2005-2006 Recipients
On the evening of Thursday April 6, 2006 at a gala cocktail reception the LGBTOUT Student Awards Selection Committee announced the inaugural recipients of the LGBTOUT Student Award; Suzy Yim and Matthew Strang.
Suzy Yim, a fourth year student of Zoology and Psychology, has an activist record that is nothing short of spectacular. She is a member of the Toronto Women’s Bathhouse Committee, a facilitator for TEACH (teens educating and confronting homophobia) and a co-ordinator for LGBTOUT where she chairs the Women’s Group. Among Suzy's many accomplishments, the organizing that she's done to promote queer women's visibility and sexuality truly stands out and has had significant impact on community building and issues such as self-image and sex-positivity. Suzy plans to use the award money to finance a trip to Thailand this summer where she will be conducting HIV/AIDS research with commercial sex workers. We wish her safe travels and the best of luck!
Matthew Strang, a fourth year Physical Education and Health student, has made outstanding contributions to initiating systemic change on St. George campus. Matt is a founding member, and current president, of Q@SMC (Queers at St. Michael's College)—a student group established to address the homophobic climate at St. Mike's— where he helped lobbied for official club status, greater representation of women and increased queer visibility. Matt is also out, loud and proud in the Faculty of Physical Education and Health where he continues to push boundaries as founder and Chair of the Sexual Diversity and Accessibility Committee. Under his guidance, the Committee has challenged the curriculum, held sexual diversity workshops and successfully lobbied for change at student orientation. Congratulations and best wishes in what promises to be a bright future as a community leader.