SLAM Forum: A New Era In HIV prevention
A New Era In HIV prevention: PrEP & PEP updates that everyone should know led by Michael Fanous from the MedsExpert Clinic + Pharmacy Saturday August 22, 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST Admission is free. Registration required at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/slam2020This event is for East and Southeast Asian gay, bi, queer cisgender and transgender men living in and near Ontario, Canada. The SLAM! Forum (Sex Love Asian Men!) is an interactive learning forum on sex, health, relationships, and lifestyle for self-identified for cis & trans gay, bi, queer East and Southeast Asian men. For the SLAM Forum: Hindsight 2020, we will share, learn, and connect together in our experiences through multiple online sessions held throughout the weekend of August 21-24. For your convenience, you can attend as many sessions as you'd like. To protect the safety and confidentiality of our community, the sessions will not be recorded. An electronic giftcard will be given to each attendee after they complete the session's evaluation. This event is funded by ViiV Healthcare
SLAM Forum: COVID-19, Anti-Asian Racism & International Activism
COVID-19, Anti-Asian Racism & International Activism – the Queer Asian Connections led by Alan Tai-Wai Li, M.D. and Henry “JiaJia” Lam (Director of Communications and Community Engagement, ACHK) Saturday August 22, 2:30pm - 4:00pm EST Starting with our social location as Asian Canadians and our current challenges and work related to COVID-19 anti-Asian Racism, we will draw connections of its broader global politics and our ongoing work on LGBTQ+ activism in Canada and Hong Kong. There will be a dynamic discussion amongst participants to share experiences and insights of activism in different areas and explore synergistic solidarity strategies. About the Facilitators: Alan Li is a medical doctor, educator, researcher, community organizer and advocate based in Toronto, Canada with over 30 years’ experiences working many marginalized populations including immigrants, refugees, people facing challenges with poverty, service access barriers, mental health and addiction issues, LGBTQ and people with HIV/AIDS (PHA). In addition to working at the Regent Park Community Health Centre as a primary care physician, Alan has taken on leadership roles in many social justice and equity promoting organizations, including as the national president of the Chinese Canadian National Council, president of Gay Asians Toronto (GAT), and as founding president of the Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS), and the Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment (CAAT), a coalition working to improve treatment access for and promote leadership of newcomer and racialized PHAs, where Alan has led multiple community-based research studies that led to the development of many innovative health promotion programs and services amongst HIV, sexual minorities, newcomer and racialized communities. Henry “JiaJia” Lam (he/him) is a Vancouver-based writer. A long-time advocate for Hong Kong’s LGBTQ equality and marriage equality in an artistic approach. Co-founder of Gayradio.hk and Primaco Productions. After his relocation to Canada, Lam has since actively write for Hong Kong politics and migrant community. He is Director [...]
SLAM Forum: Transmasculinity & Dating
Transmasculinity & Dating (This session is only for trans men and trans masc folks) led by Caiden Sunday August 23, 1:00pm - 2:30pm EST About the Facilitator: Caiden is an engineer who is transitioning to medicine. He has also transitioned to live as a man since 2014, and has been involved in various community work. Admission is free. Registration required at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/slam2020This event is for East and Southeast Asian gay, bi, queer cisgender and transgender men living in and near Ontario, Canada. The SLAM! Forum (Sex Love Asian Men!) is an interactive learning forum on sex, health, relationships, and lifestyle for self-identified for cis & trans gay, bi, queer East and Southeast Asian men. For the SLAM Forum: Hindsight 2020, we will share, learn, and connect together in our experiences through multiple online sessions held throughout the weekend of August 21-24. For your convenience, you can attend as many sessions as you'd like. To protect the safety and confidentiality of our community, the sessions will not be recorded. An electronic giftcard will be given to each attendee after they complete the session's evaluation. This event is funded by ViiV Healthcare
SLAM Forum: Sex and Mental Health
Sex and Mental Health: An Intersectional Approach for Gay Asian Men led by Judy Lui, M.Sc., CCC., RP Sunday August 23, 2:30pm - 4:00pm EST Judy will be spending the first portion discussing her experiences of working with LGBTQ+ folks in York Regions, specifically speaking to the experiences of East Asian and Chinese client's experiences in therapy and more intimately the topic of working with gay Asian men. The second half of the session will be an opportunity for participants to ask questions and share their own experiences. About the Facilitator: Judy is the founder and director of Your Story Counselling, a individual, couple, family, trauma, and sex psychotherapy clinic located in Vaughan Ontario, with both online and in office session options. As a passionate ally to the LGBTQ+ community Judy has dedicated her work to be inclusive of the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, especially those also of Asian and/or other ethnic minority descent; understanding that the complicated and beautiful layers of those lived experiences as something important to hold space and healing for. Judy continues to engage in the LGBTQ+ community in her psychotherapy work by offering reduced fees for those that identify as LGBTQ+ and/or of a ethnic minority status. Judy is also a regular contributor to PFlag York region, having sponsored galas and charity events in the past. Admission is free. Registration required at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/slam2020This event is for East and Southeast Asian gay, bi, queer cisgender and transgender men living in and near Ontario, Canada. The SLAM! Forum (Sex Love Asian Men!) is an interactive learning forum on sex, health, relationships, and lifestyle for self-identified for cis & trans gay, bi, queer East and Southeast Asian men. For the SLAM Forum: Hindsight 2020, we will share, learn, and connect together in our experiences through multiple online sessions held [...]
SLAM Forum: Advances in PrEP & PrEP Access (Maple Leaf PrEP Clinic)
Advances in PrEP & PrEP Access at the Maple Leaf PrEP Clinic led by Andy Mok, RN Monday August 24, 7:30pm - 9:00pm EST Wondering if PrEP is right for you? Have questions or concerns about how to access PrEP in Toronto? Not sure if you can afford PrEP on a monthly basis or if your insurance covers PrEP? Come join this session to learn how the Maple Leaf PrEP Clinic can support your PrEP needs. Participants will learn about the difference between daily PrEP vs. "On-Demand" PrEP, in addition to exploring different avenues on accessing PrEP regardless of your visa status and/or financial situation. About the Facilitator: Andy has been working as a community and primary health nurse for the past two years. As an Asian gay man, he is committed to making a positive impact in the Canadian healthcare system by advocating for equitable rights and fair treatment of marginalized groups, such as LGBTQ+ and people living with mental illness and/or HIV/AIDS. Working in the community setting, Andy proactively raises public awareness of the negative impact of stigmas on the health of affected individuals and communities. He engages in stigma reduction training with the goal of becoming a nursing leader and champion to address social stigma and health inequities. Admission is free. Registration required at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/slam2020This event is for East and Southeast Asian gay, bi, queer cisgender and transgender men living in and near Ontario, Canada. The SLAM! Forum (Sex Love Asian Men!) is an interactive learning forum on sex, health, relationships, and lifestyle for self-identified for cis & trans gay, bi, queer East and Southeast Asian men. For the SLAM Forum: Hindsight 2020, we will share, learn, and connect together in our experiences through multiple online sessions held throughout the weekend of August 21-24. For your convenience, you can [...]
Men’s Movie Night: Athlete
This is a free event for gay, bi, queer Asian cis and trans men. Athlete (アスリート 〜俺が彼に溺れた日々〜) (Japan, 2019, 89 minutes) directed by Takamasa Oe. Japanese with English subtitles Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lOyD9V58ZE Synopsis: Kohei is a former competitive swimmer who lives an ordinary life with his wife and high school daughter. One day, his wife suddenly asks him for a divorce. He then has a fateful encounter with a beautiful boy named Yutaka. 9:00pm EDT - Room open for arrivals 9:15pm EDT - Movie start time 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 only or download the desktop app (kast.gg/download.html) Register by emailing Ryan at men@acas.org for the private Kast room link. There is a chatbox feature that we can use if you want to comment and share your thoughts throughout the movie
Men’s Games Night
Your Friday nights at home just got a little better! Looking to meet new friends during the pandemic? This is the first of a monthly online games night for Asian gay, bi, queer, cis and trans guys We'll focus on one game for the night. Feel free to drop in and out between 8pm - 9:30pm EDT Email Ryan at men@acas.org for the Zoom link.
Asian LGBTQ+ Online Social – Games Night!
Starting this month, ACAS will begin to hold a variety of regular online events to allow Asian LGBTQ+ community members to get together, socialize, chat and check-in with one another – and we would love for you to join us! This month, we’ll kick things off with our Asian LGBTQ+ Online Games Night, featuring ice breakers and Pictionary! Bring your favourite treats and teas, and let's get down to business! Date: Saturday September 26th Time: 7:30pm-9:00pm Feel free to drop in, say hi! If you have any questions or other recommendations for future events you would like to see, please do not hesitate to contact Kai at community@acas.org This event is open to ALL Asian folks that self-identify as LGBTQ+! Please register here: https://forms.gle/PfPYE87jkzvtMaW47 More details and invitation to the Zoom event will be sent to you once you register. If you can’t make it this month, don’t worry! There will more in the future! Be sure to regularly check our Facebook, Instagram and website calendar for more updates. Funded by the Government of Canada.
Men’s Humpday: OnlyFans Edition
This event is for Asian gay, bi, queer, cis and trans men. This month's Humpday is a THURSDAY (October 1st) with a special guest sharing his personal experience on starting his own OnlyFans venture. This local Toronto gaysian has grown quick in popularity, reaching the top 2.8% tier of all creators in only his first two weeks! Arvin will be giving us his insights on what it takes to bare all to make some extra money. There will be time to ask your questions at the end. Thursday, October 1 7:00pm - 8:00pm Register by emailing Ryan at men@acas.org for the Zoom link
Support Program Workshop: Thai Massage
Dear ACAS Support Program Clients and Caregivers, Hope you all are taking care of yourself in this challenging time. To continue with our self-care series, we are excited to invite you to our Thai Massage workshop on October 1 (Thursday), 2020 from 7-8:30PM on Zoom. We invited Thana, a Thai registered massage therapist to facilitate a workshop for us. Here is the agenda of the workshop: 1. Thana introduction 2. Check-in 3. Background of Thai Massage 4. Breathing technique & meditation 5. Self-massage with Thai massage techniques for common conditions, e.g. backache, headache, office syndromes. 6. Self-stretching & simple yoga poses 7. Self-care suggestion & summary 8. Q&A If you wish to participate, please contact Alex at support@acas.org. The workshop will be conducted in English. We hope this workshop can give you another option to practise self-care, connect with your body and relax. See you there.