Be sure and check out what's going on in Guelph for our upcoming Pride Week!

Download a copy of the guide here (pdf)

Good news. The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal has nullified a rule that requires trans people to undergo "transexual surgery" before being eligible to change the sex determination on their birth certificates. While the Tribunal can't strike down a law, it has labelled the law "unenforceable". The provincial government now has 180 days in order to revise the criteria for changing the sex on birth certificates and remove the stipulation of "transexual surgery".

This is GREAT news and will hopefully put pressure on other provinces and the federal government (who are responsible for issuing passports --- which also include a requirement of "transexual surgery" before they allow a change of sex designation on passports).

Take a look at the 95 page ruling (pdf)

May 25, 26, 27*, 31 June 1, 2, 3*, 7, 8, 9

Evening shows at 8pm, *Matinee shows at 2pm

For more information or to buy tickets

“In retrospect, I have to admit I think the critiques [of my study] are largely correct,” Dr. Spitzer told the American Prospect in an article by Gabriel Arana titled, My So Called Ex-Gay Life. “The findings can be considered evidence for what those who have undergone ex-gay therapy say about it, but nothing more.”
He said he spoke with the editor of the Archives of Sexual Behavior about writing a retraction, but the editor declined. (Repeated attempts to contact the journal went unanswered.)
Spitzer said that he was proud of having been instrumental in removing homosexuality from the list of mental disorders. Now 80 and retired, he was afraid that the 2001 study would tarnish his legacy and perhaps hurt others. He said that failed attempts to rid oneself of homosexual attractions “can be quite harmful.” He has, though, no doubts about the 1973 fight over the classification of homosexuality.
“Had there been no Bob Spitzer, homosexuality would still have eventually been removed from the list of psychiatric disorders,” he said. “But it wouldn’t have happened in 1973.”
Spitzer was growing tired and asked how many more questions I had. Nothing, I responded, unless you have something to add. He did. Would I print a retraction of his 2001 study, “So I don’t have to worry about it anymore”?

Dr. Spitzer’s research was particularly harmful because he was the only non-socially conservative scientist to produce a study claiming some people could “pray away the gay.”
“This man is an atheist, so he’s not Bible thumping and doesn’t have an ax to grind,” said Greg Quinlan, President of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays (PFOX), in an October 7, 2011 interview on NewsPlus with Mark Segraves. “He just decided, let’s talk about this ex-gay thing and see if it’s true. And he has concluded it can be true for people who are highly motivated to change.” PFOX currently has a video of Dr. Spitzer on the front page of its website.
“Virtually every anti-gay organization in the country quotes Dr. Spitzer’s work,” said TWO’s Wayne Besen. “It will be an integrity test to see which groups remove citations of his work in the coming week. Those who continue to use his study to back their agenda are deliberately misleading people and we intend to hold them accountable.”

A unique opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer questioning, and allied (LGBTQA) youth and/or members of Queer families. We are committed to developing a camp community which honours creativity, individual choice, and social justice. Rainbow Camp will provide opportunities for campers to make new friends and develop skills through traditional camp programming. More than anything, Rainbow Camp is a fun place to come OUT and be yourself! Our Camp Program will include activities in the following areas:
Music / Theatre and Movement / Arts and Crafts / Nature and the Environment / Sports / Personal Storytelling through Multi-Media

$275 for the week Camp fee includes all food, accommodation, and activities.

For more information, check out their website

For those interested in donating to the camp (pdf)

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario is holding a GSA Conference for Grade 7 and 8 teachers in Mississauga on May 13-14th. Spread the word to any elementary school teachers you know!

The Every Body Conference is a convergence of voices building towards a community in which everyone* can navigate the topic of sexual health. We are doing this by exploring historical and modern day models of grassroots sexual health, and in doing so are creating a culture of empowerment. We acknowledge that this requires breaking down the barriers that prevent people from having positive relationships and experiences with their bodies. This is a coming together of diverse voices where we are cultivating a culture of care with and for each other.

*regardless of the their gender or genderlessness, income, race, ability, orientation, status, etc…

This year’s conference starts TODAY and runs March 21st-25th of 2012.

http://theeverybodyconference.wordpress.com/

We are looking for volunteers and here is the volunteer sign up! please send it to your friends, listservs etc! there are a lot of positions, but they are all super short, and fun!

Sign Up Here to volunteer

With your voice, we will create a better understanding of who we are as a global community to help in the fight for equality around the world. Everyone is important, every voice is important. Please take 10 minutes of your day to Add Your Voice to the 2012 LGBT Census. Add your perspective to the conversation and show how you as an individual add to the fabric of the global LGBTQI community. - In every country, every culture, we are there

The elementatry kids are so cute I could barely stand it.

The homophobic group "Burnaby Parent's Voice" (which was created solely to fight the anti-discrimination policy adopted by the school district last year) have their knickers in a knot about the video. Waaahhhhhhh. 

The video:

Seriously? This article over at HuffPost is a must read. I am still shocked at the myopic view that our society has concerning gender.....and how stressful it must be to "travel while Trans".

Check out this new book (Sovereign Erotics: A Collection of Two-Spirit Literature). It looks great and will be on my Winter Reading list for sure! A review can be found at Gay Person's of Colour

And no, I'm not referring to Big Brother (UK) who recently welcomed out former rugby player Garreth Thomas to the House.....

Check out this awesome story of a big brother (15-17) sticking up to his father for his little brother (~10) at a toy store.

Choice quote:

That’s when big brother stepped in. He said to his Dad “It’s my money, it’s my gift to him, if it’s what he wants I’m getting it for him, and if your gonna hit anyone for it, it’s going to be me.”

Priceless. But kids.....violence is never the answer :)

Hint: Check out her shirt.....The kind of disassociative state required to be a fan of Glee and an ultra homophobe.....

(h/t Ethan Hayes)

A wonderful article in the Boston Globe about a family's journey to understand, accept, and, in the end, nurture their transgender child and her twin brother. It also highlights the wonderful advancements in providing care to pre-pubescent trans kids and the benefits of preventing puberty. It is well worth the entire read.

This video will make you feel better about the world.

by B.J. Caldwell, qlinks contributor

Benetton launched its first new campaign in 10 years and it shows a variety of world leaders (most of whom are male) kissing other world leaders (most of whom are male). They use actual photos. Brilliant. To see more images, check out the Selectism.com's article

This November 21st, the AIDS Committee of Guelph/Wellington County will be holding its 7th Annual HIV and AIDS Symposium. The cost is $30.00 for the one day conference (which includes a $5.00 donation to the United Way) and there will be a hot buffet lunch served. This is a great chance to keep up with current HIV and Hep C issues affecting people in our community

Topics this year:

HIV Update which will look at recent developments in the world of HIV prevention, treatment, and care.

Ageing and HIV Panel will examine the experience of 4 local people as they age with HIV

Hepatitis C Update will provide you with information surrounding the recent groundbreaking improvements in Hep C treatment from our local Hepatitis C Nurse.

Harm/Reduction in Our Community will provide a look at the various Harm Reduction services offered in our area and by our Harm Reduction and Hepatitis C outreach workers

Syndemics and Gay/Bi Men will take a look at new psychosocial research proving that a syndemic is occuring among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and what changes are required in gay men's HIV prevention in order to address it

To register for the conference, click here.

To download a copy of the poster (pdf) to help us advertise, click here.

The Education program at the AIDS Committee of Guelph offers online outreach to gay, bi, and other men who have sex with men in our region. We screen, select, and train appropriate volunteers to provide this service. Training is upcoming this fall (October) and ACG is looking for volunteers? Ideally,  volunteers would be self-identified gay/bi/queer/trans men, but we have had some excellent queer women who have excelled at online outreach to gay/bi men in the past, so we encourage queer women to apply as well.

Once trainining is complete, we ask that volunteers make a 1.5-3hr committment a week (1 shift is 1.5 hours and can be completed anywhere you have reliable access to the internet).

For more information, please send an email to: education@aidsguelph.org