EquiTalks: Building Connected Communities – Virtual Events

Equitas is pleased to invite you to two online panel discussions with Victor Madrigal Borloz, United Nations Independent Expert on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

Our guest of honour

As a UN Independent Expert, Victor Madrigal Borloz assesses the implementation of international human rights law, raises awareness, and provides advisory services and capacity-building to help address violence and discrimination against persons on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“There are 2 billion people that live in environments where homosexuality has been criminalized, and whoever is born an LGBT person will be born a criminal, due to factors that are not under her or his control and have to do simply with who they are and who they love. My dream is to see a world free of criminalization of same-sex relations by 2030.”– Victor Madrigal Borloz

#EquiTalks

These inspiring talks will focus on important issues faced by LGBTQ2I communities in Canada and around the world and how we can all contribute to building more equitable and inclusive communities. A diverse panel of Canadian activists working to promote and protect the rights of LGBTQ2I communities will engage with Victor Madrigal Borloz. The events will conclude with a Q&A session with the audience, followed by an optional virtual networking event.

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Moderated by Anne Delorme of Equitas, the October 21 EquiTalks will feature the following panelists:

• Diane Labelle, an expert and researcher on Aboriginal education, LGBTQ2I and Two-Spirit identities
• Solange A Musanganya, co-coordinator of the Queer African Youth Network, based in Burkina Faso
• Janik Bastien Charlebois, Professor of Sociology at UQAM, specializing in intersex studies
• Minister of International Development, the Honourable Karina Gould.

AFTER the conference, an optional, virtual networking event will follow.
To register for the virtual networking event following the October 21 event, click here.

The October 22 EquiTalks will feature:

• Kimahli Powell, Executive Director of Rainbow Railroad
• Debbie Douglas, Executive Director of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI)
• The co-chair of the Board of Egides, the International Francophone Alliance for Equality and Diversities.

AFTER the conference, an optional, virtual networking event will follow.
To register for the virtual networking event following the October 22 event, click here.

Lauch of the Act Together for Inclusion Fund (ACTIF)

Equitas and Dignity Network Canada are delighted to announce the launch of the new Act Together for Inclusion Fund (ACTIF) during a dedicated online ceremony featuring the Minister of International Development, the Honourable Karina Gould. The launch will precede the October 21 EquiTalks.

As part of the Government of Canada’s new international LGBTQ2I assistance program, the Act Together for Inclusion Fund (ACTIF) will enhance the respect, protection and advancement of human rights and socio-economic outcomes of LGBTQ2I persons in countries of the Global South.

Supporting the EquiTalks

With your support, Equitas strives to build more inclusive communities, all while amplifying the voices of human rights defenders.

But there is still so much to do. 

To support these events and Equitas’ mission of advancing equality, we invite you to donate according to your ability to give. Donations of $20 or more will be eligible for a tax receipt.

All voluntary contributions from the event will go to support Equitas’ human rights education in Canada and across the globe.

Equitas notes the limitations of the LGBTQ2I acronym to denote the vast experiences of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions and uses it in its broadest, most inclusive sense.  We acknowledge and support everyone’s right to use the words or phrases to describe themselves that feel right to them.

About Equitas

Equitas is Canada’s most recognized and active human rights education organization. We work for the advancement of equality, social justice and respect for human dignity through transformative education programs. We empower people to address inequities and discrimination, and to work to build safer and more inclusive communities.

About the EquiTalks

The EquiTalks are brought to you by The Ready Commitment, a multi-year program of TD Bank Group that aims to help individuals and communities prosper. As part of this program, TD funds Equitas’ events and programs with youth across Canada in order to build a more inclusive and sustainable tomorrow.

Contact

For more information, please visit www.equitas.org or contact Laetitia Viard (lviard@equitas.org), at 514 954-0382, ext. 224