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On surviving anti-gay bullying

March 10th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Jordan Rada and Frank Figueroa survived anti-gay bullying in school and now speak out to help others

Pink Shirt Day was recently observed at schools in Nanaimo and across Canada. The now-annual event was inspired by Nova Scotia high school students David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenaged friends, who in 2007 organized a high-school protest in support of a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied—for wearing pink to school. They took a stand against bullying by distributing pink T-shirts to all the boys in their school.

Homophobia in schools is associated with bullying behaviours. A Canadian study found that 37% of gay and lesbian youngsters felt like outsiders at their schools and that a quarter of gay and lesbian youths in Canada have attempted suicide at least once.  [Source: Alliance busts gay stereotypes, Nanaimo Daily News] (more…)

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SWAN collective keeps art accessible

March 10th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Local gallery appeals for funds so its programs for all people, including those with disabilities, are available

Start With Art Nanaimo (SWAN) opened a studio across from the Nanaimo train station in 2009 called Studio 366. In the past year the studio has grown in use with art shows, classes, open studio times, rentals, and more. The artists’ collective had responded to a growth in interest among those working in the disability field who were using art in their practice.

Start With Art Nanaimo has a core group of board members and a growing membership that supports the founding principle that a community becomes stronger through art. SWAN aims to make art an integral part of the lives of people with disabilities, and to promote the work of artists with disabilities. (more…)

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