Precarious Inclusion: Studying Ontarion LGBTQ+ Parents’ Experiences Childrearing in a Post-legal Parity Framework

Kael worked as a research assistant on a team of interdisciplinary researchers at the University of Guelph on a project entitled, “Precarious Inclusion: Studying Ontarian LGBTQ+ parents’ experiences childrearing in a post-legal parity framework.” Precarious Inclusion was an arts-informed, qualitative study about the inclusion and exclusion experiences of 2SLGBTQI+ parents across legal, institutional, and social domains. The first phase of this research consisted of semi-structured qualitative interviews with 2SLGBTQI+ parents of 32 families. The second phase included inviting several of these families to participate in digital storytelling workshops held through Re*Vision: The Centre for Social Justice and the Arts at the University of Guelph in Ontario. Participants were supported by a team of artists, educators, and social workers to narrate their 2SLGBTQI+ parenting stories about inclusion and exclusion in the form of short multi-media videos. Kael collaborated with several families to create music to accompany participants’ multi-media stories in the form of original songs with lyrics, original instrumental music, and cover songs. Below are two examples of songs that Kael recorded for this research project.

{Kael was a co-facilitator and the musician for two month-long digital storytelling workshops at the Re*Vision Centre for Art and Social Justice (University of Guelph) for a research project with 2SLGBTQI+ parents. Kael's musical expertise as well as their committed, down-to-earth, and gentle way of supporting the participants through the digital storytelling and videomaking process was astonishing and their contribution to the workshop was invaluable. Kael offered high quality cover songs, instrumental, and original music for most of the 12 videos made by participants. Their music elevated the power of each video in so many ways. Not only did Kael's music evoke the mood and emotions our participants were hoping to convey, but the music resonated deeply with our participants, bringing out the most meaningful parts of their stories. Several participants shared that hearing Kael's music in their videos moved them to tears. The Re*Vision facilitation team was also amazed by how impactfully Kael harnessed their musical skills to deepen the meaning and enhance the quality of each video. The music Kael created is the result of the receptive space they cultivate with participants: a space of care, collaboration, deep listening, and protracted conversations. What makes Kate so unique and special is that they are as skilled a facilitator and community-builder as they are a musician.{

Dr. Julia Gruson-Wood

Principle Investigator, Precarious Inclusion: Studying Ontarian LGBTQ+ Parents' Experiences Childrearing in a Post-legal Parity Framework

Be Free: A Love Song for W (2021)

A lesbian couple created the lyrics for this song about family loyalty, love, and supporting one another through difficulty. They asked Kael to put their lyrics to music. Kael crafted their lyrics into this sweet lullaby. Produced and recorded by Kael Reid.

Be Free: A Love Song for W

by Kael Reid | Studying Ontarion

Let Me Tell You ‘Bout Family

by Kael Reid | Studying Ontarion

Let Me Tell You ‘Bout Family (2021)

Kael composed this song to accompany a digital story created by a lesbian couple that featured the two moms, and their young child and family members talking about the power of love and family. Kael composed the lyrics and music for this song based on the narrative the two moms wrote for their digital story. Produced and recorded by Kael Reid.

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