Events for December 2020

This is a new monthly group for East & Southeast Asian transmasculine and non-binary people. This includes all transmasculine-identifying folks or folks who may be questioning. We welcome people at any point of their transition. This monthly group is a safe space of support where we can share and learn from each other's common experiences as Asian transmasc folks. This group will be facilitated by an Asian transman. Date: Tuesday, Dec 1 Time: 7pm - 8:30pm EST If this will be your first time attending please register through this form (https://forms.gle/cZHJq6rYHHGLtgvB6) and the facilitator will email you with the Zoom link. If you are part of the Asian trans masc Facebook group or email newsletter, you will automatically receive the Zoom link there. Who can join? ACAS primarily serves those who identify as East and/or Southeast Asian living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. However, we know spaces for East & Southeast Asian transmasc folks are very few and we are happy to open this event to those living outside of Toronto. Please note that resources will be focused on Toronto due to our knowledge of local services and resources. East & Southeast Asian includes those from multiple generations of immigrants (1st generation, 2nd generation, and so on..) and members of the diaspora from East & Southeast countries like China, Hong Kong, Philippines, Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, etc. This can also include people with mixed backgrounds from at least one of those countries. This may also include those who might not identify ethnically by blood, but have a substantial heritage or up-bringing living in those countries.

This workshop is for East and Southeast Asian queer & trans youth under 30 across Canada. This is a workshop for applying to the #RisingYouth Grants. We will walk you through the application process and grant writing basics. Date: Wednesday December 2 Time: 6:00PM - 7:30PM EST Click here to register Food vouchers will be available for youth who attend both workshops on Nov 24th and Dec 2nd. #RisingYouth Community Service Grants empowers young people, ages 15-30 to imagine ideas that can support their local community and helps put those ideas into action through grants of $250, $750, or $1500. If you have an idea to support your community, #RisingYouth can help you bring it to life. To apply for a grant, visit acas.risingyouth.ca

Dear Clients, Community Members, Allies and Supporters, We hope you are doing well and are safe. We would like to cordially invite you to this year’s World AIDS Day (WAD) event 2020, happening on December 3 rd , 2020, through the Zoom platform. As a part of the celebration, we have created a series of podcasts called “Love Fierce Positive Asians.” The podcast series is a continuation of the successful first series from last year’s WAD 2019. The series will discuss the experiences and intersectionality of Asian PHAs, gender identities, navigating life with a caregiver, fatherhood, and being a refugee. During this evening, we will get a taste of all six podcasts over this memorable and celebratory day. We also start with a big bang by launching a series of ACAS community forums. ACAS SEED25+ is our first online community forums focusing on HIV+ pioneers and AIDS activists who planted seeds at ACAS and helped us grow for more than 25 years. We will have a panel discussion with four community members, which will talk about various topics such as discrimination during COVID19, caregiving, the future of HIV from the PHA’s perspective and the HIV community movement. This evening’s discussion will be one of many planned community forums for ACAS SEED25+. The event is generously sponsored by Gilead Sciences Canada Inc. We are looking forward to seeing many of you at our Zoom gathering. Please RSVP using this link: https://forms.gle/mZrGPBP9TpFuVgcY7 or email to Alex Ma support@acas.org no later than December 1st, 2020, to reserve a spot for this intimate and important moment. Once you have registered with Alex, he will send you the Zoom link. Sincerely, Kenneth Poon, Health Promotion Coordinator Robinson Truong, Board Director

The event will be streamed LIVE right on the ACAS Facebook page. Calling Queer Asian folks to the stage please! This is your time to stand in the stoplight, play the lead, and share your special talent in front of your warm and supportive queer Asian family. All levels of experience (or inexperience) are encouraged to perform. Non-English performances are welcome! This event is open to all Asian LGBTQ+ identified folks. Room opens at 4:45pm Show starts at 5:00pm Intermissions at 5:50pm & 6:50pm If you want "front row seats" with audience interaction or to perform in a few of our open slots, register ASAP to receive the Zoom link: https://forms.gle/SJLMtxyUM15KCyDd7 __________________________ Accepting a wide range of performances including but not limited to: Singing, dance, music instruments, spoken word, monologues, dance, drag, songs, scenes, stand-up comedy, burlesque, magic, performance art, juggling, martial arts… Performer sign up: email Ryan at men@acas.org Each performer can sign up for a 10 minute time slot. You may choose to perform live or share a pre-recorded video. Please be aware that if you perform live that the sound quality may not be guaranteed depending on your internet connection and is out of our control. This event is made possible thanks to the support of United Way GTA #LocalLove Funded by the Government of Canada.

Need a space to relax or a space where you can study to some chill beats? Join us for another drop-in session! Wednesday, December 9, 6pm – 8pm Zoom link will be sent closer to the event date. Description:      If you’re feeling isolated and lonely trying to get work done or just want a place to hang out with people, this is the place to do it! We’ll have a space where we can listen to a playlist curated by LGBTQIAP+ Asians and work together quietly, while also being able to chat with each other and whatnot.      If you need a space to talk or want to vent a bit, Dany (our coordinator) will be around to go to a breakout room with you and listen to you. Please keep in mind that Dany is not a professional, but is there to empathize, offer advice and resources, and moderate the space.      This’ll be a two-hour session of working, chilling, and chatting together. Even if you don’t stay the whole time or arrive late, that’s okay!  We’d be happy to have you for whenever you’re able to stop by, even if you just want to say hi. This event is made possible thanks to the support of United Way GTA #LocalLove Funded by the Government of Canada.

***PLEASE sign up at https://forms.gle/2AUayq6ZVNGXLUFHA to ensure you get a spot at this event!*** Description: Don’t let the ice-solation get to you this Holiday Season! Join ACAS and fellow LGBTQIAP+ Asians to Celebrate the Holigays!: A Letters of gratitude + DIY holiday card workshop. Come learn about Gratitude as a mindfulness practice and some Cool tips and tricks on how to make your own hallmark-worthy cards! There will be a card creating session/creative hangout time at the end so we highly encourage you to bring some crafting supplies (our recommended items are starred in the list below). sNOw worries if you do not have all of those items, this workshop is all about being resourceful and using what you have at home. Hope to see all you Thaw-some folks there! CWs: There may be mentions of academia. Facilitator: Eva is a Queer Taiwanese Canadian who is intrigued with the question of identity. Through lots of self-reflection, she found that identity is never self-contained and will always be intersectional. It is informed and linked to communities, experiences, locations and it is ever-evolving. Eva has worked with ACAS previously leading workshops and co-hosting events and is excited to be working with ACAS again to engage the community. Supplies: Paper to write on* Pen/Marker* Pencil* Ruler* Coloured paper/blank printer paper* Scissors* Tape/glue* Compass Old magazines/old calendars/internet images you want to print Stickers Anything else you’d like to craft with! This event is made possible thanks to the support of United Way GTA #LocalLove Funded by the Government of Canada.

Need a space to relax or a space where you can study to some chill beats? Join us for another drop-in session! Wednesday, December 16, 6pm – 8pm Zoom link will be sent closer to the event date. Description:      If you’re feeling isolated and lonely trying to get work done or just want a place to hang out with people, this is the place to do it! We’ll have a space where we can listen to a playlist curated by LGBTQIAP+ Asians and work together quietly, while also being able to chat with each other and whatnot.      If you need a space to talk or want to vent a bit, Dany (our coordinator) will be around to go to a breakout room with you and listen to you. Please keep in mind that Dany is not a professional, but is there to empathize, offer advice and resources, and moderate the space.      This’ll be a two-hour session of working, chilling, and chatting together. Even if you don’t stay the whole time or arrive late, that’s okay!  We’d be happy to have you for whenever you’re able to stop by, even if you just want to say hi. This event is made possible thanks to the support of United Way GTA #LocalLove Funded by the Government of Canada.

**Register at https://forms.gle/EnNniAXpX3sdKn1L7 to join us!** It's cold outside, but that doesn't mean we can't find warmth in friends and good food! Join us for Hot Pot Huddle, our Winter / End-Of-Year Social! Saturday, December 26, 6pm - 9pm Zoom link will be sent closer to the event date. Description: Grab some good food and join us for a wintry celebration! This is a space that Queer Asian folks can enter and leave at any time to relax, eat, play, and be themselves with other Queer Asian folks during the holiday season. We'll have games, discussions, and even a little "crafting corner" (list of potential activities below). It'll be a good, warm time all around with some amazing people. Can't wait to see you there! POTENTIAL ACTIVITIES Games: -> Jackbox Games (custom ACAS Quiplash?) -> Kahoot Quizzes (themed around things like anime, zodiac signs, etc.) -> Wintry D&D Game Crafting Corner: -> Random Writing Prompts / Improv Storytelling Circle -> Paint Night (dependent on available leaders) -> Craft & Chat / Craft Showcase Discussions / Other: -> Quiz-taking (you know, those silly random quizzes online) -> Tarot Card Reading (dependent on available readers) -> Discussion "Circles" (themed around things like anime, zodiac signs, etc.) This event is made possible thanks to the support of United Way GTA #LocalLove Funded by the Government of Canada.

This event is open to all Asian LGBTQ+ identified folks. Wednesday, Dec 30 7:45pm EST - Room open for arrivals 8:00pm EST - Movie start time Please register to receive the invitation link: https://forms.gle/EagLx5nL8JocRzE36 Your Name Engraved Herein (刻在你心裡的名字) (Taiwan, 2020, 1 hour 58 minutes) directed by Kuang-Hui Liu Mandarin with English subtitles Trailer: https://youtu.be/mzfVBg54BGw Synopsis: Your Name Engraved Herein is about two high school boys in an all-male boarding school exploring their friendship and genuine love for each other against the backdrop of the 1980s when Taiwan recently lifted its strict martial law, amid a transition from conservative society to become the most LGBTQ-friendly country in Asia. When the boarding school begins admitting females, their relationship faces an ultimate test with the emergence of a school girl. Your Name Engraved Herein is Taiwan’s all-time highest-grossing LGBTQ film, receiving 5 Golden Horse Award nominations in 2020. The film is produced by Arthur Chu, directed by Kuang-Hui "Patrick" Liu, starring Jing-Hua Tseng and Edward Chen. How to join our movie night: We’ll be hosting the movie on a free platform called Kast. A free Kast account is required. Sign up at (w.kastapp.live). With the invite link, you can watch directly through Google Chrome or download the desktop app (kast.gg/download.html). Kast will not work in other internet browsers (like Firefox or Safari). You do not need a Netflix account to watch. To receive the private Kast room link, please register at: https://forms.gle/EagLx5nL8JocRzE36