Out in Schools' Brandon Yan becomes deputy executive director of Vancouver LGBT organization Out on Screen

    1 of 2 2 of 2

      The non-profit local organization that runs the Vancouver Queer Film Festival and Out in Schools program has created a new leadership position.

      Today (December 17), Out on Screen (OOS) announced that education director Brandon Yan has been appointed to a newly created senior leadership position of deputy executive director.

      Yan will be responsible for leading the operations of the nonprofit organization and will work closely with executive director Stephanie Goodwin and other staff members to develop the impact and reach of the organization.

      Goodwin told the Georgia Straight that the new position "reflects an emphasis on higher level external engagement".

      "It’s to create extra capacity so he and I can effectively engage governments, stakeholders, and wider LGBT2Q communities," she explained.

      As education director for the past two years, Yan had helped double the reach of the Out in Schools program across British Columbia by expanding from 10,000 students to an expected 25,000 in 2018. The program screens LGBT–related films and videos, offers presentations, and facilitates workshops and discussions about safe spaces, discrimination, inclusion, and sexual orientation and gender identity issues in schools across the province.  

      Yan, who has been with OOS for four years, also ran as a OneCity candidate for city council in the 2018 municipal election.

      Due to Yan's appointment, Out in Schools program coordinator Gavin K. Somers will take over Yan's former position.

      Meanwhile, submissions for the 2019 Vancouver Queer Film Festival are currently being accepted, with an early-bird deadline of January 31. The 2019 edition of the festival will run from August 15 to 25.

      The 30th anniversary edition of the festival ran from August 9 to 19 this year. In September, Anoushka Ratnarajah was appointed artistic director after Amber Dawn left her position as co-artistic director.  

      You can follow Craig Takeuchi on Twitter at @cinecraig or on Facebook. You can also follow the Straight's LGBT coverage on Twitter at @StraightLGBT or on Facebook.

      Comments