Who Are We Designing For?
A Roundtable on 2SLGBTQI+ Inclusions
Overview
Who are we designing for? How do we truly know what we are missing? How do we move from consultation as an extraction to consultation as an invitation?
Too often, our design processes overlook the cultural nuances, linguistic barriers, and safety risks that define the daily lives of diverse 2SLGBTQI individuals who are navigating new systems or intergenerational challenges.
Join our host and Gender Equity Specialist Dr. Antoine Badaoui in this warm roundtable to refine your design process. This session is for leaders and practitioners who are seeking to move from extractive consultation to authentic collaboration. In this podcast-style dialogue, we are engaging in authentic storytelling to share challenges and practical wisdom. It is a conversation between leaders, for leaders and advocates alike. The focus remains on how we do the work with heart and precision.
When we talk about GBA+, it is easy to get lost in the technical checklists. As practitioners, we know the real work happens in the quiet nuances of human interaction. This session bridges that gap. We bring the Plus to life through lived experience and expert insight.
What We Will Explore
- Practical Steps for Inclusion: Moving beyond theory to the early, concrete steps that ensure safety for diverse genders and identities.
- Linguistic & Cultural Accessibility: Making programs accessible across the diverse backgrounds of newcomers and refugees.
- Authentic Engagement: How to involve participants in the process so they feel like partners, not tokens.
- Metrics of impact: How to tell if a program is working beyond just looking at the numbers.
Event Details
Date: May 22
Time: 9 a.m. PST | 12 p.m. EST | 1:30 p.m. NST
Format: Online
Who This is For
This session is designed fo those involved in program design, policy development, engagement strategies, and community-facing work.
About CCGBA+
We advance people-centred policies with GBA+ to ensure inclusive, transparent and accountable decisions. We support organizations to move beyond good intentions toward approaches that are grounded in accountability and the realities of the communities they serve.
Facilitator
Dr. Antoine Badaoui
Dr. Antoine Badaoui (he/him), is a leading qualitative researcher with a focus on nonprofit organizations, social media strategies, and LGBTQ advocacy. His expertise directly supports the CCGBA+ in its mission to help organizations design inclusive policies and programs that meet the diverse needs of the communities they serve.
Antoine’s research has been featured in respected publications, including Glossário de (des)identidades sexuais, and he has contributed to groundbreaking studies on the role of social media in nonprofit advocacy. His work examines how organizations engage communities and create meaningful representation through digital platforms, offering actionable frameworks to drive equity-focused outcomes.
Expert Contributor
Norma Lize Rhayem
Norma Lize Rhayem (she/her), a transgender activist and advocate from the SWANA region. Her activism started when she was studying journalism and communication arts, leading to her involvement with LGBTQIA+ organizations in the SWANA region and worldwide. Her lived experience and work in Media and the Non-profit sector helped her raise the voice about LGBTQIA+ issues around the world. Since relocating to Vancouver, she continues to fight for the rights of the trans community. She worked as a Sponsorship Coordinator at Rainbow Refugee, a Peer Facilitator at Mosaic, and a co-trainer at QMUNITY. Norma is currently working as a Communications Manager at Rainbow Refugee Society and is developing training materials to help raise awareness in workplaces and communities.
Expert Contributor
Lauren Pragg
Lauren Pragg (they/them) is a second-generation Indo-Trinidadian settler who lives on Treaty 13 territory in Toronto. They have worked in community engagement, research, and communications positions for over 15 years with a diverse array of organizations. Lauren has been the Executive Director of LGBT YouthLine since 2023. They hold an MSW from Wilfrid Laurier University and an MA degree in Social and Political Thought from York University. LGBT YouthLine is a peer support organization that has been serving youth in Ontario for over 30 years. YouthLine is an anti-racist, youth-led organization that connects 2SLGBTQ+ youth to resources and community through peer support, training, advocacy, and referrals.
