By Leah Bjornson,
Special to The Post 

The Annual Pride Parade is usually a time for celebrating BC's freedom, and diversity, but ever since one of their LGBQT support members was killed in 2012, Sher Vancouver has not participated.
That's changing this year, as they remember their fallen comrade in a way they hope will reach a much greater audience than the parade attendees: by filming a documentary.
To be released at the end of this year, the documentary will focus on January Marie Lapuz’ involvement in the LGBQT community as well as the issues trans women face on a daily basis.
Lapuz was fatally stabbed in her New Westminster home on September 29, 2012. A transgender immigrant from the Philippines, Lapuz was also the first transgender individual to hold an executive position with Sher Vancouver.
“She was a transgender woman. She was marginalized. She was alienated. She was living in poverty. She was a person of colour. And she was murdered,” stated Alex Sangha, the founder of Sher Vancouver and an established social worker in the city of Delta. “Since that time it’s been a huge blow emotionally.”
Sangha first founded Sher Vancouver as an online support group for LGBQT members of the South Asian community back in April of 2008. “When you come from a minority culture, it’s like a double whammy because in India or Pakistan or Iran, homosexuality is a taboo,” Sangha explained. “It makes it very difficult in that environment for young gay people and lesbians to come out to their families.”
Over time, individuals from other minority communities joined Sher Vancouver, causing it to rebrand itself as a support group for “South Asians and friends.” It now boasts over 450 members, and hosts social gatherings as well as provides social services.
In 2009, the group raised enough money to host their very first Pride of Bollywood float at the annual Vancouver Pride Parade, a tradition that continued until 2012 when Lapuz was killed.
Sangha credits Lapuz, a Filipino, with opening up the group to other communities in the Lower Mainland. Sangha recalled, “She was the mother of our group, she was the social glue of our group. And a lot of people loved her and a lot of people really miss her.”
To remember and honour their fallen friend, the organization has established an award in Lapuz’ honour. The $250 cash prize is awarded every January to a deserving youth, between the ages of 16 to 30, who has demonstrated involvement, commitment, and leadership in the LGBTQ community.
For more information go to www.shervancouver.com.

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Alex Sangha, Founder, Sher Vancouver 

How did you come out?

I was not happy being gay in my teens. I secretly went to see a child psychiatrist hoping to become straight. Not surprisingly, this did not work. The psychiatrist helped me accept myself and come out. [. . .] I began to meet queer people at college and university and started to feel good about myself, especially when I discovered that people like Alexander the Great and Michelangelo were gay and/or bisexual.

What has been your experience as a gay South Asian living in Vancouver?

When you get into Canada, there are human rights protections, same-sex marriage is legalized. The country is a lot more accepting and tolerant of gay and lesbian rights, gay and lesbian people. It makes it easier in these countries.

What have been some of your greatest achievements?

I am proud of launching the DOSTI project which is an anti-bullying, racism, and homophobia workshop as well as founding Sher Vancouver and creating a community of people where queer South Asians and their allies can connect, meet, find support, and not feel alone.

Alex Sangha is an award winning social worker, author, and human rights activist based in Surrey, B.C.

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Aamir Khan, Improv Comedian

What does the Annual Pride Parade mean to you?

Annual Pride Parade means a celebration of life harmony and freedom. I think it is a parade that marks a movement to show that one day we can all celebrate being alive and being able to breathe the same air with same rights as everyone else. 

What struggles have you faced as a gay South Asian living in Vancouver?

I don't feel different unless someone points out to me that I am "Brown" or "Pakistani" and / or "gay.” Even when someone does point out the obvious, I wear the label as pride. It is a struggle when ignorant people try to to reduce me to the colour of my skin or mock my orientation. It is much harder for people who share my background to see how open I am. They shun away from me and/or have preconceived notions about who I am. It still happens in this day and age and in happy Vancouver. But a lack of understanding on their part does not mean lower tolerance on my end. I just am patient with myself and stay true to who I am.

How do you showcase this in day to day life?

I do comedy improv with Queer Prov. I bring forward characters based on my upbringing and background in efforts to showcase the good and the bad that comes from each person: the stereotypes, the highlights and culture.

What aspirations do you have for the future?

It took me a long time to get to where I am personally and how I feel. I stick to this mantra:

I am Aamir

I am Queer

This is who I am

this is where I am

meet me here

In summary : just staying true to who I am. I aspire (and also aim) to bring my chant from my personal life into my professional, social and creative life: the Queer Prov Stage, community outreach and selling linens.

Aamir Khan was born and raised in Pakistan, lived in the US and now calls Vancouver home.

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Christopher Logan, Actor

What does the annual Pride parade mean to you?

The parade is a great statement on how many different types of people, cultures and ages can all check their attitudes when there's a party. It allow people to break out, if only for a day, and learn that there may not be as many repercussions as they thought. They may take this new found freedom to break out a little more each day.
The parade is an example that lets people know we're all out there. But in little ways, it lets us live our lives afterwards more fully.

What struggles have you faced as a gay South Asian living in Vancouver?

I haven't really had any. I'm lucky to live in a very open place, and have the privilege of 'those that went before'....so I don't have to. I honour those that came before, but sometimes it's even hard to relate to stories of struggle and grief. I haven't really had that experience to draw on.

What aspirations do you have for the future?

I'm building a book company that will produce books that celebrate diversity and inclusion and raise funding for independent film. I'm hopeful that our books will open minds, change hearts, and allow people to see other sides of life they previously hadn't. I always think it's harder to deny something once you actually know it.

Christopher Logan is an actor based in Vancouver, B.C. who produces books that celebrate diversity and inclusion in order to raise funding for independent films.

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Jotika, Artist and Activist

What does the annual Pride parade mean to you?

I reflect on what does pride mean for me what comes up is that it’s about community: it’s about how are we celebrating and helping support each other all year round and what are areas we still need to do a lot more advocacy, build ally ship and support networks for our LGBT*Q Communities? Events I really look forward too are the Dyke March, East Side Pride and the Trans, Two Spirit, Genderqueer, Intersex March. These smaller grassroots celebrations are where I can connect and reconnect with folks in my communities.
As I have done community organizing within the Queer and Trans* People of Colour communities, I’ve built relationships with folks and we have started to create the kinds of events and representation that feels good and [is] more true of who we are, such as QT*IPOC dance parties, art and performance showcases where we can celebrate and tell our stories, spaces where we can share art and food.

What struggles have you faced as a queer South Asian living in Vancouver?

As a Queer South Asian women I often feel invisible and what is represented of us are stereotypes that separate what being south Asian and what being gay or Queer looks like, and that process eliminates that reality that I am South Asian and Queer.

What aspirations do you have for the future, on a personal or local level?

I want to see and help create more spaces for LGBT*Q and specifically brown and racialized queer folks to tell our stories, and work towards healing and celebrating who we are.
I am really passionate about how the act of creating different forms of art and mixed media are ways that people can work through trauma and pain that we have inside our bodies. As a Social worker I am working towards being an expressive arts therapist and hope to bring that healing work into my queer and trans* communities.

Jotika is an artist, activist, and social worker living in Vancouver whose roots are in Northern India and Fiji.

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