VANCOUVER—It could be said that Sandra Moran has lived two lives in her native Guatemala.

The first ended during the late-1980s, when she became the target of death squads for her human rights activism and was forced into exile in Mexico, Nicaragua, and Vancouver. The second began on her return to Guatemala in the mid-1990s, when she came out as a lesbian and launched a political career that has led, most recently, to her election as the country’s first openly gay member of Congress.

Moran will share her amazing odyssey as this year’s featured guest speaker at CoDevelopment Canada (CoDev)’s fundraising dinner (Saturday, June 4 at 6 p.m. at the Maritime Labour Centre - 1880 Triumph Street, Vancouver), where she will be presented with CoDev’s International Solidarity Award.

Seats are still available for this popular annual event, which will feature a selection of Latin American food, a silent auction, Latin jazz to accompany the festivities and the always-delectable dessert auction.

COPE 491