...this person, if you knew she was HIV-positive?

(that's Émilie Laliberté, from Stella!)

Brilliant new campaign from COCQ-SIDA... 

My alma mater's former chairperson, Viviane Namaste, will receive the Grand Prix of the CQGL (Le Conseil québécois des gais et lesbiennes) 2010. She is being recognized for her research work within the realms of sexual health of transgendered, transexual and bisexual people, her research on HIV/AIDS in regards to men and women who have sex with men and women, as well as her activism within the trans human rights spectrum. She taught me, and many of my friends, a lot about theory and research methods. PLUS, she is the only teacher in Concordia history that has ever given hugs to her graduating students at convocation.

Vive la Viviane.

Check hir out in this video. Lady's got brains yo.

1. In 2007, it was estimated that 33.2 million people lived with the disease worldwide, and that AIDS killed an estimated 2.1 million people
2. AIDS was first reported June 5, 1981 in five homosexual men in Los Angeles
3. New HIV infections have been reduced by 17% over the past 8 years! www.unaids.org
   
4. Montreal community AIDS support in the village is ACCM: www.accmontreal.org
5. A vigil at the Parc de l'Espoir tomorrow (Panet/Ste-Catherine at 5:30 pm, under PolitiQ banners) will address HIV criminalisation
6. The FARHA Foundation doesn't just do the AIDS walk, they plan AU COEUR DE LA MODE / MASKARADE / HOMMAGE AUX HÉROS 
7. A staple event is the WORLD AIDS DAY event at ST. JAMES UNITED CHURCH, vigil and chorus are on the menu
8. Head & Hands will be offering a free anonymous HIV screening for youth from 5 - 9:30 pm this Tuesday. Youth will not be asked for their health card

I just helped out with my first event this past Sunday. The event helped raise over $2.15 million for Ovarian Cancer Canada. It was inspiring, beautiful and a joy to be a part of it. Ovarian cancer can be of particular concern to lesbians who have not had children or take birth control pills. Get more information here: www.ovariancanada.org.

Another cause that is dear to my heart is the Ça Marche event, happening this Sunday. ÇA MARCHE supports people living with AIDS. Check out where the money goes, below

There is still time to register. ÇA MARCHE is this SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2009 in Montreal, departing from: Emilie-Gamelin Park (Berri Uqam).

Here is what the organizers have to say:

“Walking for those living with AIDS, for those who have died of AIDS, and for a future without AIDS, more than 10,000 participants take part in ÇA MARCHE, the Farha Foundation's annual AIDS walk. Calling on the citizens of Quebec, politicians and celebrities alike, the 17th annual walk will take place in downtown Montreal on September 20, 2009 with an objective to raise $450,000 that will be distributed to more than 70 organizations across the province. Be a part of the thousands of people that fill the streets of downtown Montreal and help us send the message that the fight against AIDS/HIV is not over.”

9am registration. Register here: www.farha.qc.ca