/Position
Part-time Contract Videographer (3 months)

Title of Research Project
Queer Liberation Theory: Resurrection and Development

Principal Investigator (PI)
Dr. Nick Mulé
School of Social Work
Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

York University
4700 Keele St.
Toronto, Ontario M3P 1J3
416.736.2100 Ext. 66325
nickmule@yorku.ca

Term of Employment
May – July 2011

Overview and Purpose of the Research Project
This research project will resurrect the principles of the historical gay liberation movement, re-contextualize them within a modern era discourse, translate the findings in theoretical terms and disseminate them via multimedia approaches to further queer liberation movement community development and public education.

Videographer Responsibilities (in conjunction with the PI)

1. To video-record interviews with activists and academics who engage queer liberation theory and activism for public education and queer community development purposes

2. To conceptualize, edit and create a short documentary featuring highlights of interviews in association with theoretical themes

3. To archive full interviews with each study participant

4. To upload documentary short and full-scale interviews on all relevant Queer Ontario social media outlets

5. To ensure documentary short is produced in a format that is accessible for public screenings

Videographer Tasks

• Engage in a team-based conceptualization of the documentary short with PI, research assistant (RA) and Queer Ontario
• In conjunction with the PI and RA, video record a series of interviews with study participants
• Work in collaboration with PI and RA in coordinating and scheduling interviews
• Contribute to a team-led approach to editing video recorded interviews for both the production of a documentary short and full-scale individual interviews for online viewing (including editing, promotion and outreach) and public screenings
• Ensure final product of the documentary short can be utilized in multimedia and research-based theatre-style presentations
• Produce a monthly time sheet and meet with PI and Queer Ontario as required for timely completion of the project

Hours of work
Flexibility required as hours per week dependent upon scheduling of interviews and editing process over a 3-month period.

Flat Rate of Pay: $1,200

Videographer Qualifications

• College or university training in film making an asset. Previous experience, related degree or community-based skills will also be considered.
• Knowledge, familiarity and comfort with contemporary queer and trans communities and cultures
• History of community-based activism, voluntary work or academic-community-based project interface
• Participation in social justice activities, community advocacy and civic engagement an asset
• Familiarity working in an anti-oppression framework
• Demonstrated video recording, editing, production, organizational and independent working skills
• Familiarity with academic queer theory literature, Canadian gay and lesbian and trans history and activism an asset
• Must have access to or own HD equipment and be familiar with film making software
• Detail oriented, outstanding organizational skills with the ability to meet Project deadlines and requirements
• Ability to work effectively independently, with individuals and in a team environment utilizing strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Respectful of research ethics and Project accountability

Please send electronic copy of Cover Letter, Résumé and/or CV, and a list of 2 current references to the attention of: Dr. Nick Mulé at nickmule@yorku.ca by 5:00 PM on May 4, 2011. Please include, “Queer Liberation Theory-Videographer” in the subject line.

Equal opportunities statement
York University and Queer Ontario are committed to Employment Equity and encourage applications from all qualified candidates. We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Date of Posting: April 19, 2011

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Employer
York University and Queer Ontario,
Queer Community Development Research Project

Employment Opportunity/Position
Part-time Contract Research Assistant (7 months)

Title of Research Project
Queer Liberation Theory: Resurrection and Development

Principal Investigator (PI)
Dr. Nick Mulé
School of Social Work
Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies

York University
4700 Keele St.
Toronto, Ontario M3P 1J3
416.736.2100 Ext. 66325
nickmule@yorku.ca

Term of Employment
April 1, 2011 – October 31, 2011

Overview and Purpose of the Research Project
This research project will resurrect the principles of the historical gay liberation movement, re-contextualize them within a modern era discourse, translate the findings in theoretical terms and disseminate them via multimedia approaches to further queer liberation movement community development and public education.

Research Assistant Responsibilities (in conjunction with the PI)

1. To review the literature and create a multi-media resource list of sources that deal with queer liberation theory and perspectives

2. To interview activists and academics who engage queer liberation theory and activism for public education and queer community development purposes

3. To develop a modern day conceptual understanding of queer liberation theory that resurrects the principles of the first wave of the gay liberation movement and fuses it with current day queer discourses and advocacy challenges

4. To create a clear language pamphlet “Queer Liberation in the 2010s”

5. To hold a public forum in which the oral history, short documentary and pamphlet are launched

Research Assistant Tasks:

• Conduct a literature review of queer liberation theory
• Create a multi-media resource list of an annotated bibliography of literature and documentaries
• In conjunction with the PI, devise the interview schedule of questions for the semi-structured qualitative narrative interviews
• Create and confirm a list of approximately 25 participants for the oral history and coordinate with the videographer interviews for online viewing (including editing, promotion and outreach)
• Produce and disseminate, in collaboration with Queer Ontario and the PI, a clear language pamphlet entitled, “Queer Liberation in the 2010s”
• Organize with the PI and Queer Ontario a public forum in which all outputs of this study will be launched utilizing multimedia and research-based theatre presentation
• Produce a monthly time sheet and meet with PI and Queer Ontario as required for timely completion of the project

Hours of work: 5 hours per week over a 7-month period for a total of 140 hours.

Rate of Pay: $20 per hour

Research Assistant Qualifications

• University degree or current graduate student (MA or PhD) an asset. Previous experience, related College degree or community-based skills will also be considered.
• Knowledge, familiarity and comfort with contemporary queer and trans communities and cultures
• History of community-based activism, social services or academic-community-based project interface
• Participation in social justice activities, community advocacy and civic engagement an asset
• Familiarity working in an anti-oppression framework
• Demonstrated reading, writing, organizational and independent working skills
• Demonstrable familiarity with academic queer theory literature, Canadian gay and lesbian and trans history and activism an asset
• Strong research skills and interviewing an asset
• Detail oriented with outstanding organizational skills with the ability to meet Project deadlines and requirements
• Ability to work effectively independently, with individuals and in a team environment utilizing strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Respectful of research ethics and Project accountability

Please send electronic copy of Cover Letter, Résumé and/or CV, and a list of 2 current references to the attention of:  Dr. Nick Mulé at nickmule@yorku.ca by 5:00 PM on March 14, 2011. Please include, “Queer Liberation Theory-RA” in the subject line.

Equal opportunities statement
York University and Queer Ontario are committed to Employment Equity and encourage applications from all qualified candidates. We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Date of Posting: February 21, 2011

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