WeGoWeGo

Bent – An Evening of Queer Expressions

A monthly event that showcases community members who discuss their knowledge and expertise on various chosen topics. A moderated panel discussion is followed by an open format Q&A with the audience, creating an educational and interactive experience.

This month we present a look inside the world of international queer politics.

Panelists: (Bios Below)

Kim Vance – Founder/Co-Director of ARC International – Former President of Egale Canada

Marilyn Byers – Board of PFLAG Canada – Regional Director – Also Board Member with York Region and Toronto

Arsham Parsi – Founder and Executive Director of Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees – Also Coordinator and Cultural Ambassador of the Stockholm-based International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network (ILGCN), official member of the Brussels-based International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), the Toronto-based Rainbow Railroad group, and the Berlin-based Advisory Committee of the Hirschfeld-Eddy Foundation for LGBT Human Rights.

Panelist’s Top 3 International Queer Human Rights Concerns

Arsham Parsi
1- Decriminalizing homosexuality in Iran and respect queer’s human rights
2- Fighting with queerphobia in Turkey
3- Queer Human rights in Afghanistan

Marilyn Byers
1 – The ongoing criminalization, prosecution, persecution, murder and execution of LGBT persons in various regions of Africa and the Middle East
2 – The anti-LGBT bias promoted and propagated by various religious groups, primarily Christian in the U.S. and various parts of Europe and primarily Muslim in the Middle East and various parts of Europe. (this includes the fallacy that LGBT equality would erode the rights of religious groups)
3 – The treatment of LGBT persons as second class citizens in most societies, lack of equality in very many legal areas, continued harassment and denigration by many individuals and groups in society OR The ongoing propaganda that AIDS and various other diseases are caused and/or spread by LGBT persons whereas the statistics show otherwise.

Kim Vance
1. Empowering and building the capacity of a global trans movement.
2. Continued and enhanced effort to focus on decriminalization of consensual same sex activity, and ensure that certain countries do not criminialize further.
3. Gather research and develop strategies to focus campaigns on laws that affect the lives of LBT women, which are often quite different and reqire different action than the typical sodomy laws targetting gay men.

Moderator: Andrew Vail, writer, The Middle Edge, gayguidetoronto.com
Read his latest blog posting here – http://gayguidetoronto.com/the-middle-edge/

Future Topics – Theatre, Music, Kink, Astrology, Politics, Literature, Art, Youth Culture/Elder Visions

Join our Facebook Page and be the first to know -
http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/TX-Productions/100984552111

Prior to our the panel discussion join us for a special reception from 6pm to 7pm in the Melody Bar. This is an official Pride Toronto Event presented by TX Productions.

Tuesday June 29th – Gladstone Hotel 2nd Floor, 1214 Queen Street West, 416 531 4635 – 6pm to 2am – Free Admission – All Welcome

After the panel discussion there will be a Bent After Party in the Melody Bar with visuals, performances, and dancing until late – Hosted and Presented by TX Productions. Live performances by Secret Brothers, VIVIV, Tomboyfriend, King Codi and Sharon Mirrors. More Details Here –
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=114903621885331&ref=ts

TX Productions (Events – Happenings – Music – Art – Culture)
Website – http://www.themarsbar.com
Facebook – TX Productions
Twitter – TX_Productions

RSVP: info@themarsbar.com
More Info – http://www.themarsbar.com/future.htm

Panelist Bios

Arsham Parsi: is a founder and Executive Director of Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees – Also Coordinator and Cultural Ambassador of the Stockholm-based International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network (ILGCN), official member of the Brussels-based International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA), the Toronto-based Rainbow Railroad group, and the Berlin-based Advisory Committee of the Hirschfeld-Eddy Foundation for LGBT Human Rights.

Marilyn Byer: is proud to be one of the founding members with Barbara & Tom Beattie of PFLAG Canada-York Region On. (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgendered). Marilyn’s son “came out” to her in 1994, and this chapter was started in 1996. PFLAG’s mission is to support and educate- to cope with an adverse society; to enlighten an ill-informed public; to end discrimination and to secure equal human rights. She does by giving workshops, presentations and speeches for corporations, churches, and clubs and frequently in high schools on “How to end Homophobia”. Marilyn spoke at the “RISE” conference (respectful, inclusive and supportive education).

Kim Vance: is a founder and Co-Director of ARC International, based in Canada and Switzerland. ARC International is an organization which uses a unique community leadership development model to: facilitate international coordination and networking among organizations working to advance human rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity; develop and facilitate the use of tools to engage in international advocacy (particularly within the UN); and foster the relationship between grassroots organizations and governments and/or human rights mechanisms. Before founding ARC, Kim served as President of Egale Canada, and is a seasoned activist within the LGBT communities at the national and local level in Canada.

QUEER/HUMAN RIGHTS INFO & CONTACT LIST

Human Rights Campaign: www.hrc.org/

Human Rights Watch: www.hrw.org/en/category/topic/lgbt-rights

International Gay & Lesbian Human Right Commission:
www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/home/index.html

International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association:
http://ilga.org/

Egale Canada: www.egale.ca/

Outrage!: http://outraged.org.uk/

PFLAG Canada: www.pflagcanada.ca/en/index-e.asp

Iranian Railroad for Queer Refugees: www.irqr.net/

GenderFOC: www.newyouth.ca/events/genderfoc-workshops

Iraqi LGBT: iraqilgbt.org.uk/

ARC International: www.arc-international.net/index.html

Contact Canadian Politicians:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper at pm@pm.gc.ca

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon at CannoL@parl.gc.ca