Beyond hashtags and rainbow washing: Allyship in practice
Jun 5, 2024
12:00PM to 1:30PM
Date/Time
Date(s) - 05/06/2024
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Categories
Over the past few years, corporations and institutions have been eager to show their support for 2SLGBTQ+ folks in their advertising campaigns and by changing their logo on social media every Pride. But is that enough? What does allyship that brings about meaningful change to the lives of queer folks actually look like? How can corporations and institutions ensure that their support for queer lives goes beyond performative gestures and brings about meaningful change? Samra will propose different possibilities, shaped by many intersectionalities and lived experiences that inform their perspective as a Queer Muslim immigrant.
Organized by Wilfrid Laurier University’s Gendered and Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Program, Carleton University’s Department of Equity and Inclusive Communities, and McMaster University’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office.
About the Speaker
Samra Habib (they/them) is a writer, photographer, and activist. Their bestselling memoir We Have Always Been Here is an exploration of faith, art, love, and queer sexuality, a journey that takes them to the far reaches of the globe to uncover a truth that was within them all along. It’s a triumphant memoir of forgiveness and family, both chosen and not, and a rallying cry for anyone who has ever felt out of place and a testament to the power of fearlessly inhabiting one’s truest self.
As a journalist they’ve covered topics ranging from fashion trends and Muslim dating apps to the rise of Islamophobia in the US. Their writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, and The Advocate, and their photo project, “Just Me and Allah,” has been featured in Nylon, i-D, Vanity Fair Italia, Vice, and The Washington Post. Samra works with LGBTQ organizations internationally, raising awareness of issues that impact queer Muslims around the world.