| New GLBT group forms
A new organization, called GALA, which will provide support and services to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) Calgarians has formed in Calgary.
Board member Jeny Mathew-Thusoo says GALA will be conducting a needs assessment before it decides exactly what services it will offer. However, she says GALA will be starting up a support group for GLBT people and their friends and families.
Mathew-Thusoo says Calgary still has a ways to go before it becomes a truly accepting and inclusive city to people of all sexual orientations.
"I really do think there’s a lot of discrimination against people of different sexual orientations and gender identity. Homophobia is a huge issue," she says. "A lot of people find themselves to be very isolated and that’s part of what I’m hoping GALA really moves towards is providing support for individuals who are coming out and also helping families when their family member comes out."
Brian Singh, another GALA board member, says he’s hoping GALA will create "more visibility for the community and demonstrate that we’re here, we are an integrated fabric of the city."
He points out that cities that are known as "centres of creativity" tend to have a large GLBT community and Calgary should celebrate its own community.
Singh says he’s excited about the fact that Calgary will host the first North American Outgames, a sporting tournament for GLBT people, next April. The Outgames will also include a cultural festival and a human rights conference. Singh says thousands of GLBT people from around North America will converge on Calgary and it will give the city a chance to prove that it’s a cosmopolitan centre with a thriving GLBT community.
Homeless Awareness Week kicks off September 17
Calgary’s homeless problem continues to grow at an alarming rate. The 2006 homeless count found there were close to 3,500 homeless people in the city.
For the 11th year Homeless Awareness Calgary is putting on a Homeless Awareness Week from September 17 to 24 and is attempting to educate and engage Calgarians on the issue.
Bonnie Malach, co-ordinator of Homeless Awareness Calgary, says this year she’s particularly concerned about what will happen to homeless people when winter arrives.
"We need to find creative ways to house people this winter or we’re going to have freezing deaths. This year it does not look good," says Malach. "What we would like to see is provincial leadership. When I say provincial leadership I don’t mean just talking about it. We need a plan. We need action."
Malach says she’s particularly disturbed by the number of homeless children. The 2006 homeless count showed there were 203 kids under the age of 12 and 101 kids under the age of 18 who were homeless.
Homeless Awareness Week will kick off with a free barbecue at Riley Park (800 12th Street N.E.) from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on September 17. For the first time Homeless Awareness Week will include an art display of work by homeless Calgarians which will be exhibited at city hall atrium from September 18 to 22. Homeless Awareness Calgary is also launching a letter writing campaign through which Calgarians can demand more action from the various levels of government. Calgarians wanting a firsthand experience with homelessness can sign up for Street Survivor, where they can discover for themselves what it’s like to be homeless for a day. For more information about Homeless Awareness Week go to www.homelessawareness.ca.
Aberdeen Block saved
The historic Aberdeen Block, which houses a folk art gallery, apartments and four restaurants on 4th Street S.W., has been saved from demolition.
Ald. Madeleine King says the city and the building’s owner have reached an agreement on renovations to the building, which will prevent it from being demolished.
Mission residents were outraged at the possibility of the building being knocked down because it is considered integral to the character of 4th Street S.W.
Take back the night march
Women and children will gather on September 16 to protest violence against women at the annual Take Back the Night march.
The event begins with a rally at 6:30 p.m. at Central Memorial Park. The march begins at 7 p.m.
Liz Olorenshaw, who is on the planning committee for the march, says the event "creates an awareness and offers a safe place to gather and honour women whose lives have been affected by violence in many forms."
"In my mind the march is very much about empowerment of women; a chance to get together and create a voice for women who have not been able to speak because of shame or death. It often gives victims a voice when there are no other outlets. Sometimes the legal system is unable to address victims’ rights to outcomes we would love to see," says Olorenshaw. |
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