Canadian University Queer Services Conference

The Canadian University Queer Services Conference (CUQSC) is a national conference for queer and trans students, organizations, service providers. CUQSC brings together queer and trans students and organizations to meet, discuss, and strategize ways to challenge all forms of oppression, build skills and relationships, and learn best practices in student organizations. The 2016 Canadian University Queer Services Conference will be held from May 12 to 15, 2016 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. CUQSC 2016 is hosted by the Dalhousie Student Union. The Keynote presenter for CUQSC 2016 will be Darkmatter! DARKMATTER is a trans south asian performance art duo comprised of Alok Vaid-Menon and Janani Balasubramanian. Based in New York City, DarkMatter regularly performs to sold-out houses at venues like La MaMa Experimental Theater, The Brooklyn Museum, and the Asian American Writer’s Workshop. DarkMatter was recently part of the Public Theater’s Under the Radar Festival, the Lincoln Center’s La Casita Festival, as well as the Queer International Arts Festival. Known for their quirky aesthetic and political panache, DarkMatter has been invited to perform at stages across the world. Alok Vaid-Menon and Janani Balasubramanian’s gender pronouns are they/them. Past conferences have included keynote presentations from Janet Mock, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha, Eli Clare, Julia Serano, and D’bi Young, as well as 100s of workshops, presentations, and performances for and by queer and trans people. Delegates requiring accommodation have the option of purchasing a room in the newly-opened Le Marchant Place residence. The residence is conveniently located across the street from the Student Union Building where most of the conference will take place. Delegates will stay in suite-style residences, with either 4-bedroom or 2-bedroom suites that have a shared common area and bathroom.