Summer is here, and ACAS would like to thank everyone, including the newly crowned Miss Charlene Gutierez, winner of Miss Gay Philippines Canada, and first runner-up Miss J. Monroe, as well as long time supporters the Three Queens of the Philippines for taking part in the ACAS 2013 Pride events this year.
Pride signifies diversity, acceptance of LGBTQ persons and the need to combat homophobia as well as HIV stigma and discrimination. ACAS took part in the Trans March, Dyke March and the main Pride Parade this year with over 70 marchers and featuring our #SuperQueer ACAS heros!
Following the artistic tradition of our talented youths, the Powerpuff Queers held centre stage at the QAY Stage during Pride Saturday. The line of up talents this year include crowd favourites such as the DestinAsian Dance Crew, Drag sensation Jolin Starr, as well as, Ramon Vi, Annie Sun, Dento Lam, David Tang, and Marc Castillo.
With such hot weather, who would like to stay indoors? During this past month, ACAS once again took part in the Taste of Thailand and helped spread important safer sex and healthy relationship messages to the large crowd of revelers who were savouring the delicacies of Thai cuisine. Food and sex, what a satisfying combination!
To cool off in the heatwave, ACAS Women’s and Youth Programs as well as the Support Program all held a picnic at Woodbine beach on July 27th. It was certainly a fun time relaxing on the beach and catching up with one another over delicious food with good friends!
We would like to wish Heywon Kim, Women’s Outreach and Education Program Coordinator, best of luck with her CIDA CIDA International Youth Internship in Thailand. Heywon will be working with the Thai National AIDS Foundation, our project partner, as a Youth Outreach Worker. Starting August, please follow her work through the ACAS Blog.
In the mean time, please welcome the following new staff and summer student at ACAS:
Chie Takano Reeves will be our interim Women’s Program Coordinator until January 2013 while Heywon is away in Thailand for her CIDA International Youth Internship;
Alice Yuen of Ryerson University’s Nursing program is our Women’s Program summer student in the months of July and August;
Ryan Tran joins our Men’s Program as the new MSM outreach worker;
We would like to extend our warm welcome to Bebe, our new Trans outreach worker
Do you know what you are doing on October 20th? Join ACAS at this year’s Scotiabank Waterfront Toronto Marathon to raise funds for East and Southeast Asians living with HIV/AIDS. Last year, ACAS raised over $16,000 for such a good cause. This year, we have increased our goal to $20,000 and we need your support. If you would like to register as a runner or walker at this year’s Scotia Run Marathon, Half Marathon and 5k, please visithttp://run4acas.tumblr.com for more information.
We want to wish you an amazing August and will leave you with our wonderful Scotia Run promo video featuring our lovely Christian and Trisha!
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