Toronto panel discussion looks at human rights for queers
(June 30, 10)
Source
Toronto - Tuesday night a
panel discussion called "Bridging Queer International Human Rights at Home
and Around the World" was held at the Gladstone Hotel in Toronto. Speakers
included Arsham Parsi, Marilyn Byers, Kim Vance and Kenji Tokawa.
Pride Week is currently running in Toronto, with the annual parade slated
for July 4.
The panel stated their main interests: empowering a global trans movement,
campaigning on laws that focus on LGBT women, the rights of homosexual
persons in countries where being homosexual is a crime and the poor
treatment of the queer community as second class people in many societies.
One key problem is the
language differences between one society and another, the panelists found.
The Farsi language, for instance, has very few words dealing with
sexuality said Parsi. Developing new words to help society in Iran and
Turkey may be one way of preparing the foundations for change.
Parsi spoke of two Iranian men who were arrested after their own families
turned them into the police. Bringing forth queer rights will require that
society view queer rights differently when families are the ones that
queer people have to fear.
Even in Canada it is difficult to change society in some areas. Education
can be hampered in many schools, Byer said pointing out her struggles at
different Catholic schools she has spoken at. Language can be an issue. At
times changing the title of a program can help get education to youth.
After a short break the audience was given the chance to speak on issues
or to pose questions.
One of the most timely issues came when a person spoke of the detention
centre that had been set up during the G20. It was alleged that some that
had been held during the weekend had been profiled. Those who were
perceived as queer were separated from the general population. They were
also faced with slurs by the police, it was alleged. While this person had
not been detained they had been outside the centre and spoke to those who
had been released.
Kim Vance said that the queer community in Toronto has to draw attention
to any of the human rights violations that may have taken place during the
G20. With World Pride coming in just four years Toronto has an even
greater responsibility to be at the forefront, leading the way when rights
are trampled on and demanding answers to questions.
Andrew Vail is the creator of The Middle Edge and has been an activist for
queer rights since 1982.
Arsham Parsi is a a founder and Executive Director of Iranian Railroad for
Queer Refugees, also a coordinator and cultural ambassador of the
Stockholm-based International Lesbian and Gay Cultural Network (ILGCN),
official member of the Brussels-based International Lesbian and Gay
Association (ILGA), the Toronto-based Rainbow Railroad group, and the
Berlin-based Advisory Committee of the Hirschfeld-Eddy Foundation for LGBT
Human Rights.
Marilyn Byer is is one of the founding members of PFLAG Canada-York Region
On. (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual,
Transgendered). Two years after her son came out she helped start the
chapter in the York Region in 1996.
Kim Vance is a founder and Co-Director of ARC International, based in
Canada and Switzerland. ARC International is an organization which uses a
unique community leadership development model to: facilitate international
coordination and networking among organizations working to advance human
rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity; develop and
facilitate the use of tools to engage in international advocacy
(particularly within the UN); and foster the relationship between
grassroots organizations and governments and/or human rights mechanisms.
Before founding ARC, Kim served as President of Egale Canada, and is a
seasoned activist within the LGBT communities at the national and local
level in Canada.
Every month panel discussions take place at the Gladstone. These
discussions raise awareness in the community about the rights of the LGBT
community. |
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