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Guest post, Uncategorized

Sharing Spaces: Jamie’s Experience of Spectrum on the Spectrum

Hi! My name is Jamie and I’m a Social Service Worker student from Conestoga College and I’m
doing my placement at Spectrum this semester. For transparency, I’m a white neurodivergent
pansexual transgender guy who has a special passion for supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ folks with
mental illnesses and who may be homeless or have experienced homelessness at some point in their life. I have personal and professional experience with service navigation and I’m very
knowledgeable about 2SLGBTQIA+ issues and tenant rights. My goal during my placement is to
attend as many of the groups/events Spectrum offers and share my experiences while
attending these groups, as well as the experiences of other folks who attend and have willingly
answered questions that I have asked them.

As a part of attending these groups, I have written a series of journal entries that discuss my own thoughts of the spaces, combined with the answers I received from other attendees. Today, I’ll be talking about my experience at Spectrum on the Spectrum, which is a group for people who are on the Autism spectrum and identify as 2SLGBTQIA+.

Spectrum on the Spectrum

I have attended Spectrum on the Spectrum before my placement, but this time was particularly amazing. The environment was very welcoming and everyone was very friendly. There were drinks and snacks that were offered, as well as fidget toys and paper/markers for those who were non-speaking but still wanted to communicate. I spent the majority of the meeting talking with a group of three other people and I felt like I made a great connection with them. Some regular attendees of this group mentioned that this is the most people they have ever seen attend in the past which is great that word is getting out there that such an amazing group is running at Spectrum. I do, however, wish that the group ran more often as it currently runs only once a month. Hopefully, that is something Spectrum will be able to do in the future.

One attendee that I had the pleasure of interviewing said “This specific group allows me to
make other LGBTQ+ friends without worrying that I’ll act too awkwardly” and that “the
meetings for Spectrum on the Spectrum are relaxing and give me a sense of community”. When asked what would you like for people to know who are considering attending this group they said “It was a bit scary to visit, but everyone at Spectrum is really welcoming. If you’ve
considered visiting, it’s definitely worthwhile to try.

Over the course of the next few months, I’ll be sharing my other experiences of Spectrum Groups.

If you’re interested in attending any future Spectrum groups, make sure to check out the events calendar (ourspectrum.com/events) or follow us on social media.

Thanks for reading!

Jamie

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Cartoon drawing of the progress pride flag
Statements, Uncategorized

A Message from Spectrum’s ED, Suzie Taka

If you are in crisis and need help:
  • Call Here 24/7 at 1.844.437.3247 for 24/7 support. 
  • 9-8-8 is a national hotline that you can call or text for support 
  • Youthline provides queer peer support for folks 29 and under

Dear Community, 

When writing for the public, you’re often advised to aim for a fifth-grade level to ensure clarity. As a parent—whose oldest child is in kindergarten—I’ve come to deeply value the importance of simplicity. I often find myself breaking down complex issues into language my small children can understand. I tell them we recycle because we love the earth and want to care for it, we are kind and friendly to our neighbors because we want to make everyone feel like they belong, and we stand up when we see someone being hurt because everyone deserves to feel safe and valued.

But this task becomes especially challenging when the world feels like it’s at its most horrible, hateful, and hopeless.

I can’t reduce the reality of a world filled with bigotry and harm to a simple tale of superheroes and villains, because that’s not what’s happening. The world isn’t binary. It’s not about one person, one side, or one moment. I struggle to find an analogy for ideologies fueled by an incomprehensible quest to deny the lived truths of so many people we love—people like us, our friends, and our family.

Like so many, at SPECTRUM, we have been processing the events of this week, grappling with worry about what comes next. Finding the right words is difficult, so I’ve been focusing on the things I know to be true:

  • Two-Spirit, queer, trans, non-binary, and other diverse people have always existed.
  • We will continue to exist.
  • The world is not binary. It is, in fact, a spectrum.

These truths guide me. They remind me of the immense privilege I have each day to advocate for and connect with people here in Waterloo Region who are part of SPECTRUM’s programs and the broader community. I hear their stories about the profound impact of peer support, safe spaces, recreation programs, youth initiatives, and more.

Currently, SPECTRUM runs 72 programs a month:

  • 12 community social groups
  • 29 peer support groups
  • 10 youth and family programs
  • 22 sports and recreation programs

We do this with no annualized government funding, relying on grants and community donations (and if you aren’t a monthly donor, but could be, maybe this is the time to become one). We do this with shoestring budgets but exponential passion, because there is a strong and constant need for belonging in a world that often tries to tear us apart.

You cannot legislate away queerness—but you can create immense harm by trying to. Being 2SLGBTQIA+ is normal and natural; humans have never and will never fit into socially constructed boxes that are in direct opposition to who we are. The struggles faced by so many in our community are not because of who they are, but because of the world they exist in.

I have been the Executive Director for exactly three months now. I have not taken a single moment of this work for granted, thanks to the incredible people I work with who remind me daily that it is a gift to be here, working together.

If you have never been or haven’t been in awhile, please know that Spectrum’s peer support groups and other programs are a space to share any and all challenges, including debriefing about the state of the world - community is here waiting for you.

Sometimes, I bring my children to the office, and they get to experience this magical little world where everyone belongs—where everyone can come as they are and be celebrated. I don’t shield them from the realities of the outside world, but I am endlessly grateful that we have this space in our community. It is a place where we welcome everyone to gather, live, and create moments in time where everyone belongs.

With love and solidarity, 

Suzie Taka

Executive Director

Spectrum Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space

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A group of about 20 folks are standing in a gym in athletic wear, all holding pickleball paddles and smiling at the camera. This is an image from our Multi-Sport Program!
Awareness, Research, SPECTRUM News, Uncategorized

2SLGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Sports – Sports Canada Research Project

Over the last few years, Spectrum introduced Multi-Sport Drop-In and Rainbow Diversity Training. These programs help to enhance well-being for 2SLGBTQIA+ people here in Waterloo Region. After a pilot trial of Multi-Sport, we enlisted Wilfrid Laurier University to help study its effectiveness. This research was made possible with generous funding from Sport Canada. We also want to thank the researchers from the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work at Wilfrid Laurier. 

This evaluation was created to show the impact these programs make on our community. It was also created to find ways to improve upon them moving forward. We would like to thank Dr. Michael Woodford and his team at Wilfrid Laurier for their excellent work in creating this report. We are pleased to be able to share these details with the community.

A picture of several folks underneath a brightly coloured parachute inside of a gym. They're all smiling at the camera.

Multi-Sport Evaluation

Multi-Sport Drop-In is a space for 2SLGBTQIA+ people to participate in physical activity. We received evaluations from 210 participants over 87 sessions. 

The evaluation helped us to understand the reasons that people attended these programs. Most people answered that they wanted to spend more time with other 2SLGBTQIA+ folks. They also noted how beneficial it was that these programs were run free of cost. For many people, it wasn’t just to be physically active; it was about connection.

Overall, participants’ mental health improved from participating in these programs. They were able to become more comfortable with participating and learning different sports. The program made people feel safe and included with other participants.

The study also identified some potential ideas for improving the program. We now know to continue balancing competition and inclusivity. The program would also benefit from having more under-recognized communities take part. This would also help to diversify the space even more for all participants. Lastly, feedback also made suggestions on how to market our program to folks who are new to programs like this. We hope to use some of these findings to help ease new attendees’ worries in coming out to join us. 

RDT Evaluation

Rainbow Diversity Training aims to teach folks more about the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. It focuses on increasing knowledge and allyship. Our team worked to train community centre staff on working with 2SLGBTQIA+ people. 

The evaluation showed that correct answers about gender-inclusive language nearly doubled. However, we also noticed that knowledge about community resources remained low. 

We learned that the sections on mental health and language changes were very helpful. Attendees said the training helped them to understand the struggles within the community. They felt more compassionate towards folks within the community as well. 

The recommendations we received was to have more consistent training. Teaching more about how to handle resistance would be helpful for public-facing staff. There was also a need for more about religious and cultural sensitivity. We are planning on implementing all of the recommendations into the training sessions this coming year.

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For ease, we’ve created three different versions of the report. The full report goes into detail about the research and methodology. We have two shorter reports that discuss the findings and recommendations more succinctly. Thank you again to Sport Canada for making this research possible. We also would like to thank the folks at Wilfrid Laurier for doing such incredible work. We look forward to using our participants’ feedback to help improve our programs in 2025. We look forward to seeing you at the 2SLGBTQIA+ Multi-Sport Drop-In soon! Visit this micro-site to learn all about the program.

Spectrum 2SLGBTQ+ Sport Program Evaluation_FINALJAN7-2025 (1)Download
RDT Evaluation_ShortenedDownload
Multi-Sport Evaluation_ShortenedDownload

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Uncategorized

Guest Post: performing bisexuality for others

This month’s guest post was written by Julia Cowderoy.

When I was 19 I posted a status on Facebook that said “when people ask me about my sexuality, I’m just going to start saying my thirst knows no bounds’. While that’s obviously hilarious I understand now that I was using humour as a faux shield against any kind of scrutiny (real or imagined). During this time I felt I had to “prove” my bisexuality in order for it to be valid. The irony of writing an essay to prove that I don’t have to prove anything is not lost on me, but just bear with me. 

I’ve realized that not feeling “queer enough” is a common theme within the bisexual community. Why is that? I’ve noticed that bisexual men are assumed to be gay, whereas bisexual women are painted with a broad brush as straight girls who drunkenly make-out with their friends for the enjoyment of their googly-eyed yokel boyfriends. In both instances, the attraction of men is the underlying motivation for expressions of sexuality.  

While I can’t wholly speak to the experiences of bisexual men, I will say that I’ve had straight men view my sexuality as a performance for their pleasure. (“Performance” is a useful word because it implies we are actors and bisexuality needs to look a certain way in order for it to be valid.) While trying to come to terms with my own sexuality I was influenced more by external sources than I understood at the time. 

I’ve had people in my life question my sexuality because I’ve never dated a woman, and recently my best friend even told me I was “90% into men”. She didn’t mean this maliciously; I’ve only dated men, so the judgement was based more on how I’ve presented than how I feel. The reality is that my attraction to people is more fluid rather than a rigid percentage. This interaction sent me into an anxiety spiral wondering if I was just cosplaying as a bisexual person this entire time.

When I volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters as a peer mentor, I encouraged conversations about gender and sexuality. I marvelled at how accepting much of this younger generation is of sexuality and how they realize it isn’t static and doesn’t need to appear a certain way to be real. When I was that age I thought sexuality was something predetermined and permanent, and as such I had a lot of confusion surrounding my attraction to women since I considered myself straight. 

I’ve come a long way in understanding my sexuality, but there is still work to be done. I hope as a society we can come to a place of understanding that sexuality and gender are more complex than scientific definitions. And, like any sexuality, bisexuality isn’t some hypothesis that needs to be tested, experimented, cross-examined and held to rigorous scientific standards — it simply exists.

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