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1. PRIDE Week in York Region ~ June 17 to 23, 2002
2. Moonlight Cruise Fundraiser ~ Mariposa Belle ~ Sunday, July 21st
3. Online Article Library Exclusive ~ 'Identity: Transgender'
4. Inside Out Film Festival ~ May 16 to 26
5. 'Authentic Lives' ~ Benefit Workshop ~ May 25th
6. Speakers Bureau
7. Update: Coalition in Support of Marc Hall
8. Update: Dialogue With Our York Region MPs and MPPs
9. O.W.L.s York Region
10. Substance Abuse Program ~ Starts May 9th
11. Community-Based HIV Prevention Research
12. Upcoming Community Events
13. Get OUT There ~ Subscribe to Our Print Newsletter
14. About PRIDE York Region
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If you read and value this newsletter, please consider investing in PRIDE York Region. Your $10 or
$20 membership will help us keep the information flowing!
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1.
*~ PRIDE Week in York Region ~ June 17 to 23, 2002
It must be spring... PRIDE is in the air! Planning is underway for York Region's Second Annual
PRIDE Week.
*June 15th ~ Super Kick-off Saturday
Baseball Tournament, Barbecue, and Dance, hosted by GLAYR at the Sharon Community Centre. For
tickets or to volunteer, email glayr@yahoo.com
*Mid-Week ~ Library Launch Party
A community-wide celebration to mark the official opening of the "PRIDE York Region McBean GLBTQ
Literature and Reference Collection", a
lending library to be housed at the Krasman Centre in Richmond Hill.
Details to be announced. For more information or to donate books to the collection, email
yorkpride@yahoo.ca
*June 23rd ~ Sunday Evening Church Service
Plans are in the works for a non-denominational community celebration service to wrap up PRIDE Week.
Details to be announced soon. For more
information or to volunteer, email yorkpride@yahoo.ca
In letters mailed on April 26th, PRIDE York Region requested Official Recognition of PRIDE Week 2002
by York Regional Council, and PRIDE Week
Proclamations by each of York Region's nine municipalities: Aurora, East Gwillimbury, Georgina,
King, Markham, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, and Whitchurch-Stouffville. In keeping with our
theme of "Equality through Visibility", we've also asked that the rainbow flag fly at municipal
offices during PRIDE Week. We'll keep you posted!
~*~*~*~
2.
*~Moonlight Cruise Fundraiser ~ Mariposa Belle ~ Sunday, July 21st
Join us for this year's Moonlight Cruise on Sunday July 21st from 7 to 11:00 PM (boarding at 6:30).
Our four hour cruise of Toronto Islands
and Harbour aboard the Mariposa Belle includes entertainment, a light buffet meal, raffle tickets,
door prizes, and dancing on the upper
deck. Tickets are $45.00* and proceeds will support our toll-free help and information phone line as
well as other important LGBTQ services in
York Region.
*Early bird discount: $5 on tickets purchased by June 15. Members of PRIDE York Region, GLAYR, and
PFLAG York Region receive an additional $5 discount on tickets purchased by June 15. Don't delay...
get yours today! Email yorkpride@yahoo.ca
~*~*~*~
3.
*~ Online Article Library Exclusive ~ 'Identity: Transgender'
"For this article, it won't be terms like "gay", or even "gay and lesbian" to which I'm limiting
myself. I want to explore the label "transgendered". My interest has been piqued for a few reasons,
not the least of which was a very informative talk by Christina Strang at
April's PFLAG-York Region meeting. Christina, now coordinator of Toronto's MealTrans Program, spoke
of the torment experienced both emotionally and physically as she came to terms with a male body
that did not match her feminine identity. This struggle led to multiple suicide attempts, loss of
familial relationships and a number of
bashings. It also led to hormone and hair removal treatments that allowed some but not all of the
physical traits of her body to match her identity as a woman. And it gave her a special desire to
help others who are also struggling with gender identity. How could anyone not be interested in
such a story?"
Kevin McBean's exploration of transgender identity continues on PRIDE York Region's Web site at
http://www.gaycana
da.com/prideyorkregion/articles.html. For more information, follow the links from our
'Resources' page.
~*~*~*~
4.
*~Inside Out Toronto Lesbian and Gay Film and Video Festival ~ May 16-26
This year's festival boasts 41 premieres of feature-length work (up from 36 last year), with 4 World
Premieres, 27 Canadian Premieres and
12 Toronto Premieres. Of the 112 Canadian works featured, 86 are from Toronto artists, 3 are
dramatic features and 4 are feature-length
documentaries.
The festival opens with Susan Seidelmans Gaudi Afternoon, an over-the-top, star-studded Hollywood
queer mystery-comedy set in the
visually stunning city of Barcelona. Featuring performances by Judy Davis, Marcia Gay Harden, Lili
Taylor and Juliette Lewis, the Opening
Night Gala promises to be a fun-filled romp through the world of mistaken identities, alternative
families, double-crossings,
kidnappings and some exceptionally unusual characters.
Festival and ticket info up-dated daily at
http://www.insideout.on.ca or call
416-925-XTRA ext. 2229
~*~*~*~
5.
*~ 'Authentic Lives' ~ Benefit Workshop ~ May 25th
Toronto May 25, 2002 - Authentic Lives presents a workshop for same-sex couples, with experts from
various fields available to answer questions
and provide practical advice in managing committed relationships.
Proceeds from this workshop will be donated to the Equal Marriage Fund.
For Details:
http://www.s
amesexmarriage.ca/advocacy/advocacy.htm#authentic
To learn more about the national Equal Marriage Fund, in support of all five marriage cases in
Canada, see:
http://www.samesexm
arriage.ca/advocacy/index.html#fund
~*~*~*~
6.
*~ Speakers Bureau
If your organization or business could benefit from thoughtful exploration of equity, inclusivity,
homophobia and heterosexism, PRIDE
York Region may be able to assist. We have a number of speakers available and can tailor our
presentation to your group's interests and
needs. Visit www.gaycanada.com/prideyorkregion/resources.html for an overview.
To book a speaker or for more information, contact us at yorkpride@yahoo.ca or write to: PRIDE York
Region, Box 182, Markham,
ON L3P 3J7.
In May our speakers visit Thornlea Secondary School, Middlefield Collegiate, and Walk for Life, Walk
for Hope!
~*~*~*~
7.
*~ Update: Coalition in Support of Marc Hall
PRIDE York Region is part of the broad-based Coalition in Support of Marc Hall, brought together to
assist the gay Oshawa high school
student who has been told he cannot bring his boyfriend to his school prom. Marc and his lawyers
will be in court on May 6th and 7th, hoping for a ruling that will allow him to attend his prom on
May 10th - speak out now. Your support is needed!
"PROM OR PROTEST" ... Come out to CELEBRATE or PROTEST the Court's decision on Marc Hall taking his
partner to the prom. Saturday, May 11
at 2:00 p.m. in Cawthra Park, 519 Church St. (near Wellesley) in Toronto. Rain or shine, wear prom
attire or a school uniform - a great
idea! Contact Marilyn at 416-225-2232.
For more information, visit
http://www.gaycanada.
com/prideyorkregion/action.html
~*~*~*~
8.
*~ Update: Dialogue With Our York Region MPs and MPPs
As reported last month, PRIDE York Region has sent letters of introduction to each of the Federal
and Provincial Members of
Parliament for York Region:
Greg Sorbara (MPP) and Maurizio Bevilaqua (MP) Vaughan-King-Aurora
Tina Molinar (MPP) and Elinor Caplan (MP) Thornhill
David Tsubouchi (MPP) and John McCallum (MP) Markham
Frank Klees (MPP) and Bryon Wilfert (MP) Oak Ridges
Julia Munro (MPP) and Karen Kraft-Sloan (MP) York North
Maurizio Bevilaqua, Member of Parliament for Vaughan-King-Aurora, wrote last week to thank us for
sending our newsletter and added, "Please
continue to keep me informed of your group's efforts to serve York Region ... If ever I may be of
assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office."
Our thanks to Mr. Bevilaqua and thanks again to Frank Klees, MPP for Oak Ridges, who responded last
month. We hope to have equally positive
responses from the other representatives and will keep you posted.
~*~*~*~
9.
*~O.W.L.s
Older Wiser Lesbians of York Region ~ A social and support network for women aged forty and over.
Contact us to find out how you can be part
of this brand new York Region group! Email owls_yorkregion@yahoo.ca or call 1-888-4-GAY-YORK and
leave a message "for the OWLs" ... someone
will call you back!
~*~*~*~
10.
*~ Substance Abuse Program
Addiction Services for York Region will offer an education, support and skills enhancing group
program for lesbian and bisexual women concerned
about their substance use. The program will run on Thursday evenings, May 9 through June 27, 6:30 to
8:30 p.m. in Aurora. For referral and
details, contact: Barbara at A.S.Y.R., 905-841-7007 extension 33.
~*~*~*~
11.
*~ Community-Based Research in HIV Prevention
The University of Windsor and the AIDS Committee of Toronto are currently conducting a
qualitative community based research study on
the meanings of (un)safe sex among gay and bisexual men.
The objectives of this study are as follows: to understand why high-risk sexual activity is
occurring among gay and bisexual men in a
period of rising HIV infection rates; to understand the meanings, interactional and situational
dynamics, and predisposing conditions of unprotected sexual encounters; and to provide the
necessary groundwork for improved community prevention programs that can engage the lived
experiences of gay and bisexual men, and empower gay and bisexual male communities to take control
of enhancing their health through contributing to responsive and relevant HIV prevention
initiatives and programs.
Project summary and informational hand-outs are available from PRIDE York Region by emailing
yorkpride@yahoo.ca. Contact the project
coordinators: Winston Husbands, AIDS Committee of Toronto (whusbands@actoronto.org) or Barry Adam,
University of Windsor (adam@uwindsor.ca).
~*~*~*~
12.
*~ Upcoming Community Events
Tuesday, May 28, PFLAG's Monthly Meeting at St. Matthew's United Church in Richmond Hill, 7:30 p.m.
All are welcome! Email marilyn@idirect.com for more information, or visit
http://www.gaycanada.com/pflag-york
~*~*~*~
13.
*~ Get OUT There ~ Subscribe to Our Print Newsletter
Our PRIDE edition will be mailed in mid-May, featuring part two of a series on labeling and
inclusivity, plus a very special poem contributed by York Region high school student, Ryan Kraft.
Don't miss "Hey You!" If you're not already on our postal mailing list, just respond to this email
with your name and address and we'll send a copy of the newsletter your way in a plain envelope.
~*~*~*~
14.
*~ About PRIDE York Region
PRIDE York Region (formerly the Gay Services Committee of York Region), provides advocacy, support,
and referral services for the
lesbian/gay/bi/trans community, with the broader goals of furthering inclusivity and celebrating
diversity in York Region. We maintain a
speakers bureau and welcome invitations from area businesses and organizations seeking to increase
understanding and acceptance.
Please visit us online at
http://www.gaycanada.com/prideyor
kregion for
breaking news.
This newsletter may be forwarded in its entirety.
Copyright PRIDE York Region, 2002
PRIDE York Region (formerly Gay Services Committee of York Region)
http://www.gaycanada.com/prideyor
kregion or call toll free 1-888-4GAYYORK
**NEW MAILING ADDRESS** Box 182, Markham, ON L3P 3J7
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