THRAC Statement of Support for the Equal Marriage Act in Taiwan

The Taiwanese Human Rights Association of Canada has issued a statement sent to legislators in Taiwan, stating support for support for the Equal Marriage Act as proposed by legislators Teng Li-chun, You Mei-nu, Hsiao Mei-chin et al (我們支持由鄭麗君、尤美女、蕭美琴等立委共同提出的婚姻平權「多元成家」法案)。

The letter, sent in English and Chinese versions states that THRAC "believes that the issue of equal marriage (same-sex marriage) is an important human rights issue in the world today. For this reason we declare our support for the Equal Marriage Act as proposed by legislators Teng Li-chun, You Mei-nu , Hsiao Mei-chin et al. This is a reasonable bill, removing gender reference from the relevant laws, thus permitting same-sex marriage without inserting other political agendas into the bill."

Legislators on Same Sex Marriage Letterhead_June2014_English

Legislators on Same Sex Marriage Letterhead_June2014_Mandarin

THRAC Annual General Meeting 2014

The Very Rev. Bruce McLeod speaking at the 2014 THRAC AGM

The Taiwanese Human Rights Association of Canada (THRAC 加拿大台灣人權協會) held its Annual General Meeting in Toronto on Saturday, May 3. Almost 90 people attended – a new record for THRAC. The theme of this year’s AGM was the 50th anniversary of Peng Ming-min's (彭明敏) 1964 "Declaration of Formosan Self-Salvation" (台灣人民自救運動宣言). Members watched a 40-minute video made by THRAC in which Dr. Albert Lin 林哲夫 interviewed Dr. Peng about the events of 50 years ago and what they mean for Taiwan today. The video, and other reports of the annual meeting, will be posted to THRAC website (thracanada.blogspot.ca).

After the video, Dr. Lin will recounted how in 1964 he and other Taiwanese students in Canada organized the "Committee for Human Rights in Formosa" and worked to save Peng. The Right Reverend Bruce McLeod told how in 1966, as part of a group of Canadian reporters brought to Taiwan by the KMT regime, he secretly visited Dr. Peng (then under house arrest) through the arrangement of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.

Members voted to establish the Albert J.F. Lin Human Rights Award 林哲夫人權獎, to be given annually “to recognize and encourage the long-time work of people or organizations in Canada or Taiwan for human rights, democracy and social justice. (為獎勵在加拿大或台灣長期間對人権，民主和社會公義有所貢獻的個人或團體者)”。Other resolutions were passed opposing Harper's latest "tough on crime" bill - C-26, and calling for the release of Chen Shui-bian (陳 水扁) from prison. All are posted on the THRAC website.

Two new members were elected to the THRAC board - Edward Chung 鍾雅澤, former president of the Taiwanese Canadian Association (2011-13) and co-chair of the Canadian Mackay Committee ; and Hsu Ching-Fang 許菁芳, PhD student in Political Science at the University of Toronto. In 2008 Hsu was president of National Taiwan University Student Association and an activist in the Wild Strawberry Student Movement野草莓運動 . Su Cheng-hsuan 蘇正玄retired from the board after many years of service to THRAC. Continuing as board members are Akio Chen 陳明雄博士 , N.L.，Michael Stainton 史邁克牧師, Austin Yan 顏立哲 and Nick Chen 陳孟廷 (corresponding board member living outside of the GTA).

Dr. Peng Ming-min's Video can be found on Youtube here.

Register NOW for the THRAC Annual General Meeting!

Registration Link below:

REGISTER HERE!

WHERE TO PARK FOR THRAC MEETING MAY 3 

FREE PARKING 

* Willowdale Presbyterian Church (Ellerslie at Beecroft, one block south of Mckee , two blocks west of Yonge , behind police station) It is a 5 minute walk to St Louis. No permit needed for this event. (Blue
balloon on map)

* Residential streets east of Doris ( Church, McKee, Norton, Parkview) have free parking on Saturday – access from Kenneth or Dudley Ave. (Blue streets on map)

* Empty lot at Churchill and Canterbury (behind St Georges Anglican Church, west side of Yonge
Street. The company using it is Shiu Pong Developer and they have agreed we can use it. (Green balloon on map)

PAY PARKING ($$$ signs on map) 

* On Yonge Street

* Pay lot west side of Yonge, south of Ellerslie

* Pay lot south side of Parkview, just east of Yonge

MAP