ACT, Ryerson Caribbean Research Centre, and Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention to Hold Forum on Homophobia in Caribbean Communities
News Release
Toronto: May 12, 2004 --- The AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT), the Ryerson Caribbean Research Centre (RCRC), and the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) announced today that they will organize a forum on homophobia in Caribbean communities, to be held June 5th, 2004 at Ryerson University Library, room L489A.
The purpose of the forum is to bring together people working with Toronto’s Caribbean communities to achieve a greater understanding of the problem of homophobia as it affects these communities and the individuals within them.
A panel of activists, academics, and other experts will address, and discuss with participants, the forms and sources of homophobia among Caribbean peoples. They will work to develop an agenda for community-based research and action on homophobia and health, as well as other strategies for dealing with the problem.
"As in other cultures, heterosexism and homophobia silence and oppress the voices and lives of gay men, lesbians and transgendered people in Caribbean communities. Within Caribbean nationalist thought and political struggles in Canada, same-sex love and desire are often interpreted as a threat to community and nation,” says Winston Husbands, ACT’s director of research and program development. “It is only by bringing people from these communities together to discuss the problem that we can begin to productively respond to it."
The Ryerson Caribbean Research Centre (RCRC) is a unit of Ryerson University created to develop, promote, and disseminate research pertaining to Caribbean peoples in Canada and around the world.
The AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) is a community-based, charitable organization that provides support, HIV prevention and education services for people living with and at risk for HIV.
The Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) is a volunteer-driven, charitable, non-profit, community-based organization. Black CAP acknowledges the presence and impact of racism, sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, classism, and other forms of discrimination on our lives as Black people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.
Media contacts:
Jean Golden (Director, Ryerson Caribbean Research Centre) at 416-979-5000 ext. 6211or jgolden@ryerson.ca Tania Smith (Women’s Community Development Coordinator, ACT) at 416-340-8484 ext. 264 or tsmith@actoronto.org