Trans comic artist and author visits UF

The University of Findlay welcomed comic artist and author Sophie Labelle to the Alumni Memorial Union Thursday afternoon. Labelle is French-Canadian, but based in Finland. They have published several comic books, novels and an ongoing web comic series titled "Assigned Male." Labelle is transgender. The inspiration for Labelle's comics comes from "the need to write stories where queer and transgender characters experience happiness," she said — far from the negative outlook she sees represented in the media. "The only representation trans people get is always very miserable, and focuses a lot on the struggles of trans people, and rarely shows trans people under a positive light or any situation in which trans people express how the parts about being trans bring us joy," Labelle explained. UF's Phi Alpha chapter, a social work honor society, partnered with Spectrum of Findlay and the teen-focused The LOFT program to bring the author to campus. "I think having representation on campus is one of the best things, with everything moving towards a queer-friendly space," said Cameron Green, member of the Phi Alpha chapter. "Just creating that space here on campus for people to have these conversations and hear testimonies is a good thing." Max Meisner, The LOFT assistant, first reached out to Labelle when the author was setting up a tour. "I've been following (Labelle) on social media since they started in 2014," Meisner said. There was some initial worry about heckling that could occur during the event, but Meisner said that Findlay has a "pretty good atmosphere" overall toward the LGBTQ+ community. "I don't think there's really been too much hate towards people on campus," added Green. "It was definitely brought up as far as safety aspects, but then we really considered the Findlay community, and having pride here, and how there haven't been major issues." Labelle seeks out smaller cities like Findlay to tell her story in. She said big cities often have more representation of trans people than a less-populated place. And people who are cisgender — meaning individuals whose gender identity corresponds to their sex assigned at birth — often come up to her after events and tell her their experiences with transgender people in their own lives. "I get told that, for parents, for example, (it gives) them a lot of comfort to see trans kids thriving and living their best lives," Labelle said. Attending events like Labelle's is a good way to be introduced to an LGBTQ+ space, said Green. "I think having those conversations with trans and non-binary people, it can be an awkward space to do that, but coming at it as a learning experience, not asking invasive questions and something like this event was perfect," he said. Meisner's advice is to never be afraid to make friends with people you may not understand. "As you develop that friendship, you'll just learn," they said.