The Characters

Leaving behind everything that was familiar, KyungHee’s family emigrated from Korea in the summer between her Grade 8 and 9 school year.  New to Canada and new to Cassidy Middle School, shy and studious KyungHee is introduced to the school’s “Queer Qlub” by her first friend, Megan, without having any idea of what she is getting herself into…

Grade 9 goal: Survive the first year at the new school. Oh, and spend more time with Megan!

Kelvin’s family emigrated from Somalia when he was an infant. With height and athleticism that rivals the High Schoolers, he is easily the best all-around jock in Cassidy Middle School. Everybody loves Kelvin, and his quiet and easygoing nature makes it easy for him to stay closeted to his highly religious parents.

Grade 9 goal: Find some time between practices and games to check out that new queer-friendly church he keeps hearing about.

Although assigned female at birth, Miko never felt that this was their correct gender. Trying to live as a girl caused confusion, conflict, and internal darkness. With the help of a supportive family, Miko began an intentional social transition in Grade 7. Now, two years later, Miko is Loud and Proud as the elected leader of Queer Qlub.

Often mature beyond their years, Miko tends to find themself inadvertently in the middle of things when justice and equality are called in question.

Grade 9 goal: get Cassidy Middle School to install an all-gender bathroom.

An intense personality, Emma spends her evenings writing complex love raps for her girlfriend, Jenna, and her weekends running hill sprints and practicing relentlessly for this year’s Tri-County Indoor Tennis Championships. Her and Jenna are loud and proud as a couple, but that doesn’t always work in their favour…

Grade 9 goal: Get at least two of her raps published by the teen writer’s magazine, What’s Up!, and bring home the trophy from the upcoming Tri-County Tennis Championships.

The First Nation community that Vik(ki) was born into seemed to know almost instantly that there was something different about this baby. Although some community members struggled to reconcile Vik(ki)’s Two Spirit nature with their own life experiences, others actively nurtured all of the genders within the child. The result: a (mostly) sure-footed young human who is “Two-Eyed Seeing” as they walk with one foot in the world of their traditional Indigenous culture, and the other in mainstream white culture.

Grade 9 goal: Find the right piece of artwork – and the right artist – for their first tattoo, since Kôkom had promised to give one as a Coming of Age gift.

Raised by a single mom who never acts her age, confident, funny, outgoing Robbie is Cassidy Middle School’s Most Glorious Gay.  Robbie flirts with anything that moves, and brushes off teasing as easily as he brushes on the sparkle eyeshadow that he wears to school every Friday.

Grade 9 goal: do whatever it takes to get the attention of that group of cute Tenth Graders down at the skatepark.

An upbeat ally to queer folk everywhere, Megan is an energetic social and environmental activist.  She is quick to make friends and has an uncanny ability to convince others to sign petitions, show up at rallies, and spend their weekends making protest signs.

Grade 9 goal: Make Cassidy Middle School’s end-of-year Pride festivities into a legacy event to be forever remembered!