Date: Mon, 6 Oct 1997 12:06:18 -1000 From: Mia H H Lam Subject: Re: Filipino STD, HIV, AIDS Project - We need your support! (fwd) ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 6 Oct 1997 11:21:34 -1000 From: Ku'umeaaloha Gomes Subject: Re: Filipino STD, HIV, AIDS Project - We need your support! Mahalo, Charlene for making us more aware of the backlash that is happening to our Gay community and in this case more our trans community. I also was told recently that Kawaiki Olores is experiencing difficulty in a hula halau, because "she" refuses to dance as a man or to dress as a man; she shared that her kumu hula, and sister and brothers are "ashamed" of her because of her lifestyle. She has a family of 3 youngster and her kane and has for many years lived as a woman; like many of our poor and working poor folks who can not afford the sex changes to "legally" change genders, they live as they feel themselves to be. And then we life in a bigoted society, where diversity is frowned up - - we are definitely going to see more backlash occur as the Religious Right becomes more and more threatened by the move to equality for Gays and Lesbians in Hawai'i, and attempts make to marginalize our people will increase. I appreciate your move to being this to light and to keep on reminding all of us to keep clear that we cannot be free, until we are all free! Mahalo nui, Ku'umeaaloha On Sat, 4 Oct 1997, Charlene F. Cuaresma wrote: > KAISAHAN ~ T O G E T H E R ~ PANAGKAKADUA > Filipino STD, HIV, AIDS Prevention Project > > Ilokano: Dika ammo ti papanam no dika ammo ti naggappoam. > Tagalog: Ang hindi lumingon sa pinanggalingan, hindi makararating sa > paroroonan. > "We cannot get to where we are going without looking to where we came." ~ > Filipino Proverb > > > To: Family, Friends and Colleauges > From: Charlene Cuaresma Tele/Fax: (808) 395-8041 > Subject: We Need Your Support! > > COSMETIX DENIED EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO BE PART OF COMMUNITY EVENT > Our Filipino AIDS Prevention Project is helping to raise public awareness > about the multi-ethnic, cross-dressing entertainment group, Cosmetix, who > was denied to perform at the Maui County Fair's popular karaoke contest on > Oct. 4, 1997 by Hawai'i State Sen. Avery Chumbley, president of Maui County > Fair Association. (See Honolulu Advertiser, Oct. 4, 1997, p. B-1or download > from tiser@aloha.net, or call City Desk: (808) 525-8090.) > > Two of the five performers are of Filipino ancestry. One of them is my > cousin. They have helped the Maui AIDS Foundation raise thousands of dollars > over the years to provide quality health care and AIDS prevention services > for the diverse people of Maui. > > EQUAL PROTECTION IS NEEDED FOR PEOPLE'S DIVERSITY > This is a great opportunity for those of us, especially heterosexuals and > inter-faith religious groups, who respect the values of diversity, human > rights and civil rights, to speak openly to support the Cosmetix' right to > participate in community events, like everyone else. > Won't you help to promote public education on diversity issues? > Will you compassionately address how we and our loved ones have been > affected by community ignorance, fear and homophobia? Can we lay out the > assets and contributions that diverse groups of people bring to humanize > society? Can you craft creative ways to convey accurate information and > personal stories to inspire a shift in re-thinking and re-shaping > prejudicial attitudes? > > HAWAI'I'S LEGACY FOR ACCEPTANCE OF DIFFERENCES IS ERODING > Joe Ramirez, a member of our Filipino AIDS Prevention Project and Maui AIDS > Foundation fiscal director stressed the need for support to defuse anti-gay > sentiments on Maui. Just last month, there was a bomb threat and Maui > religious groups banded together to hold protests to stop a traveling photo > exhibit in Maui, of Asian Pacific Islander gay men who were raised in Hawai'i. > Other members, Keoni Castillon of the Big Island, and Gregory Cruz of Kaua'i > are outreach workers who help Asian Pacific Islander persons, including > Filipinos, to prevent AIDS. They point out the need for Filipinos to voice > our support of one another to make Hawai'i a safer place for our family and > friends. This is especially important for those who are gay, lesbian, > bisexual, transgendered individuals, and those who cross-dress, because they > are most marginalized by all levels of society. > > PLEASE JOIN US IN OUR EFFORTS TO: > Write letters to the editor to major newspapers, especially to Maui > and neighbor island papers, community newsletters, etc. (tiser@aloha.net) > Infuse values of diversity and equal rights into church sermons, > bible study discussions, classroom discussion topics in related subjects, at > the work site, at home, with friends. > Phone and write letters to Sen. Avery Chumbley's office, mayors' > offices, your state, county and congressional leaders, etc. Call 1 411 for > phone numbers. Sen. Chumbley's office: 586-6030. > Call to register your opinions. > Make phone calls to your favorite radio talk shows and radio stations. > Stop using derogatory words and jokes about people who are gay, > lesbian, bisexual and transgendered. > Interrupt hurtful comments, racial slurs and put downs of minority > groups and individuals with respect and healing dialogue when possible. > Notice when we, ourselves do it. > Increase our commitment to doing good deeds for others and > ourselves, no matter how small, to be healthy in spirit, mind and body at > home, work, school and in the community. > > Please contact me or any of our members listed here on your island for > questions, comments, suggestions or assistance in writing letters or > articulating your thoughts. > > Dios ti agngina, (Ilokano for thank you very much. Also, God is expensive.) > > > Charlene Cuaresma > Cousin of Cha Cha Frenzy, Cosmetix Member > > KAISAHAN ~ T O G E T H E R ~ PANAGKAKADUA > Filipino STD, HIV, AIDS Prevention Project > Charlene Cuaresma, Coordinator > 715 Kapaia Street > Honolulu, Hawai'i 96825 > Tele/Fax: (808) 395-8041 > Pager: 846-9521 > cuaresma@lava.net > > Filipino Cultural Competency > Core Group Members and > Project Oversight Committee: > > Carl Bayaca, Greg Lamb > State of Hawai'i Dept. of Health > STD/AIDS Prevention Branch > 3627 Kilauea Avenue Rm. 304 > Tele: (808) 733-9281 > Fax: (808) 733-9291 > > Alice Cabael Ka'ahanui > Moloka'i Adult Literacy Program > P.O. Box 729 > Kauanakakai, Hawai'i 96748 > Tele/Fax: (808) 553-5611 > alchas@aloha.net > > J. Keoni Castillon > West Hawai'i AIDS Foundation > P. O. Box 1002 > Hilo, Hawai'i 96721 > Tele: (808) 934-7474 > Fax: (808) 322-0762 (WHAF) > hulaboy13@aol.com > > Greg Cruz > Malama Pono > Hawai'i HIV State Plan Community Planning Group > P.O. Box 725 > Lihue, Hawai'i 96766 > Tele: (808) 821-2183 > Fax: (808) 822-7136 > > Charlene Cuaresma > A Work of Heart > Hawai'i HIV State Plan Community Planning Group, Consultant > AIDS Community Care Team Planning Group > > Karen Hong > West Hawai'i AIDS Foundation > Hawai'i HIV State Plan Community Planning Group > P.O. Box 846 > Kealakekua, Hawai'i 96750 > Tele: (808) 322-1718 > Fax: (808) 322-0762 > w.haf@aol.net > > Don Kyles > Life Foundation > 233 Keawe Street Suite 226 > Honolulu, Hawai'i 96813 > Tele: (808) 521-2437 x248 > Fax: (808) 521-1552 > dkyles@lifefoundation.org > > Joseph Ramirez > Maui AIDS Foundation > P.O. Box 858 > Wailuku, Hawai'i 96793 > Tele: (808) 242-4900 > Fax: (808) 242-1968 > jr@coolsite.net > L. Ku'umeaaloha Gomes Kua'ana Student Services 2600 Campus Road, Rm. 207 Honolulu, Hawai'i 96817 Ph. (808) 956-5940