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An Evening in Damascus: A Queer Fundraiser on the Silk Road
July 23, 2016- 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
An Evening in Damascus takes you on an elegant trip down the Silk Road, visiting the beauty of Syria in the Heart of Vancouver, leaving the memories of the civil war behind and bringing people together for a good cause.
Hosted by Danny Ramadan, a proud gay Syrian refugee and the Grand Marshall of the Vancouver Gay Pride Parade, and the Divine Road – a local gathering to sponsor a Syrian lesbian couple to come to Canada.
The application to sponsor those two women is supported by Rainbow Refugee Society, an organization that works tirelessly on helping inland and privately sponsored LGBTQ-identified refugees.
The event is hosted on the elegant Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, adding a beautiful backdrop to what is sure to be one of the best and most glamourous Pride events this year.
The evening starts at 7 pm, as you walk through the beautiful gates of the Chinese Garden, gather with friends and grab some wine, walk around the space, and enjoy the summery night in one of the most amazing gardens in Vancouver.
At 8 pm, the show begins, featuring local bands who are supporting our efforts to bring those two women from the Middle East to Canada.
The bands we have secured so far are:
– AutoHeart.
– TBA.
At 9.30 pm, an auction for some amazing artwork will take place, led by a local Auctioneer.
Award-winning Irish photographer Tommie Lehane, who lived in Syria for ten weeks, donated Museum-quality photographs he took in Damascus to be sold in our auction.
Other artwork donated by local artists will also be sold.
A “Private Night of Storytelling” with Danny Ramadan, known for his public speaking, for you and four other friends will also be among the items to be auctioned.
All the funds raised during the event will go into the private sponsorship application of the mentioned lesbian couple from Damascus, who are now living in the Middle East, to join us here in Vancouver.
Come and grab a glass of wine, listen to some awesome tunes and enjoy the company of other queer and trans folks celebrating Pride, and gathering for a good cause.
Entrance by a suggested donation of $20. Bring cash for the cash bar.
If you’d like to donate to our efforts online, please check our GoFundMe Page right here: https://www.gofundme.com/
We wish to acknowledge the ancestral, traditional and unceded Aboriginal territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, and in particular, the Squamish, Musqueam, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations on whose territory we work, live and play.