What Does AMAB & AFAB Mean?  If you’ve been reading up about 2SLGBTQ concepts and terminologies, you may have already come across the terms “AMAB” and “AFAB”. Like the terms “non-binary”, “assumed gender”, and the singular they pronoun, AMAB and AFAB are part of the growing queer lexicon that the 2SLGBTQ community uses to explain their experiences.  Read on to discover the meaning and importance of these terms. AMAB Meaning AMAB is an acronym that stands for “assigned male at birth”. Also written as “male assigned at birth” or “male at birth”, this term describes the biological s ..read more

Pride Celebrations Around The World Before the COVID-19 pandemic, LGBTQ people around the world would flock to the streets in June, waving their rainbow flags and banners in celebration of Pride. Sadly, the pandemic put a pause on the celebrations and protests that we have all come to look forward to.  Thankfully, in 2022, Pride appears to be back in full swing, and it looks like the parades are about to be bigger and louder than ever before!  If you’re eager to celebrate Pride again – and let’s face it, who isn’t? – you must be wondering where in the world to go. Here are some of th ..read more

International Transgender Day of Visibility is an event to celebrate the lives of transgender people, their achievements and their contributions to society; all that, while also reminding us the discrimination still faced by transgender people worldwide. This milestone is held across the globe, every March 31st, with advocacy gatherings, social media campaigns, exhibitions, workshops, presentations, rallies and protests. The International Day of Visibility Back in 2009, trans activist Rachel Crandall realized that every time she heard about the trans community in the media, it was in rela ..read more

How We Can Celebrate ALL Women On International Women’s Day? On March 8th of each year, countries around the world celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD), a day to recognize the great strides that women have made towards achieving gender equality. It also highlights the many challenges that women still face because of their gender.  However, oftentimes, conversations about IWD (and women’s issues in general) tend to forget a certain faction of society that has historically been silenced just as much, if not even more, than cisgender women: trans women and non-binary people. This IWD, l ..read more

What Is Zero Discrimination Day? Zero Discrimination Day is an internationally recognized day of observance celebrated on March 1st of each year. The event is celebrated by the United Nations as a means of “helping create a global movement of solidarity to end all forms of discrimination”, and recognizing that everyone deserve the right to a full, productive, and dignified life. UNAIDS, in particular, celebrates the day to shed light on the stigma and discrimination that people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) have and continue to experience to this day.  In 2022, UNAIDS highlights the “urgen ..read more

What Is Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week? While the asexual community has begun to see more attention and media representation in the past few years, the same can’t yet be said for the aromantic community. But if you are or know someone who is on the aromantic spectrum, you can help change that by celebrating Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week. Happening on the first week after Valentine’s Day of each year – that’s February 21 to 27 – Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week is a time to bring more awareness to and show support for those who identify as aromantic.  What Does It Mean To Be Aroman ..read more

Conversion Therapy: What Is It And Why Did Canada Ban It? Understanding Conversion Therapy Conversion therapy, also called “reparative therapy”, is a range of practices done in an attempt to “change” a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. These practices have often been found to be extremely dangerous and detrimental to the mental health of those who undergo them.  Much of the scientific community have denounced conversion therapy as both ineffective and detrimental to the mental health of those who undergo them. As the American Psychological Association reports, “the results o ..read more

With the holiday season approaching, many family members are reuniting for the first time since lockdown, which can be both exciting and emotional for many. But for transgender folks, going back home can be complicated and overwhelming, especially if it's their first time back since coming out.  Being supportive of your trans family member (whether it's your own child, siblings, parents, or another relative) during the holidays can make all the difference for them. No matter how much or how little you understand your trans family member's gender identity, it's vital to ensure they are ret ..read more

Highlighting the lives lost from anti-transgender bigotry and violence “Transgender day of remembrance seeks to highlight the losses we face due to anti-transgender bigotry and violence. I am no stranger to the need to fight for our rights and the right to simply exist is first and foremost. With so many seeking to erase transgender people—sometimes in the most brutal ways possible—it is vitally important that those we lose are remembered and that we continue to fight for justice.” – Gwendolyn Ann Smith, Transgender Day of Remembrance Founder November 20, 2021, marks the 22nd Transgender Day o ..read more

How To Celebrate National Coming Out Day? Why We Celebrate National Coming Out Day According to the Advocate, National Coming Out Day is “a positive celebration of queerness that encourages folks to share their truth with the world and take a stand against homophobia”. The first National Coming Out Day can be traced back to October 11, 1987, when more than half a million people showed up to Washington D.C. for the National March for Lesbian and Gay rights. In the next year, queer activists Rob Eichberg and Jean O’Leary chose to commemorate the anniversary of that fateful day by dubbing it ..read more