Ashling Ligate (facilitator of “Pick [Me] Ups for Hungry Virginz: How to Initiate Luv Connections [Or At Least Not Die Trying]“) is a settler and a queer reproductive justice freedom fighter living in Kitchener, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She is passionate about helping to facilitate safer spaces for ‘radical’ community learning. She works as the Public Educator at the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region and currently sits as the President of the Board of Directors at the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group (WPIRG). As she writes this bio, one of the felines she lives with, Eliot, is attempting to dance on the keyboard. Why be productive when you can be a cat lady?
deb singh (facilitator of “Sex for Survivors: Getting Our Freak On with Self-Love“) is a radical feminist activist warrior. She is also a queer, working class woman of colour and settler on Turtle Island. As a survivor of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence, deb takes her confidence and self-loving journey to share in women’s empowerment with other amazing survivors. As a former sex-shop employee, deb combines her desire for a safe, sex-positive world with her desire to explore her sexual self, through her experiences of survivorship. deb singh will rock your world, in workshop form.
Karen B.K. Chan (facilitator of “It Turns My Crank and That’s Okay” and “Knowing and Owning my Sexiness“) is a Health Promotion Consultant at Toronto Public Health. She has been doing sexual health education and anti-oppression training for the last 14 years. Her sex ed work focuses on experiential learning, inclusion, body- and sex-positivity, empathy, and humour.
Kate Klein (facilitator of “Fucking Across Difference: Negotiating Power and Privilege in Intimate Relationships“) keeps herself busy as a radical academic, sex educator, and “professional queer”. She is the “Women who have Sex with Women Coordinator” at Planned Parenthood Toronto, which is a title that she takes immense pleasure in. While she has many interests, she spends most of her time working with issues of body sovereignty, including working humbly to do her part in promoting self-determination in healthcare systems, anti-violence in personal relationships, and reproductive justice in all facets of our lives. More than anything, she believes firmly in bringing politics (back) into the realm of the “touchy-feely”. While she is certainly no expert at “fucking across difference”, she sure wishes there were more spaces to talk about it.
Kristine Maitland (facilitator of “Dirty Dancing: Nobody Puts You in a Corner“) has been a plus size dancer for 20 years. She taught seductive movement and dance at Good for Her from 2001-2006. She is member of Toronto Swing Dance Society and Toronto Burlesque and Vaudeville Alliance and dances at Rainbow Ballroom Toronto. Check out more of her work at http://greenpearreview.com!
Morgan M Page (facilitator of “Overcoming the Cotton Ceiling: Breaking Down Sexual Barriers for Queer Trans Women“) is a transfeminist activist, performance + video artist, writer, and Santera currently living in Toronto. She works as Trans Community Services Coordinator at The 519 Church Street Community Centre, coordinating programs for trans youth, trans adults, and trans sex workers. In June 2011, she was the recipient of the Youthline’s Oustanding Contribution to Community Empowerment award. She writes for PrettyQueer.com, and speaks and performs locally and internationally.
