Tori Smith calls herself a pre-Sexual Diversity Studies, Sexual Diversity Studies graduate.
The sessional instructor who teaches lesbian studies in the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies (SDS) was an undergraduate student at U of T and member of University College in the ‘80s before the centre officially existed.
“Like many queer people on campus, I sought out courses in any department that had queer content,” says Smith. “I ended up taking classes with Maureen Fitzgerald, David Rayside and others who would go on to build SDS.”
During her undergraduate degree Smith cut her teeth as a young activist, attending Toronto Pride for the first time and helping start a feminist newspaper on campus called OtherWise — aimed at creating a more inclusive and welcoming campus and raising the profile of feminism at the University.
So how has LGBTQ2S+ activism changed since she was a student on campus? Smith says it’s complex.
“I see it as waves and phases. There's actually a fair amount of continuity in some ways and there are really obvious disconnects,” says Smith.
“In terms of LGBT activism, it's much more focused now on issues around race and gender identity in terms of the trans community. It’s more inclusive and outward looking and more intersectional.”
Although Smith says this kind of intersectionality isn’t entirely new to the LGBTQ2S+ community.
Whether it was standing in solidarity with Nicaragua or fighting for abortion rights in Canada in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Smith says the LGBTQ2S+ community has a history of supporting non-queer causes.
“There was always that kind of intersectionality, before we called it intersectionality,” says Smith. “There was always the queer community showing up for other issues.”
But Smith says there has still been a significant shift in the community in the last few years with Indigenous rights, Black Lives Matter and Trans issues moving to the forefront. Even Pride, with its corporate sponsorship, has also seen a revitalization of its more political roots.
“I’m super proud of Toronto right now, looking back and realizing we were the first major Pride that said no to uniformed officers participating,” says Smith. “And that was in 2017.”
Smith also points to the establishment of the Dyke March and Trans March during Pride weekend as bright spots of inclusion for Toronto’s LGBTQ2S+ community.
As someone on the frontlines of educating the next wave of activists, Smith says what she has been seeing in the classroom is both encouraging and inspiring.
In the 12 years that Smith has been teaching lesbian studies at U of T she says her classroom has continued to be filled with engaged, smart and creative students interested in social justice and building inclusive communities.
“I feel like U of T students are just way more knowledgeable and informed now. They've thought more about issues around race, they’re involved in Black Lives Matter, Indigenous issues and certainly trans issues,” says Smith. “I had one student who missed a few classes because she was occupying offices in support of Wet'suwet'en Nation, protesting the Coastal GasLink pipeline.”
“They're more aware and they're not sitting back saying, ‘oh yeah, we’re queer, we've got rights and everything's fine.’ They're really engaged.”
When speaking with friends who have little interaction with young people, Smith tells them, “‘Don't worry, they're great. They’re really great.’ My students have really pushed me to learn more about things I didn't know much about.”
And for Smith, returning to U of T to teach has been especially gratifying.
“This is where I came out,” says Smith. “It was a big deal, and it was kind of secretive, and there wasn't visibility. Coming back to teach Lesbian Studies here was thrilling.
“It was a very different experience to be queer on campus in the ‘80s,” adds Smith. “But one thing that I had then that I try to give my students now is a sense of community and mentorship.”