Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Queers in Radical Struggles

On Saturday august 21st at 2pm NO One Is Illegal Ottawa invites you to a panel discussion called “Queers in Radical Struggles”

We have three panelists who will discuss queer involvement in contemporary radical struggles. Jenny Peto will discuss the importance of queers in organizing against Israeli apartheid. Robyn Maynard will speak about migration and border issues and their intersection with queer liberation movements the third panelist, Brent Bauer, will speak on the fight against the criminalization of HIV.

As Ottawa prepares to celebrate pride week, we believe it is important to reiterate the political nature of pride parades and LGBT pride events. We also take this opportunity to invite all supporters in Ottawa to march with NOII and Queer fAction (who will be marching against Israeli Apartheid) in this years Pride Parade, which will take place Sunday august 29th. We will be marching in solidarity with queers actively involved in resisting all form of oppression. Specifically we will be marching in protest against Jason Kenney, minister of Censorship and Deportations. Kenney has a long track record of anti-gay actions, as well as being one of the most racist and xenophobic MP in recent history. To join the NOII and QF contingents meet us at the National Archives (on Wellington) at 12:30pm, Sunday the 29th.

Jenny Peto is an organizer with the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid in Toronto. In 2008, she helped launch Queers Against Israeli Apartheid. Her activist and academic work focuses on exposing the 'pinkwashing' of Israeli apartheid and encouraging other radical queer activists to join the global campaign for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel.

Robyn Maynard is a community organizer, writer, and radio journalist based in Montreal. She is active in the struggle for justice in the face of racial profiling, police violence, and restrictive migration policies. She is a member of No One Is Illegal Montreal and the co-host and co-producer of No One Is Illegal Radio.

Brent H. Bauer has a decade of volunteer experience for GLBT rights and HIV/AIDS activism. In Montreal he served as a member of the Steering Committee of COHORTE OMEGA, a HIV/AIDS prevention study in Montreal, and as Quebec representative on the Board of Directors of EGALE Canada. Since moving to Ottawa, he has served as Chair of the Board of Directors of Bruce House, and Co-Chair of the Ottawa-Carleton Coalition on HIV/AIDS. He is currently an advisor to the Ottawa Gay Men’s Wellness Initiative, working on the issue of the criminalization of HIV.
Educated at McGill, Montreal and Cambridge universities, Brent's day job is within the Canadian Public Service, as a Policy Director with experience in the social policy and public health fields.

Panel discussion:
Saturday august 21st
2pm
Ottawa Public Library auditorium (120 metcalfe)

Accessibility note: There is an elevator available for wheelchair accessibility. The washrooms are also accessible.

Pride March:
Sunday August 29th
12:30pm
meet at the National Archives (on wellington)