E004 Scott Williams LGBTQ+ Terminology 2
Let’s Be Well Together Podcast - Episode 4
Date: February 22, 2022
Participants: Julie Wilson, John Webster, Cameron Earnshaw, Sheila Webster and Sammy Damaren.
Guest: Scott Williams
Start times and Segment Summaries:
[0:00:19] What’s On Your Mind: Co-Host Julie Wilson and John recall how they connected on a shared interest in wellness. Julie talks about workplace initiatives to bring attention to mental health and lessen stigma associated with it.
Link to Mental Health Commission of Canada for Mental Health First Aid Training: https://www.mhfa.ca/en/home
[0:10:00] Expanding Minds Interview: [Social Wellness] Part 2 of our discussion with Scott Williams of Spectrum (Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space), about Spectrum’s 2021 LGBTQ2+ Terminology Reference Guide, with a focus on gender related terms and concepts.
[0:27:09] Adventures of the Starving Artist: Cameron took a trip to Colorado and is firing back up a team to create jingles and library music (e.g., for commercials). Connect with Cameron on Instagram @c4msh4w and it will be jingle all the way.
[0:30:02] Move That Body: John and Sheila talk about their go-to Move That Body – going for a walk.
[0:34:23] Running Popup: John talks about the hesitation and apprehension he felt about telling his story in public (in his book and on this podcast), then moving past it.
[0:39:15] Flipside of the Coin: Sheila and John talk about their annoying tendencies to repeat the same annoying words on the podcast, and how they “100%” need to fix that. “Basically,“ is it funny? Is it interesting?
Quotes and Take-Aways:
Julie: A key takeaway from mental health first aid training was: don’t try to fix it. Listen. Our natural instinct is to want to fix it. But when someone is struggling, that’s not your place to try to fix it. We’re not professionals, for one thing. It’s just to be there to listen.
Scott: The trick is that we need to move out of that binary thinking. Not everything is black and white, and it never has been. It’s just that it’s the language we’ve had to describe things. We need to become much more comfortable living in the grey area and with movement between things. We need to be more comfortable with movement and fluidity.
Scott: If I’m a man and I identify with he/him pronouns, then those are my pronouns. They’re not preferred pronouns. It’s not optional. If I’m telling you those are the pronouns I’d like you to use with me as, then those are the pronouns you should be using.
Scott: Everyone know the Golden Rule to treat others as you would like to be treated. I think we’re moving to the Platinum Rule: to treat others as they would like to be treated. It’s making yourself aware and open to understanding how other people want to be viewed and spoken about, then doing that.
Scott: When I think of wellness, for me I think about the 5 ways to mental wellbeing that Waterloo Region Public Health has adopted. Those include connect, be mindful, be active, give back and keep learning.
Bulletin Board quote brought to you by Sheila: I think I sound nice on the podcast, when really I don’t think I’m a very nice person.
Guest Information: Scott Williams holds a BA in English Language & Literature from Wilfred Laurier University, and a diploma in Film Production from Vancouver Film School. He completed certificates in Diversity & Inclusion Fundamentals and Anti-Racism with the Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion. He is a graduate of the Engage!KW program from the KW Community Foundation. Prior to SPECTRUM, Scott served as the Communications & Development Coordinator at KW Counselling Services where he was part of the OK2BME Team. He volunteered as a member of the City of Kitchener Mayor's Task Force on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, the Children and Youth Planning Table Communications Advisory Committee, the Mental Wellness Network of Waterloo Region, and on the Breaking the Silence working group of the Rainbow Community Council. In his time at WLU, Scott served as Co-President of GLOBAL (Gay, Lesbian Or Bisexual At Laurier) and as a member of Laurier's Sexual Diversity Committee -- the antecedents of the Rainbow Centre. Scott was one of a small group that organized the first Pride Prom in Waterloo Region in 2003. He has previously volunteered with the Rainbow Reels Film Festival, and as a member of SPECTRUM's Board of Directors.
Spectrum (Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space): https://www.ourspectrum.com/
Link to Spectrum’s New 2021 LGBTQ2+ Terminology Reference Guide
Instagram @SpectrumWaterlooRegion
Spectrum Waterloo Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEf0IGt_3nyZ6hOJSTW8unQ
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Thanks for joining us,
(-(-_(-_-)_-)-) Your wellness check-in team
John, Sammy, Cameron, Sheila and Julie