outACTRAto
What’s new
While we were marching in the 2023 Toronto Pride Parade, we walked and talked with outACTRAto and ACTRA Toronto Members about the importance of 2SLGBTQIA+ visibility, representation, identity and more.
Who we are
The outACTRAto Committee is dedicated to raising awareness about queer* performers, our stories and our place in the industry and society. We value diversity and equality and we aim to be recognized, supported and valued as queer performers. We aspire to educate and inform our industry about realistic queer representation on screen as we seek a more accurate and balanced reflection of our rich and multifaceted community. We denounce and will work to end harassment and stereotyping of any kind. We will work to achieve true-to-life queer onscreen visibility of our culture and our stories, and to realize change in our industry.
*queer
Historically a pejorative term, the word “queer” has been reclaimed by some gender and sexually diverse communities as a term of pride and affirmation of their diversity. It can be used to encompass a broad spectrum of identities related to sex, gender, and attraction or by an individual to reflect the interrelatedness of these aspects of their identity. Following our practice in ACTRA Toronto’s industry guideline for Working With Queer Performers and in an effort not to exclude any group, we have chosen to use the word “queer” in lieu of an acronym. Acronyms, identifications and definitions are dynamic and constantly changing. There is no standard acronym used by organizations to reflect gender and sexual identities. For example, as of the publication of the Working With Queer Performers guideline, Pride Toronto used the acronym LGBT2Q+, CAEA used LGBTQ, SAG/AFTRA used LGBT, The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity used 2SLGBTQIA+ and the word ‘queer’, Egale, a Canadian queer human rights organization, used LGBTQI2S and The Government of Canada used LGBTQ2. Adding “+” at the end of an acronym has typically been used to signify: “including all others.”
outACTRAto initiatives are designed to:
- spread awareness among the membership;
- educate and reach out to casting, writers, directors, producers and agents;
- raise our profile for Pride and the community.
Co-Chairs
Thalia Gonzalez Kane
Thalia (she/her) is a queer, Ecuadorian-Canadian, multidisciplinary artist. She has been an ACTRA member since 2020.
“I’ve been inspired by what the outACTRA committee has accomplished in just a few years and how fiercely its founder, Jo Vannicola led and advocated. I’m looking forward to working with the committee alongside Matt through education, advocacy, building the community and shining a spotlight on the work and performances of 2SLGBTQIA+ artists.”
Matt Lemche
Matt Lemche is a queer performer and filmmaker and is passionate about uplifting 2SLGBTQIA+ creativity. He has been an ACTRA member since 1996 and features in over 40 productions. Since 2007, he has been a member of the award-winning sketch comedy collective, Elephant Empire. Matt is proud and delighted to co-chair the outACTRAto Committee with Thalia Gonzalez Kane.
He is committed to recognizing the intersectional nature of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and doing the work to bring equitable initiatives to the ACTRA membership and the industry at large.
Resources
Jo Vannicola is a feminist, writer, director, and Emmy award-winning actor, Genie, Gemini and ACTRA award nominee. They were the founding chair of the new outACTRAto Committee, and dedicated to equity on and off the screen. They are committed to educating the industry around LGBTQ lives, performers, and the advancement and inclusion of our stories, with fair and real representation of LGBTQ lives.
Initiatives
Social mixers
Connect with us
Email Us
Have questions or ideas? Please email us at: lgbtq@actratoronto.com
Subscribe to outACTRAto’s News & Events Mailing List
Whether you’re a performer, an ACTRA Toronto member, a Toronto filmworker, part of the Toronto queer community or a respectful ally, use the subscription form below to receive announcements of upcoming outACTRAto events and projects.
Join Us!
If you are a queer ACTRA Toronto member with some time and energy to volunteer, please fill out and submit the Contact Information Form below. Work with us to make more work opportunities for all of us!
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Stay informed about ACTRA Toronto’s Queer Advocacy and initiatives
Whether you’re a performer, an ACTRA Toronto member, a Toronto filmworker, part of the Toronto queer community or a respectful ally, use the subscription form below to receive announcements of upcoming outACTRAto events and projects.
NOTE: Some of our events are for ACTRA Toronto Members only. If you are an ACTRA Toronto member, make sure to include your ACTRA ID (your ACTRA Toronto Membership number, as it appears on your ACTRA Toronto membership card) in the space provided. If you are not an ACTRA Toronto member, just leave that field blank.
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Help us make change in the industry
If you are a queer ACTRA Toronto member with some time and energy to volunteer, please fill out and submit the Contact Information Form below. Work with us to make more work opportunities for all of us!