Calgary Outlink

Thursday February 16: OutLink Community Meeting 6:30 – 9 PM

Calgary Outlink — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:51:08 +0000

Thursday February 16: OutLink Community Meeting 6:30 – 9 PM

Come give input and ideas about the future home of Outlink’s groups

Location: 223 -12 Ave SW Centre for Community Organizations

January 13, 2012 coffee, tea and conversation 7pm -10pm

Calgary Outlink — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:12:36 +0000

Community Cafe is the 2nd Friday of the month. January 13, 2012 at the Old Y main hall 223 – 12 Ave SW. All are welcome for coffee, tea and conversation 7pm -10pm.

2012 Drop In Hours & Open Queer Library

Calgary Outlink — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:41:22 +0000

Tuesday 11 am – 2 pm
Wednesday 4 pm – 7 pm
Thursday 3 – 6 pm

Changes to Creating Families Group

Calgary Outlink — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:49:35 +0000

We are a volunteer community support and resource service for people who want to create families either now or in the future. This service is available to all members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Questioning, 2-Spirited and Allies (LGBTTIQQ2SA) community. We provide one on one meetings in the Calgary community to discuss and brain storm anything related to expanding your family. We are open to discuss methods of conception, fostering and adoption.

To set up a community meeting please contact:

Meagan 403-771-1486

email: info@calgaryoutlink.ca

How do you think attitudes towards trans people have changed over the past decade?

Calgary Outlink — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:23:00 +0000

5 questions with Brianne Langille

Calgary Herald August 26, 2011

Transgender issues are the focus of Pride Calgary 2011, and with Lucas Silveira, the first openly trans lead singer of a major-label band, taking the stage and Mayor Naheed Nenshi leading the parade, it seems there’s lots to celebrate. Brianne Langille, a local trans woman who helped organize Calgary’s first ever Dyke March last year, spoke with Kenzie Love. She’s happy to join the party, but notes that the news isn’t all good. Trans people still aren’t legally protected from discrimination in Canada, and widespread confusion remains over what exactly transsexuality is. This year’s festival offers a chance both to celebrate how far the trans community has come and, Langille hopes, focus attention on how far it still has to go.

Why do you think Pride Calgary chose to focus on trans issues this year? I think a few different reasons. One, there hasn’t been an outright focus on trans issues at Pride in a little while. Also, I think more people are realizing that trans issues and trans rights are a fair ways behind queer rights in general. As well, I believe more people are getting involved in trans advocacy in the city.

How do you think attitudes towards trans people have changed over the past decade? I think things have definitely changed for the better. I think there’s a lot more understanding of trans issues, or even if there isn’t more understanding of the issues, there’s more acceptance of trans folk. A lot more people are being out as trans, both famous people as well as people seeking high-profile roles, and being outspoken members of the community has definitely helped change people’s perceptions of what trans people are.

What misconceptions do you think still exist about trans people? There’s a whole lot of misconceptions out there. I think maybe the biggest one is that people think it’s a choice, when it’s not a choice, it’s something that is rooted inside them, that their body not fitting their mind is so ingrained that there’s not a whole lot of options for treating the problem. I think people still mix up the difference between gender identity or gender expression and sexual orientation, when in fact they’re completely different things. Sexual orientation is who you love, and gender identity or gender expression is who you are.

Have you personally encountered discrimination as a trans person? Discrimination can come in a lot of forms. Major, overt discrimination I haven’t experienced, but the more minor stuff, being told I’m in the wrong bathroom or things of that nature, I’ve certainly experienced and still struggle with.

What does it mean to you that the mayor is serving as parade marshal this year? It means a positive shift on the part of government for queer rights in the city. I think it’s amazing he’s going to be grand marshal and I hope that he sets an example for other government officials to come out and support queer rights.

mom-takes-action-on-homophobia

Calgary Outlink — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:15:58 +0000

Witnessing the struggles her gay daughter went through firsthand, a Calgary mother has launched a campaign aimed at stemming homophobic hate among some youth.

Gail, who asked to withhold her last name to protect her daughter’s identity, said her 15-year-old has been subjected to homophobic remarks.

She also says she knows two gay friends who were assaulted aboard a C-Train.

“Calgary isn’t always known to be the most accepting city,” she said.

“But there is this section of beautiful people that are coming up … we have to honour that part of our society, I think.”

To do just that, Gail went to work on the ad campaign in May.

Next month, her efforts will pay off, as messages will be posted to the interior of Calgary Transit buses and CTrains.

They will also appear on three digital billboards located near major thoroughfares.

Support group Calgary Outlink has joined on to help organize the campaign.

“The slogans were voted on by the youth,” spokesperson Trent Warner said.

“We thought a message from youth-to-youth was the best way to handle it.”

Gail encourages others to lend their support and offer their own messages of tolerance.

“I don’t want us to all be the same,” she said.

“It would be too dull of a world.”

Spread the word

The anti-homophobia campaign has raised $4,000 so far to put towards the transit and digital advertisements.
Along with Calgary Outlink’s Monday evening InsideOUT youth group 7pm-9pm, and other support resources for gay youth in Calgary include the Miscellaneous Youth Network, which holds a group meeting on Wednesdays and the Calgary chapter of Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

For more information, email info@calgaryoutlink.ca.

http://www.metronews.ca/calgary/local/article/949598–mom-takes-action-on-homophobia

New Directions support group marching in the pride parade with Calgary Outlink! :-)

Calgary Outlink — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:07:05 +0000

Hi everyone,

This is a reminder that the New Directions support group will not be meeting next Sunday, Sept. 4th.

Instead, we’ll be marching in the pride parade with Calgary Outlink!

The parade is travelling in the opposite direction this year: from Olympic Plaza in downtown Calgary to Shaw Millennium Park.

We’ll be meeting at Olympic Plaza at 11:30am. Come join us!

Julie-Anne
New Directions facilitator
Calgary Outlink board member

Brescia and Jake! All Ages show! kick off pride week at Calgary OutLink

Calgary Outlink — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:04:11 +0000

Time	Thursday, September 1 · 6:00pm – 8:00pm

Location	Calgary OutLink (back door, basement) 1528 16 Avenue SW – looks like a house-

Brescia and Jake!
Two touring queers play music to kick off Calgary pride week!
$2 admission goes to the traveling minstrels.
Free BBQ on the back porch, sign making for the pride march, bring your ideas and friends.

After the show, head over to Sapien for the Fake Moustache Pride Show 8- 11:00 http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129724300456672

Brescia (Toronto/Montreal) and Jake (Halifax/Victoria BC) are wanderlusted queers who play ukeleles and guitars. Brescia sings a’capella oft times. we are nice.

check us out
(please and thanks)

Brescia Birdthroat Bloodbeard:

www.birdthroatbloodbeard.bandcamp.com
www.myspace.com/bresciabloodbeard
www.youtube.com/bresciabloodbeard

Pride Highlights the “T” in LGBTAQ: TRANS screening & panel Saturday, September 3 · 5:00pm – 8:00pm

Calgary Outlink — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:29:23 +0000

Location: Club Sapien 1140 – 10th Avenue SW Calgary, AB
This year the Pride Calgary planning committee reflects the LGBTAQ community’s diversity back to the city by highlighting the “T” in the acronym and by raising awareness on transgender issues. Bringing THE CLIKS lead artist, Lucas Silveira, to the event is a key part of this initiative.

After headlining the PRIDE DANCE with THE CLIKS, Silveira will also be featured at a screening of short films called TRANS-MISSION, curated b…y Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival in 2011, on Saturday September 3, 2011 at 5 PM at Club Sapien. The event will feature Trans narratives and documentaries, and will include a panel discussion will Silveira afterwards. This entire event is PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN.

Silveira, the lead singer in the androgynous band The Cliks, has made headlines for his gender-bending style and last year was the first Transman to be voted the Sexiest Canadian Man by popular reader’s poll in Chart Attack and was featured on AFTERELLEN.

However, highlighting the “T” in the acronym will not detract from the purpose of Pride as a celebration of diversity and human rights and as a reminder of the achievements that have already been won in LGBTAQ struggles. Pride Calgary also reminds that globally there is much work to be done in the struggle for equality and that Pride festivities are opened to all communities to support the cause of human rights for all individuals.

Doors for the screening Saturday September 3, 2011 at Club Sapien are at 5 PM. Screening of the TRANS-MISSION short film program as curated by the Fairy Tales 2011 Programming committee starts at 6 PM and the panel with Lucas Silveira will follow.

Don’t miss this opportunity during the Pride weekend to celebrate the “T” in the acronym!!

New Directions Group: support and resources for indivduals or couples who identify with transexual, transgender, inter-sexed or questioning

Calgary Outlink — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 00:12:22 +0000

New Directions is a drop – in peer support group focused on providing support and resources for indivduals or couples who identify with transexual, transgender, inter-sexed or questioning.

The group meets at Calgary OutLink : Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity
located at 1528 16 Avenue SW
The building looks like an older character house but inside it has been renovated for office use. Come on in and head through the house to the kitchen at the back, turn right and down the stairs to the OutLink group room.
Here are the meeting times for New Directions for August 2011 and September 2011:
August 2011:
Sunday, Aug. 7 from 1pm to 3pm
Saturday, Aug. 13 from 1pm to 3pm
Friday, Aug. 19 from 7pm to 10pm
Sunday, Aug. 28 from 1pm to 3pm

September 2011:
Sunday, Sept. 4 – marching in the pride parade!
Saturday, Sept. 10 from 1pm to 3pm
Friday, Sept. 16 from 7pm to 10pm
Sunday, Sept. 25 from 1pm to 3pm