Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians
August 14, 2014
In May 2010, progressive Filipino Canadians came together to pave the new path for genuine settlement and integration of Filipinos across Canada at a national conference called “Counterspin: Creating and Nurturing a New Path for a Progressive Filipino Canadian Community.” This conference forged the historic formation of the Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians (CPFC) that, now, serves as the national centre of progressive organizations, such as the National Alliance of Philippine Women in Canada, SIKLAB Canada, and the Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance/Ugnayan ng Kabataang Pilipino sa Canada. These organizations have been at the forefront in educating, mobilizing and organizing progressive Filipino Canadians and our communities to struggle for genuine settlement and integration in Canada. An important outcome of this conference was the commitment of CPFC and its member organizations to address and deepen our understanding of the various issues that affect the Filipino Canadian community, other transnational communities and the broader Canadian society.
One of the 15 major concerns included in the CPFC declaration is the “rights of LGBT against violence and all forms of discrimination to a life of dignity and secured existence.” This concern came from the reality that Filipino Canadian LGBTQs continue to face homophobia, transphobia, racism, and discrimination within and outside of our community.
The Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians is proposing to hold a two-day national consultation of LGBTQ within and outside the Filipino Canadian community to bring out and openly discuss these ongoing issues and struggles.
The proposed two-day national consultation aims:
1. To discuss the experiences and realities of the LGBTQ in the Filipino Canadian community and beyond.
2. To document issues faced by Filipino Canadian LGBTQ and come up with future plans of action.
This consultation will not only provide a venue to discuss the experiences and issues of LGBTQs in our community, but will also address their continuing role in the advancement of our community’s struggle for genuine social change.
The consultation will include LGBTQ speakers from the community and activists, as well as workshops designed to facilitate a deeper discussion on the ongoing struggles of LGBTQ.
Date: October 24-25, 2014
Venue: SFU Harbour Centre, Vancouver, B.C
Organized by the Philippine Women Centre of BC
Sponsored by:
Congress of Progressive Filipino Canadians
Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance
SIKLAB
Department of Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies, Simon Fraser University
For more information, contact:
The Magkaisa Centre
416-519-2553