Queering Digital Tools Against Hate

Dr. Megan Boler (PI and Applicant) is Full Professor in the Social Justice Education Department of OISE/University of Toronto, and Director of the Centre for Media and Culture in Education at OISE/UT. A PI for five major research projects funded by the Canadian Social Science and Humanities Research Council, her research focuses on digital media in the context of activism & social movements, the relationship between polarization, social media, and disinformation, and the weaponization of emotions, engaging mixed qualitative methods. She has published three books and numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on digital media and democracy including Affective Politics of Digital Media: Propaganda By Other Means (2020).

Dr. Mark Lipton (Co-Investigator) is a Full Professor in College of Arts, University of Guelph, and is a Director for the Board of The ArQuives: Canada’s LGBTQ+ Archives, and brings a career committed to social justice for Queer & 2SLGBT+ communities & HIV/AIDS activism. His research interests include sexual health education, media literacies and digital resources in the context of equity, diversity and activism. He is a founding member of Queer Nation & the Pink Panthers, and worked with NYC’s ACT-UP and taught at Harvey Milk High School in New York city.

Kendall Forde is Egale’s Director of Project Management and has been with the Egale team since 2011. They identify as a queer Afro-Latino artist, born and raised in Iëre, Trinidad and currently residing on the sacred grounds of Tkaronto. Over the past ten years, they have successfully led a wide range of social impact initiatives for 2SLGBTQI communities in Canada. They have also worked to advance Egale’s strategic goals through project implementation. Kendall is recognized internationally as a Project Management Professional (PMP) by the Project Management Institute and holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from Queen’s University.

Cole Kippenhuck (they/them) is a Two Spirit Inuk Labradorian with 20+ years experience in the community sector including nonprofits, consulting, and government work. They are the owner of Crow Kinship Consulting, a life coach, and an advocate for reconciliation, 2SLGBTQIA+ rights, and social justice issues. Cole is a respected Indigenous knowledge holder who is passionate about supporting organizations, communities, and individuals to grow their capacity, ensure their sustainability, and decolonize their practices. They are fluid in their sexuality, gender, and relationships as an act of cultural reclamation.