The University of Toronto Positive Space Campaign was launched in 1996 by a small group of dedicated individuals who came together with the goal of creating visibility on our three campuses for LGBTQ students, staff and faculty. At the time, putting up rainbows was a pretty big deal. Twenty years later, rainbows, pride flags or positive space materials can be found in most corners of our campuses communities. The familiar rainbow-coloured triangle sticker, which was originally crafted by hand, has become a symbol that is widely recognized to represent a commitment to creating more inclusive spaces for LGBTQ people. The last 20 years have seen the growth and success of this campaign across all three campuses at U of T as more people proudly display this image and engage in dialogue and action in support of Positive Space.
This year, a series of events have been planned on all three campuses to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Positive Space at the University of Toronto:
- January 27: UTSC kicked off 2016 with the 8th Rainbow Tie Gala
- February 29, 10am-12pm: St. George will host a brunch and panel discussion at Hart House (To attend, please register at: uoft.me/ps20brunch);
- March 14, 5:30pm-7:30pm: UTM will host a 20th Anniversary Gala in the UTM Campus Blind Duck Pub;
- May 25, 6pm-9pm: U of T Alumni will host the LGBTQ Spring Soirée (https://springreunion.utoronto.ca/events); and
- June: Stay tuned for the second annual #DisplayYourPride event to celebrate the Pride season.
As a part of the 20th anniversary celebrations, the Positive Space Committee has launched a new website www.positivespace.utoronto.ca where you can learn more about the campaign. You can also order the newly revised Positive Space posters and stickers, or download the Positive Space website button so you can link the page directly to your own website.
Come out and show your pride and support for LGBTQ students, staff and faculty and allies as we celebrate 20 years of Positive Space at U of T!
