Acts of Resistance: 2SLGBTQIA+ Self-Defense & Empowerment Workshop

Empower yourself and your community with the skills to resist violence and discrimination. Led by instructor Shaiden Keaney. When a situation feels uncomfortable, it can be hard to know what to do in the moment. You might freeze when someone crosses a boundary, struggle to respond to inappropriate comments, or find yourself going along with something that doesn’t feel okay. As a queer person, you might also feel anxious about being in certain spaces, wondering what you would do if someone targeted you. If you’ve ever felt this way and identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ and FLINTA* (female, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, transgender, agender), Acts of Resistance is for you. Acts of Resistance is a self-defense and empowerment workshop tailored to the needs and experiences of queer people. Led by an experienced, trauma-informed instructor, Shaiden Keaney (xe/xem/xyr), this workshop provides a non-judgmental space for participants to understand and manage the "freeze" and "collapse" responses to stress. Participants will learn physical self-defense tactics alongside other strategies for responding to threats while staying connected to their bodies, voices, and choices. Throughout this workshop, participants will: • Learn practical strategies for responding to harassment, intimidation, and boundary violations directed at themselves and others. • Build awareness and trust in their boundaries, instincts, and body signals. • Explore the freeze response and ways to move through fear while staying grounded. • Connect with other 2SLGBTQIA+ people and build community around safety and mutual support. This workshop welcomes all abilities and skill levels. No previous self-defense experience is required, and you do not need to be physically strong or athletic to participate. Lunch will be provided free of charge, and parking fees can be reimbursed for participants. This workshop has been organized by Everett Maixx as part of Trent University's Impact Microgrant Program. Testimonials "Doing this course has led me to realize that despite internalized ideas I have about my own weakness, despite my chronic pain and health procedures, I am not physically weak! I feel ready and willing to protect myself and loved ones if the need arises. This feels so good!" - C., Montreal "I loved this course so much. With the rising political climate, I've been becoming more concerned about street harassment, trans/Queer phobic attacks etc. I've always imagined what I would do in those situations. Because of this course I gained some really practical and easy to remember moves. But more than that, I was reminded that 1) I'm worthy of defending and 2) I have the power and am ABLE to defend myself." - J., Brantford About the Instructor Shaiden Keaney (xe/xem/xyr) is a feminist self-defense instructor, somatic trauma therapist, expressive arts facilitator, and longtime community organizer who xemself is a member of the queer community. Xey have spent decades mobilizing in pro-feminist, pro-environment and pro-immigration justice movements for change. Shaiden lives for supporting Queer folks to move from their default conditioning into more powerful versions of themselves.