Pride Villager April

Pride Villager April

LONDON

Issue #1 SPRING 2018

Back in the Day

Pride Villager Issue #1 Spring 2018 www.villagerpublications.com Managing Editors: Barb Botten Andrew Rosser Publisher: Barb Botten Villager Publications P.O. Box 134, Lambeth Station Ontario N6P 1P9 [email protected] Graphic Artists Cathy Wood Andrew Rosser Photos, article suggestions, article submissions welcome. We look forward to hearing from you: [email protected]

Fantastic permanent additions to Western’s campus. The commitment to greater LGBTQ+ pride visibility through the creation of rainbow crosswalks can also be seen in downtown London and on Fanshawe College Campus. There are plans for more rainbow crosswalks to be added.

Send your high resolution photos in to be considered for our front cover, Back in the Day and other feature articles. Photos should be high-resolution (300dpi). The Homophile Association of London (HALO) Building at 649 Colborne, April 2002. HALO had originally organized at UWO, then moved into the Colborne Street building in 1974, purchasing it in 1987 and selling it in 2000.

The Pride Villager – a division of Villager Publications – is pleased to present an engaging, entertaining and educational magazine focused on the London and area LGBTQ+ communities. Each edition will include personal stories, business features, local photos, event coverage and more. This magazine will strive to be a connector within the community, while reaching out to educate and inform the broader population. We invite you to participate in advertising and submitting positive stories to us to share with the Pride Community and its’ supporters in London and surrounding area.

Chrys (short for chrysalis)

www.villagerpublications.com

A VOLUNTEER RUN, NON PROFIT, MUSIC GOING EXPERIENCE. HOME OF:

AEOLIANHALL.CA BOX OFFICE: 519.672.7950 795 DUNDAS ST. EAST, LONDON

PRIDE Villager

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IN PHOTOS

Photos by MC Spirit Studios

Thank you to Deloitte Canada – the exclusive national sponsor of the February LGBT Women’s Networking Breakfast! Our networking breakfasts for LGBT professional women are intended to strengthen connections within local communities. All are invited toattend, enjoy a complimentary breakfast, trade business cards and connect! WOMEN’S MARCH

Photos by Robert Riehl Photography

PRIDE Villager

Issue 1 • Spring 2018 Page 3 To advertise here, please contact [email protected]

I am Jay. I was born into this world as a female. So as the story goes my parents assumed I would marry a nice young man and have beautiful children together. I grew up as a female, hadmy period, and grew breasts that I always hated. I was a “tomboy”. I got the “are you a boy or a girl?” question almost daily and I would be lying if I said it didn’t hurt me. I was continuously picked on for my size, and my self expression. It continued from the start of grade I AM JAY!

already planned a weekend together at the boat, we were both so pumped and ready. She was so proud and excited for me knowing that I had been waiting for this moment for quite some time. It took one month before my voice started to change, it took about two months for the oil to change on my face causing more pimples and it took about three to four months for my stomach and leg hairs to start to

June 2015

thicken. After about six months my facial hair had started to grow and by ten months it was super thick. Throughout the whole time though I had slimmed out and grew more of a muscle mass. It was awesome, the changes were incredible. It was all coming together and I was finally confident in myself, although there was still one thing that wasn’t quite right. I still had breasts. They were a huge pain in my behind. I couldn’t run around shirtless and I had to wear a shirt in the pool. It got in the way of me swimming when people were around or going to the beach. My mom came up to me when I was almost a year on testosterone and asked how old I had to be for the surgery and I told her I could get it whenever and so she made an appointment to see how we could go about getting it done. The doctor helped us and he got us started by sending the papers in for OHIP coverage and referring me to the surgeon. I was on

July 2016

two until the end of grade eight. I started out with a love and passion for school, but over the years it had slowly disintegrated to almost nothing. I just didn’t care enough to show up. During the year of grade eight, there were weeks that I would stay home 1-2 times. When I went to Celtic camp for our year end field trip I got everyone to call me Jay and it just seemed to fit me better. The day of graduation I cut my hair to ear length and it just felt right to me.

my way and I was stoked. I just needed to wait for the go ahead letter to come in the mail. Every day after school, I got off the bus and checked the mail. I waited patiently knowing it would come soon. Then my mom got a call that said my doctor could no longer see patients under 18 years of age and that I needed to come in for one more appointment. At the appointment he gave me a half a year prescription for testosterone incase he couldn’t find us a replacement fast enough. He put my dose down because my levels were not balanced and he told me that I could not get

During the summer before grade nine, I lost a lot of weight. I wasn’t trying to or anything – it kind of just happened. My second period class of my first semester of high school was a female phys-ed class. When I walked in with my short hair, male gym shorts and a t shirt I was asked if I was lost. The gym teacher said “the male gym class is next door.” I wish I could have walked over there but I couldn’t; I was enrolled in a female gym class. I despised it, I was embarrassed and I really didn’t belong there. Halfway through the semester

Jan. 15 2018

I finally came out as trans to a few people in that class and they were happy to address me by Jay and use he/him pronouns. I was happy to have a few people that were understanding. In the second semester of grade nine I got my name changed in the system from Jayden to Jay. I also got my pronouns changed from she to he; in hopes that some of the teachers would start to use them. Thankfully when I got to high school the teasing stopped and kids stopped calling me names, so that was definitely a positive thing. I was even able to make a few friends that didn’t find it funny to make fun of me behind my back. Ironically I had moved in 2015 and was scared that I wouldn’t have any friends out there, but the friends I made were on my bus and lived 5 minutes down the street. In February 2016 I came out as trans to my mom. She was supportive, although she said she did not want me starting any hormone replacement therapy until my brain was fully developed, in case I changed my mind. By my surprise she came to me that summer and said she would sign the papers so I could start Testosterone. I was so excited. I didn’t even knowwhat to say. I had to go through counseling first and get referred to an endocrinologist and after I did that I was finally on testosterone. July 29 2016 is my “man-niversarry” as us trans men call it. As soon as I got my prescription for it I immediately called my best friend Trin, we had

top surgery. That is all I heard. It was the worse news I had ever received. It hurt so bad. I had built myself up and had been so prepared for that surgery and had it all torn away. I was broken and

it knocked me off my feet. My body even seemed to reject it because I still checked the mail everyday. Time passed probably a few months or so and I finally talked to one of my trans friends about it. He told me how to overcome it, he told me how to get on the waiting list for when I do turn eighteen and he told me the way I was feeling was valid. After having this talk with him I felt better and was able to get on my feet. I quit checking the mail every day and continued on with life.

May 2016

January 29 2018 was my one and a half years on testosterone and looking back from the start to now I am just so amazed. Not only am I amazed but I am proud of myself and how far I have come. I can finally say I love myself. It has not been easy at all but it has been worth every thing. I would have never thought that I would be this far but here I am today and I am so proud.

PRIDE Villager

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Home with a Heart celebrates milestone John Gordon Home opened its doors at 414 Dufferin Avenue in October 1992. The vision of Betty Anne Thomas and Dr. Iain Mackie, and named to commemorate the first person in Southwestern Ontario to go public with his HIV status. The focus was on providing a safe and comfortable environment for those in the end stages of life.

In 2015, in an important step to strengthen services for residents and clients, John Gordon Home amalgamated with the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection. “As two organizations in the HIV sector, we knew we could

create efficiencies in service delivery and organizationally by coming together under one Board of Directors, unifying our volunteer and fundraising capacities.” says Bruce Rankin, Senior Director, Regional HIV/AIDS Connection, John Gordon Home. Today, John Gordon Home mission is to be a “place where people living with HIV, AIDS and Hepatitis-C receive compassionate care and supportive housing that builds on individual strengths to promote wellness and independence.” “John Gordon Home services have evolved

“Many of the PHAs were rejected by their families and they were so sick,” remembers Thomas, who served as the organization’s first Executive Director. “A hospital was impersonal, so a home like atmosphere where they were accepted made life for folks more content.” With support from the Ontario Ministry of Housing, a new building was built to better serve the community, and in 1997, the new John Gordon Home opened at 596 Pall Mall Street. This location was Canada’s first hospice built exclusively to care for those living with HIV or AIDS.

from end of life/palliative care to meet the changing need of people impacted by HIV,” reflects Rankin. “With a new HIV outbreak among people who inject drugs, we have been supporting people to access HIV and Hep C treatments, achieve undetectable viral loads and stabilize their health. We believe that new HIV infections will be rare and perhaps JGH will be serving a population of senior citizens living with HIV.” To find out more information about John Gordon Home, visit www.hivaidsconnection.ca.

As important research and medical advancements began to change the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the John Gordon Home client’s needs were changing. Residents were living much longer, and the focus moved from palliative care to living with the disease and future quality of life. Over 25 years, John Gordon Home has grown and adapted to the varying needs of the clients they serve. Important medical advancements have changed the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, improving quality of life and significantly extended life expectancy.

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Did you grow up here in London? Yes. I went to Byron Southwood (P.S.) initially then I went to John Dearness. We lived in England for a year, so my grade eight year was over there and I went to, and here’s an irony, the Oxford Boys’ Grammar School. Y ou went to Western and got an Honours Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. What did you do right out of school? I was a computer programmer and then I went back and did the Master’s Degree. I did some programming for a small company for five years, and some teaching assisting. That’s when I did the Bachelor of Education, and after that I taught high school in Aylmer; East Elgin Secondary School for six years. What was the motivation to move to teaching? I felt like I wanted to do something else. I had done the programming thing and I was sort of tired of that. I thought it would be a good idea. The difficulty was that (teaching) took up a ferocious amount of time and I had a young family started and that became an issue for me personally. I decided to go back into the industry. Currently you are a Senior Systems Analyst at London Life and you often speak openly about your transition at work. What was it like to transition is such a large company? A hell of a lot of work. The company had a policy against dis– crimination based on sexual orientation, gender or gender identity. So I was covered. They were all quite clear about that and they all wanted to do the right thing. The problem was that they really didn’t have too many ideas on how to go about it. Would we do in-servicing sessions? Who would get a letter? I was for more inclusion. I deliberately stayed away (during the in-servicing). That was my decision because I wanted my colleagues to have space to process it. They did six sessions over Thursday and Friday, and I came back on Monday. How was that first day back at work? That was really something. I was ready. I needed to do it. It was something that had to happen. But my heart was pounding. You’re nervous. You’re optimistic that things are going to be okay because there’s been this whole process. They’ve had the sessions. But at the same time, you don’t know how it’s going to go. It was fine. People made mistakes with pronouns, a little bit, not much. People were generally people pretty good. As I tell folks, everyone was too busy too worry about it. Haha.

Jennifer

One on One with

Would you consider yourself lucky with how the transition went at work? Yes I would consider myself lucky. As hard as this was, there are others that have a much harder time. How have your family dealt with your transition? Have they been supportive? My family wasn’t bad at all when all things are considered. It wasn’t easy. I was married and I have two adult children. When I starting coming out in 2013 they were 23 and 19. They’ve been terrific. My daughter actually figured it out and came to me first. She figured out almost before I did. My son wasn’t totally surprised either. Other than that everybody else was in total shock. My wife and I ended up separating, partly because of this. As for other people in my family it’s been a mixed bag. I have an aunt and uncle in their eighties (my aunt has passed away now) and they were two of my best allies. There were others that were younger, who had trouble with it. My parents had a lot of trouble with it at first. They’re much better now than they used to be, but it was it was a massive, massive shock. They are really supportive in a lot of ways, getting used to this has been hard, but they are very much in my life all the time. You have done a lot of advocacy work since coming out. Why has that been so important to you? It’s nice to be able to educate people, that’s part of it. It’s also nice to be able to connect with other Trans people, like the Trans kids in the schools. That’s been very special. All those engagements have been very cathartic. Working on Pride has also been very important. It’s put me in touch with a whole lot of different people. How do I put it.

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(Speaking and educating others) helps make sense of a very long, very difficult road. You mentioned connecting with other Trans people. How would you describe the Trans community in London? Diverse. It’s bigger than what people think. A large number are seriously challenged financially andmany are dealingwithmental health challenges. There are others who are better off, there’s a broad cross-section. Would you consider yourself a privileged Trans woman? In a lot of ways I am. I’m not a person of colour and that makes a big difference. I make a good income and that makes a big difference too. I have a lot of things going for me. I’m lucky. What do you say to kids that come up to you and express that they might be struggling with their gender identity? I try to validate their feelings. It’s okay. I also make sure that they are safe, especially if they are a young person. Then I tell them to find a support network, people to talk to. Whether it is friends, a teacher, a youth group, etc. And if there is some way they can get some professional mental health support, that’s important. You are very involved in Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) each year. Talk about the importance of that event. Wenn TDOR started in 1999, to commemorate Trans people, people just like me, who were murdered simply for who they are. That reality hurts me on a personal level. It hurts a great deal to know that somebody would hate me so much, that they might kill me. Because they kill other people just like me. It’s a situation that needs to stop. We need to raise awareness. We need to let people know that this is happening. The murders are the most obvious manifestation of the hatred and bigotry, but it’s not the only one. I know at least one person in London who was beaten severely, two others who were sexually assaulted. I have been harassed verbally very loudly, on multiple occasions. Suicide is the other thing, the attempted suicide rate amongst Trans people is around 43%. The strain and the stress of transition is enormous. Where are we in London? Do you feel safe? It certainly changed. When I was presenting male, I would have gone anywhere, anytime in London. I wouldn’t do that anymore. I feel safe for the most part, but I am a lot more conscious of where I go and what I do. Partly that’s just being female in all honesty. As a woman you see things differently, than as a guy. I know because I’ve done it both ways. As a Trans woman you feel even a little more vulnerable. I probably wouldn’t go to many bars by myself. All in all though, yes, here in London I feel pretty safe. Finally, how do you feel about the future? Looking down the road, I am optimistic that we are moving to a much better place. Last summer Canada passed Bill C-16, which adds protection for transgender people in Canada’s Human Rights Act. Awareness is spreading all the time. There will be zig zags, but in the end the momentum is unstoppable.

Photos by Robert Riehl Photography

The Pride London Festival Ambassador Search 2018 was held January 27-28 to select a charismatic and talented Londoner to be the 2018 Pride Ambassador! Drag performer and singer Nico Lavender was selected and will participate in various events leading up to the festival in July, and won a trip for two (including travel and accommodations) to Toronto Pride 2018.

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Lavish Night Club, January 2018 LONDON’S HAUS OF DRAG

Coles Photography

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Sarah Smith Rocks! Most likely you’ve seen Sarah Smith before. As lead singer for Canadian rock band The Joys she earned international stardom, performed with the likes of Bif Naked, The Trews, Sam Roberts and Bedouin Soundclash. The Joys catapulted themselves all over the map and rode the radio waves across North America. Now Sarah has gone solo. Proving that her powerhouse vocal talent needs no accompaniment with her debut album Stronger Now, Sarah is killing it on her own! Anyone that knows Sarah can attest to her extreme work ethics and dedication to her music and fans. Her down to earth nature reflects in her songwriting. Her devotion is evidenced in her successes so far. Sarah’s songwriting always comes from the heart. “My music is honest and raw” says Sarah “Just my feelings coming out into music”. Sarah comes from a London, Ontario musical family and after learning piano and drums, taught herself to play the guitar at age 12. “Music has always been an outlet for me to express myself” says Sarah. When she’s not working, Sarah loves to spend time with friends. She values her friendships and makes a point of stopping in to see them whenever she has a chance. Sarah will be performing at the Pride Festival Sunday July 29th at 3pm in the park...after the parade.

“The Pride community in London has become a family. They are there to embrace you, love you and hold your hand through the trenches. Together, we celebrate each other’s other's uniqueness and uplift one another on life's journey. Whether it be a smile from across the room, a high-five in passing, a loving hug or a shared drink, we have found life-long friendships with one another. I'mno longer ashamed to be who I am. Instead I feel welcomed, belonged and loved.” Sarah Smith

sarahsmithmusic.com

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RECIPES

by Martin Withenshaw

On a cold and blustery day in February I headed to the kitchen at the Doubletree by Hilton to meet Executive Chef Todd Pylypiw. This is Chef Todd’s 17th year at the Doubletree by Hilton. Prior to that, he was 11 years as Executive Sous Chef at The London Hunt and Country Club and started his career at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake. His past experiences have made Chef Todd a skilled instructor/teacher. He very methodically walked me through the must- have recipe step by step. Asked if it had to be Thai coconut milk and Chef Todd replied, “It should be Thai coconut as opposed to “cocktail” coconut. After all, we’re not making Pina Coladas you know.” My experience with Chef Todd was pleasurable as well as educational. Soon after spending the afternoon with Chef Todd I headed to Florida for holidays. I thought it would be nice to prepare this soup for a group of friends. So, I headed to a local Asian grocery store to buy the lemon grass and Thai coconut milk. One of the customers was very helpful and helped me pick out the correct coconut milk. I discovered when checking out the customer who helped was the owner of a very popular local Chinese Restaurant. The checkout clerk also told me to make sure I “popped” lemon grass to release the favour. Following Chef Todd instructions and I made the soup. I also followed the checkout clerk’s suggestion and “popped” the lemon grass. I garnished the soup with chopped fresh green onions and cracked black pepper. The group of friends enjoyed the soup very much with comments such as “superb” “excellent”, “A+” and several “I must have the recipe”. The soup was a huge success and enjoyed by everyone. I will be making the soup again.

Cauliflower-Coconut Soup with Chicken & Turmeric

Serves 4 – 10 ounce portions • 1 small head of cauliflower • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 1 medium white onion, peeled and diced

Chef Todd Pylypiw

• 1cloves garlic, peeled and minced • 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock • 2 chicken breasts (3 to 4 oz each) precooked and sliced • 1 inch piece of lemon grass • 1 tbsp turmeric • 4 cans of Thai coconut milk • Kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper • optional garnishes: sautéed cauliflower florets; chopped herbs or pea shoots; cracked black pepper

Try Turmeric Harvested mainly for its rhizomes, turmeric is closely related to ginger. Prized in many cuisines around the world for its colour and flavour, the spice is also reknowned for its potent antioxidant, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. To include more turmeric in your diet, add it to scrambled eggs and frittatas, toss it on roasted vegetables, add it to rice and soups, blend some into your smoothies or enjoy a turmeric tea.

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“Let’s Talk LOVE!”

Love is powerful... Love is Divine... it rides on every breath we breathe. It is Love that gives the deepest meaning to our lives. Love isn’t just an emotion… It is our highest calling, our greatest purpose. Love is a forgiving, redemptive and humble force. Love is the essence of our very Being! “Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.” ~ Rumi Love Itself does not discriminate. It is the glue that holds the entire universe together. In my opinion and based on many spiritual teachings; existence comes into being only from this power of Love. If the essence of Love is what we are in Truth, then we don’t need to seek it. However, if we have forgotten we are Love, then we simply need to remind ourselves by acknowledging and letting go of what we’re not. I have the great fortune of witnessing this essence at play every day (as do you), but most specifically I see It while performing wedding ceremonies. There is an overall vibe that whispers, “I’m in the mood for Love!”. It’s like all of humanity is present at a wedding with Love as the common denominator. Even the children exude awareness that a wedding is about Love. A wedding is the most perfect reminder of this essence called Love. Individually we may compare ourselves to the radiant couple getting married to our own primary relationships or collectively we get reminded of the importance of Love in our lives overall. Either way, the shadows of gloom rarely get a lifeline at a wedding.

Last summer I had the tremendous honour and joy of performing a gay wedding ceremony on the Virgin Radio float in the Pride Parade. This Loving Essence I’m speaking of was truly palpable that day. Thousands of people along the roadside waved and shouted, “Congratulations!” the entire time. My heart constantly overflowed with such an intense joy. Love ruled without opposite. Any opposition didn’t stand a chance. Love clearly abolishes fear just as Light abolishes darkness. This was so evident on that gorgeous summer day traveling down Queen Street… Love was in full vibrant expression! The motto of Life Navigator services is, “Follow Your Heart”, which is not just a cute saying. It represents our choice to allow the power of Love to be the guide. What better compass could there be? Please visit: www.lifenavigator.ca to explore services and more. I’d love to hear from you; by way of an email: [email protected] or call/text: 519-854-8541 anytime. With Infinite Love & Peace, Rev. Laurie Nevin 2018 Pride London Festival July 19th - 29th, 2018 Parade: Sunday, July 29th, 2018 at 12:30pm LOCATION: Queens Avenue PARADE FORMATION 10:00am – 12:30pm The 24th Annual Pride Parade formation will take place at the Western Fair District. All personal vehicles will be asked to park at the Western Fair Farmers’ Market at the corner of Dundas Street & Ontario Street to allow room for the parade formation. Parade begins at 12:30pm The parade will travel north on Ontario Street to Queens Ave; West on Queens Ave to Wellington Street; North on Wellington Street to Wolfe Street; The parade will disperse at Victoria Park. To register for the 2018 Parade, please visit: PrideLondon.ca/GetInvolved

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PRIDE UNDERSTANDING Video Campaign

London North Centre MP Peter Fragiskatos, London-Fanshawe MP Irene Mathyssen, Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) Grant Review Team Vol- unteer Linda Lustins, OTF Board of Directors Rob McCullough, London Mayor Matt Brown, London West MP Kate Young, Past Pride London President Martin Withenshaw, London-Fanshawe MPP Teresa Armstrong, and Pride Understanding Managing Director Paula Jesty with the puppets featured in the Pride Understanding videos.

Pride Understanding was developed to start a conversation around gender identity. Working with Pride London and the Thames Valley District school Board, the idea was to create a series of videos that helped support a safe environment for questions and discussions. Curriculum developed by the TVDSB support the use of the videos in the classroom. The messaging in all three videos is simple and straight forward: “accepting someone for who they are is a really good quality to have”, “Don’t assume everyone is the same” and “having the courage to be who you are is a really good quality to have in a friend”. Early conversations increase empathy and under- standing- helping to create a community of support.

Learn more at prideunderstanding.ca

Actress Alex Catherine Tremblay and Emmet, played by puppeter Andy Hayward.

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Crisis Directory Hate Helpline

Lesbian, Gay, Bi Trans Youth Line

London Mental Health Crisis Service When you or someone you know needs help or if you are unable to cope, are depressed or are facing a mental health crisis, London Mental Health Crisis Service can offer support. They offer services on an appointment basis. 862 Richmond Street. 519.433.2023 (Crisis Line) London.CMHA.ca Reach Out Reach Out is a bilingual 24/7 information, support and crisis service for people with mental health or addiction concerns living in Elgin, Oxford, Middlesex or London. It is a free public service, run by trusted local organizations, that quickly connects you with the help that you need. Reach Out is available by phone or by webchat. 1.866.933.2023 www.ReachOut247.ca

Contact the Hate Helpline 9am-5pm Monday to Friday to report the incident and/or access support, information and referrals. After hours you can leave a message and an operator will follow up with you. Hate and Bias activity may include: assault; hate propaganda; verbal slurs and threats; offensive graffiti; obscene and threatening phone calls; vandalism of religious or minority Canada's only toll-free, 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone counselling, web counselling and referral service for children and youth. The service is completely anonymous and confidential - they don't trace calls, they don't have call display. You don't even have to tell them your name if you don't want to. Ready to talk? Call today. 1.800.668.6868 • KidsHelpPhone.ca property. 519.951.1584 Kids Help Phone

A toll-free service provided by youth for youth. They're there to offer support, information & referrals specific to your concerns. No question is too silly, no problem too serious. They are sex positive & non-judgemental and there to help youth who are 26 and under and live

anywhere in Ontario. 1.800.268.9688 (call) 647.694.4275 (text) www.YouthLine.ca

Life Navigator www.lifenavigator.ca

PFLAG London Mission:PFLAG London helps all persons within our reach who are struggling with issues of their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. We also support, educate and provide resources to parents, families, friends, and colleagues with questions or concerns regarding these issues. Telephone support and information to anyone with questions or concerns about sexual orientation and/or gender identity/gender expression issues * gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-identified, parents, youth, teachers, friends, employers and health care workers Peer Support Meetings - Third Mon of each month, 7pm-9pm (Middlesex London Health Unit, 50 King St, London)

A Taste For Life Make a reservation for April 25th, 2018 at a participating restaurant.

25% of the evening’s sales will go directly to supporting the Regional HIV/AIDS Connection www.atasteforlife.org/ londonstratfordexeter.html

thursday, april 19, 2018 5:30pm - 7:30pm free event • all are welcome The Rosewood Room, JACK RICHARDSON MUSIC HALL OF FAME, 182 Dundas St.

for more information, visit: pridelondon.ca/prideafterfive

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Thursday, May 17th, 2018 • 7:00 –11:00 PM Aeolian Hall, 795 Dundas Street East COST: FREE Enjoy an evening of entertainment celebrating the 2018 International Day Against Homophobia, Bi-phobia and Transphobia.This event is all ages and free to attend! Everyone is welcome! For more information go to pridelondon.ca INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA B I - PHOB I A TRANSPHOBIA PFLAG London invites you to a worldwide celebration of sexual and gender diversity

519.473.5955 kateyoung.ca

I am proud to be your representative in Ottawa and want to stay informed of the issues that matter most to you. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. My office can also assist you with:

• Canada Child Benefits • Canada Pension Plan • Old Age Security • Guaranteed Income Supplement • Income Taxes

• Employment Insurance • Citizenship and Immigration • Canada Student Loans • Passport and Travel Information • Veterans Affairs

200-390CommissionersRd.W. • LondonON N6J 1Y3 • [email protected]

EARTH DAY • APRIL 22 END PLASTIC POLLUTION

Creating empathy, inclusion and understanding

prideunderstanding.ca

PRIDE Villager

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What excites you about being a travel agent? My own love for travel and sharing my experiences and realizing that this industry isn't dead. The faces of my amazing clients that light up because there travel dreams are becoming a reality. Online scams and e-deals aren't the best for people and knowing the difference and being able to help someone travel with ease is rewarding. Love travelling. Am very passionate about it. From local places to worldwide long haul destinations. Love learning about local cuisine, history and culture. How did you get into the business? How long? Live, Love and Travel... with Joseph Carrubba

YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE STARTS HERE: Joseph Carrubba 519.648.2682 • [email protected]

comments on how amazing the vacation that I help create for them was all over social media...its an ultimate high for me. Why is it essential to use a travel agent when booking your holiday? 1. It is essential to find a travel agent that specializes in your destination to ensure you are prepared correctly for your trip. 2. Be wary of very low rates online, a reputable travel agency will outline all the fees and surcharges involved with your scheduled booking well ahead of time. 3. Always ask if they have online testimonials or positive reviews they could direct you to.

Well 3 years ago I was at the local town fair and these two wonderful ladies had a travel booth set up and I decided to stop and talk with them. Not even realizing that they were my neighbours who owned a travel business. I set up a meeting with them and they explained what was required to become a licensed travel agent. 2 years later I'm running my own travel business and loving it and haven't looked back. Do you cater to the LGBTQ exclusively? LGBTQ is the pillar of my travel business but my door is open to all who love to travel, who are looking for new adventures and seek exploration. What are you able to provide for your LGBTQ clients in the way of safety and comfort? Not only do I have incredible and supportive suppliers but I do lots of research and sourcing to locate safe, comfortable destinations for my LGBTQ brothers and sisters. I strongly believe in

Tell us a little bit about your hobbies and interests outside of your work. Fashion, Art, Photography, Food and TRAVEL of course lol. Tell us about some feedback from your clients "I just had to sharemy super positive experience with Joseph Carubba of ALUXEtravel. I was looking for a 3 day weekend trip to Las Vegas as a gift for my dad's 70th birthday. He had never been and it was always on top of his bucket list of places to go. So I mentioned it to Joseph and he told me he would look into it for me. Well it didn't take him long and he found the perfect package staying at the Bellagio hotel and also found

the perfectly timed flights for my dad and... my brother. He also managed to book the extra leg room seats for

both of them who are both 6'2"+. It was all the little things that Joseph looked into and took care of...so he made the weekend trip as flawless as possible!! The best review to me is hearing how happy my dad was when he got back and all the endless stories he continues to share to this day....the trip was in Oct '17. Thank you so much again Joseph for such a wonderful experience!! Top notch service." Anita - Ontario " Joseph made our trip to Punta Cana relaxing,worry free and easy to navigate. Our resort rooms close to the beach were perfect for our family. The package he sent made our arrangements easy to follow and the coffee card was greatly appreciated" Sue - Ontario "Joseph took the time to thoroughly assess my family’s needs and wishes for our trip, and was able to find the perfect get away for us. It turned out to be the best vacation we’ve had. Joseph is extremely knowledgeable and was so patient with ALL of my requests. Highly recommend!!" Rohini - Ontario

To advertise here, please contact [email protected] The best part of what I do is reading and following all of my clients or as I like to refer to them as my "travel Friends" constantlyeducatingmyselfanychanceIget.I'malwaysupgrading certifying myself with LGBTQ Travel suppliers and specialties. ie: 14storeys Weddings as per their mission statement which is the reason I enrolled in their program. Their mission is to help lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples - no matter where they live - have a positive, supportive experience while planning their wedding. We do this by building a global tribe of wedding professionals who are sensitive, trained and ready to serve all couples. Do you enjoy travel yourself? Favourite place? Absolutely, as my business moto states "LIVE-LOVE-TRAVEL". My Favourite place is Florence, Italy. What is the best part about what you do?

Page 15 Issue 1 • Spring 2018

Villager

New furniture can bring a room together and truly accentuate your unique sense of taste. But in order to achieve that look, you need top- quality furnishings from a reputable source with the experience to assist you with layouts, design choices and colour selection. When you visit our massive 25,000 square foot showroom or browse our gallery online, you’ll get a sense for the kind of unrivaled quality and service Sutherland’s offers. We make furniture shopping simple by taking care of the details for you. Free delivery to London and area. 1801 Dundas Street East London

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Beauty. Style. Quality.