With Moderated by Rosina Kazi (Unit 2), Anne Cécile de Vellis, AMANDA (Décolonisons le féminisme), AUDE Le Moullec-Rieu (ARDHIS), SÄYE SKYE .

Despite offering essential refuge and release for many, queer spaces can still be exclusionary -- an issue particularly relevant to queer migrants seeking community. This panel features guests who are active in intersectional scenes for immigrant and marginalized communities -- in France, Canada, and beyond.

This panel will be broadcast virtually to our conference platform and streamed for live viewing at Lula Lounge in Toronto.

Lula Lounge is an accessible venue. If you have any questions about accessibility needs, please reach out to us at torontolongwinter@gmail.com.

MODERATOR:
Rosina Kazi
Rosina Kazi is the lead singer of the protest electronic duo LAL, who were long listed for the Polaris Prize for 2019 for their album DARK BEINGS, a musical project that speaks to the natural world and human nature, addressing issues from environment to the experiences of Queer/2 Spirit/Trans and /or BIPOC experiences and community.

They are a queer/gender fluid/ non-binary, culturally Muslim and Bengali identified artist. They/she helps run the alternative DIT (Do it Together) community and arts accessible (physically and financially) space Unit 2, a space dedicated to supporting QT2SBIPOC and friends in order to support an arts ecosystem verses industry. Rosina will releasing a new dance music album in 2022, called BASIC INCOME, co-produced with her music and life partner Murr.

Rosina currently lives in Tkaronto that is on the territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabeg, Haudenosaunee, Lenni-lenape and the Wendat Nations. Rosina also co-curates shows, participates in theatre and collaborative arts making practices and runs workshops around sound, recording and poetry.

PANELISTS:
SÄYE SKYE (Musician and Activist)
SÄYE SKYE is a transgender Iranian rap artist and LGBTQ rights activist at the forefront of a new hip-hop movement that has its basis in social consciousness. Currently based in Toronto Canada but born in Tehran Iran, SÄYE SKYE was forced into exile for daring to be the first person in Iran to openly speak about the Iranian LGBTQ community, their existence and struggle for freedom.

SÄYE SKYE recently finished composing music for a queer television show called “Sort Of” which will be aired on HBOMAX in November 2021. His upbeat energetic soundtrack “ Sommerfest” for the award-winning German movie” Futur Drei” aka “No Hard Feelings” Landed him his first
music award nomination fromPreis der Deutschen Filmkritik in Germany in 2020. He is excited to bring his new sound to the world and exchange energy with the audience after the pandemic period.

SARGON YOUSEFIAN (Arist)

AMANDA (Décolonisons le féminisme)
Amanda is one of the founders of Décolonisons le féminisme (Decolonizing Feminism). Founded by 7 gendered and racialized people in May 2020, the collective aims to create spaces where people can freely express themselves about the oppressions they experience as well as spaces for sharing, solidarity, self-care and education.

AUDE (ARDHIS)
Aude Le Moullec-Rieu is president and activist since 2012 at Ardhis, which defends the rights of foreign LGBTI people and helps LGBTI asylum seekers.