Okay, this is just *madness*.
I went to a gala tonight, comped because I was an early board chair of what is now a full-size queer community centre in our cities (ourspectrum.ca).
Tonight, they called me up to the front. I was surprised, but game. I went forward, while my friend Suzi (ED of Spectrum) praised me.
Growing confused, I stood and listened...as she announced that Spectrum was instituting a new annual award:
The Cait Glasson Award for Queer Activism.
Seriously. They named a freaking award for me. And gave me the first one.
I am, totally, BLOWN THE FUCK AWAY. Holy crap.
So yeah. That happened. I am excited and awestruck and humbled and loved and happy.
That's my life now.
If you want to show me love for that, and have anything to spare, I could really use some donations to Zara's fundraiser. Zara is the woman who has filed a refugee claim as a USan Black trans woman here in Canada, trying to flee the brutality of what's coming. I've been working this issue for three years now, and am having some effect. Not enough yet, but we're both working hard.
Zara is still struggling to find work, as she cannot work anywhere that will pay her more than 2200 CAD a month, or she loses her legal aid access to legal representation in her refugee claim.
We basically need CAD 200 before Friday night, if we can get it.
https://gogetfunding.com/help-zara-reach-safety/
I can also accept donations for Zara through my PayPal account directly (or Interac within Canada), at cavebabe21@gmail.com. It's where all the money goes anyway, then I transfer it at $0 fee to Zara for her use. None goes to me personally. I'm working pro bono.
Thanks for considering, and boosting, this request. And if you want to honour my work in another way, contact your rep, wherever you are. Ask them to push Canada to get this change made, to suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement for trans folk in the US, and allow them to make asylum claims, being in genuine danger.
