May in Review: Asian Heritage Month

May is Asian Heritage Month, and ACAS has had a busy month of events to celebrate our Asian roots.
To start off the month, ACAS attended the Asian Heritage Month Opening Ceremony in the east Chinatown. The event was organized by Toronto Police’s Chinese Consultative Committee of which ACAS is a member organization. We were  pleased to celebrate the event with our Board Chair, Andre Goh, and long-time ACAS supporter and award-winning writer Paul Yee.
In an effort to break the silence on HIV stigma, the Support Program hosted “My Story-Living with HIV.” The event featured two ACAS service users who spoke to ACAS and community members about their stories of challenges and personal resiliencies to ACAS members and the community. We would like to take the time to thank the courage of the two speakers and the inspiration they have instilled through their stories.

Aside from celebrating Asian Heritage Month with a Spring Fling edition of our popular Asian Bathhouse Night at Spa SX, the Men’s Program held a special Asian Men Social Night “Dating Then & Now” for our gay, bi, and MSM service users to discuss the many different forms of dating relationships such as open and polyamorous relationships that exist in our community, and an opportunity to offer each other useful strategies to stay healthy sexually.

Riding on the success of last year’s successful event, Queer Asian Youth (QAY), ACAS’ Youth Program, once again celebrated the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia with “What’s Up, Asia?!” featuring panel speakers to speak about the various LGBTQ activist movements in Asia. QAY also held a special edition of “Mmm, Movie Night” screening various shorts from Queer Asian web series to coincide with Asian Heritage Month.

Meanwhile, the Women’s Program have been busy learning how to make delicious food with their “Roll ‘em Up –Sushi & Cold Roll Making for Women” event as well as collaborating with ACAS’ Straight Men’s Outreach Program, the Locker Room Project, for a series of Muay Thai Boxing and Self-defence lessons.

ACAS was one of the Community Sponsors for the Inside Out International Film this year. Christian Hui, Community Engagement Worker, addressed a full house at the TIFF Lightbox Cinema about the importance of finding allies for the Asian LGBTQ and HIV community prior to the screening of the superbly delightful romantic comedy “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?” by Arvin Chen.

Last but not least, ACAS launched its highly anticipated online zine, Qi Magazine, to coincide with Asian Heritage Month. Thanks to the hard work of our Social Media Coordianator Meza Daulet and a number of volunteers, graphic and web designers, writers, and editor, we have created a fresh and fun online magazine for the Asian Canadian LGBTQ and HIV community. Please spread the word about Qi Magazine by visiting http://qimagazine.ca/ and sharing it with your friends and network.