Health Promotion and Community Development

The 2nd Annual Walk Away From Homophobia in Campbell River will take place on Thursday, May 15, 2008, starting promptly at 5:30PM at the Heritage Pavilion at Bob Ostler Park (formerly Foreshore Park). Campbell River's GLBTQ support group is excited to be hosting this event for the second time.

The group is currently looking for volunteers to act as parade marshals. If you’re interested in volunteering or looking for more information about the event, please contact Leanne at (250)204-2821.

Come show your support and join Campbell River’s 1st Annual Walk Away from Homophobia Thursday, May 17. 5:30 – 7pm.

Starting 5:30 pm sharp at the Campbell River Community Centre’s side parking lot, the walk will move south down Shoppers Row over to the Foreshore Park. There will be guest speakers and entertainment for young and old. Dress up, dress down or come as you are.

Spread the news…

New weekly support group in Campbell River

call Leanne for more details
confidentiality assured

830-0787

The HIV/Hep C Women's Wellness Group part of the Positive Health Project is up and running again for a new session.

Come and help plan the next group of sessions:
October 6th at AVI 1-3:30

Sessions are:
October 20th - Dec. 15th
every Thursday 1 - 3:30
Retreat on Jan 5th and 6th

To register for the group, call Erica at AVI at 384-2366 or Nicole, at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre at 384-3211 before October 13th.

** The Positive Health Project will also be holding a HIV Positive Men's Wellness Group starting in January.

Self Care Group For
HIV Positive Women
Tuesdays 1-3pm Feb —April 2005
10 Sessions + 1 Amazing Retreat

Only 12 Spaces Available
10$ honorarium per a session
Yummy Snacks!!
We’re starting up again.
Make sure to register by Feb 1, 2005
Contact Erica Williamson 384-2366 ext 104
erica.williamson@avi.org
Co-facilitated by AIDS Vancouver Island and Victoria Native Friendship Centre

Former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien to Receive International Role Model Award at Equality Forum 2005

Contact: Michael Pomante, 215-732-3378, or Malcolm Lazin, 215-732-7375, both of Equality Forum

See Also: Urgent - Anti Equality Bill in Parliament

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- "As Canada's Prime Minister, Jean Chretien championed same-sex marriage," stated Malcolm Lazin, executive director, Equality Forum. "In 2003, then Prime Minister Chretien called on Canadian citizens to support marriage equality. This impressive support by Mr. Chretien demonstrates the importance to Canadians of minority rights and separation of church and state."

"We are honored to bestow our 10th annual International Role Model Award to Jean Chretien," according to Joe Farrell, chair, Board of Directors, Equality Forum. "Mr. Chretien will attend to accept the award and speak about international GLBT civil rights." The award will be presented on Friday, April 29 at the National Constitution Center, Independence National Historical Park at Equality Forum 2005.

An ANTI- Equal Marriage Bill is Coming to Parliament on Nov. 26th !

MP Lobby Kit!

See also: 5 Minute Action - Same Sex Marriage

Parliament will soon vote on legislation to restrict marriage to heterosexual couples. Rob Moore, (Con) for Fundy, NB, has introduced Bill C-268. This Private Members Bill would define marriage as “the lawful union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all other persons”.

Last time Parliament voted on heterosexual marriage, we came within five (5) votes of losing. Our vote count suggests that this one will be just as close!

Supporters of equal marriage must mobilize and tell our MPs that they should not support this unconstitutional bill.

Opponents of equal marriage have already begun to lobby MPs in support of this legislation. Focus on the Family is mobilizing thousands of equal marriage opponents to email and call their MPs in support of Bill C-268. We need to make sure that theirs is not the only message that is heard.

Critics call province cowards for failing to cover sex-change surgeries

Keith Leslie
Ottawa Citizen

Thursday, November 18, 2004

TORONTO -- Ontario's Liberal government has "chickened out" of reinstating medicare coverage for sex change operations for fear of a public backlash, deputy NDP leader Marilyn Churley charged Thursday.

Churley accused the Liberals of backing off a pledge while in opposition to restore funding for the procedures, which left numerous patients in the lurch when they were delisted by the previous Conservative government in 1997.

See also: Transgender Day of Remembrance

"They promised they'd reverse that decision," but backed out amid a storm of controversy over the more heavily publicized -- and criticized -- move last May to delist chiropractic services, physiotherapy and eye exams, she said.

"They reneged on their promise because they were cowards."

AIDS foot-dragging

San Francisco Chronicle - November 19, 2004

http://www.aegis.org/news/sc/2004/SC041106.html
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IN THE war against AIDS, this should be good news: A consortium
of wealthy countries meets in hard-hit Africa to launch programs
to fight the epidemic.

But it's not working as smoothly as that. Foot-dragging by
Washington, by far the biggest check-writer to the Global Fund to
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, nearly shut down a long
list of projects.

What's going on is typical of a political sideshow that undercuts
the war on AIDS. The infighting imperils the fragile existence of
dozens of countries depleted by the uphill fight against the
disease. The jockeying also delivers a blow to the image of the
United States, the one country with the money and medicine to
make a difference.

For the record, the White House hasn't ignored AIDS.

President Bush is on track to spend $15 billion on care and
prevention in 15 countries where results can be studied

Prostitute attacked in Victoria

Prostitute attacked in Victoria

See also: Prostitutes' 'stroll' urged for Victoria

November, 17 - 6:21 PM
VANCOUVER (CKNW/AM980)-- A Victoria prostitute has been attacked by one of her customers.

Police say the incident occurred near Douglas and Discovery at around 6 o'clock Wednesday morning.

The suspect apparently hit the woman on the head, held a knife to her throat and choked her till she passed out. The victim suffered a half-inch cut on the left side of her neck.

Police are looking for a white male, about 20 years old, 170 pounds, with short dark brown curly hair. He was wearing a white shirt and blue sweat suit.