McGill University is celebrating Queer History Month this October with a series of events highlighting the history, creativity and contributions of 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities. The 2026 program features keynote lecture, a writing workshop, discussions on gender history and inclusion in academia, and a celebration bringing together queer alumni, students, faculty and staff.
The highlight of this year’s program will be the Queer History Month keynote lecture, presented by award-winning author francesca ekwuyasi on Thursday, October 15.
In her lecture, Knowing, ekwuyasi will explore her personal queer and creative journey through the lens of Audre Lorde’s influential essay, Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power. The keynote will be followed by a discussion with the author, moderated by Amber Rose Johnson, Assistant Professor in McGill University’s Department of English in the Faculty of Arts.
Francesca ekwuyasi is the author of Butter Honey Pig Bread and co-author of Curious Sounds: A Dialogue in Three Movements. She received the Dayne Ogilvie Prize, which recognizes emerging LGBTQ2S+ literary voices, and has been shortlisted for or nominated for several literary honours, including the Lambda Literary Awards, the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the Amazon First Novel Award, the Giller Prize and the International Dublin Literary Award. She divides her time between Montreal and Halifax.
Amber Rose Johnson is a writer, artist and cultural worker from Providence, Rhode Island. Her areas of interest include African American studies, contemporary experimental poetry and performance. She holds a master’s degree and a PhD in English and African Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.
For more than 20 years, McGill’s annual queer homecoming celebration has given queer alumni an opportunity to return to campus and reconnect with LGBTQ+ life at the university. All members of the McGill community are welcome. The event provides an opportunity to share stories and celebrate the intergenerational experiences of queer people.
These initiatives help recognize the longstanding presence of 2S/LGBTQIA+ communities at the university and their contributions to academic life.
By bringing together academic inquiry, artistic expression and community gatherings, Queer History Month 2026 offers an opportunity to revisit queer histories while celebrating the people and experiences shaping LGBTQ+ life at McGill today.
Throughout October, the Queer History Month program offers several opportunities to explore gender, identity, creativity and inclusion.
INFOS | https://www.mcgill.ca/equity/initiatives/queer-history-month/…
