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July certainly was the month to remember, and it is not only because of the heatwave. In case if you missed Pride 2016, here is a re-cap of the amazing moments the ACAS family came together to celebrate diversity, cultural pride and members of all gender identities holding various sexual expressions we can call as Proud Asians!   Miss ACAS 2016 Isabel Mendoza leads the ultimate entourage of ACAS Marchers at Pride 2016!!!   Thank you to all those who came out to celebrate Pride Month 2016 with us and marched with ACAS at the Trans March, Dyke March and Pride Parade 2016! Take a look at these amazing photos which have captured the special sentiments and spirit shared by all our marchers, supporters, volunteers and staff this year! A special gratitude goes to Miss ACAS 2016 Isabel Mendoza for leading our Pride March followed by all the beautiful and amazing Filipina Queens! You can check out all the amazing photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1061386513940343.1073741886.337056206373381&type=1&l=3cca30a980    Hosting A Much-Needed Community Dialgoue Space #post-Pride 2016…   ACAS hosted a session Let’s Talk About What Happened at Pride on July 13, 2016.  This event reached its capacity, reflecting the overwhelming community interest and the much-needed space for Asians to have a culturally-safe space where they can discuss the events that took place at Pride. As an agency that was founded to serve a culturally and racially minoritized group within the dominant society, ACAS is committed to serving our community in culturally and linguistically appropriate manners and to stand in solidarity with other movements that combat social injustices   Story of Asian Poz Gay Man on OnMyPlanet.CA Christian is a gay Asian man working in the HIV/AIDS sector in Toronto. He is currently the Community Engagement Co-ordinator at Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) and the Ontario [...]

TORONTO, ON — Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) and Queer Asian Youth (QAY) are inviting you to COME MARCH with US at this year’s Pride 2016 Festival! With a host of activities planned for Pride Month in June, ACAS is mixing community building, activism, and celebrating the diversity of the LGBTQQI2S to showcase Asian Pride at its best! Our theme, COME MARCH with US is a play on words off this year’s Pride Toronto theme: You Can Sit with Us. With Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau marching at this year’s Pride Parade and Toronto Police Chief Saunders making a public apology of the Toronto Bathhouse Raids 30 years ago, this year’s Pride in Toronto is promised to be an especially special one post-Orlando Shooting. “Our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families & friends of victims of violence at the Pulse bar in Orlando, Florida,” says ACAS Execuitive Director Noulmook Sutdhibhasilp. “We at ACAS are in solitary with the LGBT communities all around the world in an effort to bringing an end to homophobia and the senseless use of violence towards innocent and vulnerable people.” With two pre-Pride Events already completed, the ACAS Pride Celebration during Pride Weekend is promised to be a festive one. ACAS first launched an anthology “Telling Our Own Stories” written by 11 queer Asian youth who have been mentored by acclaimed LGBTQ Asian writers Carrianne Leung, Rain Chan, and Kym Elisse Nacita at the historic Glad Day Bookshop on June 15, 2016. The book launch took place with award-winning writer Wayson Choy and Councilor Kristyn Wong-Tam with queer Asian youth reading their work informed by their own lived experiences, ranging from realization of one’s queer identity, to struggling through turmoil as queer Asian youth as they relate with the outside world, and ultimately finding hope and healing. [...]

You have last heard from us with our ACAS CelebrAsian Banquet Update in early May. May and June have truly an extremely busy time at ACAS with many amazing events taking place: Celebrating Asian Heritage Month; #PinkDotTO2016; the 2nd Annual OPA+ Gathering 2016; Apologies that the update came a bit later than usual, but we hope you will enjoy the updates nonetheless!   Celebrating Asian Heritage Month with the Toronto Police Services Chinese Consultative Committee ACAS would like to thank the Toronto Police Divison 42 Chinese Consultative Committee for hosting an amazing and festive Asian Heritage Month Celebration at Canadian Immigrant and Cultural Service (CISC) on May 7. The event included many amazing cultural performances including a lion dance, acrobatic performances and many cultural dances and songs performed by many Chinese community performance groups. The Toronto Police   ACAS celebrates IDAHOT with Mayor John Tory! ACAS was invited to the breakfast with Mayor John Tory on May 17, 2016 to honour the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDHOT). Our board members joined the table and had a chat with city councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, the mayor, and other notable figures in the community like Rev. Brent Hawkes, senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto who performed the first same-sex wedding ceremony in Canada. Along with the new bill that gives transgender Canadians equal rights, today is a great step forward!   PinkDotTO2016! About 100 members of the Asian LGBTQ community along with supporters and allies wore pink and showed their pride that there is love across generations for queer Asians marching through Chinatown on Saturday, May 21, at a highly successful ‪#‎PinkDotTO2016: Chinatown Pride March! We would like to thank Kristyn Wong-Tam for City Councillor, Ward 27 (Toronto Centre - Rosedale) for speaking at the event, along with Alvis Choi and [...]

On behalf of the ACAS Board, Staff and Volunteers, we would like to thank all the honoured guests, VIPs, performers, attendees, allies, donors, supporters who helped made the ACAS Sweet 16 CelebrAsian Fundraising Gala for Queer Asian Youth a night to remember!     A list of Asian luminaries including political powerhouse, Ryerson University Distinguished Visiting Professor, and long-time equality campaigner Olivia Chow, Trillium Book Award Winner writer Wayson Choy, and video artist, writer, public intellectual and theorist Richard Fung, along with over 300 other guests, attended the Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) CelebrAsian Sweet 16 CelebrAsian for Queer Asian Youth (QAY) Fundraising Gala on Friday, May 6, 2016 to celebrate the 16th anniversary of QAY’s community leadership, support and services provided to provide culturally-safe services to LGBTQ youth of East and Southeast Asian heritage in the Greater Toronto Area. Equality Advocate Olivia Chow as Auctioneer for the Oil Painting “Velvet Vault” by Artist Cheng Min, which fetched for $1000.   For the past 21 years, Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) has provided vital support to persons living with HIV/AIDS, a safe space for LGBTQ community members, and education and outreach to underserved migrant farmworkers of East and Southeast Asian communities. Noulmook Sutdhibhasilp, ACAS Executive Director remarks, “QAY program is a good investment for the future of youth. From time to time, I meet former QAY participants who express genuine appreciation for the support from this unique program for Asian youth and peers. They let me know the program has allowed them go through their life crisis with strength and pride….that they became who they are because of QAY.” Filipino singer Phee Jay Domingo, serenades to Miss ACAS, community ambassador for Asian Community AIDS Services at the Sweet 16 CelebrAsian Fundraising Gala Since 2000, Queer Asian Youth (QAY), as the youth [...]

We want to thank each and everyone of you for a very successful CelebrAsian Sweet 16 Fundraising Gala for Queer Asian Youth in early May! It has been an extremely busy April at ACAS. Just like our Spring season that came a little late this year,, our April 2016 Month in Review is arriving a little behind schedule --- yet still with all the amazing updates you are looking for!   Spring is a Time for Planting   To welcome Spring, The ACAS Women’s Program got together for a Growth/Nature/Nurture Women’s Social. This year, the program has planned a series of women's social events for this year based on the theme of Growth; Grow your plant (herb gardening) Grow your voice (singing workshop) Grow your food (cooking with grown herbs) Grow your rhythm (dancing workshop) Grow your strength (self defense workshop) Grow your skills (mahjong/Board Gaming) Grow your bonds (relationship related workshop) The workshops build on each other (ie. cooking the herbs in the 3rd social that we grew in the 1st social)! The socials will be on Saturday afternoons and will happen once every six to eight weeks. Our first social, Grow your plant: Herb Gardening took place on Saturday April 30th. The attendees planted herbs such as parsley, mint or basil, learned about ways to take care of the plants and the self, chatted over snacks, and got to take their potted herb home for nurture and growth! Everyone is encouraged to share tips and pics of the growth of your plant on the event's facebook page~☆ As you can see in the photo above, our first "Growth" Series Social Event was a great success! Investing in our Youth   QAY is starting a new individual peer counseling sessions!   Register for confidential and non-judgmental peer support by & [...]

You are cordially invited to the ACAS (Asian Community AIDS Services) Bi-Annual #CelebrAsian When: Friday, May 6, 2016 Time: Reception 6 pm, Dinner 7 pm Where: Dim Sum King Seafood Restaurant, 421 Dundas St. W., 3rd floor Tickets: $60 To purchase, simply click or copy / paste the link below: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/asian-community-aids-services/events/acas-celebrasian-banquet/ Hard copy tickets are also available for purchase at our office location by April 4th. Thank you in advance for your support! See you on May 6! "Supporting our Community, Caring for our Future"     March has been an extremely busy month at ACAS, especially for the Youth!   Take a look to see what exciting events that have taken place this past month!   Queer Yoga Lab QAY is launching a pilot yoga program (supported by ACAS Volunteer Program)! This program is designed to be an open level class from complete beginners to those with more experience. While the sessions will primarily be based around an active physical practice, it may also include meditation, breath-work and philosophy. Details: 6-week program beginning every Wednesday, 6:00pm to 7:30pm, from March 9th to April 13th. •Space for 10 participants: 7 registered spots for those who commit to full 6 week & 3 drop-in spots (must email before to confirm). •Bring your own mat, some mats and props will be provided. •Snacks and drinks provided. Instructor: Minh Toan Minh is a certified Yoga Instructor, completing his training with Karma Teachers, a Vancouver based non-profit yoga studio. He has a strong dedicated practice, with over 5 years experience with multiple yoga styles and knowledge in philosophy, meditation and breath-work. He is dedicated to supporting his students by creating the conditions where they can uniquely grow and develop through the physical conditioning and mental practice of yoga.   “Eat your Rice!” QAY Health Cooking [...]

 YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO JOIN US AT THE ASIAN COMMUNITY AIDS SERVICES (ACAS)  ‘CELEBRASIAN’ BI-ANNUAL BANQUET DINNER! THIS YEAR WE CELEBRATE THE 16TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE QUEER ASIAN YOUTH (QAY) INITIATIVE: THE PROGRAM HAS HELPED MORE THAN 200 YOUTH EACH YEAR IN COMING OUT PROCESS, LEADERSHIP TRAINING, AND SPORTS & RECREATION. YOUR CONTRIBUTION AT THE BANQUET WILL DIRECTLY SUPPORT US TO CONTINUE OUR WORK WITH ASIAN LGBTIQ+ YOUTH. THE CELEBRATION WILL TAKE PLACE ON: DATE: FRIDAY, MAY 6 AT: DIM SUM KING RESTAURANT (421 DUNDAS ST. W, 3RD FL., WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE, 416- 551-3366) RECEPTION (CASH BAR) STARTS AT 6:00 P.M. AND DINNER AT 7:00 P.M. WE HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN US AND 400 OTHER ATTENDEES DELIGHTING IN A CHINESE BANQUET AND ENTERTAINMENT BY LOCAL MUSICAL AND DANCE PERFORMERS! WE WILL ALSO HOST LIVE AND SILENT AUCTIONS WHERE YOU WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING HOME SOMETHING SPECIAL. PLEASE SUPPORT US BY PURCHASING A REGULAR TICKET OF $60 OR RESERVING A SPONSOR TABLE WITH US.   Tickets can also be purchased online through the link below (simply click or copy/paste): https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/asian-community-aids-services/events/acas-celebrasian-banquet/ SPONSORSHIP: A SILVER SPONSOR TABLE IS $1200 FOR 10 GUESTS A GOLD SPONSOR TABLE IS $2000 AUCTION ITEM DONATIONS WILL ALSO HELP SUPPORT OUR FUNDRAISING EFFORTS ALL SPONSORS WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED THROUGHOUT THE EVENING AND IN OUR PRINTED PROGRAM. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT, OUR ORGANIZATION OR WAYS TO SPONSOR, PLEASE CONTACT: NOULMOOK SUTDHIBHASILP, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT 416-963-4300 EXT. 227. WE APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO ACAS OVER THE YEARS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT ‘#CELEBRASIAN’ BANQUET. SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY, CARING FOR OUR FUTURE

February was not only the Lunar New Year, but it was also a Leap Month! ACAS wishes everyone a very Safe, Prosperous, and Sexually Healthy New Year ahead, and that you will have double the fun! 恭賀新禧!                                      Chúc Mừng Năm Mới"!                                새해 복 많이 받으세요! Shine Jiliin Bayariin Mend Hurgeye!                                 迎春!                        Losar-la Tashi Delek!   Welcome James Lee, ACAS Photovoice Project Coordinator! We would like to welcome our latest staff member to join ACAS, James Lee. As the Photovoice Project Coordinator, James will be utilizing his background in digital arts to empower Asians living with HIV through the power of story-telling via photography. Country of Origin: Canada Language(s): English and rudimentary Cantonese How long you have worked at ACAS: I have been involved with ACAS more intensely since 2015! In one sentence, briefly describe what you like about your role/job at ACAS: I get to combine art, outreach and advocacy! Three Likes (it can be anything that you like): Food, Music, Design Comment to site visitor (brief sentence of anything you would like to say to the site visitor or service user): Life is your canvas, make it a masterpiece. (416) 963-4300 ∙ photovoice@acas.org   The ACAS Photovoice Project: The ACAS Photovoice 2016 project is looking to capture and share the realities of what it means to be HIV positive and Asian. Centered around the “Engagement Cascade” and the central key fields of: I Matter, I Belong, I Participate, I Access, I Contribute, and I [...]