Moyo Health & Community Services (formerly Peel HIV/AIDS Network) is proud to host our seventh annual event on May 17th, 2023, in alignment with the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia (IDAHOT). As we come together for the seventh year to celebrate and highlight the needs of queer and trans communities in Peel, we will focus overall on this year's IDAHOT theme—" Together always: united in diversity". This theme comes at a time when hard-won progress for our 2SLGBTQ+ communities around the world is at increased risk; the power of solidarity, allyship, and community across identities, borders, and movements has never been more vital. We will be taking this time to explore and acknowledge the multifaceted ways advocacy takes place within the 2SLGBTQ+ community.

Despite these challenges, 2SLGBTQ+ individuals continue to live lives filled with joy, creativity, empathy, and love. On May 17th, we come together to both reflect on the challenges 2SLGBTQ+ communities face, while also celebrating the resilience and acts of resistance against the structures and systems that marginalize the community.

With a diverse range of thought leaders, performers, and artists, we invite you to join us and engage in critical conversation around the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ communities during the pandemic and beyond.

With the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continuing, we will be holding this event online via Zoom. We invite our queer and trans community members in Peel, as well as allies, to join us for this event, which is intended for both learning and supporting our community programs.

IDAHOT was established in 2004 to elevate the serious human rights issues, including violence and discrimination, faced by 2SLGBTQ+ communities across the world. Closer to home, 2SLGBTQ+ communities in Peel face issues around community visibility, inclusion, and access to timely social and human services. Their experience of stigma and discrimination disproportionately puts them at more risk of negative health and well-being. Our environment, systems, and structures put stress on our 2SLGBTQ+ communities by way of social stigmatization, stigma, substance use, Sexually Transmitted Blood Borne Infections (STBBIs), and poor mental health outcomes. IDAHOT is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and disrupt false narratives while building awareness of key issues and barriers faced by folks as they navigate their intersectional experiences.

Speakers & Performers:

Co-host: Tynomi Banks (She/Her)

Tynomi Banks is an International, world-class Drag Entertainer. Recognized best for her full production performances, Banks dominates a stage while radiating a powerful, but playful energy. Her hustle led her to become the first Drag Entertainer to perform in Toronto’s Dundas Square during World Pride 2014. In just one month, during Pride 2018, she became the first Drag Entertainer to work with Hudson’s Bay Company and the only Queen to partner with Spotify for a featured playlist, which also resulted in a billboard over Dundas Square in Toronto during Pride. She has since partnered with Sephora, Shoppers Beauty, Amazon, Absolut, Netflix, Crest, and Ikea to name a few. Banks became the first Drag Entertainer to be the trophy bearer at the 7th Annual Canadian Screen Awards. In 2021, Banks was the only drag performer to be featured in a SuperBowl ad other than Rupaul herself. Then in February, she partnered with Black Lives Matter Canada to create and sell a line of merchandise where partial proceeds went to dismantle all forms of anti-Black racism, liberate Blackness, support Black healing, affirm Black existence, and create freedom to love and self-determine. Catch Tynomi Banks on Season 1 of Canada's Drag Race on Crave (Canada), LogoTV (USA) and BBC3 (UK).

Laureen (BLU) Waters (They/Them): Istchii

Nikamoon: Earth Song, Wolf clan.

Cree/Metis/Micmac

Blu is a member of the Metis Nation of Ontario. Blu’s family is from Big River Saskatchewan, Star Blanket Reserve and Bra’dor Lake, Eskasoni First Nations, Cape Breton Nova Scotia, and the Red River. Blu grew up with their grandmother and learned about traditional medicines, learning healing methods, and care of the sick. Their grandmother also shared her knowledge of the great teachings. Blu is currently working at Seneca College as an Elder on campus providing traditional teachings and one-to-one counselling.

Blu spent 2.5 years working for the National Inquiry for Murdered and Missing Women as a Grandmother to Commissioner Brian Eyelfson and sits on the Grandmother Circle. Blu sits on the Thunder Women Healing Lodge as a Director of the Board. Blu also sits as the Ontario representative for Metis people with 2 Spirits In Motion Board. Blu also provides ceremony, teaching, and counselling for 2 Spirit People of the First Nations, in Toronto.

Blu was also the national caucus representative for the Toronto Urban Aboriginal Strategies for five years working with the community of Toronto and the government. They are also a graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology receiving their business software micro-computer architecture and A+ certification.

Jade Elektra (She/Her)

Originally from Tampa, Florida, Jade Elektra is a Toronto-based drag recording artist, also known as DJ Relentless. Jade is known for her activism around HIV/AIDS. Since 2007, she and her husband have been producing events to create safe spaces for the HIV+ community and to raise funds and awareness for local AIDS Service Organizations.

Kerolos Saleib (KeroPatra InDenial) (They/Them)

KeroPatra InDenial is an Egyptian, Non-binary queen, in and out of drag. They have been living with HIV since 2007. They are also the founder of Middle Eastern Nights, an all-inclusive queer middle eastern party. They have done HIV and addictions activism work across Eastern Africa, north Africa the US and Canada. KeroPatra has survived and overcome addiction and homelessness and hopes to inspire others to see the power they each hold for themselves.

Syrus Marcus Ware (He/Him)

Syrus Marcus Ware is a Vanier Scholar, visual artist, activist, curator, and educator. Using painting, installation, and performance, Syrus works with and explores social justice frameworks and Black activist culture. His work has been shown widely, including solo shows at Grunt Gallery in 2018 )2068:Touch Change) and Wil Aballe Art Projects in 2021 (Irresistible Revolutions). His work has been featured as part of the inaugural Toronto Biennial of Art in 2019 in conjunction with the Ryerson Image Centre (Antarctica and Ancestors, Do You Read Us? (Dispatches from the Future)), as well as for the Bentway’s Safety in Public Spaces Initiative in 2020 (Radical Love). Syrus has participated in group shows at the Never Apart in Montreal, the Art Gallery of Ontario, the University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, the Art Gallery of York University, the Art Gallery of Windsor, and as part of the curated content at Nuit Blanche 2017 (The Stolen People; Won't Back Down). His performance works have been part of festivals across Canada, including at Cripping The Stage (Harbourfront Centre, 2016 & 2019), Complex Social Change (University of Lethbridge Art Gallery, 2015) and Decolonizing and Decriminalizing Trans Genres (University of Winnipeg, 2015).

Syrus' recent curatorial projects include That’s So Gay (2016-2021), Re:Purpose (Robert McLaughlin Gallery, 2014) and The Church Street Mural Project (Church-Wellesley Village, 2013). Syrus is also co-curator of The Cycle, a two-year disability arts performance initiative of the National Arts Centre occurring from 2016-2017.

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