Dear FESTDIVQ, !I am Christepher Wee, Mr. Gay Canada 2014. By
profession, I am an educator, actor, and TV host. For my social and
cultural advocacy work, I am involved with many charitable and
community groups in Canada and other parts of the world. I am an
ambassador for Rainbow Refugee Society, Our City of Colours, and
Health Initiative for Men just to name a few. !Congratulations to
FESTDIVQ for hosting Venezuelas 4th Annual LGBTQI Film Festival.
!Film has always been an important part of my life since young. I
have been educated, inspired, provoked, saddened, elated,
empowered, and enlightened by both mainstream and LGBTQI films. I
am an advocate for using media such as television and films to
educate, celebrate, and create discourse, in order to foster
positive change and progress. !I think it is important to support
film festivals whether it is a LGBTQI, cultural, or mainstream one.
Film festivals often showcase works of new and upcoming directors
and actors whom we should support. Their views and perceptions
often add new dimensions and insights to films and commentaries on
life, culture, politics, social realities, and the imaginary.
LGBTQI film festivals also enhance our sense of community
involvement, spirit, and celebration. !LGBTQI film festivals are an
important and necessary aspect of our queer culture. They serve as
a way of queer activism. They are our voices and visibility. They
showcase films that tell our stories and journeys, reveal our
vulnerability, courage, perseverance, triumphs, dreams, and
aspirations. Queer films are powerful avenues to raise awareness of
queer social and political issues, homophobia and transphobia.
Queer films can create an environment of open, civil discourse
which could foster inter-understanding, inter-respect, and
inter-are. I encourage the community of Venezuela to support and
attend FESTDIVQ. Be apart of your communitys efforts to be visible
and heard. Social progress can only take place if we all play apart
in its advancement and progress. I applaud FESTDIVQ for their
dedication, vision, and leadership. Your efforts and commitment to
Queer activism through film will impact the lives of many. Continue
with your journey to build a FESTDIVQ with a voice and
presence.
I know that FESTDIVQ will be a success. I hope to visit
Venezuela in the near future and be of contribution to FESTDIVQ and
your LQBTQI community efforts.
Join me on Facebook, Twitter, and, or Instagram. Lets make a
positive and lasting difference together as one community, one
people, one voice! !
With love, Christepher Wee Mr. Gay Canada 2014
