PCC is located on the second floor of MUSC, Room 221.

Hours of Operation:

Starting September 18th and until further notice, PCC is operating the lounge space and general peer support service on the following schedule:

• Monday 10am-6pm
• Tuesday 10am-6pm
• Wednesday 10am-6pm
• Thursday 10am-6pm

Please see the “Community Groups” tab for community groups schedule. Please note that Community Groups will not be starting until October, and the days/hours are subject to change. 

Peer support is a form of support in which the person providing peer support has had similar life experiences to the person seeking peer support. The knowledge our volunteers have gained by living as members of 2STLGBQIA+ communities can be instrumental in supporting other 2STLGBQIA+ folks.

Appointments

Peer support will be offered on a drop-in basis during our hours of operation by our trained volunteers. To schedule a time to meet with a specific peer support volunteer, or if you have any questions or concerns, contact us at: pride@msu.mcmaster.ca.

Confidentiality

In arranging and participating in a peer support meeting, we will make every effort to maintain your confidentiality. You are welcome to set up a time to meet with a peer support volunteer using a non-McMaster email and/or using a pseudonym. Additionally, everything you discuss during a peer support meeting will be held in the strictest confidence and no written or electronic records will be kept about the meeting(s). We will do our best to make any possible accommodations to make peer support safe for you, including, but not limited to, choosing to meet in private rooms far away from the PCC, meeting in the evening when fewer people are around campus, or any other suggestions you might have.

Please note that our peer support volunteers will not engage in any situation that puts them at risk, or compromises their own anonymity/confidentiality. Volunteers are only required to disclose about a meeting if a) the volunteer requires a debrief session with a fellow team member or the coordinator (no unnecessary details will be disclosed) or b) the volunteer believes there is an imminent risk to yourself or others.

If you would prefer to speak over the phone, and are 26 years old or younger,  you can call the LGBT Youthline at 1-800-268-9688 or 416-962-9688 or text them at 647-694-4275, Sunday to Friday between 4pm and 9:30pm.

The 2STLGBQIA+ community is diverse, so while it’s nice to hang out and get support from other people in the space, sometimes you want to get to know other people who have similar lived experience within the community. Community groups are groups offered by the PCC which run on a weekly basis and are closed to the identity to which they cater.

Please note that Community Groups will not be starting until October, and the days/hours are subject to change. 

PCC is excited to offer the following groups as options for the McMaster 2STLGBQIA+ community:

• Monday
  • International Students 2STLGBQBIA+ – 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  • Men Loving Men (MLM) – 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
  • Bi-Pan-Poly Power Hour – 7:00 to 8:00 PM
• Tuesday
  • Pride Book Club x Queer Study Buddies – 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM
  • Trans & Nonbinary – 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  • BIPOC 2STLGBQIA + – 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
  • Asexual & Aromantic – 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• Wednesday
  • Disabled Queer & Trans –  5:00 PM to 6:00 PM
  • Woman Loving Woman (WLW) – 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
  • Where We Come From – 7:00 to 8:00 PM

If there is a community group you would like to see run by the PCC, or if you have any concerns please feel free to email us at pridecommunity@msu.mcmaster.ca or message us on Facebook or Instagram!

Safe(r) Space

In order to create a space where all participants can feel safe, accepted, and able to participate, we make every effort to follow these guidelines during meetings:

Racism, sexism, ableism, classism, religious discrimination, homophobia, transphobia, and ageism are prohibited in all meetings.

The identities of people who participate in the group and everything discussed in the group is strictly confidential.

Alternative Spaces for Support

If you are unavailable at the time of a group you identify with or would prefer support outside a group setting, you may set up a one-on-one peer support appointment with a volunteer who meets your needs. Message any of our social media platforms or email pride@msu.mcmaster.ca to set up an appointment.

Incident Reporting is taken quite seriously at the PCC. We strive to make campus comfortable for everyone and the involvement of students on campus is imperative to it’s success. If you encounter a situation where you feel as though you’ve been discriminated against on the grounds of gender & sexuality, (or for any other reason for that matter), click the link below and send a confidential report to the Coordinator.

Reports are generally used in a year end report to both the MSU and Campus Security. Your voice matters, your opinions matter, and any incident, no matter how small or trivial it may seem is worth reporting.

People Involved: You don’t have to be specific, a general outline will do, unless it is imperative a name is mentioned.

General Outline of the Incident: A brief, detailed account of the incident is all we need

Remember, we don’t need your name, or any contact info, everything is as private as we can make it for your safety and well being.

If you require further support, or would like your issue addressed in a more direct fashion, we are happy to accompany you to the Equity and Inclusion Office to meet with an advisor, assist you in finding supports, or connect you with one of our many peer support volunteers.

Report an Incident by emailing us at: pride@msu.mcmaster.ca

The PCC has a library of around 1000 books, with a large range of genres available. This is the only LGBT library in the Hamilton area, and we are intent on seeing it grow.

McMaster students, staff, and faculty members are welcome to borrow items from our library for academic research or leisure. Non-students may borrow items with a mandatory $5 non-refundable registration deposit.

We also house a DVD library (150+ titles, including tv boxed sets), a magazine archive, weekly Toronto gay press publications, and access to external LGBT services and organizations across Canada.

LGBT Youth Line

This handbook is meant as a starting point for readers to understand some terms and topics related to the 2STLGBQIA+ community and the experiences within. The PCC has strived to make this resource inclusive, accurate, and informative, but we are also always learning as language continues evolving. If something doesn’t sit right with you, feel free to reach out to pride@msu.mcmaster.ca with your concerns or questions.

MSU PCC Handbook_2021 (.pdf version)

MSU PCC Handbook_2021 (.docx version)