April 13, 2006 Source: :
http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/060413-2200.asp First annual LGBTOUT awards presented Apr 13/06
by Michah Rynor (about) (email) In recognition of outstanding LGBTQ community work and anti-oppression activism, two fourth-year students were recipients of the first annual LGBTOUT (Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals & Transgendered of the University of Toronto) awards April 6. Suzi Yim of psychology and zoology, and Matthew Strang of physical education and health, each received a $1,000 award presented to them by Professors David Rayside, director of the Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies (SDS)and Maureen Fitzgerald, director of the SDS undergraduate program. "Yim’s activist record is nothing short of spectacular," said Rayside. "She is a member of the Toronto women’s bathhouse committee, a facilitator for TEACH (teens educating and confronting homophobia), an external co-ordinator for LGBTOUT as well as being the chair of LGBTOUT’s women’s group. She is also a councillor for the U of T Sex Ed Centre, headed Trinity College’s Rainbow Trinity gay group and has been actively involved with the Toronto Pride committee." Strang is chair of Queers at St. Michaels College, a committee that he helped found. He has been active in LGBTOUT and with U of T’s positive space committee, both campus-wide as well as with the Faculty of Physical Education and Health where he is a student. He has also been a planner for U of T’s Pride contingent and was involved in 2005’s highly successful Queer Convergence conference, which saw one of the largest ever gatherings of groups involved with LGBTQ rights and issues at U of T. "Strang brings a huge amount of energy to everything he does here on campus when it comes to LGBTQ issues and events," Rayside said. LGBTOUT is an organization of students, staff, faculty and alumni dedicated to providing support, advocacy and social spaces for sexual minority students and others marginalized on the basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Selection of the winners was based on the recommendations of a committee named by the director of SDS; it included faculty members associated with SDS and alumni members of LGBTOUT. Undergraduates of any first-entry division on any U of T campus are eligible to apply for the awards. Alumnus Mark Riczu was instrumental in raising funds for the award. LGBTOUT is committed to raising $60,000 in order to endow three annual awards to continue recognizing outstanding LGBTQ community work and anti-oppression activism, starting next year. "Student awards acknowledging time, energy, commitment and heart are essential to positive growth and role model and leadership development and we as a community need to thank our leaders more often," said Jude Tate, co-ordinator, LGBTQ resources and programs at U of T.
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