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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Ankur chadha 88 (talk | contribs) at 04:03, 29 May 2020 (→Personal life: Added recent commentary published in The Times of India about Alex's coming out experience and struggle.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Alex Sangha
Sangha in 2017
Born
Amar Singh Sangha

(1972-04-19) April 19, 1972 (age 52)
Gravesend, Kent, England
NationalityBritish and Canadian
Alma mater
Occupation(s)Social Worker and Counsellor and Film Producer
Websitealexsangha.com

Alex Sangha MSM[1] (born April 19, 1972)[2] is a Canadian social worker[3] and documentary film producer.[4]  He is the founder of Sher Vancouver[5] which is a social, cultural, and support non-profit society for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) South Asians and their friends.[6]  Sangha was the first Sikh to become a Grand Marshal of the Vancouver Pride Parade.[7]  Sangha received the Meritorious Service Medal from the Governor General of Canada Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette for founding Sher Vancouver.[8]  Sangha's first documentary film, My Name Was January, won 13 awards and garnered 56 official selections at film festivals around the world.[9]

Early life

Sangha was born in Gravesend, Kent, England.  His birth name is Amar Singh Sangha.  He was raised in metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, specifically Surrey and North Delta.  His father, Dalbir Singh Sangha, and his mother, Jaspal Kaur Sangha, are both of the Sikh faith from Punjab, India.[10]  Sangha was largely raised by his mother.[11]  His mother received a standing ovation for delivering a speech about embracing her gay son in 2018.[12]  Sangha has an older and younger brother, and a half-brother through his Dad's second marriage.[13]

Education and career

Sangha completed an MSc in Public Administration and Public Policy from the Department of Government from the London School of Economics.[14][15]  He has a Master of Social Work from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia,[16] as well as a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of British Columbia with a First Class Standing.[17][18]  In addition, Sangha completed an Associate of Arts Degree at Douglas College in New Westminster, British Columbia, and graduated Grade 12 from Frank Hurt Secondary in Surrey.[19]

Sangha is a Registered Clinical Social Worker and a Registered Clinical Counsellor[20] with a private counselling practice in North Delta.[21]  He previously worked as an instructor, clinician, social worker, and youth counsellor.[22]

Personal life

Sangha identifies as a gay South Asian male and described his coming out experience as very alienating and isolating as a teenager, and he had a hard time with internalized homophobia.[23][24]   In November 2016, Sangha provided support and assistance for a Sikh international student from Punjab, India who was disowned by his family for being gay and who contacted Sher Vancouver for help.[25][26][27]  Sangha later referred to this student as like a son and part of the family.[28] In May 2020, Sangha wrote a commentary which was published in The Times of India which described a "spiritual experience" he had when he was 19. The commentary further described the impact this experience had on his social work career and community service as a gay activist, as well as helping him come to terms with his sexuality as a gay Punjabi Sikh male.[29]

Sher Vancouver

Sangha founded Sher Vancouver in April 2008.[30]  He launched the Dosti project which was an anti-bullying, anti-racism, homophobia, and transphobia workshop that went into high schools.  The project was unique because it included coming out stories from a South Asian perspective.[31][32][33]  Sangha launched the Out and Proud project which profiled amazing queer South Asians from around the world including from Canada, United States, United Kingdom, and India.[34][35][36]  Sangha developed a free crisis counselling program[37] and peer support groups[38] for Sher Vancouver members.  In 2015, Sangha launched the January Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award to recognize youth from all over the world doing great work in the LGBTQ community.[39][40][41][42]  In 2016, Sangha became the first Sikh to become the Grand Marshal of the Vancouver Pride Parade.[43][44]  In 2017, Sangha led the Sher Vancouver contingent in the Vancouver Vaisakhi Parade and in doing so made history as the first LGBTQ South Asian organization to ever march in the parade.[45][46]  In 2018, Sangha celebrated the tenth anniversary of Sher Vancouver with the Desi-Q Cultural Celebration in Surrey.[47]  In 2019, Sangha successfully lobbied the City of Delta in British Columbia, on behalf of Sher Vancouver, to install rainbow park benches in the city to support diversity and inclusion.[48][49]

Dignity Seniors Society

Sangha is one of the founders of the Dignity Seniors Society which is a non-profit society that aims to support vulnerable LGBTQ seniors in Vancouver.  The Dignity Seniors Society was originally the Dignity House Advisory Committee (DHAC) which was a Master of Social Work practicum project of Sangha.  The intent of the DHAC was to build affordable housing for LGBTQ seniors.[50][51][52][53]  Sangha managed to secure sufficient funds from the Vancity Community Foundation and the United Way of the Lower Mainland to complete a market survey of the need and demand for affordable housing within the community.[54][55]

Books and writing

Sangha has been a contributor for The Times of India,[56] Huffington Post Canada,[57] Vancouver Observer,[58] and Georgia Straight.[59]  His writings focus on social justice themes such as alleviating poverty, improving access to the legal system and democracy, LGBTQ rights, social affairs, issues that impact the South Asian community, and Canadian, British Columbian, and local politics from Surrey.[60]

Sangha has published three books through AuthorHouse.  Imagine: Ideas that Challenge the Status Quo (2010),[61]  The Modern Thinker:  Timeless Ideas, Inspiration, and Hope for the 21st Century (2011),[62] and Catalyst:  A Collection of Commentaries to Get Us Talking (2013).[63]  Catalyst was a Finalist in the Current Events and Social Change category of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards of 2014.[64]

Films

Sangha at the Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival in 2019

Sangha produced a short documentary film directed by Elina Gress and Lenee Son, My Name Was January.[65]  It was about Sher Vancouver's late social coordinator, January Marie Lapuz, who was tragically murdered in New Westminster in September 2012.[66][67]  The film focuses on January's strengths and struggles and provides a platform for other trans women of colour to have a voice.[68]   My Name Was January was an official selection at the National Screen Institute Online Short Film Festival in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[69]  It was also a Finalist at the San Francisco Bay Area Sex Worker Film and Arts Festival.[70]  My Name Was January won 13 awards, and garnered 56 official selections at film festivals around the world.[71]  In 2018, the New West Record selected Sangha as one of the Top 10 people who had an impact in the arts in New Westminster.[72]

Sangha is currently producing his second short documentary film this time directed by Vinay Giridhar entitled, Emergence – Out of the Shadows, which is about gay and lesbian South Asian people and their coming out journey and the reactions of the parents.[73]

Expo 2022

In 2019, Sangha and Upkar Tatlay delivered a presentation to Surrey City Council to bring a World Exposition to Surrey to celebrate the diverse cultures and heritage of the city.  The Expo would have a focus on South Asian culture since Surrey has one of the largest South Asian diaspora communities outside of South Asia.  Over twenty letters of support from stakeholders was provided to endorse the Expo including from Simon Fraser University and Vancity.  Mayor Doug McCallum stated that the Expo “shows a lot of promise”  and City Council directed staff to prepare an initial report on the proposal.[74][75]

Honours and awards

References

  1. ^ General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Mr. Amar Alex Sangha". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  2. ^ "About". Official Blog of Alex Sangha. 2011-11-02. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  3. ^ "Alex Sangha". Canadian Immigrant. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  4. ^ "Producer of doc about Surrey-raised murder victim working on second film". Surrey Now-Leader. 2019-06-27. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  5. ^ "Alex Sangha, founder of Sher Vancouver, honoured with Meritorious Service Medal". The Georgia Straight. 2018-05-30. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  6. ^ "DARPAN's Newsmaker of 2016: Alex Sangha". darpanmagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  7. ^ "He Just Made History As Vancouver Pride's First Sikh Grand Marshal". HuffPost Canada. 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  8. ^ May 29, Gordon McIntyre Updated:; 2018 (2018-05-30). "Social worker given medal for advocacy in South Asian LGBTQ community | Vancouver Sun". Retrieved 2020-01-19. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ November 24, Denise Ryan Updated:; 2019 (2019-11-25). "Release revoked for transgender woman's killer | Vancouver Sun". Retrieved 2020-01-19. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "Alex Sangha". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  11. ^ "Alex Sangha, founder of Sher Vancouver, honoured with Meritorious Service Medal". The Georgia Straight. 2018-05-30. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  12. ^ publication, FollowGaylaxyIndia's #1 LGBT (2018-06-21). "This Moving Speech by an Indian Origin Gay Man's Mother at a Queer South Asian Event in Canada Received Standing Ovation". Gaylaxy Magazine. Retrieved 2020-01-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Alex Sangha". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  14. ^ "News highlights". www.alumni.lse.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  15. ^ "News highlights". www.alumni.lse.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  16. ^ "Alex Sangha (MSW'13) - Alumni - Dalhousie University". Dalhousie Alumni. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  17. ^ "Alex Sangha". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  18. ^ "1990s". Trek Magazine UBC. 2018-11-28. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  19. ^ "Alex Sangha". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  20. ^ Mall, Rattan. "Sher Vancouver's Alex Sangha to receive Meritorious Service Medal from Governor General | Indo-Canadian Voice". Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  21. ^ "Alex Sangha: the suburban therapist launches in Delta". The Vancouver Observer. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  22. ^ "Alex Sangha". HuffPost Canada. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  23. ^ "Alex Sangha: Growing up gay and brown in Surrey". The Georgia Straight. 2011-08-26. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  24. ^ "Sexuality and the South Asian diaspora". Xtra. 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  25. ^ "Alex Sangha, founder of Sher Vancouver, honoured with Meritorious Service Medal". The Georgia Straight. 2018-05-30. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  26. ^ Brach, Bal (2016-11-02). "Support group raising money for shunned gay South Asian international student". CBC.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ "This LGBT group just made history in Vancouver's Vaisakhi parade". Xtra. 2017-04-19. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  28. ^ publication, FollowGaylaxyIndia's #1 LGBT (2018-06-21). "This Moving Speech by an Indian Origin Gay Man's Mother at a Queer South Asian Event in Canada Received Standing Ovation". Gaylaxy Magazine. Retrieved 2020-01-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  29. ^ May 28, Alex Sangha | TOI Contributor | Updated:; 2020; Ist, 17:56. "Seeing the "Light" - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2020-05-29. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help); |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  30. ^ "Sher Vancouver marks 10 years of celebrating sexual diversity in Surrey". Surrey Now-Leader. 2018-03-11. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  31. ^ "Coming out as gay and South Asian". Xtra. 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  32. ^ "Sexuality and the South Asian diaspora". Xtra. 2012-02-16. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  33. ^ "Making LGBT people visible in the South Asian community: Our City of Colours, Sher Vancouver, and more | Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly". The Georgia Straight. 2011-11-18. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  34. ^ "Sher Vancouver's Out and Proud Project to counteract India's antigay legislation". The Georgia Straight. 2013-12-23. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  35. ^ "Meet the 2016 Vancouver Pride Parade Grand Marshals!". Vancouver Pride Society. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  36. ^ "Sher Vancouver Out and Proud Project". Sher Vancouver Out and Proud Project. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  37. ^ "Alex Sangha, founder of Sher Vancouver, honoured with Meritorious Service Medal". The Georgia Straight. 2018-05-30. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  38. ^ "Sher Vancouver to launch Surrey support group for South Asian LGBT youth | Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly". The Georgia Straight. 2017-04-28. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  39. ^ "DIVERSEcity is the new, exclusive sponsor of the LGBTQ+ January Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award". DIVERSEcity Community Resources Society. 2019-08-01. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  40. ^ "South Asian LGBT magazine founder Sukhdeep Singh receives Sher Vancouver's youth leadership award". The Georgia Straight. 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  41. ^ "Surrey social justice activist wins Sher Vancouver's Youth Leadership Award". Surrey Now-Leader. 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  42. ^ "Surrey residents make it big in January Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award". Surrey Now-Leader. 2018-01-04. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  43. ^ "Meet Vancouver's 2016 Pride grand marshals". Xtra. 2016-07-08. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  44. ^ "Vancouver Pride parade 2016 grand marshals announced | Georgia Straight Vancouver's News & Entertainment Weekly". The Georgia Straight. 2016-06-21. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  45. ^ "This LGBT group just made history in Vancouver's Vaisakhi parade". Xtra. 2017-04-19. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  46. ^ "LGBTQ group to participate in Vaisakhi parade for first time". CBC. 2017-03-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  47. ^ "Sher Vancouver marks 10 years of celebrating sexual diversity in Surrey". Surrey Now-Leader. 2018-03-11. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  48. ^ Gyarmati, Sandor. "Delta to consider rainbow crosswalks, other measures to support LGBTQ community". Delta Optimist. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  49. ^ "Delta to address inclusion and services for LGBTQ community". North Delta Reporter. 2019-02-25. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  50. ^ "History". Dignity Seniors Society. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  51. ^ Nuttall, Jeremy J. (2012-12-31). "For Gays, Entering Seniors Home Can Mean Going Back in Closet". The Tyee. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  52. ^ "Vancouverite rallies support for affordable housing complex for LGBT seniors". The Georgia Straight. 2012-10-04. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  53. ^ "Have You Seen It Happen?: LGBT Seniors Back In The Closet". Davie Village Post. 2016-09-02. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  54. ^ "Dignity House project gets boost for queer housing feasibility study". The Georgia Straight. 2012-11-28. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  55. ^ "Dignity House gets funds for feasibility study". Xtra. 2012-11-27. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  56. ^ "Alex Sangha: NRI Contributor | Times of India". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  57. ^ "Alex Sangha". HuffPost Canada. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  58. ^ "Alex Sangha". www.vancouverobserver.com. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  59. ^ "Alex Sangha". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  60. ^ "Alex Sangha". HuffPost Canada. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  61. ^ Sangha, Alex. "Imagine - Ideas that challenge the status quo". www.amazon.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  62. ^ Sangha, Alex. "The Modern Thinker - Timeless Ideas, Inspiration, and Hope for the 21st Century". www.amazon.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  63. ^ Sangha, Alex. "Catalyst - A collection of commentaries to get us talking". www.amazon.ca. Retrieved 2020-01-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  64. ^ Awards, Next Generation Indie Book. "Next Generation Indie Book Awards". indiebookawards.com. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  65. ^ "My Name Was January (short film)". National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI). 2019-02-08. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  66. ^ November 24, Denise Ryan Updated:; 2019 (2019-11-25). "Release revoked for transgender woman's killer | Vancouver Sun". Retrieved 2020-01-19. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  67. ^ MacLellan, Julie. "Her name was January, and she wasn't just a statistic". New West Record. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  68. ^ "Surrey-raised murder victim remembered in new documentary film". North Delta Reporter. 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  69. ^ "My Name Was January (short film)". National Screen Institute - Canada (NSI). 2019-02-08. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  70. ^ "My Name Was January | Sex Worker Fest Movies". Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  71. ^ November 24, Denise Ryan Updated:; 2019 (2019-11-25). "Release revoked for transgender woman's killer | Vancouver Sun". Retrieved 2020-01-19. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  72. ^ MacLellan, Julie. "Looking back at 2018: 10 people who made an impact in the arts in New West". New West Record. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  73. ^ "Struggles of South Asian gays and lesbians documented in new film". Surrey Now-Leader. 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  74. ^ September 17, Cheryl Chan Updated:; 2019 (2019-09-17). "'Bringing South Asia and the entire world to Surrey' | Vancouver Sun". Retrieved 2020-01-19. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  75. ^ "International South Asian expo pitched for Surrey's Bear Creek Park". Surrey Now-Leader. 2019-09-16. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  76. ^ General, Office of the Secretary to the Governor. "Mr. Amar Alex Sangha". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  77. ^ "32 BC community achievers honoured with community awards" (PDF). BC Achievement Foundation. 2016-05-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  78. ^ "Gay Indo-Canadian activist receives Queen's medal". Xtra. 2013-02-24. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
  79. ^ "Alex Sangha". Canadian Immigrant. Retrieved 2020-01-19.
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