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PFLAG Vancouver Updates

 

  •  2007/07/26

Highlights of Spring 2007

PFLAG Vancouver has had a busy spring season, including hosting a variety of interesting speakers at our meetings and participating in number of community outreach initiatives.  We're so very grateful to all our guests - Thank you to all!  Here are some highlights:

Speakers:

•        Anisha Abdulla, Program Coordinator of GAB Youth Services.  GAB is a safe meeting place and drop-in centre for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, two-spirited, questioning and allied youth 25 and under.  Anisha spoke to us about the services that GAB offers to LGBT youth and their allies, the coming out process, and issues for South Asian LGBT people.

•           Rev. Sally Harris, minister of Trinity United and National Co-chair of  Affirm United, and Colleen Adair, Chair of Trinity’s Affirming Committee.  Sally and Colleen explained what it means to be an “affirming parish” and how their church welcomes and serves the LGBT community.

•        Irv Sandstra from the BC Centre for Disease Control discussed current sexual health issues and how they relate to young gay men in particular.

•        Shimpei Chihara, MSM Program Coordinator of ASIA:  The Asian Society for the Intervention of AIDS.  Shimpei spoke to us about issues that Asian people face in the coming out process and also the services that ASIA offers.  ASIA is a nonprofit organization committed to providing culturally appropriate and language specific support, outreach, advocacy, education and research on HIV/AIDS and related issues.

Community Outreach and Advocacy:

•           PFLAG provided the food for the Trans Men Workshop Day held in May.

•           One of our members sits on the Pride Advisory Committee for the Vancouver School Board as the PFLAG representative.  She also spoke at the Pride Section of VESTA (Vancouver Elementary School Teachers' Association). 

•           PFLAG members attended the breakfast put on by the Centre on May 17th for the National Day Against Homophobia.

•           One of our members is on the steering committee that is working to create a new community centre for LGBT people and their allies.

•           We continue to operate a phone-line for anyone needing information or support on issues relating to LGBT loved ones.