Events for November 13, 2024 - November 13, 2024

Book Your Monkeypox vaccine The monkeypox vaccination service, provided by Toronto Public Health nurses in collaboration with ACAS, is on Friday, October 28th 3:00 pm-6:30 pm at 260 Spadina Ave, Unit 410. This is open eligibility for gay, bisexual, queer men who have sex with men, including trans men and trans women. Please use this link acas.setmore.com and choose any of the staff names for appointment time. Last appointment will be at 6:15pm Please consider that we are a community-based organization that has small capacity. If it suits you better, there are multiple mass immunization clinics run by the City of Toronto that can handle larger numbers through walk-in. You can find the mass clinics at www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/monkeypox/ The current eligibility criteria determined by the Ontario Ministry of Health are: a) Two-spirited, non-binary, trans- or cis-gender individuals who self-identify or have sexual partners who self-identify as belonging to the gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) community AND at least one of the following: Have received a diagnosis of bacterial STI (i.e., chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) in the past 2 months; Have had 2 or more sexual partners recently or may be planning to; Have attended venues for sexual contact (e.g., bath houses, sex clubs) recently or may be planning to, or who work/volunteer in these settings; Have had anonymous sex (e.g., using hookup apps) recently or may be planning to; and/or Are a sexual contact of an individual who engages in sex work. b) Any individual who engages in sex work or may be planning to. c) Household and/or sexual contacts of those identified for PrEP eligibility in parts (a) and (b) above AND are moderately to severely immunocompromised or pregnant may be at higher risk for severe illness from an MPX infection may be considered for [...]

🌈 LINK TO RRGISTER: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8dW4K_7V1LBLT4uuq-Sira1y2jTO1q62r6SjT-Fiq5hl_aw/viewform?usp=sf_link 🎃 👉 When: Saturday, 29 October 2022 👉 Time: 5pm to 8pm 👉 Location: 260 Spadina Ave, Suite 410, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2E4, Canada ❗ NOTE: We can only have fifteen participants in the office at the same time.  If you sign up, please be respectful and let us know ASAP if you can't make it so we can invite folks from the waitlist in. ❗ Let’s celebrate Halloween with Fright Night. Come to ACAS for a spooky night of pumpkin painting/carving, a scary movie and snacks. Feel free to come in costume for a costume contest, winner gets a prize! Liliths, Ghosts, Bats, Tarantulas and undead Queens welcome! This event will take place in-person at the ACAS office (260 Spadina Ave, Suite 410, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2E4, Canada), meaning that the number of people able to attend at once will be limited to 15 people (plus two facilitators).  As for accessibility needs, there is an elevator available, but it is slow.  It generally works, but we will let you know if it is unavailable.  Otherwise, there are stairs to get to the elevator in the foyer. Masks are mandatory to attend this event, and this is (as much as possible) a scent-free space.  This will be a sober event for the safety of everyone, including folks who may be triggered by the presence of substances. If you have any questions or concerns, please email Dany at youth@acas.org.  CW: knives (and other pumpkin-carving tools).  You'll be able to take your pumpkin home afterwards! See you soon~!

QUEER ASIAN JOY is a project that sparks joy in being queer/trans and Asian. This is a series of classes to learn fan dance styles from various cultural regions in Asia without the segregation of gender. Registration required to reserve your spot in the classes: https://forms.gle/JLS3kEaawQP1n8NH9 These classes are for queer and trans East, Southeast, and mixed Asian folks across all genders along the 2SLGBTQ+ spectrum and for all ages ranging from 18 to 60+. Filipinx Fan Dance with Candace Kumar (Oct 9 & 16) Chinese Fan Dance with Jeffrey Chan (Oct 30 & Nov 6) Vietnamese Fan Dance with Kim Trang Tran (Nov 20 & 27) Dates: Sundays Time: 12pm-2pm Location: Star Dance Centre (Sheppard & Yonge) Address: 4750 Yonge Street, Unit 326, 327 & 331, Toronto, ON M2N 0J6 FREE, no cost! We have space for 20 people per class. Each cultural style will be taught in two classes. You must attend both classes per style. There will be a one week break in between each style before the next set of classes start. You can sign up for 1, 2 or all styles. Please arrive on time. Each class is 1.5 hours with extra 15 min before and after to give time for people to arrive and leave. If you have more questions, please email Ryan at men@acas.org This project was made possible thanks to funding from the Rainbow Grants by the Community One Foundation

ACAS would like to invite you to our 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday, November 5, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. We are anticipating two highlights during this AGM: the staff and board will be presenting ACAS’ new strategic plan covering 2023-2025, and we will welcome Rose Femia, our new auditor from Fazzari + Partners, to lead the presentation of our audited financial statements ending March 31, 2022. Please scan the QR code on this post to fill out the online registration form. As with the past two years, we will be holding our AGM this year via video conference using Zoom. We will send the program and meeting link to registered attendees closer to the day of the event. Please fill out the online registration form at https://forms.gle/3GFfh1qRYLgnNsPw8.  As with the past two years, we will be holding our AGM this year via video conference using Zoom. We will send the program and meeting link to registered attendees closer to the day of the event.

QUEER ASIAN JOY is a project that sparks joy in being queer/trans and Asian. This is a series of classes to learn fan dance styles from various cultural regions in Asia without the segregation of gender. Registration required to reserve your spot in the classes: https://forms.gle/JLS3kEaawQP1n8NH9 These classes are for queer and trans East, Southeast, and mixed Asian folks across all genders along the 2SLGBTQ+ spectrum and for all ages ranging from 18 to 60+. Filipinx Fan Dance with Candace Kumar (Oct 9 & 16) Chinese Fan Dance with Jeffrey Chan (Oct 30 & Nov 6) Vietnamese Fan Dance with Kim Trang Tran (Nov 20 & 27) Dates: Sundays Time: 12pm-2pm Location: Star Dance Centre (Sheppard & Yonge) Address: 4750 Yonge Street, Unit 326, 327 & 331, Toronto, ON M2N 0J6 FREE, no cost! We have space for 20 people per class. Each cultural style will be taught in two classes. You must attend both classes per style. There will be a one week break in between each style before the next set of classes start. You can sign up for 1, 2 or all styles. Please arrive on time. Each class is 1.5 hours with extra 15 min before and after to give time for people to arrive and leave. If you have more questions, please email Ryan at men@acas.org This project was made possible thanks to funding from the Rainbow Grants by the Community One Foundation

Free HIV & STI Express Testing for East & Southeast Asian gay, bi, queer cis and trans men and nonbinary folks 服务同志男人和 跨性别朋友 Dành cho nam Đồng tính và Chuyển giới 남성 동성애자 분들과 트렌스젠더 분들 위함 Results within 24 hours for all screenings. Register at the front desk.  International students welcome. Date: Tuesday November 8 Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm Location: HQ (790 Bay St, 8th floor) 免费 无需预约 欢迎国际留学生 Miễn Phí Hoan nghênh du học sinh 무료 예약 필요 무 유학생 환영합니다 For more info, contact Ryan at men@acas.org

Sex EducAsian is our monthly sexual health workshop at HQ for East & Southeast Asian gay, bi, queer cis and trans men The topic of this month’s session will be Sexual Racism faced by the Asian community. There will be a short introduction and icebreaker followed by a discussion led by our student placement, Marcus. Participants will be able to share their experiences, what sexual racism is to them and how it may affect them. HIV & STI Testing will be available with priority for Asian LGBTQ folks tonight. Come on in for free and quick testing! Date: Tuesday November 8 Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm Location: HQ (790 Bay St, 8th floor) No registration needed, just come by! For more info, contact Ryan at men@acas.org

👉 When: Saturday, 12 November 2022 👉 Time: 10am (ACAS) or 11am (Serena Gundy Park) - 2pm EST 👉 Location to meet: ACAS office (260 Spadina Ave, Suite 410, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2E4, Canada) OR Serena Gundy Park (58 Rykert Crescent, East York, ON M4G 2S9) by the washrooms Take a field trip to Serena Gundy Park and take a short beautiful hike up Wilket Creek Trail to the Toronto Botanical Garden and enjoy the scenery. Afterwards a shopping spree at everyone’s favourite store OOMOMO! Meet us at 10AM at ACAS, 260 Spadina Avenue, Toronto to commute together, or meet us at Serena Gundy Park at 11AM by the washrooms to walk up together. This event will take place in-person starting at Serena Gundy Park, then up to Toronto Botanical Gardens (45 min walk), then over to Oomomo (20 min walk). We will meet at the ACAS Office to commute together via TTC at 10am, and folks can meet us at the park at 11am.  As such, this is not the most mobility-friendly event, though ramps and alternative pathways should generally be available.   Please dress appropriately, as it's projected to be rather cold, and feel free to bring snacks and a water bottle! Social distancing will be mandatory, and this is (as much as possible) a scent-free space.  This will be a sober event for the safety of everyone, including folks who may be triggered by the presence of substances. If you have any questions or concerns, please email Dany at youth@acas.org. See you soon~!

Asian Night is back at Spa Excess! Cum to relax, meet new guys and have some fun. Our volunteer team will be there to create a welcoming and friendly environment while getting you connected with resources on PrEP and HIV/STI testing. Date: Thursday, November 17, 2022 Time: 8pm-11pm Location: Spa Excess (105 Carlton St) Join our bathhouse volunteer team by emailing Ryan at men@acas.org

👉 When: Saturday, 19 November 2022 👉 Exhibit Viewing: 5 - 6pm EST at Artspace Gallery (401 Richmond St. W, Suite LL106) 👉 Virtual Artist Talk & Dinner: 7 - 8pm EST at the ACAS office (260 Spadina Ave., #410) REGISTER AT: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfS7MnZgvmZXyMjpqUdnQSZiaRmYDagzmuIwDd8Dn94Js-m1Q/viewform Queer Asian Artist Beau Gomez has invited members of ACAS's QTAY/Youth Program and Men's Program to view their exhibit at Artspace Gallery, and has kindly agreed to an artist talk after! El Angel presents close corners and encounters in a piercing and introspective display. Throughout the exhibition, storytelling is embodied through an array of audio, and still and moving imagery. This work unveils the nuances of Asian queerness at a crossroads with upbringing, kinship, desire, and disclosure. It examines the possibilities of conversation and dialogue, and the personal and public normativities that shape even our most intimate revelations. With the artist as documenter and his subjects as collaborators, the stories woven throughout El Angel reveal their lived realities: all of it as freeing, restrained, celebratory and painful as they come. Participants should be able to arrive at the Artspace Gallery (401 Richmond St. W, Suite LL106) anytime between 5-6pm on Saturday, November 19th. After 6pm, we will walk as a group (10 minute walk) to the ACAS Office (260 Spadina Ave., #410). While some food and drinks will be provided, this will also be an opportunity for folks to grab dinner before we call Beau on Zoom at 7pm to hear him speak more on his work. Masks and social distancing will be mandatory, and this is (as much as possible) a scent-free space. This will be a sober event for the safety of everyone, including folks who may be triggered by the presence of substances. If you have any questions or concerns, please email Dany at [...]