Andria Wilson, Executive Director, Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival – LOP086

Explicit content warning

05/20/19 • 49 min

Inside Out is a not-for-profit registered charity that exists to challenge attitudes and change lives through the promotion, production and exhibition of film made by and about lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people of all ages, races and abilities.

For more than two decades, Inside Out has brought Toronto's LGBT community together in celebration of the best queer film from Canada and around the world.

In 1985, I saw my first “gay” film at TIFF (The Toronto International Film Festival), “No Sad Songs”, a Canada documentary film directed by Nik Sheehan. I had come out the year before, in the summer of 1984, not yet 18 years old, and months before AIDS got its name.

The film was billed as the first documentary film about the HIV/AIDS crisis, the film explored the LGBT community's early response to the issue through the personal testimony of Jim Black, a man with AIDS who died several months after the film's release, and Catherine Hunt, the sister of another person with AIDS (source). This was the start of my interest in LGBTQ representation in film, and LGBT film festivals.

In today's Living OUT episode, I speak with the Executive Director of Inside OUT, Andria Wilson. We discuss why the Inside Out LGBT film festival is relevant and still necessary, almost 35 years later in 2019.

Inside Out is committed to helping queer creators use their difference to make a difference.

Inside Out supports various community initiatives like New Visions, Pitch, Please!, the RE:Focus Fund, and in November 2018, Inside OUT launched an Online Resources Catalogue aimed at providing support for LGBTQ youth.

Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival

The Festival runs from May 23 to June 2nd. To learn more about Inside OUT, what’s showing at this year’s festival (and watch trailers), or how to become a supporting member, go to https://www.insideout.ca.

Connect with Inside Out

Inside Out Toronto Festival: https://www.insideout.ca/torontofestival/Hashtag: #InsideOut19Twitter: @InsideOutTOInstagram: @insideoutfestivalFacebook: facebook.com/InsideOutFilmFestivalYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/InsideOutToronto

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For more than two decades, Inside Out has brought Toronto's LGBT community together in celebration of the best queer film from Canada and around the world.

Inside Out is committed to helping queer creators use their difference to make a difference.

Inside Out Toronto LGBT Film Festival

Connect with Inside Out

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Fleeing Iraq as a Gay Man to Avoid Dying at the Hands of ISIS – LOP085

Omar's story and his journey to Canada as a refugee

Imagine living in a country where, if you were found out to be gay by ISIS, you would be thrown off the tallest building around, while your family and friends were forced to watch.

This is the story of Omar and two of the people who have been part of a very long process to bring him safely to Canada. As part of Omar’s application process for Rainbow Refugee, he wrote,

“My name is Omar. I'm from Iraq and I'm gay. I left my family in Iraq and fled to Turkey in July 2014 to avoid dying at the hands of ISIS." - Omar's letter to Rainbow Refugee

Last year, one of my closet friends, Ron Walker, asked if I would be one of Omar's sponsor for him to come to Canada as a refugee, with the help of the Rainbow Refugee. Ron suggested that, as a gay coach, I would be an invaluable resource for Omar to begin his journey as a gay man in a place where he can actually pursue his true identity.

As we talk about the different parts of Omar’s life over the last five years it might seem like this was a quick and easy process. That is the furthest thing from the truth. Ron explains that the UNHCR process is long, arduous, and leaves the refugee as a non-person, without income or a way of supporting themselves in their temporary host-country.

Omar arrived in Canada as an official refugee on May 7th, 2019.

On Omar’s first weekend in Toronto, he celebrated his 31st birthday with many of the people who were instrumental in getting him out of Iraq and into Turkey, and eventually to Toronto, Canada. People came by airplane and car to greet Omar when he arrived at Toronto International Airport, and then to help him settle into his new life in Canada,

One of those individuals is Michael Failla who has made it one of his missions in life to help gay men safely escape countries like Iraq for being gay, as well as other lesbians and trans people who are persecuted and living in countries where they fear for their lives.

Omar’s story is a reminder of the freedoms and liberties we take for granted in North America, like for example the upcoming LGBTQ Pride in Toronto, which will be the very first Pride that Omar will attend. That's worth celebrating!

Refugee Resources

The Refugee Ministry: Metropolitan Community Church of TorontoRainbow Refugee: Helping LGBTQ+ refugees resettle in CanadaRainbow Railroad: Save a LGBTQI LifeCapital Rainbow Refugee: Raising Awareness for Sexual and Gender Minority RefugeesThe 519: From refugee settlement to counselling, The 519 serves the people of Toronto by supporting happy, fulfilling LGBTQ2S lives.UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency

About Ron Walker

Ron is a retired lawyer who for many years has worked with charitable and non-governmental organizations seeking to improve the situation of individuals in developing countries. Ron lives in Toronto, Canada. He can be reached at [email protected].

About Michael Failla

In 2012 academy award winning documentarian Eva Orner was at a party in Hollywood and heard about Michael’s refugee work. She accompanied him on a trip to the middle east and in conjunction with World of Wonder made the documentary, “Out of Iraq.” The movie is a love story about two Iraqi soldiers who fall in love during the invasion of Iraq, their immense commitment to each other and their struggle to escape Iraq and become resettled in a safe country. Theirs is a story of two of the many refugees Michael has assisted.

Michael is currently assisting several LGBTQI people in difficult situations who are seeking resettlement. Due to the changes in the US administration he has shifted his focus to Canada and is working in concert with Canadian LGBTQI Refugee organizations to get those he is helping into Canada’s private sponsorship resettlement program.

Michael lives with his husband, Gary Hamer in Seattle, WA. He can be reached at [email protected].

Out of Iraq Trailer

https://youtu.be/uHM644btn3c

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Next Episode

Feeling Sorry for Yourself? How to Overcome that Problem – LOP087

One morning about four years ago I was feeling sorry for myself. I had been wallowing in self pity and I suddenly “woke up” and decided to journal about what I was feeling so that I could change my emotional state.

What was I feeling sorry about?

I was feeling sorry for myself that I was tired, emotionally drained, that I was working so hard, that I didn’t have enough money, and that I was about to make a shift in my business focus yet again. I was also incredibly sore from my workout the day before, taking a hot bath, too tired to get any work done that morning.

“Shouldn't that be a good thing?” I asked myself. “I’m working out! That should make me feel fantastic.” I've discovered a pattern about myself. Often when I have a strenuous workout, I'm a little bit cranky later that day and the next morning. Perhaps it's the way my body reacts to the increase in testosterone as a response to strength training, including how I physiologically respond to those chemical changes.

As often happens when I’m feeling sorry for myself, I was over-analyzing a client situation and considering future actions based on those worries. Then there was the discussion with a friend about a new business idea that felt precarious. When I added those things on top of each other, like a snowball rolling down a hill gathering momentum and size, I only felt worse.

But then I asked, “Why are you feeling sorry for yourself, Darren?” I realized the problem was my perception. I decided those events were somehow negative. From that awareness I decided to reframe my perspective.

Some of the situations were indeed challenging, especially the ones around making possibly changes to my business, wanting to have an impact, and my concerns about financial profitability and stability. My physical response to working out was another issue. I've seen the pattern many times before. The solution was to be prepared: to properly hydrate, get more recovery, and eat enough protein to help me feel better.

Is there a situation in your life where you constantly feel sorry for yourself?

The way to come out on the other side and feel better about your situation is to start by looking backwards. First, grab a pen and a piece of paper or your journal. Next, ask yourself the question, “What specifically am I feeling sorry about?”

Then look at events in your day so far. Perhaps go back in time to yesterday, or the last week. How did those events influenced your thinking? Do you feel positive or negative in relation to those situations?

Consider each event individually. Can you re-frame your emotional and intellectual responses and perceptions to each situation? How can you make each one a positive learning experience? If it's something you're struggling with, what can you learn from it?

Write down 1-2 action steps to change your thinking

Ask yourself, “What can I do, right now, that will make me feel better about this situation?” A gentle warning: this is not always easy. Finding the positive in situations can be challenging and sometimes downright daunting. This is also not about faking it – you need to find the truth of what’s good in the situation.

What I learned that morning about myself, was that my concerns are valid, but that they had been repeating unconsciously, and without thoughtful consideration. I made a list of actions, which included challenging myself to talk to new people as a way to expand my network and to discover their needs. I posted reminders in my work area to focus on finding the positive. I also prepared to better manage my mood and energy levels on days when I had a strenuous workout.

Take a moment, now, if you can, and consider what’s dragging you down, how you might be feeling sorry for yourself. How can you re-frame each situation to make it a positive learning experience? What single action can you take right now, to evolve?

Dive Deeper

How Journaling Helps You Create What You Want in Life – LOP023Your Re...

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