Positive Space: Foundations

The Positive Space: Foundations online course provides low-barrier access for students, staff, and faculty to learn about sex, sexuality, and gender diversity.

The understanding and knowledge of 2SLGBTQIA+ identities and communities has progressed since Positive Space was launched at UBC and the content in this module reflects the current UBC context. This updated course contains content broken down into different sections, including reflection activities, quizzes, and knowledge checks to support interactivity and learning. In addition to the content, resources and links provide options for deeper exploration.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By engaging with this course, the learners will be better equipped to:

1. differentiate between sex, gender, and sexuality as distinct and connected concept;
2. identify and critically examine how:
   • binary understanding of gender works as a tool of colonization,
   • assumptions and stereotypes of gender and sexuality construct everyday life through normative frameworks, and
   • patterns of normativity are expressed and located within the UBC context;
3. explore the growing number of terms and labels used by 2SLGBTQIA+ community members to reflect their identities and sense of community;
4. recognize and apply respectful and inclusive practices surrounding name, pronoun use, and inclusive language at UBC; and
5. identify strategies and apply practices that support repairing harmful mistakes and good apology practices that lead to behaviour changes.

This course is intended to be a resource hub, and revisiting and sharing with others is highly encouraged.

Since being launched in 2002 at UBC Vancouver and 2013 at UBC Okanagan as a university-wide initiative, Positive Space has helped to raise awareness and visibility of Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, and asexual (2SLGBTQIA+) students, staff, faculty, alumni, and visitors at UBC. In the 20 years since the launch of Positive Space, the campaign has contributed to a more welcoming and inclusive environment for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. 

KEYWORDS: OE, DYIN, PLDT, WG