THURSDAY AUGUST 12TH AT 6:30PM (ONLINE VIA ZOOM)
A panel discussion event where we explore Queer health, culture, sexuality and identity at Pride through the ages. Pride creators and advocates from across the province share stories, and experiences to support our communities coming together to understand our history, our present, and our future!
This year HIM presents a dialogue of Pride through time with Community Leaders from across the region, who will speak to their experiences contributing to pride over the years. This diverse guest panel will feature community voices across the spectrum of age, experience, and gender speaking about the evolution of pride. Tune in and learn about the challenges and strengths of our community and how the speakers have played a role in providing, and standing for Pride in our communities. We are excited to offer you this rich and experiential dialogue, See you soon!
Free or by donation.
For questions and more information, please email: [email protected]
MEET THE PANELISTS
AJ Lowik (they, them) – Moderator
A.J. Lowik (they/them/theirs) is a PhD Candidate with the Institute for Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice at UBC, where they study trans people’s reproductive lives, health and decision-making. They are the Gender Equity Advisor for the Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, and a graduate academic assistant with the BC Centre on Substance Use.
A.J. is a queer liberationist, who loves cats, yoga and knitting,
SHERWIN Modeste (he/him)
Sherwin Modeste is a dynamic, passionate, and seasoned executive leader with over 22 years of combined experience providing strategy improving the quality of life for Toronto’s most vulnerable individuals and communities. Sherwin has a passion for advocacy and the promotion of human rights and equity issues at the local, regional, national, and international levels in support of removing systemic barriers that prevent individuals from reaching their full potential. This is illustrated by Sherwin’s leadership roles, including National Diversity Vice-President and member of the National Pink Triangle Committee for the Canadian Union of Public Employees; and member of the Canadian Labour Congress Human Rights Committee. Sherwin joined Pride Toronto full time as Executive Director on December 1, 2021, during an extremely challenging time for the arts, culture, entertainment, and tourism industries, with these sectors among those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Having just completed his first Pride season as Executive Director of Pride Toronto, he is excited to continue engaging and empowering 2SLGBTQ+ communities at all levels to ensure that equity, diversity, and inclusion remains a core part of future community outreach and action.
Jaylene (she,her,hers)
Jaylene Tyme is a proud Indigenous Two Spirit Trans human. As a celebrated makeup artist, performer and LGBTQ2S+ ambassador, she believes that it is important to celebrate the power of community by contributing to the energy of our world with passion and positivity. Together for each other, we have the opportunity to inspire and educate. Our identities, beautifully diverse and wonderfully unique.
Wilbur (he/him/his)
Coming out during the HIV/AIDS crisis led Wilbur to get involved in volunteering for the community in a fundraiser called Small Change Big Changes for a Calgary AIDS hospice. Wilbur continued his volunteering when he moved to Kelowna, BC in 2011, first hosting the delegates of the Fierté Pride Conference for dinner at his home, and then going on to become the President of Kelowna Pride Society for several years. Wilbur was instrumental in forming a 2S-LGBTQI+ youth support group in Kelowna which is now operated by The Bridge Youth and Family Services, and helped organize the first annual Trans Pride March in Kelowna. Wilbur is currently forming a non-profit society named Advocacy Canada with a mission to unify and amplify 2S-LGBTQI+ voices on issues of social and political concern.
Serene (she/her/hers)
Serene has worked in the non-profit sector for multiple years and in her current work at The Vancouver Pride Society, she has built relationships with over thirty queer-serving organizations and develops relevant and accesible programming for QTBIPOC (queer and trans people who are also, Black, Indigenous, people of colour) communties. She is committed to community based transformative justice, and loves a critical path.
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