.
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

♦

.
Queer Ontario will be giving a deputation at the City of Toronto’s Executive Committee meeting this Wednesday, April 20th, in response to the discussions that will take place around Pride Toronto’s Compliance with the City’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, the City Manager’s ruling on the non-discriminatory nature of the phrase “Israeli Apartheid,” and Councillor Mammoliti’s talks of de-funding the Pride festival. Given the importance of these discussions to LGBTQ people in Toronto and across Ontario, we are calling on individuals like you to come to this meeting and show your support!

What are the details?

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:30 am sharp and will take place in Committee Room 1 on the second floor of City Hall (100 Queen Street West, Toronto). Given that the Anti-Discrimination Policy is the very first item on the agenda, we recommend you come early — say, at 9:00 am — to increase your likelihood of getting a seat.

What if you can’t attend the meeting?

No worries! You can also get involved by submitting your comments to the Committee Secretary at exc@toronto.ca, by phone at 416-392-6627, or fax at 416-392-1879. The Secretariat’s name is Frances Pritchard.

If you want to learn more…

A summary of the issues that will be discussed by the Executive Committee at this Wednesday meeting can be found here.

A copy of the City Manager’s ruling on the non-discriminatory nature of the phrase “Israeli Apartheid” can be found here.

And the motion that stated it all, made by Councillor Mammoliti and seconded by then-Councillor Rob Ford, can be found here.

We hope to see you there!

The Queer Ontario Steering Committee

.

.

.

Urges organization to dissolve its adjudication committee and  stand up for the right of all LGBTQ groups to participate in the festival
.

Queer Ontario is declaring its strong opposition to the Dispute Resolution Process (DRP) established by Pride Toronto on April 12, 2011 to investigate and resolve any and all complaints around the participation of community groups in its annual Pride Parade. Queer Ontario does so not only because of the professional and political biases of its chosen adjudicators, but also because of the effects the DRP will have to the toleration of differences within Toronto’s LGBTQ communities.

Much like the formation of the Community Advisory Panel (CAP) in September of 2010, and the formation of the CAP Implementation Committee / Advisory Panel established on March 31st, Queer Ontario is seriously questioning the non-transparent and undemocratic process that was used to strike the DRP Panel. We are pressed to ask:

1.  Why has Douglas Elliott been appointed Chair of the DRP, given that he has expressed less than progressive views on the role of politics in the Pride Parade (as evidenced by a keynote speech he gave to the Law Society of Upper Canada last year, where he noted that the Parade is “primarily a celebration of our sexuality and gender identity, not a political protest…”)?

2.  Why was Elliott appointed Chair, given that he was one of the individuals who met with Pride Toronto behind closed doors last year to discuss the idea of the CAP as a solution to community protests? Are his appointment as Chair of the DRP, the CAP’s recommendation to establish the DRP, and his input at this initial meeting in any way connected?

3.  Why did Pride Toronto appoint mostly lawyers and legal experts as DRP officers, some of whom are not LGBTQ-identified, and many of whom, like Elliott, hold less than progressive views on the political aspects of Pride? Why did it not engage a broader range of legal professionals with progressive perspectives on human rights issues? Or, better yet: Why did it not include other non-legal professionals who are just as qualified in mediation and conflict resolution work? What is the point of establishing a quasi-juridical body that has the power to determine, with ‘legal’ but legally unbinding authority, who can or cannot participate in the Parade?

4.  Why did Pride Toronto not consult with members of the community and/or set up a more democratic selection process to appoint its DRP officers?

5.  And lastly: Now that Toronto’s city manager has announced that the phrase ‘Israeli Apartheid’ does not contravene the City of Toronto’s anti-discrimination policy, will the DRP be using the city’s anti-discrimination policy as the criteria for permitting disputed organizations to participate in the parade? If not, what criteria will they be using?

Indeed, it seems that despite the proposed recommendations in the CAP Report and the (hopefully) critical advice it has been receiving from CAP Implementation Committee, Pride Toronto is still engaging in its old practices of resisting transparency, accountability and responsibility.

While Queer Ontario supports a Pride Toronto conflict resolution process in principle, it cannot support an unelected decision-making body that is not at arms-length from either the Pride Toronto Board or the CAP – especially if this body is not consultative in nature, is not representative of Toronto’s LGBTQ communities, relies on questionable interpretations of laws and policies designed to undermine the freedom of expression enjoyed by all Canadians, and was chosen without any input whatsoever from the community. As in all other aspects of its operation, Pride Toronto should adopt a conflict resolution process that is based on empathy, diplomacy, consensus-building, community inclusion, representation, and engagement.

Indeed, Queer Ontario feels that, despite the claims being put forward by Pride Toronto, the DRP will operate as a de facto censor board, with the potential of inadvertently setting up a modern-day witch hunt that will pit community groups against one another and deny otherwise legitimate groups their legal right to free speech and expression. Rather than provide a safe space where LGBTQ community groups can openly and freely display the full spectrum of their gender identification, sexuality, and politics, the DRP will establish a mechanism that will allow groups to target one another with the aim of having so-called ‘controversial’ groups removed from the parade, and will conversely fail to protect these targeted groups from unwarranted attack – a completely demoralizing process. As such, we demand much more leadership and courage from Pride Toronto and ask that it instead take an unequivocal stance on the right of all LGBTQ community groups to participate in the Pride Festival, despite their politics or expression.

Queer Ontario urges Pride Toronto to dismantle this resolution process, to stop acquiescing to the pressures of the City of Toronto, and to publicly recognize all LGBTQ community groups as valid, and valued, participants in the Pride Parade – QuAIA, Kulanu, and  TNT!Men included – and to defend their right to be in the Pride Festival. To do so would mean that Pride Toronto is indeed committed to the often conflicting diversity of Toronto’s LGBTQ communities, and that it has the integrity and the courage to truly embrace and champion all of its constituent LGBTQ community groups.

Queer Ontario is a provincially based network of individuals who are members of the gender and sexually diverse populations and their allies committed to liberationist and sex positive principles that focus on questioning, challenging and seeking reform to social norms and laws that regulate queer people. Queer Ontario engages in public education, political action, promoting access and diversity and coalition building.

Queer Ontario’s own community report on Pride Toronto, drawn from the survey that it conducted earlier this year, will be released by the end of the month.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Nick Mulé
Chairperson
Queer Ontario

nickm@look.ca
416.926.9135

♦