On the Gaydar: Whistler Pride CEO wins human-rights award, Jasper and Capilano Pride

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      Here's a roundup of a few news bites from around our gaybourhood.

      Whistler Pride producer wins human rights award

      Congratulations to Whistler Pride CEO and executive producer Dean Nelson on receiving the human rights leadership award from Thompson Rivers University. Nelson, who graduated with a bachelor of tourism management from the university, is being recognized for his contributions and achievements locally, nationally, and internationally.

      Whistler Pride CEO Dean Nelson

      He was the founder and executive producer of Pride House at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler (held at Qmunity), which became the first LGBT pavilion at the Olympic Games. The initiative has since inspired Pride Houses to be held at the 2012 London Olympics, the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Toronto Pan American Games 2015, and other international athletic and sporting events to provide support for LGBT athletes and to address issues such as homophobia in sport.

      Nelson has also been a director for boards for organizations such as Travel Gay Canada, the Vancouver Pride Society, the InterPride Vancouver 2010 Conference, and the GLISA North America Outgames 2011.

      Nelson will be presented with the award at an event on April 7 in Kamloops.

      Jasper Pride

      If you didn't make it to this year's Whistler Pride, or did go and are looking for some more rainbow-coloured slopes to enjoy, the 2016 Jasper Pride Festival in Jasper, Alberta, runs from March 17 to 20 for its seventh year in the Canadian Rockies.

      Pride flags went up on streets in Jasper, Alberta, on February 18.
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      The program includes 24 events including a gender-fluid James Bond–themed party (fitting 007 in with the festival's 7th year), concerts with folk singer Kate Reid and singer Lucas Silveira (frontman of the rock band The Cliks), film screenings, and more.

      For full details, visit the Jasper Pride website. 

      Capilano Pride

      Although the Pride flag burning at UBC sent shockwaves through local communities earlier this month, Capilano Pride Week at North Vancouver's Capilano University ran this week as planned. The week kicked off on Monday (February 22) and consisted of events including drag-makeup workshops, film screenings, queer competency training, a resource fair, a community dinner, and more.  

      The week wraps up today (February 26) with a film screening of Appropriate Behaviour.

      AccolAIDS nominations

      Although the deadline for AccolAIDS nominations was originally set for today, the deadline has been extended.

      A technical glitch on the website was discovered and some nominations and support forms submitted through the website have not been received by the organization.

      If you have not received a personal email from Positive Living BC's Alina Wilson confirming that your submission was received, you will need to resubmit your nomination or support forms by either:

      1. emailing your submission to Wilson; 
      2. faxing your submission to 604-893-2251;
      3. delivering your form by courier or in person to Positive Living BC (803 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6A 1R8) addressed to the attention of the AccolAIDS Nominations Advisory Panel and Positive Living BC Fund Development Department. The office is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

      The deadline is extended to Monday (February 29) at 9 a.m.

      Nomination forms can be downloaded at the Positive Living BC website.

      However, the online submission form should not be used to submit the form.

      Sex and people with disabilities

      A reminder that the Deliciously Disabled Does Vancouver event will be held on Monday (February 29) at the Scotiabank Dance Centre (677 Davie Street) to discuss the often-neglected topic of the sex lives and sexuality of people with disabilities.  

      Transgender men

      Also on Monday, Manology will be holding its first-ever session devoted to transgender male experiences. The session will span a range of topics from personal safety to gender expectations.

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