Events for September 20, 2024 - September 20, 2024

SWIPE RIGHT; Navigating queer connection apps and hook-up culture. Join Cameron as siya talks about being Queer while navigating connection apps and hook-up culture. Let’s talk about ways to stay safe, define your boundaries, spot red flags, and have fun! Sign-up through the link is coming soon. Folks are welcome to join this virtual QTAY Zoom workshop on Friday, June 16th from 6-8pm EST. If you have any questions or concerns, or would like more information, please email Dany at youth@acas.org. See you soon~! [Image Description: Slides shows a faded illustration of a bedroom with large windows, a large potted plant, crumpled sheets and a window AC unit. Text describing the event above is formatted like a text-based dating simulator with a small Animal Crossing cat representing Cameron gesturing to a text box.]

The HIV self-testing promotion team is holding an event for HIV self-testing and a portrait session this Friday June 16 at Glad Day Bookshop (499 Church St). Join National Geographic Yourshot and Photovogue photographer Justin Anantawan to learn about and receive free HIV self-testing kits and get your portrait taken in The Village just in time for Pride! Please email officeadmin@acas.org or call 416 963 4300 to register. Spots are limited and are open to LGBTQ2SIA+ folks of all ethnicities :) Refreshments will be served

Have a fun but chill get together for Pride with other Asian gay, bi, queer cis & trans guys (and friends!). We’ll have our sound system set up with 2 microphones and a fun party atmosphere. Karaoke will be setup with whatever songs you can find on youtube in any language. Some snacks and Chinese buns will be provided. Date: Wednesday June 21 Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm Location: ACAS (260 Spadina Ave, Unit 410) We would like to know you're coming! Please RSVP at forms.gle/RK7Nf6xp57LyQpv39

It's the Pride month in June. Before the parade, let's have some yoga fun! We will do some yoga practice, talking about mindfulness, and ho'oponopono, the traditional Hawaiian mental purification and therapy. Our presenters are: Sompong Rugpradit: Majored in Pharmacy Assistant in Ottawa. Practicing the spiritual life of Buddhist philosophy with yoga, taichi, and meditation. Rodin Wu: Tarot reader and Kundalini reiki master. Good at tarot counseling and reiki therapy. Practicing the spiritual life with love and gratitude. In the session you will learn: Some yoga poses benefiting our physical and mental health, since yoga improves our strength, balance and flexibility. Slow movements and deep breathing also increase blood flow and warm up muscles. Mindfulness meditation to stay in peace and calm, which has been scientifically shown and proved to reduce anxiety and depression, lower blood pressure and improve sleep. It may even help people cope with pain. The ho'oponopono prayer to facilitate forgiveness, encourage humility, promote Self Love, help us practice gratitude, and help us let go of what is no longer serving us. Please understand dinner will be offered after the yoga session to avoid the unwell feelings. You are also encouraged to carry your yoga mat. No yoga mat? Don't worry. We've got 7 yoga mats on demand. First come first serve reservation is available. Let's get ready to shine at Pride, shall we? Time: June 23 (Fri) 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Place: ACAS Office -  260 Spadina Ave. #410 If you are interested, please register via the form at https://forms.gle/BPkLcELXJeiYx7iz8. Thank you very much and see you soon!

March with ACAS in the Pride Parade on Sunday June 25 Join the largest contingent for East & Southeast Asian queer & trans folks in the Pride Parade! Partners and allies are welcome. Bring your own water, bells, whistles, and noisemakers, but most of all, bring YOUR PROUD SELF! Group Number: B12 Meet up point: Northeast corner of Isabella & Jarvis at the Rogers Sign Pillar, https://goo.gl/maps/dnF1hXP4m8DtoSQP9 Meet up time: 1:30pm-2:00pm (before moving to the parade starting line) Group in front of us: Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention Group behind us: The Home Depot Canada *We are not having a float this year and only walking. It will be crowded and it could get difficult to find us. We will have an ACAS sign on a pole. If you are late to meet us at our meet up point, then you can find us near the starting point along Bloor St and Church St and look for either B12 or the other groups we are situated in between. You will NOT be able to join when the parade begins as the barricades will be back this year to block off people from entering along the route. We are at a later time this year, so expect a longer wait at the starting point. When we walk along the parade, please continue to move and not leave large gaps as it holds up the whole parade. We cannot stop to take photos for too long as it creates large gaps. We encourage you to bring your own water in a reusable bottle, however there will be water available along the route. We may bring limited water bottles to reduce waste. If you cannot walk the whole route, get tired, or overheated, there are exit points along the route at: Isabella [...]

Dear OPA+ members: We are delighted to invite you to an upcoming workshop on HIV prevention and treatment updates. This workshop aims to provide valuable insights into the latest advancements, strategies, and best practices in the field of HIV prevention and treatment. Time: July 20 (Thu.) 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Fife House - 490 Sherbourne St. Michael, the founding person of medsEXPERT and Sofiya, the Clinical Care Coordinator of medsEXPERT will be our guest presenters, who will share their expertise and insights. We believe that this event will not only enhance your understanding of HIV prevention and treatment but also empower you to make a positive impact in your community. Michael: Michael founded medsEXPERT while working for a straight-owned pharmacy nearby. When they asked what was missing there - it was clear: queer leadership, real outreach and competent knowledge of LGBTQ+ health . Combining their passion for equity and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) education to create the first community pharmacy was a dream come true! medsEXPERT is involved in AIDS activism furthering access to HIV and Hep C testing, awareness, PrEP + PEP, and Hep C and more. When they’re not working, teaching, or volunteering, Michael can be found raising and spoiling Kobi, our client support animal. Sofiya: After gaining knowledge across multiple health care settings in her 4 years of experience, Sofiya gained an admiration for all disciplines in healthcare. Currently, Sofiya is a Clinical Care Coordinator at medsEXPERT pharmacy where she learns the foundations of pharmacy assisting, collaborative patient and health care provider relationships and advocate for LGBTQ+ and community health. Sofiya is currently studying at the University of Toronto to complete the Kinesiology program. Throughout her degree and work experience, Sofiya found her passion for preventative medicine and clinical healthcare. In the session we can learn: [...]

Date: Thursday July 20 Time: 8:00pm – 11:00pm Location: Spa Excess (105 Carlton St) It's Asian Night at Spa Excess! It's gonna be a wet and wild night. 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. Coupon for 50% off lockers available by contacting Ryan at men@acas.org Join our bathhouse volunteer team by emailing Ryan at men@acas.org

**EVENT NOW AT CAPACITY** If you cannot make it but have signed up please let us know so we can work through the waitlist. Friday July 21st, 7:30PM at Tâm Restaurant (369 Keele St. Toronto, Ontario M6P 2K6) Free, no cover fee Food provided by Tâm Restaurant This is a combined event between AQUA, ACAS, and queer Asian community members that includes queer Asian folks across all genders anywhere along the 2SLGBTQQII+ spectrum and Asian being anyone from Asia, including East, SouthEast, South, SouthWest, West, North and Mixed Asian. 🎥 We would like to invite everyone to join in a screening of Supporting Our Selves (SOS), a documentary film that explores how and why the queer community in Toronto, Canada has grown and evolved over the past 40 years, through the lens of one grassroots organization and its impact. From the Bathhouse Raids to BLM’s Pride Parade Protest, activists of all generations lead an honest and unflinching narrative journey that charts a community’s complex and sometimes conflicting memories.

HOT POT SQUATS (Supporting Queer And Trans Stories) Hong Fook Youth and Family Services partnering with ACAS to run a monthly LGBTQ+ peer support program for Asian LGBTQ+ youth ages 18-29. 👉 WHEN: July 26 👉 TIME: 6:30pm - 8:00pm EST 👉 WHERE: Zoom 👉 REGISTER: email Moshe at msakal@hongfook.ca The peer support group offers a space for youth to connect and share their experiences around a variety of topics relevant to their lives, including LGBTQ+ and mental health. Together we create a supportive, non-judgemental environment that inspires hope, healing, and change.