About ACAS

ACAS is a charitable, non-profit, community-based organization located in Toronto, Canada. We provide safer sex education and services to the East and Southeast Asian communities and support services to persons living with HIV/AIDS and members of the LGBTQ+ communities.

OUR MISSION TO PROVIDE HIV/AIDS EDUCATION, PREVENTION, AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN CANADIAN COMMUNITIES. OUR PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON A PRO-ACTIVE AND HOLISTIC APPROACH TO HIV/AIDS AND ARE PROVIDED IN A COLLABORATIVE, EMPOWERING, AND NON-DISCRIMINATORY MANNER.

As of November 2022, ACAS employs eight full-time and five part-time staff. ACAS is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, currently comprised of seven members. ACAS’s main program areas include:

• Support for people living with HIV/AIDS and families

• Youth program – QTAY (Queer and Trans Asian Youth)

• Men’s program – S.L.A.M. (Sex Love Asian Men)

• STBBI prevention and education for migrant farm workers in southern Ontario

• Building BIPOC community readiness for harm reduction

History of ACAS

On World AIDS Day, December 1, 1994, three groups serving the Southeast Asian community members affected by HIV/AIDS formed ACAS, a new coalition agency in Toronto to meet the needs and be the voice of the East and Southeast Asian community. ACAS was formed in response to HIV and its intersection with Asian hate/racism and homophobia. To present day, HIV and LGBTQ+ issues remain a struggle for many in our communities and ACAS continues to organize focused community efforts in addressing HIV stigma, homophobia and transphobia.