Gary Lising Interview - Amplifying Voices: Surrey Archives Oral History Project

Gary Lising (he/him, siya/sya) shares his story of finding Kuya (a Tagalog word meaning “older brother” or used to confer respect). He discusses his experiences immigrating to Canada from the Philippines, coming out, recovering from a substance use disorder, finding community, and providing support to others through his professional and non-profit work.
Content warning: The topics discussed in this interview may be distressing. Brief mention of sexual assault, mentions of substance use throughout. Viewer discretion is advised.
Views expressed in the interview are those of the interviewee and interviewer.
Amplifying Voices is a Surrey Archives Oral History Project partially funded through Heritage BC’s 150 Time Immemorial Grant Program. This project aims to preserve and honour the lived experiences of communities who are underrepresented in the stories we tell about Surrey’s past. This interview is part of a series conducted with members of the local 2SLGBTQ+ community and advocates.
Surrey Archives is situated on the unceded and ancestral lands of the Salish peoples, including the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) Nations.
Surrey Archives is the official repository for the City of Surrey, tasked with acquiring, preserving, and making accessible, archival records that document the history and development of Surrey. For more information, go to www.surrey.ca/archives.