Toronto to New York

*Sigh* Final exams were the cause of my lack of posts lately... And it looks like it will be that way until after Labour Day weekend. From Thursday until Monday, I'm NY bound...

But once I return, the following will be posted:

- Safe (Supervised) Injection Sites... to a city near you?
- Toronto Fire Fighter Calendar Launch
- Update on what Heart Beats TO has been up to this summer!
- Summer in Toronto recap
- An Afternoon in Pink
- GIVE Benefit Concert
- Harbour Kids Monster Makers!

Read up next week!

TORONTO Argos vs. HAMILTON Ticats: Photos

My first football game ever was yesterday, August 13th, 2011 at Hamilton's Ivor Wynn Stadium. The Toronto Argos (woohoo!) and the Hamilton Ticats (boo!) faced off. This was my second time in Hamilton and I knew nothing about the place... the first time was when I was 17. I got my fake ID taken away by a bouncer at Hess Village, and vowed to ban Hamilton from that day on.

But to see the Argos and to experience my first football game, the girls and I drove the short distance to Hamilton. Plus, I have a legit ID now, so all is forgiven.

One thing I'll say about Hamilton is that the people there ARE SERIOUS about football and more specifically, the Ticats. If you were wearing an Argo's shirt... you were going to get heckled by the Black and Yellow. I think someone sensed that I was from Toronto... I'm 99.9% positive someone threw something at me on purpose.

It was great to see a gathering of local supporters for the Ticats. It's a nice boost for the players to win the games... The fans yelling, "KILL THEM" is certainly a motivation in itself :)

*sigh* the Ticats won. But like I told a few of the Ticats myself, the Argos LET them win. I won't tell you about the responses I got for saying that....

Here are the photos:

Bernie Custis

** Bernie Custis (photo below) was honoured at the game on Saturday (photo above). Custis was the first African American quarterback, 60 years ago.**

Jerkfest 2011: Photos

Jerkfest is like heaven to me... Me + Caribbean Food (or food in general) = HEAVEN.... Yep do the math :)

Jerkfest 2011 at Centennial Park occurs the weekend after Caribana. This family-friendly event consists of tents of jerk chicken, ox tail, curry etc. along with some ice cold fresh lemonade, ice cream trucks, vendors from corporations and other small businesses and some rides.

Toronto consists of a large and simultaneously influential West Indian culture. Events like these adds on the appreciation and fascination for diversity within the beautiful city.

Here are the photos:

Don't usually drink beer... but an ice cold Red Stripe seemed appropriate at the time...

Live Music

You better believe I'm getting ice cream.

Toronto Love: Leanne Iskander

Leanne Iskander (center)
 with fellow marchers at Pride Premiere 2011

If you've been keeping up with the latest news, you may have heard of Leanne Iskander, a high school student striving for equality and human rights for LGBTQ communities within the Catholic Schools. 


I was able forward her some open-ended questions, in which she answers appropriately. This is quite an inspiration...




______________

1. Just to start off with the basics, tell me about yourself (anything from your family, interests etc.)

I am a youth activist and advocate for gay-straight alliances in all schools. I am a lesbian, a student, and a public speaker. But most importantly, I am a queer person in a Catholic School.

2. Tell me about your experience with Dyke March

The Dyke March was an incredible experience. Its goal is to provide a space and a voice for queer women, and it certainly did so. I had the honour of speaking at the rally before the march, and the other speakers were truly empowering. It was such a privilege to be honoured dyke. It was an emotional experience for me.

Leanne Iskander during Dyke March 2011

3. Being a young adult, what barriers and obstacles have you faced?

Being a young adult, it is difficult getting my message across because I am often not taken seriously by those older than me. When we first proposed a gay-straight alliance at our school, one of the reasons our principal gave as to why it was denied was that it would be “premature for our age group.” With the progress we’ve made so far, however, I do think we have proven that we are to be taken seriously. Despite our age, we have the same rights as everyone else.

5. There was some controversy about the "It Gets Better" campaign a while back. The problem most people had was that it was providing a false hope for LGBTQ high school students when in reality, problems do exist past high school. What is your input in this? (I did a posting on this on my blog if you would like to read it first and respond to my posting as well!)

I support Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” campaign. I experienced a lot of bullying in middle school, and knowing that it would eventually get better was what got me through that difficult time in my life. I don’t believe that anyone deserves to be bullied or made to feel inferior, which is the reason all schools need gay-straight alliances. I understand that perhaps it won’t always get better immediately after high school, and I understand that some people have it more difficult than others, but there are people fighting to make it better for queer people, and progress is being made.

6. Who supports you? Are there people that have fallen behind?

Throughout our struggle to get gay-straight alliances in Catholic Schools, we have received an overwhelming amount of support from organizations, the queer community, and the community as a whole. We’ve received much help and advice from Queer Ontario and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and Xtra has helped us get the word out about our cause.

7. What is your mission statement?

Our mission statement is to ensure that queer people within the Catholic School System are treated with the equality, dignity and respect that they, as human beings, deserve.

8. Any future plans? What other events are you planning to take part in?

In early August, our group is going to have a meeting to assist students who will be attempting to start gay-straight alliances in their Catholic Schools in September. Later that month, we will be running a workshop about the importance of creating non-oppressive spaces at the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario’s annual provincial congress. Then, in September, we will be speaking at a series of panels hosted by Queer Ontario.

11. Misconceptions of the LGBTQ community sometimes makes me laugh because I'm in disbelief of how much ignorance is embedded in such comments and what not. Do you have any stories?

Yes, I have a few. Last year, a girl told me that gays didn’t deserve rights because they didn’t have their own country. Also, when we first started our GSA, there was a student who told me to stop “promoting” homosexuality. Then he told me that he thinks its okay to be a lesbian because guys are assholes, but that being a gay guy is just wrong. A few days later, he told me that he was homophobic and he had a problem. That whole conversation was just really weird…

Leanne Iskander (2nd from Left) at Proud of Toronto
Campaign at Toronto City Hall for Intl Day Against Homphobia
and Transphobia