Empower: Youth, Arts and Activism - CATIE

ACT-UP was responsible for the iconicprotest graphic and slogan Silence=Death.This image draws parallels between theNazi period and the AIDS crisis in thelate 1980s. The inverted pink triangle,originally intended as a badge of shame,was one of the Nazi badges used inconcentration camps to identify maleprisoners who were sent there becauseof their homosexuality. It has since beenreclaimed as an international symbol ofgay pride and the gay rights movement.In the 1970s, just a decade before AIDSbegan to take its toll, “out” gay art workswere, as pioneering Toronto gay artistAndy Fabo notes, “few and far between.”However, by the mid-1980s the artscommunity in Canadian urban centresbegan to be heavily affected by HIV andartists reacted by joining forces with AIDSeducators and activists to bring attentionto the crisis.Gay filmmakers such as John Greyson,Paul Wong, Richard Fung and MichaelBalser created early works whicheducated on safer sex (as in Greyson’s“The ADS Epidemic” and safer sex shorts),criticized media representation of HIV (asin Balser’s “Treatments: Adventures inAIDS and Media”) and documented AIDSactivism (as in Greyson’s “The World isSick”, which captured the activist takeoverof the opening ceremonies of the 1989Montreal International AIDS Conference).Greyson and Balser also created placardsand backdrops used at the rallies anddemonstrations of AIDS Action NOW!Artist Steven Andrews’ “Facsimile”portrait series took as its starting pointphotos featured in Xtra! Magazine’s ProudLives section which commemoratedthose who had died of AIDS in the pastweek. Robert Flack’s Public Access posterproject “The Power Begins With You” senta message of healing and empowermentto both people living with HIV and thosefighting to stay uninfected.In Canada early AAN! flyers and postersused slogans including “TOO DAMNSLOW! Our friends are dying whilebureaucrats fiddle,” which featured aline drawing of a caveman figure holdinga hammer, the “Silence=Death” sloganfrom ACT-UP, and the tagline “AIDSAction Now!” The AIDS Action Now! logocontinues to use the pink triangle to drawparallels and critique social apathy andgovernment inaction [see logo below].The Canadian artist collective GeneralIdea (AA Bronson, Felix Partz, and JorgeZontal), began an HIV publicity campaignin the late 1980s. Over seven years theycarried out more than 50 temporary publicart installations across North Americaand Europe engaging the public to reflecton HIV. These collections included “OneYear of AZT” and “One Day of AZT.”AIDS Sculpture, General Idea, 1989.In an unforgettable coup, and perhapsmost well known, they appropriatedand transformed American artist RobertIndiana’s well-known “LOVE” image intoan AIDS sculpture [see above]. Thisproject became one of General Idea’smost ambitious and important mediainterventions in response to AIDS. Thesculpture travelled the world, and becamethe now world-famous AIDS logo.The pop art images of Joe Average, whowas diagnosed with HIV at the age of 27in 1985, have captured the attention ofart critics, celebrities and the public alike.Average gave a face to AIDS in Canada bycreating the first national AIDS awarenessposter in 1991, and the logo he created forthe XI International Conference on AIDSin Vancouver became Canada’s first AIDSpostage stamp in 1996.This early arts-based activism playeda crucial role in awakening Canadiansto what was happening. ContemporaryCanadian arts-based AIDS activismcontinues to honour this rich history whilecontinually pushing its limits to createnew meanings and new actions.The World Is Sick, John Greyson, 1989,courtesy of Vtape. To view this and other titles,contact www.vtape.org to make an appointmentin Vtape’s free media resource centre.6AAN! logo design:David Vereschagin

The profiled initiatives in this manual notonly reflect the changing context of HIV inCanada, but also represent histories in themaking. We hope that this manual inspiresnew creative approaches, building on thefoundations of HIV activism as we moveforward in solidarity with past and presentmovements. Read on and be inspired toact-up!Sources:AIDS Activist: Michael Lynch and thePolitics of Community. Silversides, Ann.Between the Lines, Toronto, Canada 2003.Fluid Exchanges: Artists and Criticsin the AIDS Crisis. Miller, James, ed.Toronto: University of Toronto Press,1992.A Leap in the Dark: AIDS, Art &Contemporary Cultures. Edited byAllan Klusacek and Ken Morrison,Vehicule Press, Montreal, 1991.25 Years - through Stories | TheArtistic Response to AIDS.AIDS Committee of Torontowww.actoronto.org/home.nsf/pages/25yearsstories03artsPower to the People. McCaskell, Tim.The Positive Side. Spring-Summer 2006.www.positiveside.caNot Your Average Joe Pop icon and artistJoe Average on his most challengingmasterpiece — his health.The Positive Side. Spring-Summer, 2005.www.positiveside.caEncyclopedia of AIDS: A Social, Political,Cultural, and Scientific Record of the HIVEpidemic. Edited by Raymond A. Smith,Penguin, New York, 2001.Action!While there is no solid recipe forsocial change, or creating activistart, here is one way of movingthrough a project. These steps canbe approached in any order andmay be returned to throughout theprocess.Get Inspired• What issue fires you up?Get Informed• Expand your HIV & AIDSKnowledge• What do you already know?HIV/AIDS is connected toa vast number of diverseissues. You may know morethan you think!Get Personal• How is HIV/AIDS connectedto your community? What isyour connection?Get Connected• Know your resources,contacts, and networks.Who can you rely on forinformation, resources,and support?Get Critical• Remember, just becauseyou’re using an alternativemedium (art),it doesn’t mean that yourmessage will automaticallybe transformative.• Keep checking in withyourself and your projectaims to ensure you’recontinually challengingyourself, the message, andothers.Get Moving• Choose a project idea.Establish a work plan withclear goals and objectives.• Be flexible. Implementyour plan, and revisitit frequently to makechanges.• Use your personal networkto help roll out projectideas.Fast Forward• How will you determine ifyour project is successful?• How will you ensureproject sustainability?What are the next steps?Things to Consider...- Think Outsidethe Box- Go with WhatYou Know- Be an Ally- Create Allies- Be Flexible- Learn the Issues- UnlearnPreconceptions- Draw on OtherFormsof Activism- Maintain anAnti-OppressiveFramework- Think Forward:Envision ProjectSustainability7

unpacking the issuesIf you’re looking for the basics or a quick refresher,here’s some information to get you started…Why Youth?The 2007 UN Epidemiology Report categorizesHIV prevalence rates in two categories: adultand child. They define children as 15 yearsand under. Does this mean adults count asanyone who is aged 16 years and up?!What about youth? While the definitionfor youth varies, in a Canadian context,youth are generally regarded as beingbetween the ages of 16–24, howeverthis range can begin as low as 12 andrange to 29. When discussing sexualand reproductive health and HIV/AIDS,youth face particular challenges that aredifferent from the challenges experienced by“adults”. This extends beyond sexuality andconnects to larger issues such as housing,schooling and employment. Youth needspaces and platforms to speak toimportant issues affecting their sexualand reproductive health. This is onaccount of age, but is linked with othersocial markers such as gender, race,class, sexual orientation, dis/ability,geographical location (i.e rural youthvs. urban youth), place of birth, and citizenshipstatus. When we talk about “youth” and HIV/AIDS, we must recognize that “youth” make upan incredibly diverse community.These challenges equate to real numbers.While reported HIV rates among youth arelow, they are quickly rising, particularly amongyoung women. For example, in Canada (2006),females accounted for 40.9% of positive HIVtest reports among youth aged 15 to 29 years. 1There has also been a recent increase insexually transmitted infection (STI) ratesamong youth. 2 But what does this have to dowith HIV?! An increase in undetected STIsincreases an individual’s biological risk ofcontracting HIV. This may also indicate socialrisks, such as access to sexual health clinics,and the ability to negotiate condom use inArtwork from Positive Youth Outreach Zine, February 2008relationships. Furthermore, the Canadian AIDSSociety states that “Because young peoplewith HIV progress to AIDS much more slowlythan older persons, AIDS statistics are boundto disproportionately under-represent youth” 3 .And education is lagging far behind! TheToronto Teen Survey 4 , facilitated by GenderingAdolescent AIDS Prevention (GAAP) andPlanned Parenthood Toronto, has discoveredthat only 62% of Toronto youth are receivingsexual health education in schools. Otheryouth report receiving sexual health educationin youth or religious groups. But 10% of allyouth surveyed reported that they have neverreceived any sexual health education! Whoa!We need equitable sex education whichspeaks to all youth—not by homogenizing sexed, but by recognizing that different peopleand communities have different needs.This ain’t math class where there’s onlyone formula, or one correct answer.By silencing honest, open discussionabout HIV/AIDS, we do ourselves andour communities a giant injustice. Ihope that this manual may provide aplatform for youth to speak to importantissues not only within the confines ofthese pages, but outside of these pages inclassrooms, cafeterias, on the streets and inbedrooms across the city.Just think about what we couldaccomplish! According to the UN WorldYouth Report (2003), young peoplemake up almost a fifth of the world’spopulation. As youth, it’s importantthat we speak out and talk to ourfriends and family members aboutthe importance of HIV & AIDS, notjust as something which happens “over there”but something which happens here, in our veryown backyards.1Public Health Agency of Canada. (2007). HIV/AIDS EPI Update.www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/publication/epi/pdf/epi2007_e.pdf2Public Health Agency of Canada. (2007). HIV/AIDS EPI Update.www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/publication/epi/pdf/epi2007_e.pdf3Cited from Larkin, J & Mitchell, M. (2004).Gendering HIV/AIDS Prevention: SituatingCanadian Youth in a Transitional World. Women’sHealth and Urban Life 3(2), p.34-44.4Check out www.ppt.on.ca/research_teensurvey.asp for more info!8

GlossaryAIDS 101Glossary terms have beencompiled by Sara YoungHIVHIV stands for human immunodeficiencyvirus. The term immunodeficiency means aweakened immune system. People who havebeen infected with HIV are called HIV-positive(sometimes written HIV+). HIV is a virusthat weakens your immune system, which isthe internal system that defends your bodyagainst disease. Your immune system issupposed to protect you from infections, butHIV can sneak past it and then attack yourbody from the inside. If your immune systembecomes weak enough, you can become sickfrom other infections.AIDSAIDS stands for acquired immunodeficiencysyndrome. If HIV is not treated with anti-HIV drugs, your immune system generallybecomes weaker over time. Eventually, you canbecome sick with a life-threatening infection,at which point you are said to have AIDS. Withproper treatment with anti-HIV drugs, mostpeople with HIV can avoid getting AIDS andstay healthy for a long time.PandemicWhen an epidemic spreads throughout theworld (e.g., the global HIV/AIDS pandemic).At RiskParticular communities are said to be “atrisk”of contracting HIV. This means thatin comparison with the general population,they are more likely to display certaincharacteristics that increase the likelihoodof becoming infected. While it may be truethat certain groups are at increased risk, andshould be targeted with special HIV preventionprogramming, we also need to acknowledgehow labeling certain groups as “at-risk” canincrease stigma and discrimination of suchgroups, increasing their exclusion from society.EpidemicAn outbreak of a disease that attacks manypeople at about the same time and mayspread through one or several communities.An epidemic is localized (e.g., the epidemic inCanada, or in Aboriginal communities).Marginalized CommunitiesGroups that are socially excluded from thelarger, dominant community. Their needsare not given attention and they are oftenat a heightened risk of contracting HIV. Amarginalized community’s place in the societalsocial structure makes them more likely to bedenied access to social services and to adoptbehaviours that increase HIV risk.OppressionWhen power is used to elevate one socialgroup over another, denying the disadvantagedgroup a voice through which to assert theirneeds. Oppression goes hand in hand withmarginalization. People can be oppressedbased on race, sexual orientation, gender, faith,ability, age, class, HIV status, etc. Because anindividual’s identity is composed of manydifferent labels, people face oppression froma different constellation of forces. The labelspeople identify with intersect to shape thetypes and ways they are oppressed and towhat extent. You may also see “oppression”used alongside “anti” (e.g. anti-oppression, oranti-oppressive). This term is used frequentlyin activist work and the non-profit or socialservice sector. The term points to a frameworkor a way of thinking which actively countersoppression, as described above.PowerDictionaries often define power with referenceto the following: first, the ability for someone todo or not do something, such as use a condomwhen engaging in intercourse; second, theability for someone to control or influenceanother, such as forcing someone to haveunprotected sex; and third, when a group haspolitical authority or control over others, suchas how a government has the power to makehomosexuality illegal.Positive PreventionEmpowering HIV positive individuals toprotect their own health and reduce thepossibility of new HIV infections amongthe larger community. Positive Preventionrespects the rights of people living with andaffected by HIV/AIDS. This includes sexualand reproductive rights, such as the right toenjoy intimate relationships in order to live afull and healthy life. You may also see the termPoz Prevention.SexRefers to the activities meant to sexuallystimulate the body. There are many differentinterpretations of what ‘counts’ as sex. Doesoral sex ‘count’ as sex or is vaginal/analpenetration required to ‘qualify’ as sex? Thinkabout how you define sex and the ways thatdifferent definitions may work against theprevention of HIV. For example, if it is believedthat unprotected sex is a main transmissionroute for HIV, but someone does not believeoral sex counts as sex, they may not take theproper steps to protect themselves. If someonehas cuts or lesions in their mouth or throat,sexual fluids may enter and transmit the virus.They may feel they are not at risk because tothem they are not engaging in sex.Social JusticeEnsuring that all groups in society haveequitable rights and access to services. Socialjustice movements often attempt to addressinequality in society on the basis of socialidentities such as social class, gender, sexualorientation, race or ethnicity.9

Let’s talkby Ciann WilsonAs I did more presentations, I was shockedto learn that many of my peers wereunaware of the impact of HIV/AIDS inCanada. For example, Aboriginal people,who compose 3.8% of Canada’s population,constitute roughly 7.5% of the country’sHIV cases. Aboriginal people also facesevere discrimination and are more likelyto be incarcerated or homeless. Notably,similar patterns between social exclusionand HIV exist for marginalized groups inother countries. 4 I wanted to illustrate theseriousness of this problem.Hi, my name is CiannWilson and I am anundergraduate student atthe University of Toronto.I stared at the students in front of me. I hadlost track of the number of presentations I hadgiven, any nervousness was now just a figmentof my imagination. I stood in front of otheryouth once again. We were strangers to eachother and yet connected by our vulnerabilityto HIV & AIDS.“Now, if you are 13 to 24 years old, raise yourhands.” I raised my own hand in sequencewith every person in the small, cluttered classroom. “Ladies and gentlemen, we a.k.a. ‘youth’are amongst the highest risk groups for HIV/AIDS in the world. In fact, there are over 10million youth living with HIV/AIDS worldwideand roughly 6,000 youth are infectedper day.” 1 There was disquiet among the classas students gasped, whispered and lookedat each other in shock of what I had just toldthem. The first and most difficult stage of mypresentation was accomplished: I had thestudents’ attention and hopefully their trust.Roughly 40 million people have been diagnosedwith HIV/AIDS world-wide. In Canada, thereare 60,000 people living with HIV; 32,037reside in Ontario and 16,458 live in Toronto. 2Approximately one quarter of people livingwith HIV in Canada are unaware that theyhave HIV.Today I will be doing a presentationon sexual health and HIV/AIDS.Over 50% of grade nine students in Canadaincorrectly think there is a cure for HIV/AIDS. 3Clearly, there is a disjunction between thefacts about HIV/AIDS and what young peopleknow.At the age of 22, learning about the impactof this disease on young people like mechanged my life narrative, its direction andmy view of the world. It began a year ago,when I had the fortune of taking a universitycourse on HIV/AIDS taught by an inspirationalinstructor who instilled in me his passion forHIV activism. When I learned that under- andmis-information were parts of the reason thisdisease affects youth, I took it upon myself toprovide my peers with the information I wasprivileged to receive as a university student.I worked for The City of Toronto’s Parks,Forestry and Recreation Department andvolunteered in high school classrooms for theToronto District School Board, so accessingyouth was easy. I began my advocacy byputting together a power point presentation andorganizing games and activities that made theinformation I sought to disseminate moreengaging for my audience.“Alright folks, this is Jane,” I said as I drew astick figure woman on the white board. “Janeis homeless. What sort of problems is shefaced with?” A young man in the back of theclassroom who had remained silent for muchof the presentation replied: “food, clothing,shelter… the basics.” I asked the young manwhere safe sex would be on his list. The boy’seyes opened in amazement as he digested theinformation. “She wouldn’t be concerned withthings like that... there are more importantthings to think about, like getting a job” hesaid. “Correct, now what if I told you thatJane was a part of the working poor orthat she was black, Aboriginal, or Hispanic?What additional challenges do these factorspresent for her? What if I told you that theseoverbearing concerns drove Jane to engage inunprotected sex, from which she contractedQueer Asian Youth ZineSummer 200510

HIV? things To like fully that... grasp there role are of more the SDOH, important onemust things be to sensitive think about, and non-judgmental like getting a job” of thecircumstances said. “Correct, through now what which if I told an individual you thatcontracts Jane was HIV.” a part of the working poor orthat she was black, Aboriginal, or Hispanic?These What additional social determinants challenges do also these function factorson present a global for her? level, What which if I told is you evident that these whenconsidering overbearing concerns the fact that drove Africa, Jane to the engage poorest incontinent unprotected in the sex, world, from houses which one she tenth contracted of theworld’s HIV? To population fully grasp the and role yet, of roughly the SDOH, 70% one ofthe must global be sensitive HIV infections. and non-judgmental In fact, 95% of thedaily circumstances HIV infections through in 2005 which occurred an individuallowor contracts middle HIV.” income countries. HIV is a diseaseof inequality, upon which stigma operates.Stigma These is social defined determinants as any physical also attribute function orcharacteristic on a global level, that demarcates which is evident an individual whenas considering socially inferior the fact to the that status Africa, quo. the 5 But poorest whatcontinent does stigma in the have world, to do houses with HIV/AIDS? one tenth of theworld’s population and yet, roughly 70% ofthe Stigma global justifies HIV infections. social ‘othering’ In fact, which 95% causes of thedaily individuals HIV infections to separate in themselves 2005 occurred from in those lowor they middle perceive income to be countries. “at risk” for HIV HIV. is a However, diseaseof as sexual inequality, beings, upon we are which all at stigma risk. 6 One operates. youngStigma woman is boldly defined responded: as any physical “Honestly, attribute beforecharacteristic this presentation that I only demarcates ever thought an individual of Africanas people socially when inferior I thought to the of status HIV/AIDS.” quo. 5 But Another whatstudent does stigma shouted have “gay to do people, with HIV/AIDS? I thought of gaypeople.” I had come to expect these responsesby Stigma my third justifies presentation. social ‘othering’ In fact, which prior causes to myown individuals exposure to separate to HIV/AIDS themselves information, from those I tooshared they perceive these to views. be “at I risk” had for misconceptionsHIV. However,about as sexual who beings, had HIV/AIDS, we are all at why risk. they 6 One had young it,and woman more-so, boldly what responded: a person “Honestly, with HIV or before AIDSlooked this presentation like. ‘They’ I only were ever primarily thought of African,skeletal people when due I thought to under-nourishment, of HIV/AIDS.” Another andhelpless. student shouted “This, my “gay friends, people, is I social thought othering. of gayWhen people.” we I had say come ‘they’ to have expect HIV/AIDS, these responses who ever‘they’ by my may third be presentation. to you, the connotation In fact, prior is to ‘they’ myare own not exposure me. In doing to HIV/AIDS this, we information, detach ourselves I toofrom shared the these epidemic. views. However, I had misconceptionswhat makesus about immune who had from HIV/AIDS, contracting why HIV?” they A had young it,man and more-so, in the back what of a the person classroom with HIV answered: or AIDS“Nothing. looked like. HIV/AIDS ‘They’ does were not primarily discriminate.” African,skeletal due to under-nourishment, andThe helpless. misconceptions “This, my friends, I once is shared social othering. with mypeers When did we say not ‘they’ materialize have HIV/AIDS, from thin who air. They everwere ‘they’ may informed be to you, by the connotation media. Thirty-three is ‘they’percent are not me. of youth In doing receive this, we their detach sexual ourselves healthinformation from the epidemic. from the However, media which what focuses makesa us lot immune of attention from contracting AIDS HIV?” Africa. 7 A Images youngthat man in focus the back on African of the AIDS classroom mask answered: the factthat “Nothing. North HIV/AIDS America, does home not discriminate.”to 1.4 millionpersons living with HIV in 2006, youth engagein unprotected sex, which greatly puts themat risk for transmission of HIV and otherSTIs. The misconceptions These images I don’t once address shared with the fact mythat peers “Abstinence did not materialize First” policies, from thin which air. They areimplemented were informed some by the North media. American Thirty-three schools,are percent ineffective of youth in fighting receive this their epidemic sexual because healthwe information are sexual from beings the in media a sexually which saturated focusessociety. a lot of attention These images on AIDS mask in Africa. the reality 7 Images ofthe that focus HIV/AIDS on African epidemic AIDS in mask North the America fact thatthereby in North creating America, a home false sense to 1.4 million of security persons anddetachment living with HIV from in the 2006, epidemic. youth 8 In engage producingunprotected social othering, sex, which these greatly images puts don’t them relay atrisk the for HIV/AIDS transmission information of HIV Canadian and other youth STIs.These desperately images need. mask the reality of the HIVepidemic in North America thereby creatinga When false discussing sense of HIV security prevention and strategies, detachment afrom “one size the fits epidemic. all” model 8 does In producing not work because socialothering, youth are these not all images the same. don’t Different relay the youth HIV/AIDS face different information circumstances Canadian youth that desperatelymake themneed. vulnerable to HIV. They need informationfrom a source they can trust and with whomWhen they can discussing identify. HIV Furthermore, prevention strategies, HIV/AIDS a“one information size fits and all” model prevention does not programs work because mustyouth also be are innovative not all in the response same. Different to the changing youthface trends different and issues circumstances faced by youth. that These make factors themvulnerable are considered to by HIV. all the They projects need discussed informationfrom this manual. a source Projects they can like trust the and “Sense with Project, whomthey which can infuses identify. drag shows Furthermore, and cabaret HIV/AIDS intoinformation their outreach, and or prevention YouthCO, which programs integrates mustalso digital be storytelling innovative in and response harm reduction to the changing are alltrends examples and of issues innovative faced by programming. youth. These factors Fromare visual considered art and by photography all the projects to fashion discussed and inthis seminars, manual. all of Projects these projects like the “Sense were produced Project,which through infuses creativity, drag invention, shows and and cabaret a flexible intotheir openness outreach, to change. or YouthCO, They which strive integrates to makedigital a difference storytelling how and youth harm understand reduction are HIV/ allexamples AIDS, by making of innovative it a more programming. socially acceptable Fromvisual and relevant art and topic photography discuss. The to fashion projects and aimseminars, to diminish all the of stigma these projects surrounding were HIV/AIDS producedthrough and to aid creativity, youth in empowering invention, and themselves a flexible byopenness talking about to change. the virus They through strive youth-friendlyto make adifference mediums in and how contexts. youth understand In such HIV/AIDS, an open,by honest making and it a flexible more socially atmosphere acceptable thatand misconceptions relevant topic can to be discuss. destroyed Theprojects and understanding aim to diminish can the bestigma established. surrounding HIV/AIDS and to aid youth inempowering“HIV/AIDS does themselves notby discriminate. talking about There the is virus nothrough ‘they.’ We are youth-friendlyall vulnerablemediums to this disease. and That contexts. beingIn said, such HIV/AIDS an open, can honest beand defeated. flexible We atmosphere need to be that themisconceptions active agents of change can be we destroyed want toand see understanding the world. Rather can be than established. discriminateor stigmatize others, we need to unite, getactive and get involved.” I concluded, reciting“HIV/AIDS my personal does mantra. not discriminate. I looked the There diverse is no‘they.’ faces of We my are peers. all Strangers vulnerable we to were this no disease. more.That In the being short hour said, it HIV/AIDS had taken can me to be deliver defeated. myWe presentation, need to be we the had active initiated agents a dialogue of change thatwe was want long overdue. to see in the world. Rather thandiscriminate or stigmatize others, we need tounite, get active and get involved.” I concluded,reciting 1. Flicker, my Sarah. personal University mantra. of Toronto I lecture, looked January at thediverse 17, 2008. faces of my peers. Strangers we wereno 2. Ontario more. In Advisory the short Committee hour it on had HIV/AIDS taken me todeliver (OACHA). my presentation, “A Proposed HIV/AIDS we had Strategy initiated for adialogue Ontario that to 2008.” was long overdue.3. Germaise, David. “National School Survey RevealsGaps in Knowledge of HIV/AIDS” Canadian HIV/1. AIDS Flicker, Policy Sarah. and University Law review, of Toronto 8(3), lecture, 32-33. January 20034. Ibid. 17, 2008.5. 2. Travers, Ontario Advisory Robb. University Committee of Toronto on HIV/AIDS lecture,September (OACHA). “A 2007 Proposed HIV/AIDS Strategy for6. Ibid. Ontario to 2008.”7. 3. Flicker, Germaise, Sarah. David. “HIV “National and Youth: School ContemporarySurvey RevealsIssues.” Gaps in Knowledge January 17, 2008. of HIV/AIDS” Canadian HIV/8. Travers, AIDS Policy Robb. and Lectures Law review, for SOC309Y1 8(3), 32-33. course. 20034. September Ibid. 2007 – February 2008. U of T. LM5. 161 Travers, Robb. University of Toronto lecture,September 20076. Ibid.7. Flicker, Sarah. “HIV and Youth: ContemporaryIssues.” January 17, 2008.8. Travers, Robb. Lectures for SOC309Y1 course.September 2007 – February 2008. U of T. LM161Ciann is a fourth yearundergraduate student at the Universityof Toronto where her prorams of study includePhilosophy, Human Biology, and Sociology. Ciann hopes topursue further studies in the Health Sciences and Educationwhere she can continue her HIV/AIDS advocacy and branchoff into research. Raised in the racially diverse, inner-citycommunity of Parkdale, Ciann’s advocacy is also with lowincome youth as she currently mentors youth at a Janeand Finch community centre. Ciann currently liveswith her family in Brampton, Ontario.11

HIV AIDS EducationPrevention Risk Reduction Model (HEP)OutreachInaccessibleServicesNetworks/Linkages &PartnershipsBuildingEducation—Literacy LevelsLanguageAbilityFear ofHIV/AIDSTestingLack ofHIV/AIDSKnowledgeBiologicalFactorsCultural &ReligiousIssuesDevelopmentof CulturallyAppropriateResourceDrug UseYou?Presenceof STIs/STDsResearchPovertyUnprotectedSex with anInfectedPersonParentalTransmissionPowerImbalance inRelationshipsMigration &ImmigrationTraining & SkillsDevelopment—Service Providers,Peers &VolunteersStigma &DiscriminationIndividual FactorsGlobal/Societal Factors & IssuesGenderIssuesHIV/AIDSEducationalWorkshops,DiscussionGroups &One-on-OneSessionsStrategies: How to deal withIndividual & Societal FactorsThis helpful diagram, produced by Wangari Tharao, from Women’s Health in Women’s Hands, is useful for visualizing thedifferent factors which impact an individual’s vulnerability to HIV. All of these factors may be experienced by youth.12

Going Viral withPrise PositiveBut how do we put theory into action? The following pages map out innovativeprojects that deal with the structural determinants of HIV risk. For a teaser, checkout the work of Prise Positive, a video-based project in Quebec, taking YouTubeby storm. The following section, written by Kim Simard, project coordinator, PrisePositive, explores an innovative online video art project and what video means toher. Check it out!Video is one of the most powerfulcreative tools I know. It can motivate,change, engage and inspire both thespectator and the maker. It is an intuitivemedium that can capture reality, makingit easy to represent our lives anddreams. As we know, videos used inmainstream media often misrepresentthe realities and lives of people livingwith HIV. For this reason, it is importantfor those living with HIV to take this tooland use it as a means of communicationthat will work towards dissolving themyths and stigma perpetuated in thegeneral public. Can this change the waymainstream media portrays HIV/AIDS?Probably not, but it can certainly givecommunities another point of reference.Prise Positive is a program that engagesyouth living with HIV. The youth developvideo projects using animation, narrative,documentary and video-art styles tocommunicate with youth who are notliving with HIV of the issues HIV positiveyouth face. As of fall 2009, we will haveabout 6-8 videos produced and uploadedto the web. Through the web we hope toinspire an online dialogue between HIVpositive and negative youth concerningsome of the issues raised in the videos.We also hope that the participants willuse the skills acquired through ourworkshops to continue making video asa means of personalexpression. Thisproject gives youtha chance to expressthemselves in a way that is fun andcreative.Youth living with HIV experience lifedifferently than HIV positive adults.Those born with HIV, or who arediagnosed at a young age have a differentunderstanding of what role HIV plays intheir lives. Coming to understand yoursexuality, finding a job, going to schooland parental pressure implies differentchallenges for those age 16-30. PrisePositive aims to focus on some of thosechallenges and make them heard. Thisis a bilingual project; participants areboth Francophone and Anglophone.This project is a partnership betweenthe CATIE, Fréquence VIH and JASE.Films will be posted starting thisautumn on the CATIE youth website,www.livepositive.ca, at FréquenceVIH, www.frequencevih.ca, and on ourYouTube site accompanied by forumsand blogs to get people’s impressionscomments and questions about thevideos. There will also be presentationsof the videos by participants inMontreal and Toronto. Check thewebsites cited above for updatesabout the viewing and distribution ofthe videos.13

Photo: Alex FelipeFashion Changewith YouthCareInterview with Nadia AlamNadia was one of the first women I interviewed for this manual. Nadia’s passionfor HIV/AIDS activism was evident from the beginning of our conversation as shespoke about her desire to mix fashion with activism. What Nadia doesn’t tell youin this interview is that she was responsible for designing the T-shirts worn byparticipants in the fashion show, and has created an award-winning short film onher journey as a Muslim woman. Talk about wearing your heart (and politics) onyour sleeve! Nadia has stuck with the project through two years of e-mails, phonechats and digital requests. She may not have known what she was getting into at thebeginning, but having her featured in the manual was certainly worth it on our end!14

Fashioning Change: A Youth-Inspired Fashion ShowAs part of the presentation at the International AIDS Conference in Toronto, YouthCARE organized and hosted a fashion show whereyouth had the chance to model their own designs, reflecting the fight against HIV/AIDS. During the Global Village festival, this fashionshow encouraged Canadian youth participants to express their views and feelings about the AIDS pandemic in a creative fashion.An international collection of organizations displayed unique and original creations, ranging from "everyday practical" to "fashionablyabsurd," that reflect and inspire the fight against HIV/AIDS. Hosted by former MuchMusic celebrity Jennifer Hollett.Interviewname:Nadia Alam, VolunteerPhoto: Alex Felipeage:location:project/organization:18TorontoFashioning Change,YouthCAREPhoto: Alex Felipethought it was my duty to do somethingabout it. This was a perfect place to begin!Following that, at my high school, MarcGarneau Collegiate Institute, everyonewas called to go down to an assembly.This is where I met Jennifer Hollett andwas introduced to her incredible journeythrough East Africa. Her message wasabout educating youth and letting themknow that they could do something tohelp!How did you get started? What led youto pursue HIV/AIDS activism?At age 17 I had an interest in HIV/AIDSwhile doing a project for a World Issuesclass. This was the first moment in whichI fully understood that the current HIV/AIDS situation is all around the world, asopposed to just areas of Africa that areportrayed by the media.Also, during this time, I received an e-mailfrom Verve Girl Magazine’s mailing listthat there was a fundraising event hostedby YouthCARE’s Jennifer Hollett (formerMuchMusic VJ) that was for anyone whohad something to say about the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The event planned touse fashion to convey a message. Thisattracted my attention as I just recentlylearned about the HIV epidemic andBy meeting Jennifer, I got a chance topersonally let her know that I was reallyinterested in the project, and that I woulddefinitely do it.In August of 2006 a group of girls and Igot together and came up with an idea forFashioning Change: A Youth Inspired FashionShow, that used a theme of Superheroesto Save People from HIV and AIDS. Wecreated the message “We can all beheroes. Aid to end AIDS.” I designed threeT-shirts inspired by three superheroes,Spider(wo)man, Bat(wo)man, andSuper(wo)man.15

Photo: Patrick Struys18

LOVE,featuring Jay and RomeoButton-Making withsprOUT/CompassInterview with Romeo and Jay, Griffin CentreI first met Jay and Romeo at a sexual and reproductive health conferencewhere they were facilitating a rockin’ theatre-based workshop ondisability and sexuality. I had the pleasure of seeing them work againwhen they facilitated a Resistance Button-Making workshop on HIV/AIDSstigma and discrimination for the Gendering Adolescent AIDS Preventionproject. Their perseverance and commitment continues to amaze me.Jay and Romeo are two youth co-facilitators for sprOUT, a Griffin Centreproject. They also attend Compass, a weekly group founded by Jay.19

Photo: Patrick StruysCREATIVITY,featuring RainbowOrganization and Project DescriptionsGriffin Centre is a Toronto-based non-profitcharitable mental health agency providingflexible and accessible services to youth,adults and their families. Our mission is topromote positive change for vulnerable youthand adults with mental health challengesand/or developmental disabilities and theirfamilies. We are dedicated to deliveringinnovative services and developing creativepartnerships that enhance lives andcommunities. For more information aboutGriffin Centre please check out our websiteat www.griffin-centre.org.ReachOUT is a creative, inclusive andaccessible program for lesbian, gay, bisexual,trans, and queer youth and adults in theGreater Toronto Area. Activities include dropingroups, community outreach, art & skillsexchange, counselling, and consultation. Weoffer safe spaces that reflect the diversityof our queer and trans communities. Formore information about Griffin Centre’sReachOUT program please contact ZackMarshall, Program Supervisor, at 416.222.1153ext 152 or via e-mail at reachout@griffin-centre.org. You can also visit us atwww.griffin-centre.org/reachout.Compass is a weekly group for youth under25 labelled with intellectual disabilities toexplore sexual and/or gender identities—including youth who identify as LGBTQ. Thegroup includes social activities, discussion,movies, art making, outings, interactiveworkshops, and sexual health information.sprOUT is all about connecting LGBTQpeople labelled with intellectual disabilitiesacross Ontario. We hold fun events suchas dances, BBQs, movie nights, and parties.Our workshops on sexual health, selfadvocacy and how to create LGBTQ positivespaces are co-facilitated by LGBTQ peoplelabelled with intellectual disabilities. Wealso offer consultation to individuals, theirfamilies and support workers. sprOUT isfunded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation,www.trilliumfoundation.org.For more information about Compass orGriffin Centre’s sprOUT project pleasecontact Tess Vo, Project Co-ordinator, at416.222.1153 ext 171 or via e-mail atcompass@griffin-centre.org.20

Power, featuring RomeoPhoto: Patrick StruysOur CompassGriffin Centre’s sprOUT project is currentlyworking in collaboration with Lesbian, Gay,Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning(LGBTQ) youth labelled with intellectualdisabilities to create a short documentaryentitled Our Compass. Our Compassexplores the stories of eight LGBTQyouth who are told they have intellectualdisabilities, and their creative efforts tocome together as a rainbow family to resistlabelling and express hope.As part of the documentary each youthwas supported in the process of selectinga specific theme connected to their sexualand gender identity/expression. Thesethemes were represented in a series of selfportraitsthat aim to celebrate and expressthe uniqueness of each youth involved in theproject.Our CompassDirector and Producer: Tess VoAssistant Director: Ruby RowanWriters: Ryan Firestone, C.J. Fung, RainbowHunt, Wayne Koltchigin, Josh Palmer, RomeoPierre, Ruby Rowan, Jay Siao, Tyson PurdySmith and Tess VoPortrait Photographer: Patrick StruysFunded by:Ministry of Children and Youth Services,Children and Youth Mental Health Fund:Year 4-Innovations FundThe Ontario Trillium FoundationTo learn more about Our Compass pleasecontact Tess Vo at compass@griffin-centre.orgor 416.222.1153 ext 171.21

Interviewname:age:location:organization/project name:Jay and Romeo17 and 24Toronto, ONsprOUT project,Griffin CentreJay and Romeo co-facilitated an interactiveworkshop at Sex-Esteem: Developing SexualityConfidence in Adults with a DevelopmentalDisability (Sexual Health and DevelopmentalDisabilities Committee-Waterloo Region).How did you get started? What ledyou to want to do work around antihomophobia,anti-transphobia, andsexual health, especially with and forpeople with intellectual disabilities?Romeo: Basically I feel there is a lot ofhomophobia targeted towards thesespecific groups [people with intellectualdisabilities]. People need to be moreeducated, and I wanted to get my voiceheard. I wanted to let people out thereknow that they have a safe space to goto get support around coming out anddealing with difficult situations.Jay: I got started for fun; I wanted to meetnew people. I wanted to help out otherqueer youth with a disability, to put myselfout there so that people feel supported.I like doing peer support, like helpingpeople out, especially friends. I have beenthrough homophobia and bullying, andso have my friends, so I understand. Evenwithin the [LGBTQ] community I haveexperienced bashing.What about your project got you fired up?Romeo: Getting my message heard andgetting the point across. Some peopledon’t have a voice; I wanted to helpspeak for those people. Also makingsure people in schools and parents areeducated about homophobia. I lovegoing to workshops, on road trips, seeingnew places, doing role plays, and givingdefinitions of LGBTQ.Jay: With sprOUT you get to travel, meetnew people, and talk to new people thatare like you. We try to have as much funas we can. I learn more about myself, likeit’s okay to be gay. I get knowledge fromworkshops that I have done. I have morefreedom than adults who work here.Why do you do this work?Romeo: I love it, it’s my passion. I lovegetting the message across: “Don’t hateme cause I’m someone that has anintellectual disability, but respect mefor me!”Jay: It’s not for the money; just becauseI can buy things doesn’t make me happy.I get to hang out with new people andyouth in general. [Otherwise] I feel likeit is hard to meet other people that areLGBTQ and so young. It is better for meworking with people closer to my age sothat they understand what I am goingthrough as a teenager.Why use art to educate?Romeo: To show people who we are andwhat we do. It can be an outreach tool toget people to come and see what we aredoing. Art is fun and youth like to cometo groups that have safe space and doarts and workshops. It’s a cool place tocome chill and hang out. The art helpsto reclaim who we are, stop oppression;it all goes back to having your voiceheard. It gives people without a voice thechance to speak out and get known in thecommunity. It shows that we are hardworking, risk taking, and committed.22

Freedom, featuring C.J.Jay: Art is fun. I love doing it and I learn. Itis much better than speakers or videos onsex ed; you don’t have to sit and listen topeople talk. It gives the message “resisthomophobia, we are not going to takeit.” Art can try to show people that gaypeople are not different.Do you have any suggestions or tips foryouth interested in doing communityactivism work?Romeo: Just make your voice heard; ifthis is your dream or passion, never giveup. There is always one thing, dreams cancome true, no matter how high or low.You can dream big, dream low, but in theend your dream will come true. Nevergive up, be who you are, and be who youwant to be.Jay: Don’t be afraid of who you are, youare the person you want to be. Yo- justhave fun, take time, learn new things. Themore things you learn, the better youwill be.Photo: Patrick Struys23

Button Makingwith sprOUT!Youth make their own one-of-a-kindbuttons that have slogans and/or imagesthat challenge HIV/AIDS stigma anddiscrimination. This workshop also exploresthe positive effects that HIV/AIDS has hadin our communities. sprOUT workshopstake place throughout Ontario and areco-facilitated by LGBTQ people labelledwith intellectual disabilities.sprOUT Workshop Activity:Resisting HIV/AIDS Stigma andDiscrimination in Our CommunitiesGroup DrawingMake one group image. Think about the following questions anddraw or write words that express your feelings and thoughts thatare related to each question.1. What is the difference between stigma anddiscrimination? (6 min)2. What are the forms of HIV/AIDS-related stigma anddiscrimination in your communities? Think about howHIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination affects peopledifferently in your communities based on sexual and/or gender identity/expression, race, class, ability, andaccess to health care. (6 min)3. How can we resist HIV/AIDS related stigma anddiscrimination in our communities? Are there any keyimages or words that come up for you? (6 min)4. Go over participants drawings and discuss each questionwith the group.24

GlossaryAccessibilityAccessibility refers to ensuring that all people, no matter their race, class,ethnicity, etc., have the ability and opportunity to access health andother social services. In this manual it is also used when talking aboutart and education. This means that the communication of the messagesis not limited by language, class, race and other social identities thatmay pose barriers to certain communities gaining exposure —all canunderstand and relate to art.DisabilityA disability is usually referred to as physical or mental. Disabilities areoften thought of as something that limits an individual’s capacitieshowever, it needs to be recognized that everyone is different and thatindividuals with disabilities have talents. Those with disabilities oftenface challenges when it comes to sexuality due to real or sociallyconstructed factors that limit sexual expression. People with disabilitiesare often thought to be asexual, and hence not requiring sexualeducation or places to talk about sexuality.InclusionInclusion is the meaningful involvement of members of a communityin the decision making process. It ensures that the views, perspectives,and needs of all affected communities are actively involved.LGBTQAn acronym referring to lesbian gay, bisexual, transsexual/transgenderand queer communities. Q can also stand for questioning. Sometimes,you might see LGBTTIQQ2S which is more inclusive: lesbian, gay, bisexual,transsexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, and two-spirit.HomophobiaTo be afraid of homosexuality. Those who hold homophobic beliefs oftendiscriminate against homosexuals and treat them in demeaning ways.It works to limit the ability of homosexuals to access equal rights insociety, making them at an increased risk for contracting HIV infection.Homophobia can exist on an overt and individual level, such as whena person discriminates against someone on the grounds of sexualorientation. Homophobia can also exist in more covert (or systemic)ways. For example, homophobia and heterosexism (the view thatheterosexuality is the norm) shape the way society is organized aroundthe idea of the nuclear family. The ‘ideal’ family is viewed to include amale father, female mother and their child(ren).For more info onGriffin Centre:www.griffin-centre.orgFor more info on HIV/AIDS and Disability:www.thebody.com/content/art13443.htmlUnfortunately, there are very few HIV/AIDS resources for youth with intellectualdisabilities. In fact, our search yielded…none! This is a major gap. Here’s one site thataddresses the connection between disabilityand HIV/AIDS however, it leaves out youthissues and intellectual disability. What’s upwith that?!For more resources onLGBTQ Youth andSexuality for Youth ofColour, check out:www.amplifyourvoice.org/youthresource/TransphobiaThe idea that trans folks are inferior. Also means the hatred of trans andgenderqueer folks.Gender IdentityDescribes how you see your gender. This may or may not match yourbiological sex.25

Through our Eyes:andPhotovoice theFrancophone ProjectGendering Adolescent AIDS PreventionInterview with Nidhi PunyarthiSix years ago, when I first became involved withHIV/AIDS work, Nidhi seemed like a super-star.Nidhi was involved with so many fascinatingprojects. While her PhotoVoice photographswere mounted around our school, and exhibitedacross Toronto, I heard “the Francophone Project”discussed in hallways and classrooms. I finally metNidhi in my third year at the University of Toronto,where we were learning to create performedethnographies on HIV/AIDS. With a group of otherstudents, we worked together to analyze data andturn it into monologues and short plays. Later, I hadthe pleasure of performing these monologues andplays with Nidhi at local, regional and even nationalconferences! Nidhi always stole the show. Herpassion, creativity, intensity, and ability to articulateherself both through art, and in conversationalways wowed me.…she still continues to impress me to this day.26

OrganizationGendering Adolescent AIDS Prevention (GAAP) brings together youth, community based service providers,policy makers, students and researchers in Canada and South Africa on projects that use participatoryapproaches to working with young people in relation to sexuality, HIV prevention and AIDS awareness.Our overall goal is the creation of innovative, gender-sensitive HIV education programs that work for youth.GAAP is located at New College, University of Toronto. For more more info, check out www.utgaap.org.Youth media can be a powerful avenue for allowing young people theopportunity to develop their own messages and representations of issues likeHIV/AIDS. TIGXpress—HIV/AIDS centres on global education as a tool for changewith Photovoice and the internet as instruments for creating new forms oftransnational dialogue. In a world increasingly devastated by AIDS, buildingsolidarities and alliances among youth may be the best hope for curbing thedisease. Photography may provide a universal language for communicatingabout AIDS and for opening new avenues for youth global activism.– The TIGXpress—HIV/AIDS toolkitProject DescriptionsPhotoVoicePhotovoice is a community development tool used to engageindividuals and communities with issues and experiencesrelevant to their own lives. In this case, participants weremembers of the New College, Youth Advisory Board for theGendering Adolescent AIDS Prevention (GAAP) Project,University of Toronto. The workshop proceeded a presentationon the structural determinants of HIV risk, through a genderedand global perspective. Youth were given disposable camerasand asked to work in small groups to take photographs thatreflected ideas and/or issues about gender and HIV/AIDSraised in the presentation. When the photos were developed,each group was asked to write about, and discuss their imagesusing a set of facilitated questions. Since the workshop, manyof these photographs have been used to develop a youth mediatoolkit for HIV/AIDS education.The Francophone ProjectLaunched in the summer of 2006 by Nidhi, GAAP and theFrancophone Centre of Toronto, the Francophone projectgathered French-speaking students of the University of Torontoand enabled them to perform community service in French.Community focus groups were initiated in order to understandhow HIV/AIDS, sexuality, gender, and culture were understoodin the diverse African francophone communities of Toronto.From knowledge gained during these focus groups, Nidhi andher peers translated performed ethnography scripts on HIV/AIDS from English to French, paying strict attention to culturalnuances and the reception of HIV/AIDS stories by Africanfrancophone communities. These performed ethnographieswere presented by French-speaking students at a final WorldAIDS Day show in 2006. The event was well attended byvarious Torontonian francophones, and was a huge success.The audience used the play as a springboard for criticaldiscussion and greatly appreciated the performance.27

Interviewname:age:location:project/organization:Nidhi Punyarthi,GAAP Participant23Toronto/OttawaPhotoVoice, GAAPFrancophone Project,GAAPHow did you get started? What led you topursue HIV/AIDS activism?I attended a workshop where studentsengaged in creative projects to communicateknowledge and ideas about HIV/AIDS. Ifound this to be a very useful and importantprocess, as much literature on HIV/AIDS thatI had come across earlier did not address theknowledge and concerns of disadvantagedgroups. This realization inspired me toparticipate in activities of the GenderingAdolescent AIDS Prevention Project, where Ievaluated educational materials, used theatreas a means of communicating missing orsilenced discourses on HIV/AIDS, and startedsome of my own projects on cross-culturaltranslation of HIV/AIDS experiences.What about your project got you fired up?My project was inspired after I attendedthe International AIDS 2006 Conferencein Toronto. I met activists from differentcountries and who spoke different languages.A lot of people expressed to me a realizationthat Toronto was not what they expected—andthat the so-called International conference hada very specific linguistic (English) and cultural(Canadian-hegemonic) focus. I had also beeninvolved with the Francophone Centre ofToronto, who had a booth at the Conferenceand took the reins in accommodating for someof the shortcomings of the larger internationalconference. A lot of different grassroots groupsat the Conference tried to do just that.As a French speaker and a student in Toronto whoparticipated in both GAAP and the FrancophoneCentre activities (www.centrefranco.org),I thought of combining the two under“francophone projects.” This turned out tobe a very fruitful venture because it starteddialogue between university students andcommunity members on issues that touchedracial and linguistic minorities in Toronto(such as Black francophones), which werenever the focus of discussion topics in largerconferences. Non-English speaking immigrantpopulations in Toronto are at a crisis for notreceiving accessible and adequate health andinformation services.Why do you do this work?I am passionate about increasing theaccessibility of services and information, in themost general and encompassing sense.Why Art?Art is a medium that is flexible, plural, diverseand fairly accessible. Using dramatic arts tospeak to, speak from, and speak with differentexperiences has been a very productivemethod of knowledge creation for myself andmy peers.Do you have any suggestions or tips for youthwho are interested in pursuing or alreadyworking on HIV/AIDS arts activism models?I suggest keeping an open mind. Sometimes,when you are engrossed and passionate inyour cause, you can tend to overlook otherrelated and sometimes conflicting causes,even though you think you are open-minded.It is important to see power emanating fromyourself as well. Power is always a multi-waystreet. Ask yourself what impact you have onyourself and others when you do your work.That is one way to be mindful of your actionsand to keep flexible in your activism.Interested in startingyour own project?12345Nidhi’s top 5:Keep an open mind:Listen to and process different points of view.Keep it transparent:Have group meetings or disseminate updates to membersthrough e-mail.Keep business cards and updated CVs handy:Get your name and project idea out there.Reach out:E-mail people, make phone calls, go to conferences.Reflect:Keep writing to ground yourself and clarify your goals.28

A young South Asian woman isresearching immigration laws on aCanadian website. The highlighted textemphasizes the discriminatory languageand practices of Canadian immigrationpolicies. The woman’s position and theangled profile of her mouth and handscommunicate her despair. Internationalregulation takes place around HIV/AIDS,and borders “tighten and whiten” againstHIV/AIDS-affected migrants.To see more photos online, visit:http://gg.tigweb.org/tig/tig-xpress-hivaids/What Happens whenI Spread My Legs?A Performed EthnographyYouth Contributor, GAAPWhen I spread my legs, you see me, woman, brown, cunt, backward, bitchy.You trail your gaze over my hard, diseased body and think of what I hide inside.You think of how easy it is to keep me there, sobbing and quivering at your tip,because there is too much that I hide, too much that I never tell anyone,too much that I keep to myself so that I can explore and become your cunt again.When I spread my legs, I watch my life flowing, in many different rivers,confounding and diverging along my skin. I release a drenched planet, in which myglistening fingers find their own space to control my sexual health and fertility.When I spread my legs, I envelope a white woman and let her penetrate.She becomes me, my disease, my glistening life force that makes you blind.And while you grope in the darkness, you miss seeing our brown and pinknipples hardening upon each other and wrestling for the same space.30

GlossaryDiscourseThis word can be used in many different ways. However, here discourse is used torefer to the type of language used to discuss a particular issue. Pay attention tohow language can affect the interpretation of HIV/AIDS by society. The way HIV/AIDS is discussed and described can have a very powerful impact in shaping, oftenfalse, beliefs about the illness.Gender InequalityAlthough it can impact males as well, gender inequality commonly refers tothe devaluing of females and imposing on them barriers to personal freedom,education, jobs or equal pay, legal rights and/or political representation. It is linkedto HIV/AIDS as such inequality places women in more vulnerable situations andat greater risk for contracting HIV. For example, women in many countries oftenlack access to education and opportunities for employment. Therefore they easilybecome dependent on their husbands for economic support. Their dependencymakes them vulnerable to the sexual requests of their male partner. They cannotrefuse sexual requests for fear of being thrown out of the relationship. Womenmay endure sexual abuse, unwanted unprotected sex or have an unfaithful partner,all increasing their risk of contracting HIV.Performed EthnographyPerformed Ethnography is a dissemination tool used to share knowledge andresearch findings about a particular topic. Research findings are written up in theform of dramatic scripts (plays, monologues) which are then read/performed toaudiences in order to incite discussion.Transnational DialogueEngaging in communication and discussion across national boundaries,transnational dialogue presents enormous opportunities for learning andcommunicating knowledge about HIV/AIDS.For more info on HIV/AIDS andSouth Asian Communities:Alliance for SouthAsian AIDS Preventionwww.asaap.caAlliance for South Asian AIDSPrevention—Brown Kiss Youth Sitewww.brownkiss.caAsian Community AIDSServices—Youth Programwww.acas.org/english/youth.phpOr check out thesewebsites on PhotoVoice:www.photovoice.orgwww.ivmproject.ca/photo_voice.phpFor more info onGendering Adolescent HIV/AIDS Prevention (GAAP)www.utgaap.orgSolidaritySolidarity refers to the ties that bind social groups together. Often, socialgroups come together for a common cause, for example, people from aroundthe world are coming together in fighting to stop the spread of HIV. However,solidarity doesn’t always mean that everyone within a group thinks the same.Solidarity can allow for difference among unified groups.BioNidhi is a 23 year-old woman completing her Bachelor of Laws at the Universityof Ottawa. Nidhi began her involvement with GAAP as a high school student.During this time, she wrote for Forum (YAN) and was involved in focus groupson youth perceptions of HIV/AIDS and sexuality. She also participated in aPhotoVoice workshop and Performed Ethnography project that led to thecreation of an HIV/AIDS educational guide. More recently, she worked on acollaborative and bilingual (French-English) performed ethnography projectwith the Francophone Centre of Toronto. Nidhi now volunteers at the BarbraSchlifer Commemorative Clinic in Toronto which delivers legal services to womenwho have survived adult sexual assault, partner assault, and childhood sexual abuse.She aims to practice family law and immigration law after her call to the bar.Globalization & AIDS:Movement of Whom?31

World AIDS Day Tomfoolery:Cabaretsfor ChangeInterview with Christina Foisy, Head & HandsWay back when, I called Head and Hands to speak with Christinaabout their World AIDS Day activities. It was early in the morning,and I was a little sleepy… One hour later, I was inspired andrejuvenated by our conversation! We talked about sexual health,performing spoken word poetry in the subway, massive stickeringcampaigns, and dance parties. Whoa! This lady has done a lot, andcertainly knows her stuff! Like Nadia, Christina has stuck with themanual through and through, since its conception… in the twoyears of creation, she’s even moved cities!32

Organization Description:Head & Hands“Lending a Helping Hand Since 1970”Head & Hands is a grassroots, youth-run, health and social service organization for young people.Located in a homely Montreal building, H&H offers free legal, medical and counseling services to youthaged 12 to 25 in a comfortable, confidential and non-judgmental space. In addition to these services,H&H has responded to community needs by running a peer-based youth drop-in center and aYoung Parents program nearby. A street-work program provides outreach to youth who may notwalk through our doors, while sexual health workshops and peer-education trainings are offeredin both French and English schools. Fundamental to our vision is a commitment to providing anenvironment that welcomes youth without discrimination. We facilitate social change and theempowerment of youth based on their current needs within our community and society at large.Project Description:The Sense ProjectWe call our peer-based sex education program: the SenseProject because we wish to help young people to make “sense”of their sexuality, and because we want their sexual (amongother) choices to make "sense"! Our aim is to support Montrealhigh school students between 14 and 17 years of age to have ahealthy sexual development by giving them the information andemotional tools to make empowering choices.InterviewThis feature documents World AIDS Day Activities (2006-2007)launched to support The Sense Project: a peer-based sexual healtheducation in schools (launched officially in 2007). Our art-basedWorld AIDS Day activities (2006-2007) were designed to raiseawareness about the need for HIV/AIDS prevention education inschools and to raise necessary funds for this type of work. At themoment, the Sense Project is sustained by private foundations,individuals and local events. We embrace a “fundraising for socialchange” model which empowers individuals to express theirvalues by donating to initiatives they believe in. Given the currentpolitical context and taboos surrounding youth and sexuality, it isincreasingly difficult to acquire government funding that supportsour mission. Our WAD activities are built into our fundraisingplan and have generated positive results.name :age:location:project/organization:Christina Foisy,Sense Project Coordinator24Montreal, QCThe Sense Project,Head & Hands33

HIV/AIDS Postcard Vernissage: Red Light Party (November 30th 2007)How did you get started? What led you topursue HIV/AIDS activism?The silence surrounding HIV/AIDS andsexuality in school curriculum is what got measking questions about what this “silence”is trying to tell us. Before coming to Head& Hands and the Sense Project, I made achildren’s book about pleasure, risk andsexuality for a Women’s Studies class, andit was not well received by some studentsand parents. My book broke an unspokenrule surrounding “safe sex.” It’s not meant totalk about the body or emotions: “safe” sexis wrapped in a condom and kept away frompeople’s real lives. Similarly, HIV/AIDS haschallenged school curriculum to include thebody in the classroom, in a way that allowsfor the complex lived experiences of studentsto emerge. Students need to tell their storiesand to think about their bodies in a way that’seducational and empowering. Now thatQuébec has reformed sex ed, making it a part ofevery subject (but without a way to implementit, it often gets lost in a curricular void) Head &Hands wants to take this opportunity to breaksilence and to stir students to think criticallyabout their sexuality, bodies and life.What about your project got you fired up?Our HIV/AIDS Postcard Vernissage:Red Light Party (November 30th 2007):We raised $1,400 in one night. It was part ofthe Sense Project’s ongoing fundraising event(Faggity Ass Fridays: a queer/trans friendly danceparty outside of the Gay Village in Montreal).With a dedicated team of volunteers (18-25), wehosted a beautiful cabaret featuring disjointedgenderballet, performance art on HIV and thetrans-body, and spoken word. Local DJs threwa great dance party. The space was decoratedwith red lights and postcards made by severalInvolve youth in brainstorming sessions.Sense Project stakeholders: students, teachers,young parents, donors, Head & Hands clients,volunteers and community partners. Thepostcards were all hand-made during HIV/AIDS workshops conducted by Head & Handshealth animation volunteers. They were quitebeautiful and inspiring.We strung postcards from the ceiling foreveryone to see. Then on December 1st,we mailed the postcards to the Health andEducation Ministers, in hopes of raisingawareness about youths’ sexual health needsand rights. Some of the slogans included:“Turn on the light about AIDS”“Don’t Turn Your Back on HIV/AIDSPrevention Please”“Fight AIDS”Another highlight was our invitation to theUNICEF World AIDS Day concert featuringAvril Lavigne, Sarah McLachlan and otherCanadian celebrities. We had the chance totable before the concert in the Bell Centre’slobby. Unfortunately, most of the celebritiesdid not openly talk about AIDS, and the event’scoordinator said, during the opening speech,that “no child in Canada is affected by AIDS.”While we didn’t agree with their statement,we felt that it was an interesting site for usto witness a different philanthropic approach,one that favors donors’ (perceived) sense ofFundraising for Social Change:Christina’s Top 5Fundraising Strategies12345Send out sponsorship letters and get most of the materials donated inkindto ensure that the event reaches your goal.Send out press releases to get the public’s attention.Encourage free-dress dance parties at schools leading up to thepostcard vernissage. Layer the event with bake-sales and additionalfundraising strategies.Initiate a letter-writing campaign to the Ministry of Educationadvocating for funding to sex ed programs. Be sure to thank yourdonors and build relationships with them.34

distance instead of participation. In a way, itvalidated our fundraising for social changeapproach that involves individuals locally.Why do you do this work?It’s hard NOT to do this work, I feel like I’malways talking about misconceptions andmoral panics regarding STIs and HIV/AIDS.It’s a part of my life. Recently, one of myclosest friends was diagnosed with HumanPapillomavirus (HPV), and is now goingthrough treatments for cervical cancer. Shefeels isolated, stigmatized and does not wantto talk about herself in reference to a disease.But people are constantly telling her what todo with her body and how to live under theprotection of tea and blankets. At the end ofthe day, she wants to maintain some sense ofnormalcy. She still wants to take healthy risks,like anyone else, and hold on to some sense ofher identity that’s unmarked by the metaphorsof disease, a part that isn’t medicalized andframed as a threat. Just as people livingwith HIV/AIDS face discrimination, fromcomments around the water-cooler to beingpulled out of public schools, disease conjurescontamination, and heightens people’s anxietyabout death and the unknown. In reality, all ofthe curricular constraints about how a teachercan talk about HIV/AIDS and sexuality tellsus more about our own anxiety than aboutstudents’ needs.• Build relationships with provincial,national and international sexual healthand HIV/AIDS prevention organizations.• Share skills and knowledge at conferences,online forums, peer education trainings,and community meetings.• Engage in communities as active agentsof HIV/AIDS prevention and promotesocial and political change throughcreative expression and media arts.Why Art?Because it’s fun, accessible and effective…Head & Hands has a long history of using artfor social change. Art is a great way to engagewith the world critically, and re-shape it.Do you have any suggestions or tips for youthwho are interested in pursuing or alreadyworking on HIV/AIDS arts activism models?• Work in collaboration with similar groups.• Recruit volunteers early and spend timeas a committee bonding and learningfrom each other.• Discover the valueof emergentstrategies andflexibility.• Keep itsimple.GlossaryDiscriminationDiscrimination occurs when the stigmaand prejudice towards a certain group orindividual results in them being treateddifferently, usually unfairly. Discriminationusually occurs along systems of oppressionsuch as gender, race, class, sexual orientation,ability, religion and HIV status etc.Peer-basedYoung people working with young people.For more info onHead and Hands:www.headandhands.caSome of the goals of the Sense Project are to:• Promote, challenge and sustaina culture of sexual health educationin schools and communities.• Empower youth with sexualhealth decision-making skillsand creative arts skills.• Promote peer educationas a method for sexualhealth educationinside/outside ofschools.BioChristina was employed as the Funding Coordinator for the Sense Project when she was interviewed. Building upon experiences at Head& Hands, Christina is currently a M.Ed. candidate at York University in the Language, Culture and Teaching department where she usescollage as a research method in what they call “difficult curriculum.” She has a BA in Creative Writing and Women’s Studies from ConcordiaUniversity, and has been lucky to combine her interests with professional goals. She misses Montreal and hopes to return soon. In themeantime, she is writing a collection of short stories set between rural Quebec and Montreal.35

Interviewname:age:location:Jennifer Yee, Visual Artist23Toronto, ONHow did you get started? What led you topursue HIV/AIDS activism?I began my activist work as a result of myfrustration with a certain shoe chain thatappeared to be using HIV/AIDS as a marketingscheme. I refer to this as “AIDS-washing”,synonymous to the current trend of “Greenwashing”.In its best intentions, the campaigndid raise awareness; but dog tags, bags andcelebrity ads are short-lived in the consumerworld. I found it hard to justify how supportingan ongoing issue as serious as HIV/AIDS couldbe considered “in style” because by definitionit will inevitably fall out of style, as it has today.There is no cure or vaccine and the real issue isnot a gimmick. I wanted to give this frustrationa voice.What about your project got you fired up?Interview with Jennifer YeeJennifer and I first chatted in April of 2008. I was instantlyimpressed by her insight and passion on the connectionbetween HIV/AIDS, stigma, and the scientific community.This woman paints with her heart and her mind.I believe the fuel for the fire was when I beganlooking at the HIV/AIDS issue from a moreencompassing perspective. As I am currentlyan undergraduate student studying LifeSciences (Human Biology, Zoology) as wellas Visual Studies (painting, drawing, printmaking)at the University of Toronto, I wantedto see how each stream was addressing theHIV/AIDS issue. I was genuinely shockedto see a recent decline in scientific interestregarding HIV/AIDS. I am not sure if people areaware that the science world follows trends,just like the rest of the world. I firmly believethat no disease should be “cosmopolitan”in the sense that no disease should takeprecedence with regard to scientific attentionor be “in the spotlight” per se. There is a lotof scientific knowledge and drive to go aroundand we should share that wealth.Jennifer is a visual artist and student. She countersconvention everywhere she goes: Jen attends the Universityof Toronto for Human Biology, Zoology and Visual Studies.36

Why do you do this work?I do this work to meet the very fundamentalneed of fighting stigma. It presses me to voicemy concerns when from a social perspectivethere is a lot of ignorance and discriminationwhen it comes to HIV/AIDS. For example, myinterests include debunking the following myths:the belief that the HIV/AIDS movement receivestoo much funding compared to other diseases,the misconception that we have alreadydiscovered the cure or vaccine, the outrightprejudice that HIV/AIDS is only a homosexualissue and lastly, ignorance that HIV/AIDS is inremission when it is in fact still a pandemic.Why Art?What I love about art is that it is a verycommon medium that we share with everyone.Absolutely everyone has the ability to makeart and that is why I love to use it as a tool forcommunication. I think it touches each personon a basic almost instinctual level, like music,whether they agree to like it or not.Do you have any suggestions or tips for youthwho are interested in pursuing or alreadyworking on HIV/AIDS arts activism?The greatest tip I can give to any youth is tonot lose perspective when it comes to themovement and to keep pursuing the truthand the facts with regards to the HIV/AIDSissue. That is to say, try not to be sidetrackedby any movement whether political, social, orscientific. This is an issue that is going to bearound for the long haul and it is importantthat time be taken periodically to re-evaluatethe facts: How far have we come? Where arewe on the timeline? What are the issues to beaddressed at present, in the immediate future,and in the long run?BIOJennifer Yee is currently a fourth yearundergraduate student at the University ofToronto studying Human Biology, Zoology &Visual Studies. She is also employed by theCentre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH)as a Research Assistant. Jennifer’s work wouldbest be described as a study in the humanform, both body and mind. She is concernedwith issues of stigma, perception, healthand disease. Visual art techniques includeprintmaking (intaglio), drawing and paintingwith emphasis on mixed media. She hopesto pursue post-graduate work in biomedicalcommunications or research.Glossary“Cosmopolitan”Cosmopolitan means worldly. In the contextof this feature, this is a critique of the way inwhich AIDS is taken up as a global industry.For example, in Canada, the AIDS Ribbon nolonger has the same significance as it used to,just as other awareness campaigns aimed atconsumers sacrifice political power for brandpower. Does a ribbon on a Starbucks cup or onan iPod help decrease the impact of AIDS?37

No Pants...No Problem!Safer Sex Party OrganizingInterview with Jessica WhitbreadI met Jessica on a summer afternoon inJuly. We chatted, with excitement, abouther parties, activism, and what it meansto identify as a youth, working within theHIV/AIDS community. Her energy andenthusiasm is infectious; there’s bouncein her step and sincerity in her smile. Notmany people can inspire a crowd to takeoff their pants, shake their booties, andraise a whole lotta’ money doing it. ‘TeamManual’ traveled with cameras, andcute undies to Jessica’s recent No PantsNo Problem party. We worked the crowd,snatched a set of safer sex playing cards,and scored a kiss or two along the way. Ifyou’re lucky, you might be able to pick outour bottoms in the following shots!38

Project DescriptionLaunched in Montreal in 2003, under thename “Kill Him… Hide the Body,” Jessica’ssex positive parties have a history ofshaking things up. These sex and youthpositive parties are promoted with theaim of creating inclusive, accessible,inviting, fun and, most of all, safe spacesfor people living with HIV and their allies.These events raise public awarenessabout HIV/AIDS, sexual health and choice,while pushing comfort levels and socialboundaries around sex and sexuality. Todate, Jessica has hosted over 50 events,including “No Pants No Problem”, “SluttyBingo”, and “Smooch O’Rama” in thehopes of breaking down stigma andopening dialogue around HIV/AIDS andhealthy sexuality.KHHB found imaginative waysto raise awareness regardinga current and very importantissue touching us all. From SluttyBingo to Wednesday night themeparties, the crowd was diverse,the entertainment grand andcalling in sick for work the nextday never felt so great!– Jonny Lefrancois, party guest39

Interviewname:age:location:project name:How did you get started? What led you topursue HIV/AIDS activism?In my first semester of University, at the ageof 21, I was diagnosed with HIV. I had alwaysbeen a strong supporter of sexual health rights,but it wasn’t until my diagnosis that I really feltan urgent push to do something. I was going toConcordia in Montreal studying Sociology andSexuality, and started to research the stigmaaround HIV. There was lots ofstigma that I saw in the media, andmany people seemed to experiencestigma externally, but I didn’t feelaffected in the same ways thatI was hearing about. It wasconfusing, but I realized that themajority of the stigma I felt was,for myself, internal and I needed todo something about it. I wanted toeducate others, especially youth—my peers— about HIV and sex. SoI started having parties and eventsthat had a special emphasis on myarea of activism: sexual health.These events included Slutty Bingo,Smooch’O’Rama, Porno parties,Bikini Girls with Machine Guns, andNo Pants No Problem. These eventsused kissing and safer sex booths,condom distribution, open dialogueTop 5 Party Favoursthat Would Make YourParents Cringe:12345Jessica Whitbread29From Montreal toToronto...No Pants No Problem!Spin the Bottle: Watch out! This game can get hot! All you needis any old bottle and a couple pairs of lips. Just sit in a circle and smoochwhomever the bottle points at. Great for “accidentally” getting to kiss thatperson you’ve had your eye on all night.Water guns: There is nothing more flirty than giving someone a littlesquirt with a bit of water. And nothing is hotter then a room full of soakingwet people on the dance floor. Ouch!Condoms: Seriously, everyone wants their guests to have a good time,so let’s give them the tools and a little incentive to do it up safer.Kissing Booth: You haven’t lived till you’ve worked a kissing booth. Itis a must try. I have to admit, it’s a little scary at first, but once you realizethat free kisses are coming your way, you’ll forget all about your initialnervousness. Just think of it like a life’s worth of first kisses all in one night.Plus it’s safe, fun and you don’t have to disclose anything.A Mandatory Pant-Check: No Pants? No Problem! Dancingwithout pants levels the playing field. It’s like that advice—if you’renervous to give a speech, imagine everyone in their underwear, except noweverybody will be pantless for real! Anyway, jeans can be a bitch when it’shot and sweaty. Charge a buck for pant-check and give it all to charity.about sex and sexual diversity, in order toeducate people, and raise awareness. Plus,it was all done in the name of fun, with themoney going to a not-for-profit organizationthat focuses on sexual health.What about your project got you fired up?Being a young person living with HIV, I foundthat there was a gap between what I was learningabout living with HIV in the media and whatmy social reality was. I was young, I wanted tohave fun, and I wanted to do all the things thatyoung people do, but without the stigma.I wanted to have a space where I feltcomfortable and sexy—where disclosurewasn’t an issue and I could have fun like mypeers. Like many others my age, I wantedto kiss someone or dance or even flirt withthem without having to think about my HIVstatus, without thinking of my fluid sexuality.One of the best comments I heard about aSmooch’O’Rama was from a McGill studentin Montreal who was totally glowing, “I kissed40 people last night! And my super-straightfriend Jeff came and he kissed six guys! Andhe said that one of them was the best kisshe’d ever had in his life!” Breaking barriersto transform climates into spaces where onefeels comfortable exploring their boundarieshas given me great personal satisfaction.40

Why do you do this work?I do this work because I want to change theway that the world looks at living with HIV. Iwant to do my little part to break down anddismantle the stigma surrounding it. I alsowant to promote and encourage the sexualwell-being of people living with HIV. HIVpositive people are sexy and they are definitelya sexual force to be reckoned with. (Ask myhusband… hehehe).Stigma and discrimination are ugly things,and I am just trying to make it a little easier—and a lot more fun—for those of us who aresometimes frowned upon by society for beingwho we are. I wanted to create a space thatwas inclusive, accessible, non-discriminating,safe and inviting for others who may be in asimilar situation. I didn’t want disclosure tobe a barrier for flirting, kissing, meeting newpeople and having a good time.Why Art?Art is good because it leaves room forinterpretation. Art is beautiful and fluid, justAs a young woman living with HIV, havingJessica as a close friend has been nothingshort of a lifeline. Her buoyancy, extroversionand activism are infectious and have mademe feel so much more at ease with my ownstatus. Watching her go is inspirational andit’s impossible not to get caught up in all herpositive energy, as is demonstrated in thesuccess of all the event nights she puts on. The‘no pants’ parties, which typically raise moneyfor her AIDS Walk team, create an atmosphere oftolerance, love, acceptance and support, as wellas bringing together a group of people who justwant to celebrate life. I think Jessica helps usall celebrate life, and for me in particular facingwhat feels like an insurmountable mountain attimes, that has been particularly meaningful.– Friend of Jessica’slike Why sex Art? and sexuality. It can befun and playful or hard and direct.I Art use is it good to try because to shift it the leaves mindset roomof for interpretation. people participating Art is beautiful in theevents. and fluid, Be just a voyeur, like sex watch and sexuality. peoplekiss, It can feel be awkward fun and in playful public or in hard yourunderwear, and direct. I read use it information to try to shift onHIV the mindset positive of women people and participatingpregnancy…while in the gently events. trying Be a to voyeur, make a watch littleshift people in the kiss, way you feel think. awkward inpublic in your underwear, readI information always liked on hosting HIV positive these women eventsbecause and pregnancy… it gave me while an gently opportunity tryingto perform. make a I little always shift felt that in the putting wayon you my think. ‘party personality hat’ wassimilar to performance art. I coulddo I always anything, liked hosting be anything, these events andpush because boundaries. it gave me Also, an opportunity the artistcommunity to perform. I is always felt involved that puttingmyevents on my whether ‘party personality they volunteer hat’ was tocreate similar a to poster, performance logo, use art. the I event couldto do display anything, their work. be anything, Artists such and asKristi push Ropoleski, boundaries. Lauren Also, Nurse the artist andJoel community Tellier have is always involved been strong in mysupporters events whether of these they events volunteer and have tocreated a poster, some wonderful logo, or use pieces the event formy parties.Do you have any suggestions or tips for youthwho are interested in pursuing or alreadyworking to display on their HIV/AIDS work. arts Artists activism? such as KristiRopoleski, Lauren Nurse and Joel Tellier haveBaby always steps. been When strong I supporters first started of I these never events reallythought and have about created the some events wonderful I was organizing pieces for asactivist my parties. work, I just saw a need in my communityand tried to fill it. Now I see that those littlethings Do you had have a big any impact suggestions certain or tips people. for youthwho are interested in pursuing or alreadyI working think that on HIV/AIDS setting little arts activism? goals and doingsmaller tasks lets you have a chance to relishin Baby your steps. success, When which I first means started that I never you really canbuild thought up about momentum the events for your I was cause. organizing It gives asyou activist a chance work, I to just build saw confidence a need in my as community an activist.Because, and tried as to your fill it. goals Now and I see aspirations that those grow, little sodoes things the had amount a big impact of challenges. on certain Just people. rememberthat the small victories are just as importantand I think meaningful that setting as the little big ones. goals and doingsmaller tasks lets you have a chance to relishin your success, which means that you canbuild up momentum for your cause. It givesyou a chance to build confidence as an activist.Because, as your goals and aspirations grow, sodoes the amount of challenges. Just rememberthat the small victories are just as importantand meaningful as the big ones.41

GlossaryGender BendingAn expression used to identify the ways in which we can play with, and performgender in different ways. This expression honours, and points to the fluid andconstructed nature of gender. Gender is in between your ears, not in between yourlegs! Gender bending might include putting on clothes of the opposite gender, orexpressing gendered performances like walking, dancing, talking, etc.Sex PositiveA philosophical or political orientation to viewing sexuality. This term is often usedin reference to events, or education. To be sex positive means to actively counterthe negative way sex is portrayed in society, from celebrating and respecting sexualdiversity to creating spaces where people can explore their sexuality. This positionhonours that consensual sex, and sexuality are positive forces in peoples lives, andas a result, should be discussed in reference to sexual pleasure and desire, and notonly fear, disease and unwanted pregnancy.StigmaThe often false, social perception of something as shameful or causing discredit.People Living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) are often stigmatized for various reasonsincluding the popular notion that individuals who have contracted HIV have doneso because of reckless or irresponsible sexual behaviour. Stigma works to increasesocial barriers between communities with HIV and the greater population, preventingsociety from fully understanding the illness and factors that affect its spread.BIOJessica Whitbread has been living with HIV since 2002. Since her diagnosis shehas been active in the community creating spaces that are inclusive and nondiscriminatory,through events that focus on the promotion of the sexual andreproductive health and rights of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs). She isalso the figure head of the largest fundraising team in the Toronto AIDS Walk forLife: “Team Jessica.” The Team won a citation from the City of Toronto in 2007 foroutstanding fundraising. Jessica has also received human rights recognition fromGeorge Brown College with the Phyliss Ellien Edwards Memorial Award, and thePinball Clemens Scholarship, as well as being accepted to participate in the 2009UNESCO International Leadership Training Program.Jessica is currently the Under 30 North American Representative on the InternationalSteering Committee for the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS, a long standing member of the Positive Youth Outreach (PYO) AdvisoryCommittee, and sits on the Board of Directors at the HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic of Ontario(HALCO). In addition, she works as a Peer Educator for the Positive Prevention Projectat Planned Parenthood Toronto.For more information or resourcesfor Positive Youth, check out thefollowing links, or see the resourcesection for more info:Positive Youth Outreach (PYO)www.positiveyouth.comSupport for youth with HIV by youth with HIV.LivePositivewww.livepositive.ca or www.viepositive.caSupport for youth with HIV on treatment,sexual health and stigma.42

with HIV? Want to experience aPositive Youth Outreach (PYO)other poz youth at a FREE weekendPositive Youth Outreach (PYO) is aToronto based, peer-driven programof the AIDS Committee of Toronto(ACT). PYO’s mission is to empower,support, and affirm the lives of youngpeople under 30 living with HIV.PYO’s programming aims to addressall aspects of young people’s lives,in order to reduce isolation, selfdestructivebehaviours, and thecycle of oppression. We advocatefor ourselves to ensure that as youngpeople living with HIV/AIDS we canlive happier, healthier lives as engagedactive citizens. We support theleadership and personal developmentof our fellow HIV-positive peersthrough education, skills developmentand support by providing newopportunities.relaxing and rejuvenating time withretreat in the country-side? Well then,Are you a youth living with HIV?it’s that time of year again!Do youJoin Positivehave anyYouthpoems,Outreachphotographs(PYO) for our annualofLivingartworkPozitive,orPozitivelyphotography—orLivingsummer do retreat you in have the country! a story that you would like to share???Learn a few new skills and make some new friends! Hurry, sign up today! Spots areIf so, going please quickly. forward any and all submission to pyo@actoronto.orgto haveContactthemAngelpublishedat 416.340.8484in thex 281PYOor pyo@actoronto.orgzine “recharge.”for moreAlldetailssubmissionson howcanto apply and for will this remain exciting and anonymous—unless popular yearly retreat. you say otherwise!!!While our primary focus is local, wecollaborate provincially, nationallyand globally in the form of communityoutreach and educational activitiesto promote compassion andunderstanding for young people livingwith HIV/AIDS.AIDS Committee of Toronto399 Church Street, 4th floor, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2J6T 416-340-2437 F 416-340-8224 W actoronto.orgWho’s he?Exhausted, Empty, Tired.Speechless, prolific, dutiful.Dignity, Dignified, Diligent.Blank slate, empty, thoughtful.Complicate, simplify, exaggerate,Willingly hesitate…Tears will fall,Stars will rise.The smile you see…Is but an empty disguise.– Jane Marek (Alias)[This poem was submitted by amember of PYO. Why? Becausethey can relate to it…]Artwork and poem fromPositive Youth Outreach Zine

Taking Action on First Nations IssuesInterview with Jessica Yee,Native Youth Sexual Health NetworkI heard about Jessica and her worklong before I ever had theopportunity to meet her in person.Jessica is one positive, passionate,committed and fierce woman,activist, educator, andcommunity member. If thework needs doing, and theworld needs changin’, youcan be sure to find Jessicaholding a sign and a hand.In fact, when I askedher to contribute to themanual, it was a challengejust to determine what“project” she should focuson. Read on: This savvywoman’s got a lot on hermind, and we’re thankfulthat she ain’tafraid to say it.44

Organization DescriptionThe Native Youth Sexual Health Network (NYSHN) is a North-America wideorganization working on issues of healthy sexuality, cultural competency, youthempowerment, reproductive justice, and sex positivity by and for Native youth.• We are a peer-based network of individuals, families, communities,and Aboriginal society at large• Training, advocacy, program creation and direct youth engagementare our core duties• Curriculum and resource development are ongoing projectsname:age:location:project/organication:Jessica Yee, Youth Founder and Director (NYSHN)23InterviewAll across Turtle IslandThe Native Youth Sexual Health Network—by youth,for youth, because we’re proud of our culture!Taking Action TorontoHow did you get started? What led you topursue HIV/AIDS activism?My entire life I’ve been both involvedand vocal on issues having to do withreproductive and sexual health. Many havecalled me the “loud-mouth Mohawk”, atitle that I relish! You could say I’ve beenan activist since I was 10-years-old whenI understood what the word pro-choicemeant, and sought out my first volunteerposition to work with pregnant teenagers atthe age of 12.I founded the Native Youth Sexual HealthNetwork because I was fed up with peopleoutside the community dictating how to be“healthy”, not actually involving us as youthon any sustainable level when working “foryouth”, and rarely disseminating anything ina culturally competent way.Being involved in sexual health and culturalcompetency means using what we alreadyhave in our culture to empower our youth tolead healthy, strong lives. SEX has becomesuch a dirty word in our communities, whenin fact it is the foundation of all humanity andis related to every social issue on some level.While we look to other existential issues toproblem-solve the various challenges ourcommunities are facing, the time has cometo bring it back to basics and strengthenour identities right from the ground up. As Ihave listened to my grandmothers explain tome, sex used to be sacred, and upheld as anenjoyable part of our life as Aboriginal people.I believe that once you see a problem, youtake responsibility for it. Today Aboriginalcommunities face the highest rates ofHIV transmission, and our youth aredisproportionately affected. In the sameway that I cannot ignore the generationaleffects of colonization, I cannot ignore whatis hurting and spreading throughout mycommunity today without doing everythingI can to put a stop to it.What about your project got you fired up?That this is actually about our cultureas Aboriginal people! It means that werecognize the strength and power we haveas a people, and look at our ancestralteachings to help guide the augmentation ofour health in the present day. It also meansthat we revere children and youth as ourmost sacred, and respectfully listen to whatthey have to say.At the Native Youth Sexual Health Network,we do our best to root all of our projectsin a positive framework as opposed to abio-medicalized risk framework that isconventionally used. As Aboriginal people,we are too often shown in the most adverse,negative light, when in reality, we have somuch to honour and be proud of, includingwhen we are living with with HIV. HIV/AIDS. The tenacity Thetenacity and determination and determination we have as we Indigenous have asIndigenous people is phenomenal, people is phenomenal, and we do and indeed wedo carry indeed on, despite carry on, the despite odds. the odds.I often hear the slogan “Respect Yourself,Protect Yourself” when it comes to generic,sexual health campaigns, which I havealways found to be incomplete. I say“Respect Yourself, Protect Yourself, and BeProud of Your Culture” because that lastone will enable you to accomplish the firsttwo. We must become the stewards of theinformation going out about us, and standup to take care of our own well-being thebest way we know how.45

Why do you do this work?I do this work because without it, as aperson, I don’t know where I would be. I wasraised in the thriving metropolis of Toronto,and like many urban Aboriginal people, Igrew up unaware of my culture and feltdisconnected in this big, thriving metropolis.Being involved in HIV/AIDS activism todaywith my own community has affirmed thatwe are now taking back what has been sobrutally stolen from us and letting it outon our own terms. I believe it is everyone’sresponsibility to put it out there as it oncewas; education and prevention which isbased on values of acceptance and caringfor the entire community. This defines thework I do every day.However, the key to receiving thismessaging and putting information intopractice is directly related to the issues ofself confidence, value, and worth. I stronglyencourage youth to self-determine theirrights over their own bodies and hold otherpeople accountable to them. It is then thatempowerment, both self and social, canhappen. Then, education on sexual healthand wellness can follow.We cannot afford to live in silenceanymore. Although HIV/AIDS is fairlynew to Aboriginal communities, our youthare currently paying the price due to thewidespread reluctance of us not coming toterms with making things like awarenessand harm reduction a priority.Why Art?Using various artistic formats in our workto reach out and meet youth where theyare at has provided countless opportunitiesto hear the true stories and pass on theteachings that youth need to learn from theElders, family, the community, but most ofall, each other.I think that for us as Aboriginal people, “art” isa normal, daily part of our lives and it’s reallynot a new thing for us to be incorporatingwhen we talk about healing or about ourhealth. It is essential to acknowledge themany diverse learning styles that exist andwhen we create alternate means to receiveand create information, we yield greater andbetter results.Specifically talking about HIV/AIDS hasa lot of historical prudeness to it, andwhen you look at communities that havebeen entrenched in Christianity throughcolonization, it’s a difficult subject to bridgewith people. Asking people to exploreHIV/AIDS through the arts facilitates thisprocess and allows some people to getout what they might have difficulty talkingabout otherwise.Do you have any suggestions or tips foryouth who are interested in pursuing oralready working on HIV/AIDS arts activism?It’s important to be open to new ways ofdoing things, and to know that art comes inmany different forms, even if it’s somethingwe haven’t yet termed as “art”. Art can alsobe looked at as an easy, simple process, whenin reality, it can be one of the most tedious,but ultimately rewarding experiences youcan do.HIV/AIDS is a multifaceted, scientific,and social disease to understand. Thereare major differences in cultures, socioeconomicrealities, sexualities, etc., and wehave to be respectful of this when it comesto seeing it represented in the arts. Get allthe information you can about it and ask thequestions that need to be asked. Knowledgeis power, and once you are comfortablewith the information, you can turn it intosomething that might make more sense foryoung people in different places, and feellike you did your homework when it comesto putting something out there in the public.Age might also be a barrier for people to getstarted in something, but to get involved it’skey to not let this stand in your way. I neverhave looked at myself and thought “I’m tooyoung to do this.” I do it because I want to;because I must. Evidence shows that youthlearn better from other youth, and I have toecho the sentiment that we are indeed thebest determiners of what will really work for us.Created by Nadine Boyce from Canim Lake First Nation(BC) during the Empower Our Youth ConferenceWe need allies in this fight, who recognizethe voice that must be given back toAboriginal people, so that we don’t livein fear of harming each other with ourignorance about one another and our refusalto prevent the spread of HIV, which reallyaffects us all.46

Check it out!Check it out!www.takingaction4youth.blogspot.comwww.takingaction4youth.blogspot.comFor more info HIV/AIDS andAboriginal communities:For more info on HIV/AIDS andAboriginal Canadian Aboriginal communities: AIDS Networkwww.caan.caCanadian Aboriginal AIDS Networkwww.caan.caAboriginal Youth Network: HIV and AIDSwww.ayn.caAboriginal Website designed Youth Network: by and for HIV Aboriginal and AIDSwww.ayn.cayouth to create and maintain a uniqueWebsite online youth designed community by and nationwide. for Aboriginalyouth to create and maintain a uniqueonline Indigenous youth Women’s community Reproductive nationwide. Rightswww.nativeshop.org/pro-choice.htmlIndigenous Women’s Reproductive Rightswww.nativeshop.org/pro-choice.htmlBioBioJessica Yee is a self-described Indigenous,feminist, Jessica Yee reproductive is a self-described justice Indigenous, freedomfeminist, fighter. A Mohawk reproductive from the justice Akwesasne freedom Firstfighter. Nation, A Jessica Mohawk is the from founder the Akwesasne and Director FirstNation, of the Native Jessica Youth is the Sexual founder Health and Network, Directorof a the North Native America Youth Sexual wide Health organization Network,a working North on America issues of wide healthy organization sexuality,working reproductive on issues justice, of cultural healthy competency, sexuality,reproductive and youth empowerment. justice, cultural At competency,23 she hasand spent youth more empowerment. than half her At life 23 mobilizing she hasspent individuals, more families, than half and her communities life mobilizing alikeindividuals, to reclaim their families, ancestral and communities rights to govern aliketo their reclaim own bodies, their ancestral ranging rights from being to govern thetheir Youth own Coordinator bodies, ranging for the from Highway being the ofYouth Tears Initiative Coordinator serving for the on Highway the Board ofTears of Directors Initiative for to Maggie’s serving on Sex the Workers Boardof Organizing. Directors Her for health Maggie’s research Sex Workers centresOrganizing. around empowering Her health youth research as researchers centresaround in the areas empowering of sexual youth health as researcherspromotion,in decolonization, the areas of and sexual reclaiming health promotion, traditionaldecolonization, knowledge. She and is a strong reclaiming believer traditional in theknowledge. power of the She youth is a voice, strong and believer you can in see thepower her “activisting” of the youth it up voice, on sites and like you the can CNN seeher “activisting” it up on sites like the CNNsyndicated Racialicious, Shameless Magazineor syndicated the recently Racialicious, released Shameless special edition Magazine ofOur or the Schools recently Ourselves, released “Sex special Ed and edition Youth: ofColonization, Our Schools Ourselves, Communities “Sex of Ed Colour, and Youth: andSexuality.” Colonization, She Communities is the 2009 of recipient Colour, and ofthe Sexuality.” YWCA She Young is the Woman 2009 of recipient Distinction, ofa the 2009 YWCA Role Young Model Woman for of the Distinction, NationalAboriginal a 2009 Role Health Model Organization, for the and National wasnamed Aboriginal one Health of 20 Organization, International Women’s and wasHealth named Heroes one of by 20 Our International Bodies/Our Women’s Blog.”Health Heroes by Our Bodies/Our Blog.”ColonizationA historical concept referring to the ongoing control of one “nation” by another. The controlling “nation” comes to dominate the resources, labourand markets of the colonial territory and establishes an exploitative relationship with the controlled nation. Since nations are created by the state(and not by communities), colonization also occurs when nations do not recognize another group’s claim to a land, such as the colonization of FirstNations people across North America. This process is accompanied by beliefs that the ethnic values and culture of one group is superior to another.Today, some people say that we now live in an era of post-colonialism where the majority of “nations” are free from external rule. This is myth. Forexample, the current global gap in wealth can be attributed to historic and contemporary economic policies which leave countries at the mercyof the global north. In the case of Canada, our First Nations communities continue to experience the shameful legacy colonialism, through higherpoverty rates, lack of access to resources, systemic racism and increased HIV prevalence rates.EmpowermentA process which involves working with marginalized groups to raise their level of spiritual, social, political or economic strength, through gaining avoice in society and having their needs acknowledged and heard. This process can be problematic if the groups receiving the “empowerment” arenot included in the negotiation of deciding what needs to be done to alleviate their oppression. For example, distributing condoms to women in aneffort to empower them to have control over their HIV risk will do little if they are not given the tools to negotiate condom use with their partners.Pro-ChoiceThe belief that all women have self-determination over their bodies, including the right to make decisions regarding their reproductive health. Specifically,this term is used in reference to a woman’s right to choose whether or not to carry out a pregnancy to full-term. This movement falls under reproductivejustice and takes into account women’s decisions within social and economic contexts. Check out www.canadiansforchoice.ca for more info.Reproductive JusticeGlossaryA holistic movement that attends to women and trans-women’s rights to reproductive freedom. This may include the right to abortion, equitable,safe and quality access to health care, freedom from sexual violence, and the right to control and make choices about one’s body. It encompasses thephysical, mental, political, social, spiritual and economic well-being of women and girls, as accomplished through the protection of women’s human rights.47

Black Youth Leading Together:Innovative HIV Preventionby Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP)I was born with Hiv/AidsI couldn’t protect myself from HIV/AIDS.I didn’t have a choice. But you do!Choose to use a condom.Interview with Mary Yehdego, Shani Robertson, and David Lewis-PeartI was first introduced to Black CAP’s work through Jill Andrew—a savvy HIV/AIDS Manual “consultant” —she toldme the manual would not be complete without their work. After tracking down some phone numbers, I finally gotin touch with David Lewis-Peart, coordinator of the Black Men who Have Sex with Men (BMSM) campaign. Wetalked about his work and all the other great youth-led projects going on at Black CAP. It was clear that all theprojects were equally as great, and filled different roles in the community. Here is what David, Shani, and Maryall have to say about their work, as youth working with other youth on HIV/AIDS in Toronto’s Black communities.48

Organization DescriptionThe Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP) is a charitable, not-for-profit, community-based AIDSservice organization located in downtown Toronto. Since 1987, Black CAP’s mission has been to reducethe spread of HIV infection within Black communities, and to enhance the quality of life for Black peopleliving with, or at risk for HIV/AIDS through prevention education, outreach, and support programming.As an organization, Black CAP believes in a holistic approach to HIV & AIDS education, prevention andsupport. Black CAP recognizes HIV as a manageable, chronic disease, while acknowledging the presenceand impact of racism, sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, classism and other forms of discrimination onthe lives of Black people both living with or affected by HIV/AIDS.Project Descriptions‘MATE MASIE’THE KWANZAA & YOGA YOUTH PROJECTBlack Men’s HIV Prevention Program:BMSM CampaignOne Night. Your Choice.Take Control!MATE MASIE, is a West Africanphilosophy meaning,“What I hear, I keep.”The MATE MASIE Project has been createdto provide HIV/AIDS and STI preventioneducation to Black Youth, ages 15 to 24,through workshops, guest-speakers andcandid dialogue. This includes the supportof HIV-positive youth. The Kwanzaa & Yogaworkshops support participants to explorethe many factors that influence their ownchoices in the areas of sexual health andcareer choices. Participants have manyopportunities to strengthen confidence,healthy decision-making, and conflict-resolutionskills. Participants also explore the directimpact that issues such as racism andhomophobia have on higher rates of HIV &AIDS & STIs in their communities and discussthe role they can play in reducing those rates.The MATE MASIE Project operates in severallocations throughout the city of Toronto withthe support of partner agencies. Mate Masieis made possible through the generoussupport of The Ontario Trillium Foundation,The Youth Challenge Fund and The Lesbian& Gay Community Appeal.In 2006, the AIDS Bureau—part of theMinistry of Health and Long-Term Care—granted funds to a number of HIV PreventionStrategies in the province. Black CAP waschosen to develop a targeted HIV preventionprogram for Black Men who Have Sex withMen (BMSM) in Toronto.Black CAP’s process to identify needs andservice limitations for gay, bisexual and straightBMSM included the development of aprogramming recommendations report entitled”Visibly Hidden: Rethinking BMSM and HIVPrevention“. Based on the recommendationsoutlined in the report, it was decided that anew and innovative campaign was neededthat targeted not only Black men, but mostspecifically, young Black men who have sex withmen in Toronto around issues of sexual health.It was recognized that young BMSMare uniquely located and vulnerable,and that their experience with racism,ageism and homophobia influence choiceswhich leave them at risk for HIV/AIDSand other STIs. The creation of thewww.GettheLowDown.ca resource site andaccompanying print-media campaignentitled THINK, was the first step inBlack CAP’s innovative new sexual healthcampaign for the gay/bisexual black youthcommunity in Toronto.The main goal of the “One Night. YourChoice. Take Control!” campaign is to revealto young Black women exactly how theyare at risk for HIV within their lives. Inaddition to the development of innovativemessaging through a series of 7 postersand 6 postcards, a locally relevant sexualhealth resource, “What Momma Didn’t TellYou: A Guide to HIV/AIDS & Sexual Healthfor young Black women in Toronto,” (seewww.onenightyourchoice.com) was developedso that young Black women would knowhow to care for their sexual health. It alsoprovides a listing of places they could seekfor sexual health care and counseling.49

names:InterviewMary Yehdego, 25Mate Masie Kwanzaa Yoga Youth ProjectShani Robertson, 24One Night Your Choice, Take ControlDavid Lewis-Peart, 24Black Men’s HIV Prevention Programlocation:organization:Toronto, ONBlack Coalition for AIDS Prevention(Black CAP)How did you get started? What led youto pursue HIV/AIDS activism?Mary: My first position at Black CAP was aYouth Site Coordinator position for the MateMasie Kwanzaa & Yoga Youth LeadershipProject. Shortly after being introduced to BlackCAP, I began my placement here for the SocialService Worker Program at Sheridan College.David: I started working in the HIV/AIDSService Sector in 2005 while I was finishingup my college training in Social ServicesCounseling. I began volunteering on the boardfor the African Caribbean Council on HIV/AIDS(ACCHO) and then was hired by Black CAP in2006. I have always had an interest in workingwith marginalized communities, and HIV/AIDSwas one issue that seemed to most affect thecommunities I wanted to work within.Shani: I was part of the generation that grewup with HIV, so it wasn’t as much of a lifechangingevent to my world, in the same wayit was to my parents’. There was this distanceof “Yeah. Ok. It’s out there.” Also people inthe West Indies, where I grew up, were verysecretive about their status. No one said “He/she died of AIDS”. It was covered up as cancerCurrently, 2/3 of women in Toronto who testpositive for HIV are Black women.In 2005, Blacks accounted for 18.5% of all newHIV infections. Since Black people accountfor only 9% of Toronto’s entire population,one can see the disproportionate impact ofHIV on Toronto’s Black communities.Taken From Quick Facts,One Night Your Choice Websiteor some other common terminal illness. But asI got older, I learned of close family membersbeing diagnosed with HIV, and watched themlose their partners. I saw my friends who’dbecome infected endure harsh insults andsocial isolation. This closed the gap for me. Irealized that we all as youth, myself included,needed to do something, or our generationwould suffer.What about your project got you fired up?David: The Black Men’s Program reallyinterested and engaged me as a Black, queer,male. Not only would I be working to educatethis community on HIV and other sexualhealth issues, but I’d be working to educateand engage people from a community that Iwas very much a part of. I couldn’t imagine asa gay male living in the “post-AIDS” era, notthinking about where you are in relation to HIV,however, so many of us don’t. The apathy andlack of knowledge in my peer group drove meto look at different ways of engaging youngmen on this issue. Focus grouping with young,Black men around what issues they wereexperiencing in their lives was a really excitingpart of the process.Mary: What truly inspiredme about Mate Masie wasthe opportunity for Black youthin Toronto’s high priorityneighbourhoods to be exposed toHIV/AIDS and STI Preventioneducation through a holisticapproach. The Kwanzaa and Yogaworkshops support participantsto explore the many factors thatinfluence their own choices inthe areas of sexual health andcareer choices. Participants havemany opportunities to strengthenconfidence, healthy decision-making andconflict-resolution skills.Shani: It was the main goal of the project thatreally got me: to ensure that young Black womenreally understand their risk of contractingHIV, to the point where they and their friendsdon’t take chances anymore. Also, I’m avery creative person, so being able to usemy talents to create meaningful change inlasting way, allows me to fulfill my desire to dosomething in the area of HIV/AIDS. I loved thebrainstorming sessions where we could justspew the craziest ideas, and then refine theminto something more suitable for public viewing.Why do you do this work?David: My interest in this work is very muchabout the fact that, all professionalism aside,this disease is affecting the communities I’ma part of the most. I recognize that given adifferent set of circumstances in my life, HIVcould have become my own lived reality hadit not been for the things I had been taughtabout keeping myself sexually safe duringmy teens. I know that isn’t always a commonstory for gay men. I want to change that normfor youth out there. This campaign and ourprogram intend to create conversations amongyoung gay and bisexual men about our healthand relationships. Prevention starts first andforemost with education.Shani: Young Black women, myself included,are desensitized about the risk of contractingHIV. We know there’s a risk, but when you’rewith someone you care about, it’s hard to thinkabout being in danger. I mean if they care,then they’ll take care of you right? Not really,especially if they don’t care for themselves.Being able to be part of a project that remindsyoung Black women to take care of themselves,50

and not leave it to someone else, drives me.Mary: I do this work because I have realizedthat there is a great need for programs andservices for marginalized youth in Toronto’shigh priority neighborhoods. My experiencehas led me to believe that mentorship andsupport through peer-led initiatives are the mosteffective ways of engaging Black youth in theseareas. These youth are often misrepresented inour community and lack resources.Why Art?Shani: You get to push boundaries more withart than policy. You can create more awareness,spark more discussion and actually create anopening for policy to be created. Policy can’tdo the same for art.Mary: Projects like MATE MASIE create accessto the healing practice of yoga to marginalizedcommunities who are able to reclaim this as atool for living well, and an affirmation that we comefrom a long line of brilliant and evolved people.David: In my particular program, it was decidedthat the use of illustration would be able toreach the broadest range of gay and bisexualBlack, male youth. The sexy, colourful andengaging images seemed to tell the stories,and send the prevention messages, that all thejargoned text couldn’t.Do you have any suggestions or tips foryouth who are interested in pursuing oralready working on HIV/AIDS arts activism?David: The issue of HIV/AIDS isn’t aboutThem and Us, it’s about all of us. Getting thepeople you are working with and ultimatelyfor, to understand—that should be your aim.The interesting thing about doing work onHIV/AIDS, is that you end up addressing a lotof other related social issues and concerns.AIDS work is really about working to improvethe social conditions for oppressed andmarginalized communities, and in turn workingto curb this disease that seems to have hitthese groups the most.Shani: Whomever you’re targeting, ensurethat they’re part of the process, so that there’sa sense of group ownership. It’ll be accepted alot easier this way. Also, any idea you have, nomatter how insane it sounds, save it in an ideabook. It may not work for a current project, butit could be useful later on, or could be useful tosomeone else’s project.Mary: If you are a youth who is interested inpursuing or already working on HIV/AIDS activismit is crucial to tackle HIV/AIDS related stigma inorder to effectively deliver HIV/AIDS information.It is also essential to creatively engage youthand ensure that they are in a safe space wherethey feel comfortable enough to ask importantquestions without feeling embarrassed.HIV/AIDS lasts longerthan 9 monthsMany women only worry about gettingpregnant. Being on the pill won’t protect youfrom HIV/AIDS and other Sexually TransmittedInfections (STIs) like Chlamydia. If sperm canget through so can HIV/AIDS.51

BiosMary began her work in the HIV/AIDS Sector following the completion of her student placement with Black CAP, throughthe Social Service Worker program at Sheridan College. While at Black CAP, Mary has assisted in the delivery of educationalprogramming to Black youth ages 15–24 throughout the identified high priority neighbourhoods in Toronto. Currently as theMate Masie Project Coordinator, Mary has been instrumental in introducing a number of new project sites within the city,and has even participated in the making of space for the delivery of the first ever project site for youth living with HIV/AIDS.As the Prevention Program Coordinator working with Black men who have sex with men (BMSM) at the Black Coalitionfor AIDS Prevention in Toronto, David has developed the HIV prevention recommendations report entitled, Visibly Hidden:Rethinking BMSM and HIV Prevention which has been used in the creation of programming and educational resources; Dealingwith Being Different Coming Out Resource Booklet for Black LGBT Youth and their Families, the THINK print-media campaign,and www.getthelowdown.ca, a sexual health promotion website for young BMSM. David is a graduate of George BrownCollege and recipient of the LGBT Youthline Award for Achievement in Social Services and Anti-oppression.Shani Robertson is the HIV Prevention Coordinator at the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP). Born and raised inBarbados, she later attended the University of Toronto where she completed her undergraduate studies in Human Biology. Itis the knowledge gained from both her academic life and upbringing in the Caribbean that lent insight to the recommendationreport “Who Feels It Knows: Challenges of HIV Prevention for young Black women in Toronto”. The findings of the report formedthe basis on which the “One Night. Your Choice. Take Control!” campaign was developed.For more info on Black Coalition forAIDS Prevention (Black CAP)www.black-cap.comCheck out One Night Your Choice forcomprehensive information on HIV/AIDS,relationships, safe sex, and extra resources suchas “What Momma Didn’t Tell You: A Guide to HIV/AIDS & Sexual Health for young Black women” inToronto at www.onenightyourchoice.com.Check out Get the Low Down, a sexual healthwebsite for young Black men who have sexwith men at www.getthelowdown.ca.For more info on HIV/AIDS andBlack Communities:Canada Africa Partnership on AIDS (CAPAIDS)www.capaids.orgAfrican and Caribbean Council of HIV/AIDSin Ontario (ACCHO)www.accho.caBlack Youth Projectwww.blackyouthproject.uchicago.eduBlack AIDS Institutewww.blackaids.orgGlossaryHolisticWhat does it mean to have a holistic approach to HIV/AIDS? While there are many interpretations of what this can mean,it commonly refers to viewing the individual living with HIV as a whole, and supporting them in all aspects of life. Someoneliving with HIV is affected by the illness on every level and they may need help gaining access to suitable employment,affordable housing and other social needs in addition to medication and medical attention.HeterosexismA belief that heterosexuality is superior to homosexuality. Heterosexism can be found in attitudes that favour oppositesexrelationships, or normalize heterosexuality, while viewing homosexuality as ‘different’ or an ‘exception’. It is a sourceof stigma and discrimination towards LGBTQ communities. Heterosexism can be overtly displayed by individuals or morehidden is societal norms, such as the denial of marriage rights for homosexual couples.Chronic IllnessRefers to a illness that lasts a long time. Although, with today’s advanced technologies, people with HIV can live for extendedperiods of time, there is still no cure or vaccine for HIV and it can be considered a long-term, chronic illness.52

ThePersonI WantTo Be:Collaborative Video-makingwith the Playing it Safe ProjectInterviews with Lulu Gurney and Aaron Chan, YouthCO AIDS SocietyLulu and Aaron’s feature was the last feature to be added to the manual. Now that I read itthrough for the fifth, six, and seventh time, I cannot imagine the manual without it. Lulu andAaron’s diverse perspectives on the challenges of substance use, healing processes and digitalvideo making are inspiring, informative, and well versed. Check out their video “Leaving MyMark” and please, share it with everyone that you know! Together, Lulu and Aaron provide anew lens on some super important issues. This video, and the Playing it Safe project are both atestament to creative directions in HIV/AIDS youth activism, and online media for social change.53

Organization DescriptionYouth Community Outreach AIDS Society (YouthCO) is a non-profitorganization working to involve youth, ages 15-29, in addressing HIV/AIDS,Hepatitis C, and related issues. As a youth-driven agency, we have beenproviding support and outreach for positive youth, prevention education,training, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy since 1994.Within our youth-driven mandate, our Board of Directors, volunteers,positive members and programming staff are all youth between the agesof 15 and 29 and represent a diversity of backgrounds and experience.This unique position of being peer-driven, with extensive mentorshipfrom older allies in the community, allows us to work from our own livedrealities in addressing the underlying factors that make youth vulnerableto HIV and Hepatitis C. We are a community of young people, supportingeach other in our efforts to make well-informed and safer decisions aboutsexual health and substance use.Project Description: Playing It SafePlaying It Safe is a unique web-based video project produced by theNational Film Board in partnership with non-profit agencies in Vancouverand Edmonton, including YouthCO AIDS Society, iHuman and the YouthRestorative Action Project.Teams of youth from ‘at-risk’ backgrounds—homeless, drug addicted,Two-Spirited, Aboriginal, and dealing with mental health issues—haveparticipated in workshops in basic filmmaking (storytelling, camera andediting) as well as in discussions around harm reduction. From theirpersonal experience and specific perspectives of living in Vancouver andEdmonton, the youth document their stories of harm reduction in theirown voices. The finished short films are posted on a website along withpersonal messages from the team members. The result is an exciting andrefreshing approach to the challenges facing youth, and the extraordinaryresilience they display in their lives.These stories are candid accounts of each youth’s current struggles andsituation, and also explore their future aspirations. The resulting films areas varied as explorations of how to find food when you are homeless todocumentation of the challenges and triumphs of gender transition. As thebody of video shorts grows, themes and patterns emerge. On the websitea visitor can view several perspectives about needle use from differentyouth, or can follow the story of one individual over a period of severalmonths as they move from the street to a home, to jail, or to detox. As aharm reduction project Playing It Safe works on two levels: it delivers peerbasedharm reduction messages from youth who face the daily challengesof street life and substance use, and it also offers those youth who are thefilmmakers an opportunity to tell their stories, to turn the camera on theircommunities and their lives. They begin to use filmmaking as a tool forsocial change and to give audiences an opportunity to hear powerful newyouth voices directly from the source.54

Interviewthe perfect place to notonly educate myselfabout HIV/AIDS, but toeducate others on a topicthat is, unfortunately, nottalked about enough innames:Lulu Gurney, 25today’s society.Aaron Chan, 20I went through variouslocation:Vancouver, BCtrainings and became avolunteer for YouthCO,helping out at variousproject/Playing it Safe, NFB andevents and parties,organization:YouthCO AIDS Societyshadowing in high schoolpresentations, and mostrecently, taking part in aHow did you get started? What led youto pursue HIV/AIDS activism?collaboration with the National Film Boardof Canada in the Playing it Safe Project. Iattended and graduated from VancouverLulu: I started off working as a volunteerat YouthCO and later as a Harm Reductionworkshop facilitator. Once I started gettingcomfortable talking in front of people Istarted doing more work with YouthCOAIDS Society.Film School, in the Screenwriting program,and was familiar with writing films anddocumentary storytelling, but never hadthe chance to go out and film anythingbefore, and I was extremely excited to bea part of this.is global. We tend to think of streetyouth as one-dimensional characters,with homelessness being their onlyproblem. These films show the opposite;these people are content, depressed,courageous, and have problems thateveryday people have, and by showingthis, perhaps we can see that street youthare not as far from us as we think.I also write music and songs and hadwanted to incorporate and write musicfor films. With the project, I was able toexperiment musically into scenes of thefilm. Creativity and constant explorationof different things is important in the lifeof an artist.The thing that I find so great about theproject is that the filmmakers are regularfolks—we had one weekend of camera/editing training and that was pretty muchit. Anybody can do this. The process canbe hard and at times, long, but honestly,anybody can do this.They approached me asking if I would liketo share my story and be a voice for youth.When I was approached to do the PlayingIt Safe Project I was just starting myrecovery from using drugs and I was ina position of wanting to heal myself as aperson. I thought it would be a very goodway to start looking at myself and whatI’ve done in my past. I took a really goodlook at what I was wanting to share: anexperience that really helped me heal andmove beyond the person I used to be.Aaron: In the summer of 2007, afterworking for a few months, I felt like Ineeded to take a break and help out inthe community. As a young gay man, itwas (and still is) important to be activein giving back to the community. I lookedup volunteer organizations aroundVancouver and found one called YouthCOAIDS Society, a non-profit organizationdedicated to educating youth about HIVand AIDS. I had done a school projectabout AIDS but it was a subject I wantedto know more about and this seemed likeWhat about your projectgot you fired up?Lulu: My passion inthis project was beinga voice for youth,especially positive youthin Vancouver. There’s notthat many youth whoare willing to share theirstories around this and Iwanted to be one of thefirst to remind peoplethere are positive youthwho need care.Aaron: The storiesthese youth tell are, attimes, so moving andemotional and profoundthat they are storiesthat should be heardeverywhere. There is amessage to be learnedfrom all of these films;this is not just centralto Vancouver. ThisWant to check out thevideos? Please do!Check out the official Playing It Safe site here:www.playing-it-safe.nfb.caYou can also catch the first episodes of the Vancouvercrew on Citizenshift, the NFBs social justice media site:U R Not Alonehttp://citizen.nfb.ca/node/21288&dossier_nid=21201By Briony Metcalfe and Tabia HawthorneLeaving My Markhttp://citizen.nfb.ca/node/21284&dossier_nid=21201By Lulu Gurney and Aaron ChanSafe Sidehttp://citizen.nfb.ca/node/21286&dossier_nid=21201By Dan Schwass and Eli MillsCircleshttp://citizen.nfb.ca/circlesBy John, Lacey and Hywel Tuscano55

Why do you do this work?Lulu: I wanted to do something withmyself. Something that I could learnand grow from. I knew there was apositive space at YouthCO AIDS Societyso I utilized the comfort, the caring(atmosphere) that was in the space tobegin working on myself.Being a transsexual was an inspirationfor me to stop using drugs. When I firststarted transitioning it was a hard placeto be in alone. There were no supports forme or for transgendered people in general.But I learned to adapt and started going toplaces regularly. The safe environmentswere created for me out of respect and ifI didn’t have that I don’t think I would bethe person that I am today.It was nice to have such forgiving andunderstanding people who let me makemistakes and grow from them.Aaron: When I was in film school, duringthe first term, we were told to answer thisquestion: “Why do you write?” My answer:Harm ReductionPrevention activities that aim to reduce thenegative consequences of substance use,sexual activity or other risk behaviours onthe individual, the family, the communityand the public. It accepts that somepeople may not be able or ready to stopengaging in certain high-risk behavioursand assures that if and when they doengage in such activities, they have accessto the knowledge and tools necessaryto reduce their health risk. For example,providing clean needles for injection drugusers will reduce the likelihood of usingdirty needles or sharing needles whichmay increase their risk of contracting HIV.Hepatitis CHepatitis C (or Hep C for short) is aninfectious disease that affects the liver. Itis caused by the Hepatitis C virus (HCV)“Because someone has to.”Someone has to get these stories outthere. Someone has to be a voice forthese youth. Even if this project doesn’treach millions of people as we might like,it will have affected someone. And evenopening up one single person’s mind willhave been worth it.Personally speaking, I love making all kindsof art—music, songs, stories, scripts, films,etc. (but not drawing! I’m a terrible drawer).I know it is something I’ll continuallypursue the rest of my life. It can be difficultand frustrating at times, but in the end, it’salways worth it.Why Art?Lulu: Movies are powerful and connectwith people. It’s so easy to reach thousandsof people via short documentaries. I can postthem on the internet, submit them intofilm festivals, present them in workshopsto youth and be the example that I ammeant to be. It seemed like a great way topresent a part of me to a lot of youth.Glossaryand is transmitted through blood-tobloodexposure (when blood from oneperson gets into the blood of another).As a result, Hep C is most commonlytransmitted through sharing needles,other injection equipment (like cookers,water, filters, tourniquets, swabs, andvitamin c) and other drug-use equipment(like crack pipes, bumpers and cokestraws). Hep C may also be transmittedthrough blood transfusions, body piercingand tattooing equipment, and/or sharedpersonal items such as toothbrushes,razors or nail clippers. Organizations whoemploy a harm reduction approach helpcommunity members to reduce their HCVrisk by providing information on hepatitisC and by handing out new needles, newequipment for injecting and new glassstems and mouthpieces for crack pipes.Hep C treatment is available and worksI enjoy watching movies because I like tosee character. It’s always nice to be able tonotice things about yourself in characterson screen. There is a self-realization ofwho you are and who you want to be.I love my movies because they are sohonest and true to who I am. Everythingthat I talk about in my movies comes froma deep place that I thought I would nevershare with anyone.When I first got positive feedback I just feltalive. Something inside me could not justlet go of that. Feedback really motivatedme to keep creating and gave me what Ineeded to show myself in front of largegroups of people.Aaron: Like all forms of art, film is abrilliant and effective way to reach people.Art often stimulates something insideof people; a good film affects peopleemotionally and leaves them somethingto think about. With this in mind, tellinga story through film and showing imagesof these youth in their lives might notby clearing the virus in about 50% ofpeople who take it. Individuals who havecontracted HIV through Injection DrugUse (IDU) have a higher risk of contractingHep C. The term co-infected applies topeople who live with HIV and Hep C.Two-SpiritedThis term is used among First Nationscommunities and honours the historic andcontemporary importance of cross-genderidentities within Aboriginal cultures. Itrefers to an individual who posesses bothmasculine and feminine spirits livingwithin the same body. Historically, twospiritedpeople were viewed as a thirdand fourth gender and were honouredand revered as healers, visionaries, andmedicine people. For more information, seewww.dancingtoeaglespiritsociety.org/twospirit.php56

Trip ProjectToronto CanadaProviding health info toToronto party peoplesince 1995.TRIP! provides safer sex and saferdrug use info and supplies to partypeople in Toronto’s electronic musiccommunities. TRIP! is a grassrootsinitiative that sprouted in the summerof 1995 and has since nurturedhealthy and wise choices amongthose in our communities. TRIP!neither condones nor condemns theuse of any drug and instead providesinformation to help people makeinformed decisions that directlyaffect their long-term health. If youare interested in volunteering or wantmore information contact us attrip@ctchc.comknow your bodyknow your mindknow your sourcewww.tripproject.ca

HIV/AIDSRESOURCESMost HIV/AIDS resources can be found online,but for others you may need to contactyour local independent book or video store.The library may also be a good place to findresources. If you can’t find something yourself,just ask a librarian! They are there to help andcan order specific titles on request.HIV/AIDS Info For YouthSpiderbyteswww.spiderbytes.caInfo on youth sexual health service of the TeenSex Information Program, a program of PlannedParenthood of Toronto. It is designed to respondto questions about sexual health issues and toprovide current information, links and referrals ona range of topics pertaining to healthy sexuality.Canadian Association forAdolescent Healthwww.youngandhealthy.ca/caah/Info on all STIs and youth video projectsYouthCAREwww.care.caGendering Adolescent HIV/AIDS Preventionwww.utgaap.orgGet the Low Down, Black CAPwww.getthelowdown.caA sexual health website for young Black men whohave sex with men.Head and Handswww.headandhands.caBrown Kiss Youth SIte, Alliance for SouthAsian AIDS Preventionwww.brownkiss.caSexualityanduwww.sexualityandu.caBC Centre for Disease ControlSTI Information Sitewww.stdresource.comAboriginal Youth Network: HIV/AIDSwww.ayn.caScarleteen: Sex Ed for the Real Worldwww.scarleteen.comInfo on sexual health for teensOne Night Your Choice— Take Control!Black CAPA sexual health website for young Black women.www.onenightyourchoice.comPlanetAheadwww.planetahead.caInfo on youth sexual healthPlanned Parenthood Torontowww.ppt.on.caA community health centre offering primaryhealthcare services to youth and promotinghealthy sexuality.ReachOUT, Griffin Centrewww.griffin-centre.org/reachoutStaying Alivewww.staying-alive.orgSexual health and HIV info aimed at youth,including links to media programming dealingwith HIV issues (sponsored by MTV)TRIP! Projectwww.tripproject.ca/Safe drug and sex info for Toronto’s dancemusic community. TRIP’s projects follow a harmreduction philosophy.Won’t Get Weirdwww.wontgetweird.comInfo on where to find non-judgmental sexual healthservices for youth in British Columbia and AlbertaYouthCO AIDS Societywww.youthco.orgY-PEERwww.youthpeer.org59

HIV/AIDS ActivismAIDS Activist: Micheal Lynch and the Politicsof Community (2003)By: Anne SilversidesPublished By: Between the LinesAIDSPortalwww.aidsportal.orgSupports AIDS related issues through a globalnetwork of organizations and individuals.International HIV/AIDS Alliancewww.aidsalliance.orgYouth Rapporteur Report XVII InternationalAIDS Conferencewww.worldaidscampaign.org/en/Constituencies/Youth/Resources/Youth-RapporteurThis report illustrates what the International AIDSConference 2008 has meant for young people anddescribes the highlights and day-to-day effortscarried out by young people—as reported by theyouth reporter, Annelies Mesman.Pills Profits Protest: Chronicle of the GlobalAIDS Movement (2005, Outcast Films)A film by Anne-Christine d’Adesky, ShantiAvirgan and Ann T. RossettiTurning Points: Twenty-five Years of HIVPrevention in Canada (2007)Canadian Public Health Associationwww.catie.caGlobal Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDSwww.youthaidscoalition.orgAdvocates for Youthwww.advocatesforyouth.orgInfo on adolescent sexual health and HIV as wellas recommendations of effective sexual healthprogramming. Includes awesome info for queeryouth of colour.Youth, the Arts and HIV& AIDS Networkwww.yahanet.orgAmplify Your Voicewww.amplifyyourvoice.orgAmplify, a project of Advocates for Youth, is anonline community dedicated to sexual health,reproductive justice, and youth-led grassrootsmovement building.YouthResourcewww.youthresource.comA project of advocates for youth—a website byand for GLBTQ youth taking a holistic approachto sexual health.Sex Ed and Youth: Colonization, sexuality andcommunities of colour.Our Schools/Our Selves. Winter, 2009.Edited by Jessica Yee.Crash Course: Canadian Teens in Zambia(2005, V Tape) www.vtape.orgYouth Coalition: Working Internationally forSexual and Reproductive Rightswww.youthcoalition.orgSexuality Information and Education Councilof the United States (SIECUS)www.communityactionkit.orgTakingITGlobal HIV/AIDS:Youth Guide to Actionwww.tigweb.org /action/guide/hivaids/network.htmlAn interactive guide for youth to organize theirown HIV/AIDS activist movements.Youth Pocket Guide to NavigatingInternational AIDS Conferenceswww.youth.aids2006.org/files/Youth%20Pocketbook%20Guide%20-%20AIDS%202006.pdfAn initiative of AIDS 2006 and United NationAssociation in CanadaMake Noise! Empowering Youth to ConfrontHIV/AIDS: The Report of the National YouthIssues Project, Phase 1By: Canadian AIDS SocietyPublished by: Canadian AIDS SocietyGeneral Activism ResourcesThe 411 Initiative For Changewww.whatsthe411.caActivist Network: Connecting for Social Changewww.activist.netCentre for Visual Methodologies andSocial Changewww.cvm.za.orgThe Design of Dissent:Socially and Politically Driven Graphics (2005)Edited by: Deborah BarndtPublished by: Rockport PublishersBeginner’s Guide to Community-Based Arts (2005)By: Keith Knight, Mat Schwarzman and othersPublished by: Newvillage PressProfiles 10 transformative local arts projects ina comic-illustrated training manual for youthleaders. The guidebook demonstrates the powerof art in grassroots social changes includingmodels of community-based art projects andproven techniques.Fire it Up! A Toolkit for Youth Actionwww.youthactionnetwork.org/rac/Fireitup/FireItUp.pdfProduced by Youth Action NetworkGlobal Youth ACTION Networkwww.youthlink.orgJustActwww.justact.orgNotes from Canada’s Young Activists:A Generation Stands Up for Change (2007)Published by: Douglas and McIntyreCompiled and Edited by: Severn Cullis-Suzuki,Kris Frederickson, Ahmed Kayssi, CynthiaMackenzie, Daniel Aldana Cohen60

Redwire Native Youth Media Societywww.redwiremag.comSOY: Supporting Our Youthwww.soytoronto.orgWild Fire: Art as Activism (2006)Edited by: Deborah BarndtPublished by: Sumach PressYouth Action Forum Fall 2007:Creative ResistanceA magazine published by Youth Action NetworkContact www.youthactionnetwork.org for afree copy.YouthActionNetwww.youthactionnet.orgGeneral HIV/AIDS InfoCATIE (Canadian AIDS TreatmentInformation Exchange)www.catie.ca1-800-263-1638Canadian AIDS Societywww.cdnaids.caCanadian Aboriginal AIDS Networkwww.caan.caCanadian HIV/AIDS Legal Networkwww.aidslaw.caHIV and AIDS Among Youth in Canada—Public Health Agency of Canadawww.phac-aspc.gc.ca/aids-sida/publication/index-eng.phpThis Health Canada update provides the mostcurrent information on the status of HIV and AIDSamong Canadian youth.HIV/AIDS In Canada—Canada Public Healthwww.hc-sc.gc.ca/dc-ma/aids-sida/index-eng.phpCanadian Harm Reduction Networkwww.canadianharmreduction.comLinking drug use to HIV/AIDSToronto Public Health—HIV/AIDS Resourceswww.toronto.ca/health/aids_resources/index.htmToronto Public Health:Toronto Takes Action on HIV/AIDSwww.toronto.ca/health/aids_resources/pdf/bangkok_pamphlet_final.pdfA pamphlet on HIV/AIDS initiatives beingundertaken in TorontoIt’s My Life (2001, First Run/Icarus Films)The Stephen Lewis Foundationwww.stephenlewisfoundation.orgSexuality Education Resource Centre Manitobawww.serc.mb.caWorld Health Organization and HIV/AIDSwww.who.int/hiv/en/The Body: The Complete HIV/AIDS Resourcewww.thebody.comThe United Nations Joint HIV/AIDS Programmewww.unaids.orgA Closer Walk: A film about HIV/AIDS in theworld (2006, Worldwide Documentaries)www.acloserwalk.orgHao sib u ru lai huo zhuo: To live is betterthan to die (2003, Filmakers Library)USAID: Health Policy Initiativewww.youth-policy.comOnline resource for improving youth reproductivehealth (YRH) and HIV/AIDS policies worldwide.UNAIDS—Intensifying HIV Prevention:UNAIDS policy position paperwww.data.unaids.org/publications/ircpub06/jc1165-intensif_hiv-newstyle_en.pdfUNAIDS 2007- Report on the Global AIDSEpidemic: Executive Summarywww.data.unaids.org/pub/GlobalReport/2006/2006_GR-ExecutiveSummary_en.pdfAngels in America (2003, HBO)An award-winning film based on the awardwinning play by Tony Kushner61

Positive LivingPositive Youth Outreach (PYO)www.positiveyouth.comSupport for youth with HIV by youth with HIVLivePositivewww.livepositive.ca or www.viepositive.caSupport for youth with HIV by youth with HIVinfoon treatment, sexual health and stigma aswell as arts based projectsBritish Columbia Persons with AIDS Societywww.bcpwa.orgToronto People with AIDS Foundationwww.pwatoronto.orgThe Positive Sidewww.positiveside.caTeenagers, HIV, and AIDS: Insights fromYouth Living with the Virus (2006)By: Maureen LyonPublished by: PraegerStreet Art by Will Munro and Daryl VocatYoung Women and HIV/AIDSAct Now! A Resource Guidefor Women on HIV/AIDSwww.unifem.org/resources/item_detail.php?ProductID=30Human Rights Watch: A Call for Action onHIV/AIDS-Related Human Rights AbusesAgainst Women and Girlswww.hrw.orgGlobal Coalition on Women and AIDSwww.womenandaids.unaids.orgInternational Community ofWomen Living with HIV/AIDSwww.icw.orgPositive Women’s Networkwww.pwn.bc.caA British Columbia network providing HIV educationand support services to HIV positive women.Voices of Positive Womenwww.vopw.orgCentre for AIDS Services of Montreal (Women)www.netrover.com/~casm/Women’s Health in Women’s Handswww.whiwh.comWomen, AIDS and Activism (1999)By: Act Up and Women AIDS Book GroupPublished by: South End PressBlack women’s risk for HIV: Rough Living (2007)By: Quinn GentryPublished by: Haworth Press Inc.In Women’s Hands:a film on women, HIV and Hope (2005)Program for Appropriate Technology in HealthAssociation for Women’s Rights andDevelopment (AWID)www.awid.org62

CreditsThe following people have been instrumental to the overall creation of the manual:Nadia Alam, Photo TeamSee p. 17 for Bio.Lisa Campbell Salazar, Graphics CoordinatorLisa Campbell Salazar is currently working on her Master of EnvironmentalStudies with a special focus on Youth, New Media and Social Change. Lisais a multimedia artist extraordinaire, and tries to use media as a probe forpeople to ask deeper questions of themselves about political and culturalissues. Lisa works as a freelance multi-media designer, community-basedresearcher, youth facilitator, and social media consultant. A jack of all trades,Lisa works as the Community Evangelist for GetInvolved.ca, and has workedfor various NGOs including Youth Action Network, TakingITGlobal, Defensefor the Children International and the Latin American Council for AdultEducation. Currently Lisa also coordinates the TRIP! Project, a youth-ledharm reduction program serving the dance music community.Jessica Devi Chandrashekar, EditorJessica Devi Chandrashekar is a first year Women’s Studies PhD studentat York University. She is 24 years old. She completed her B.Sc, majoring inHuman Biology and minoring in South Asian Studies and Women’s Studiesat the University of Toronto where she also completed her M.A. in Women’sStudies. Jessica has worked with youth for several years and youth activismis the focus of her graduate research. Currently she is involved in a projectwhich aims to support grassroots youth organizations in the East Endof Toronto and she also works as a youth mentor. Jessica enjoys cooking,painting and hip hop. She LOVES basketball and while her team is the 2001-2002 Sacramento Kings, she has faith the Toronto Raptors will one day makeit to the playoffs.Janet Cordahi, Art DirectorJanet Cordahi is a multi-media designer who is passionate about arts, cultureand travelling (she has visited ten major cities in the past twelve months),and her cockatiel, Timmy Bird. As a graduate from the York University/Sheridan College Joint Program in Design, Janet works with print, web andvideo. She is pursuing a career in motion graphics and will be starting schoolin the fall at Seneca College for Visual Effects in Film and Television. To viewJanet’s full portfolio visit www.eccentricity.net.63

Helen Hao Wen Huang, Graphic DesignerHelen Hao Wen Huang is a 19 year old, second year undergraduate studentenrolled in Architectural Studies and Urban Studies at the University ofToronto. Helen graduated from the Claude Watson School of Arts in 2008 asa Visual Arts major. Although she is no longer receiving a fine arts education,she continues to be involved in the artistic and research community. Helenvolunteers at Centre for Urban Health Initiatives (CUHI), assuming graphicdesign tasks. She is inspired to be an urban designer and takes great interestin community development, urban economics, and public health policies. Helenis proud to say the BBC World News is her primary source of current affairs.Sara Stanworth-Cunnane, Photo TeamSara Stanworth-Cunnane is a recent graduate of York University’s Fine Artshonours program in Visual Arts. Sara’s primary focus in visual arts since highschool has been photography. In her work, Sara is interested in the physicalevidence of cultural signification in urban and rural spaces and structures,and how visual meaning and narratives develop through cultural relationshipsto environments. Sara joined Empower’s photo team as a way to broadenher experience with socially and culturally concerned youth projects. Sara isexcited to further this enriching experience of the unique fusion of activismand arts when volunteering with youth in South East Asia next year.Sarah Switzer, Managing EditorSarah Switzer is a local arts-educator and activist in Toronto. While now 26,she was 24 when she embarked on this exciting project. She believes in thegrand, transformative power (and fun!) of cut and paste. Her professionalexperience includes arts-based HIV/AIDS education, as well as populareducation, girls’ empowerment programming, social justice education, andyouth engagement. She is presently completing her M.A. at OISE/Universityof Toronto in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning. Her research centres onexploring arts-informed HIV/AIDS Prevention and Education curriculum foryouth. Sarah is super excited to have worked with, and met such an inspiringgroup of people during the production of this manual.Nayani Thiyagarajah, Photo TeamNayani and Nadia, lookin’ cuteNayani Thiyagarajah is a broadcast journalism student at Ryerson University,minoring in political science. She is also involved in the wonderful world ofarts, through mediums including photography, videography, theatre creation,and writing. Now in her final year, her hope is to continuously seek new waysof providing social commentary through theatre, photography, song and film.Above all else, she believes in the power combination of the written wordand the visual image. Together, both help to tell stories unlike anything else.Whether it be through a photo essay, a documentary, a song, or a theatrepiece, her dream is to share stories. She dreams that all her work will, in someway, give voices to lives lived all over the world. You may also see Nayani in apage of the manual, rocking a super hero cape.64

Jennifer Yee, Photo Team & Cover DesignSee p. 37 for Bio.Sara Young, Glossary and Resources CollectorSara Young is a 22 year-old undergraduate student at the University ofToronto. She is in her fourth year of completing her honours BA in HealthStudies. Sara is interested in International Health, with an emphasis on policyand social (in)equality. She became interested in HIV/AIDS issues throughan internship in Zambia where she worked alongside Zambian universitystudents to increase HIV/AIDS educational awareness on campus. Saracontributed to the glossary and resource sections of the manual, as well askeeping the manual on track! When she’s not working hard on the manual,Sara likes to follow the slam poetry scene, bake heart-shape banana muffinsand catch up on sleep. (No condoms required for this kind of muffin love!)Please see each ofthe features foradditional bios.YAN, GAAP and CUHI would like tothank the following people in their effortsto create this manual!Featured Activists and ContributorsNadia AlamAsian Community AIDS Services,Queer Asian Youth ZineAaron ChanChristina FoisyLulu GurneyJayDavid Lewis-PeartPositive Youth OutreachPlanned Parenthood TorontoNidhi PunyarthiShani RobertsonRomeoKim SimardThe TRIP! ProjectJessica WhitbreadCiann WilsonJennifer YeeJessica YeeMary YehdegoOtherJosh Bardnt, Youth Action NetworkJohn GreysonJennifer Hollett, YouthCARERhobyn James, Planned Parenthood TorontoAngel Parks, Positive Youth OutreachHywel Tuscano, YouthCO AIDS SocietyWangari Tharao, Women’s Health and Women’s HandsThe Remix ProjectDavid Vereschagin, Quadrat CommunicationsTess Vo, Griffin CentreA handful of the people involved in making this manual for you!Graphic DesignLisa Campbell Salazar, Graphics CoordinatorJanet Cordahi, Art DirectorHelen Hao Wen Huang, Graphic DesignerSara Stanworth-Cunnane, Photo TeamNayani Thiyagarajah, Photo TeamSupport, Writing and CoordinationMohamed Abdelrahim, Project Coordinator, YANJill Andrew, Educational ConsultantMichael Bailey, Capacity Building Educator, CATIEAlyssa Cloth, Research Assistant, CUHIMichelle Dagnino, Previous Board of Directors, YANMelisa Dickie, Manager, Health Publications, CATIEJessica Devi Chandrashekar, Manual EditorJune Larkin, Director, GAAPStéphanie Lemyre, Resources Coordinator, CATIEEd Jackson, Director of Program Development, CATIEAlexis Kane Speer, Centre Coordinator, CUHISarah Switzer, Project CoordinatorDarien Taylor, Director, Program Delivery, CATIESara Young, Glossary and ResourcesFor more info check out www.empoweryouth.info65

Looking For updated resources andopportunities to get involved?Check us out at www.empoweryouth.infoNeed more HIV and/or Hep C information and resources?Looking for a copy of the manual?Contact CATIE (Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange)www.catie.ca1-800-263-1638To locate an AIDS Service Organization (ASO) or other HIVrelated service in your community visit www.aso411.ca.Empower: Youth, Arts, and Activism.An HIV/AIDS Arts Activism Manual for Youth by Youth.Editor: Sarah Switzer© 2009 The Centre for Urban Health Initiatives,Gendering Adolescent AIDS Prevention and Youth Action Network.Reproduction and use of this document is encouraged.Printed with assistance from CATIE, 2009.CATIE Ordering Centre Catalogue Number: ATI-2615866