LGBTQ Role Models & Symbols
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New Brunswick LGBTQ Inclusive Education Resource LGBTQ ROLE MODELS & SYMBOLS lgbtq Role Models trey anthony Liz Matheson Ashley Arrowsmith Kathy McCormack Sébastien Bezeau Colin McCready Alexandre Coholan Marie-Hélène Michaud Aaron Cosgrove Sarah Nesbitt Gail Costello Peter Papoulidis Danderson Sarah Payne Alexi Desjardins Yves Pelletier Sarah Doiron Stella Raven Pierre-André Doucet Tracey Rickards Leanne Fitch Bill Ryan John Fletcher Bruce Ryan Karla Gillis Allan Sabattis Derek Hannon Chantale Thanh Laplante Brent Hawkes Adam Thériault El-Farouk Khaki Crystine Thériault Michelle Leard John Thériault Beth Lyons Kyle Wedge Michael Lyons Matt K. Williston Meredith Martell trey is the first Black Canadian Toronto 2010. She has spoken at woman to write and produce a Canada Revenue, Stats Canada, GE television show on a major prime Canada, and numerous universities time Canadian network. She is a and schools in the U.S and Canada. former television producer for the Trey has recently been named a Women’s Television Network (now W) Bell Media fellow, which recognizes and a writer for the Comedy Network emerging television producers and and CTV. She was also the executive their contribution to Canadian producer of the Urban Women’s media. She was chosen as one of the Comedy Festival, dat girl, sho is funny! participants to the highly competitive She co-wrote, I Am Not a Dinner Mint, Bell Media Producer accelerator’s lab, The Crap Women Swallow to Stay in a over 195 applicants were received and Relationship!, which debuted in 2006 trey was 1 of eight participants chosen to sold-out audiences. Following in in March 2014, which led her to be an the line of successful theatre plays invited participant at the World Media came, Secrets of a Black Boy, (the male Festival 2014. response to ‘da Kink in my Hair) in 2009 b. 1974 at the prestigious Music Hall, written by www.treyanthonystudios.com dakinkinmyhair. her brother Darren Anthony and was com produced by Trey Anthony Studios. I can be defined as: 28 years old, trey anthony, is known for the ground- from Quispamsis, NB (the boonies), breaking television and theatrical trey is a writer for the Huffington currently living in Riverview, NB, a production ‘da Kink in Post and contributing writer for the newlywed, a young professional in the my Hair. Critics have Toronto Star. recreation field, owner of one super referred to trey as The A mentor and role model, trey, smart dog and one very fluffy cat Oprah of the Canadian regularly visits schools in Toronto and (a.k.a. the kids). I do not like labels, theatre scene! ‘da Kink in Brampton, to inspire youth, including BUT if you had to use them, you could my Hair, theatrical play, was her alma mater Notre Dame Secondary use boxes such as queer, lesbian, Dora nominated and has School. She volunteers with the Black transgender, female, etc, etc! received critical acclaim, and broken Queer Youth Group, speaks to students box office records wherever it has I walked the halls of about sexuality, body image and other Kennebecasis Valley High School played. The play is also the recipient issues facing female adolescents, and of four NAACP Theatre awards and was from 2000-2004. I was a well rounded donates tickets to her shows to youth student, and was involved in various the first Canadian play to be produced and women in shelters. at the Princess of Wales Theatre, extracurricular and leadership Canada’s largest commercial theatre. It Trey is a much sought after activities. I played on the field hockey was named as one of the top ten plays speaker and delivers seventy to ninety and ice hockey varsity teams, was in Canada’s theatrical history! ‘da Kink keynote speeches a year. It was one elected by my peers on both teams has been seen in California, in London, reason among many why she was to assistant captain roles, I was England, and Atlanta. selected to give an address at TEDX tasked with representing all varsity 4 Egale Canada Human Rights Trust New Brunswick LGBTQ Inclusive Education Resource 5 athletes on the Student Council wilderness backpacking, hanging out Then it was a very positive experience, and I founded/organized a project with senior citizens and watching even though I was the first resident of which stirred up the masses- a peer Netflix (guilty pleasure: Dawson’s Miscou Island to come out. driven education program designed Creek). I must admit that my personal to enlighten students, teachers and If you took a closer look in journey hasn’t always been easy. As the general public about the LGBTQ between the lines of the successes a teenager, I cried myself to sleep for community. above, you would find obstacles, many nights and asked God why he From 2004-2009, I lived in barriers, threats, fights, depression made me this way. I’m not a religious Toronto, ON, completing a Bachelor and many broken rules. As a 14 year person at all, but at that age, who of Arts specializing in Kinesiology and old kid who came out of the closet, could I blame? I also thought about Health Sciences, a Certificate in Sports to a university student and even as suicide. Thankfully, I came into Administration and an internship a young professional, I have always contact with a program called “Sain et with the Toronto Maple Leafs. attributed my life wins to an amazing, sauf” (Safe Spaces) and corresponded Obviously after spending so much supportive network of friends, family by e-mail with a woman who time in the big city, I am a huge and colleagues and keeping this comforted me and showed me that I Leafs fan-and am hoping they will principal close at heart: “Treat others was normal and could ultimately be win a cup in this lifetime. Over my as you want to be treated– with utmost happy. post secondary years, I also played respect and kindness. Even if people I pursued my post-secondary high performance field hockey, treat you unfairly and unjustly– simply studies in political science at the representing York University (Assistant kill them with kindness.” I am from Miscou Island, New Université de Moncton, on the Captain, 2007) and New Brunswick Bio provided by role model Brunswick. I came out at the age Moncton campus, and have been at various national championships, of 17 before finishing my studies at involved with the New Democratic including the 2005 Regina Canada École Marie-Esther in Shippagan. My Party since then. I even founded Summer Games. family and people around me were the NDP-UdeM group during my I am currently employed as very receptive to my coming out. I second year of university. Politics is a Community Recreation Worker told everyone face-to-face except my something I take to heart because I with the Town of Riverview. I also parents, because I was worried about can directly see the positive impact of volunteer with the Terry Fox Run, the their reaction. One day, I wrote them a activism. I’ve always participated in Fundy Hiking Association, Riverview letter explaining my sexual orientation. Pride parades, but in 2013, I played a Community Garden, and I umpire However, before I could give it to lead role with Greater Moncton River high school field hockey. I am a them, my mother found it while doing of Pride and helped to change the certified coach through the National laundry. My parents then confronted organization’s mission to advocate Coaching Certification Program me, but everything went well. My for the GLBT population. I was (NCCP), an in motion wellness mother asked if I was afraid of HIV and interviewed by many media outlets community champion, and a certified I responded that it affects everyone, regarding the Crandall University High Five trainer. On the weekends, not just “gays.” My father, on the other scandal, the Sochi Olympics, the I enjoy reading, instagramming, hand, asked me if it was just a phase. Pope’s declaration regarding the LGBT eating pizza, geocaching (huge geek), I burst out laughing and I said, “No.” community, and much more. 6 Egale Canada Human Rights Trust New Brunswick LGBTQ Inclusive Education Resource 7 Currently, I live in Halifax and affirm my sexual orientation. But the people close to me, but because work as a Political Communications despite these experiences, I still had I thought I would lose all credibility Officer for the Public Service Alliance difficulty accepting myself, who I was. and respect by sharing this part of me of Canada, a union representing the During one of my first coming out that I found so secret and shameful. majority of federal public service experiences, I texted a friend of mine Fortunately, that wasn’t the case, which employees. that I wanted to tell her a secret, but helped me realize that people instead In 2013, I received the Volunteer was afraid she would react badly. She appreciate you for the quality of your of the Year award from the City of admitted that she already knew I was character and the respect you show to Dieppe and was also featured in the attracted to men and that this didn’t others. Top 30 Under 30 to watch out for by change anything in our relationship. Bio provided by role model Acadie Nouvelle. And that’s how my coming out journey started. Bio provided by role model At first, I met with my friends individually to tell them about my sexual orientation. However, I didn’t feel comfortable sitting down with b. July 28, 1993 them and having the conversation: “I have something important to tell you, I like guys.” In addition, the mood My name is Alexandre Coholan and I that was set at the beginning of the was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, conversation was too serious and was where I graduated from École making me anxious and nervous.