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| REEL GLAD
2008 |
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REEL GLAD IMAGES: reclaiming FACES ~ reclaiming
SPACES
The project aims to present artwork, images and motion pictures
of Gays Lesbians of African Descent from the continent of Africa
and living in Toronto and the Diaspora whose FACES and SPACES are
too often cast to the background of life.
This project will provide
a space for those faces of LGBTTIQQ Africans that are emerging out
of the silence of a culture and tradition that denies our existence.
REEL GLAD IMAGES will be a one day event and will seek to attract
queer African artists established and emerging to a unique "SPACE" to
showcase their talents and tell their stories and the stories of
those without "FACES" both in the present, from the past
and into the future in authentic African style of Art and Culture.
REEL GLAD IMAGES 2008 will mark the commencement of an annual event
with initial grant support from LGCA, a distinguished ally. REEL
GLAD IMAGES is a collaborative project with voluntary expertise and
dedicated involvement of queer African artists including;
Kagendo
Murungi – film director/producer (Kenya/New York)
Zanele Muholi – photographer
(South Africa/Toronto)
Karen Osagie – marketing promotions
(Nigeria/Toronto)
Lydia Makoroka (Burundi/Toronto) and Patricia
Koine (Kenya/Toronto) are the GLAD co-ordinators.
CALL FOR ARTISTS
An event presenting artwork, images & motion pictures of Gays
Lesbians of African Descent from the continent of Africa and from
the Diaspora whose FACES and SPACES are too often cast to the background
of life.
REEL GLAD IMAGES is a collaborative project with the voluntary expertise
and dedicated involvement of queer African artists. Come share your
energy and beauty as we celebrate queer African creativity through
film, visual art, spoken word, performance and more.
Submit your entry by May 8, 2008. All entries
welcome
FOR
FULL DETAILS CLICK HERE |
| HIGHLIGHTS GLAD
2007 |
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GLAD VIGIL
GLAD Vigil Planning Team would like to extend heartfelt thanks
to all those that attended the Vigil on September 22. 2007 to commemorate
the lives of Sizakele and Salome, two South African lesbians that
were murdered on July 7,2007 in Johannesburg.
Thanks to Black Coalition
for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) for their generous support and
Toronto Rape Crisis Centre (TRCC) for endorsing the event. Thanks
to those that gave generously as volunteers, in kind or by contribution.
Our collective efforts at the Vigil gathered $452.00 CDN. This
money will be sent to Salome's mother (towards the care of Salome's
daughter) who is now raising the child left behind. Arrangements
are underway to send the money promptly.
Thanks to the guest speaker,
Zanele Muholi, whose footage and presentation gave real meaning
to the vigil. The climate of fear and uncertainity for the lesbian
communities was highlighted, as well as the action campaigns of
777 and One in Nine that were co-organized by FEW and others in
response to the murders (including previous lesbian murders). The
presentation renewed our commitment to the struggle to end all
forms of violence and to make demands from our governments.
Thanks
to the panel - Deidre Walton of TRCC and Patricia Koine of GLAD
whose presentation led to discussion on violence and how it shows
up in multiple and complex forms in our lives and homes that we
are not accustomed to looking at. The panel urged for a shift out
of complacency and into action, reminding all that "injury
to one is an injury to all."
The recommendations made in our
press release were approved by all and will be sent to the South
African government as our call for action.
In solidarity,
GLAD Vigil Planning Team
(Leleti Tamu, Lydia Makoroka, Patricia Koine).
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IDAHO
While GLAD's first step was to stimulate discussion on May 11th event
on International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), we then asked, WHAT
NEXT? Many of us in attendance felt that the time was not enough
to look thoroughly at the momentous issue and effect of HOMOPHOBIA
in our African and Caribbean communities around the world.
It was acknowledged that "Silence is Violence." It was
noted that there are certain privileges enjoyed by those of us queer
folks who live abroad and away from our countries of origin by way
of birth or heritage in our ability to be relatively open about sexuality
in general and sexual orientation in particular. However, most of
us in attendance could also recite homophobic experiences within
our communities in the Diaspora even with the relative freedom that
protects our rights as LGBTTIIQQ2.
Thank you to all who shared their feedback. Please take a moment
to review the summary of the feedback. Also take a look at the attached
article that appeared on Canada Extra on May 24th. We hope that you
will be encouraged to write to the editor so that we can give voice
to the reality and impact of homophobia in our communities.
Summary of Feedback: What Next?
1. International conference for LGBTTIIQQ2 rights groups to come
together to share, strategize, build international solidarity.
2. How important it is to build connections with our international
comrades - put faces to the struggle in the context of actual reality,
who suffer from our inaction.
3. Importance of educating ourselves on the laws that contravene
human rights of queers internationally so that we can be effective
partners in addressing homophobia and its effects.
4. Queer Youth support, mentoring and outreach in our communities/families.
5. Encouraging letters to the editor of Canada Extra (see attached
article).
Many expressed support, commitment and interest to become involved
in making the next step happen, incluidng taing lead roles in planning/strategy.
We are excited about this! To you we extend heartfelt thanks. If
you have not already done so, please declare your intentions for
involvement so that a mailing list can be put together and a working
group created/identified to follow up.
We look forward to making a difference in our communities and in
the world.
In Solidarity,
GLAD-IDAHO planning team (Lydia, Carlos, Holly, Patricia).
Click Here To Download Article in Canada Extra (pdf file)
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| PRIDE AWARD |
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MOST FABULOUS CHOREOGRAPHY!
GLAD has been awarded by Pride's judges, group with MOST FABULOUS CHOREOGRAPHY! Congratulations!! For
more details, pick-up a copy of XTRA's July 7th, 2005 edition (see page
12).
Thank you to all volunteers and participants who so generously committed
their time, effort and positive spirits to making GLAD's presence at Pride
weekend 2005 positively spectacular! Our show at the Community Fair,
the Dyke March and the Pride Parade has let the rest of Toronto know that
GLAD is here to stay! Happy 5th Anniversary GLAD!" |
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| GLAD 2005 PROJECT |
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EACH ONE REACH ONE (April
- December 2005)
Grant Award by LGCA – Lesbian Gay Community Appeal
Sponsored by WHIWH – Women’s Health in Women’s
Hands.
The purpose of “Each One Reach One” is:
- To strengthen the programs and capacities of GLAD in Toronto
- To support effective outreach, publicity and promotion of
GLAD
- To develop a website and e-mail connection that will allow
for effective, broad based communication here in Canada and around
the world
- To assist GLAD in participating in the 2005 Pride Week festival
through a creative, impactful and powerful presence
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| CURRENT ARTICLES |
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|
•
Queer Muslims Find Peace (The Toronto Star)
As our website and visiblity grows
you will find here more articles about GLAD. This section is
constantly changing and growing, so please be sure to check
here for what
people are saying about GLAD. |
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| WHAT PEOPLE
ARE SAYING |
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|
| “Ekuse, Olorun to bere nkan
rere a ri de ipari.” Translated: “Well done, God
who has started this great thing will
see it to its completion.” Congratulations. |
| |
| “I echo the message sent
out, thanking you Patricia for sticking it out and making what
was a dream come to reality. This is truly
visionary… and visions are what can lift us into
the higher realms of human potential and possibility! The vision
you had has now been sown … the seeds have been spread… and
WOW the possibilities!!” |
| |
| "As we grow collectively I can only see positive things happening
for us individually as we live our lives honestly and with integrity.
I could continue on because I am so excited but I just want to acknowledge
the years of hard work which has gotten GLAD to this point and I
think we were one of the most important groups participating in the
parade since we are not supposed to exist let alone be proudly
public about who we are. Thank you all once again.” |
|
“Each
One Reach One” Project aims to increase GLAD's visibility
and accessibility locally and globally through the creation
of this website.
|
GLAD thanks
LGCA for their generous
assistance. |
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