UTSC Positive Space Committee

Overview

About Positive Space at U of T Scarborough

The Positive Space Committee for the Scarborough campus meets monthly to discuss emerging issues, respond to needs throughout the campus, and network with others to support the Positive Space Campaign at UTSC. These meetings are a gathering of students, staff, faculty & librarians across the campus who are interested in supporting Positive Space and connecting with others committed to addressing homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of gender-based oppression, and to make our learning and working environments more inclusive. Allies are encouraged to attend these meetings and participate in the campaign. Let’s work together to make UTSC more 2SLGBTQ+ positive! 

About the Positive Space Campaign (tri-campus)

The University’s Positive Space Campaign is a program that seeks to create and identify safer and more inclusive spaces for 2-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and questioning (2SLGBTQI+) students, staff, faculty, alumni, and allies at the University of Toronto. 

Positive Space challenges the patterns of silence that continue to marginalize 2SLGBTQ+ students, staff, and faculty – even in environments with anti-discriminatory and inclusive policies. The most visible symbol of this campaign is the inverted rainbow triangle sticker that you will see in many places around campus. 

If you notice a rainbow triangle sticker on a door or an office, it is a sign that people in that office or space are supportive of 2SLGBTQ+ students, staff, faculty, and our allies and would welcome your questions and requests for assistance. They may not have all the answers, but they will be helpful in a general way and can refer you to appropriate offices and services. 

Committee Membership

Currently, each campus has a committee that works towards ensuring that working and learning environments are welcoming to 2SLGBTQ+ students, staff, faculty, and allies. Change cannot come from policy alone, but also comes from people acting together to ensure that all are welcome and respected. Each committee establishes its own agenda, but all work towards spreading awareness and growing the size of the campaign – on St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough campuses. for more information, please click here or visit https://positivespace.utoronto.ca/.

Current Chair:

Monica Khoshaien (she/her) Equity Engagement Coordinator, UTSC Health & Wellness Centre, monica.khoshaien@utoronto.ca

UTSC Positive Space Committee currently has 20 members, with representation from students, staff, librarians and faculty. The committee meets bi-weekly and membership is open to all campus community members. If you would like to join the Positive Space Committee, or learn more about upcoming events, please contact the Chair at positivespace.utsc@utoronto.ca.  

Events and Contact

To learn more about upcoming events, follow the UTSC Positive Space Instagram page: @utscpositivespace 

To get in touch with UTSC Positive Space Committee, e-mail positivespace.utsc@utoronto.ca.