2SLGBTQ+ Youth across Assert Needs We’re and Experiences Here

A SUMMARY REPORT 2020 LGBT YouthLine acknowledges that the land we work on throughout Ontario is colonized land, and encompasses an array of Indigenous territories. Participant communities YouthLine works in this community, in this context, on this territory.

Ajax • Alban • Alvinston • Alymer • Amherstburg • Amherstview • Ancaster • Appin • Arnprior • Aylmer • Bath • Belle River • Belleville • Bewdley • Blind River • Bolton • Bowmanville • Bracebridge • Bradford LGBT YouthLine’s Provincial This Summary Report highlights Brampton • • Brighton • • • Burlington • Caledon • Cambridge • Campbellford Youth Ambassador Project (PYAP) research findings, and is inclusive of Carleton Place • Cavan Monaghan • Central Elgin • Chatham-Kent • Clandeboye • Clarence-Rockland brought together 18 2SLGBTQ+ all populations and identities. Cochrane • Colborne • Collingwood • Corbeil • Cornwall • Delhi • Drumbo • Dunnville • Durham • Dutton Youth Ambassadors from across Elmira • Essex County • Exeter • Fergus • Fort Frances • Gananoque • Georgetown • Georgian Bluffs Ontario to lead an assessment To ensure the prioritization of Goderich • Godfrey • • Haldimand • • Halton Hills • Hamilton • Hanover • Hastings about the experiences and needs communities who are often invisible Havelock-Belmont-Methuen • Hearst • Huntsville • Huron County • Ignace • Ingersoll • Iroquois Falls • Jarvis of 2SLGBTQ+ youth (29 and in mainstream/dominant narratives Kapuskasing • • Kenora • Kincardine • Kingston• Kitchener-Waterloo • Komoka under) in Ontario. Almost 1,200 of 2SLGBTQ+ communities, five Lac Seul First Nation • • LaSalle • Laurentian Valley • Leamington • Lindsay • Listowel youth participated through an smaller Snapshots have also been Little Current • London • Manitowadge • Marathon • Marmora • Massey • Meaford • Melancthon online survey and community created to highlight: Indigenous Middlesex Centre • Midhurst • Minden • Mississauga • Mitchell • Moose Factory • Moosonee • Moravian sharing circles between July- youth; racialized youth; trans, Morrisburg • Mount Elgin • Mount Forest • Muskoka • Neebing • New Hamburg • New Lowell • Newcastle September, 2019. nonbinary and gender diverse Newmarket • Niagara • Nipigon • Nipissing First Nation • Norfolk County • North Bay • North Perth Northshore of Lake Huron • Novar • Oakville • Orangeville • • • Otterville • Owen Sound • Paisley youth; northern youth; and youth The research results are powerful Palmerston • Parry Sound • Pembroke • Perth • Peterborough • Petrolia • Pickering • Port Burwell • Port Elgin under 18. and speak to the immediate and • Red Lake • Renfrew • Richmond Hill • Rockland • Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation • Sarnia future needs of our communities, Access long form and snapshot Sault Ste Marie • Sharbot Lake • Simcoe • Sioux Lookout • • South Frontenac • St. Marys • St. Catharines while also amplifying the resilience reports at youthline.ca St. Thomas • Stoney Point • Stouffville • Stratford • Sudbury • Sydenham • Temiskaming Shores • Thamesville of 2SLGBTQ+ youth. 2SLGBTQ+ Thessalon • Thornhill • Thorold • Thunder Bay • Timmins • Tiny Township • Tiverton • • Trenton • Tweed youth in Ontario are demanding Val Caron • Vankleek Hill • Vaughan • Wabaseemoong Independent Nations • Walkerton • Wallaceburg • Wasaga change and a call to action to Beach • Waterford • Watford • Webequie First Nation • Welland • Whitby • Wiikwemkoong First Nation • Windsor all those in positions of power, Ajax • Alban • Alvinston • Alymer • Amherstburg • Amherstview • Ancaster • Appin • Arnprior • Aylmer including politicians and social Barrie • Bath • Belle River • Belleville • Bewdley • Blind River • Bolton • Bowmanville • Bracebridge • Bradford service providers. Brampton • Brantford • Brighton • Brockville • Bruce County • Burlington • Caledon • Cambridge • Campbellford Carleton Place • Cavan Monaghan • Central Elgin • Chatham-Kent • Clandeboye • Clarence-Rockland Cochrane • Colborne • Collingwood • Corbeil • Cornwall • Delhi • Drumbo • Dunnville • Durham • Dutton

nearly % Elmira • Essex County • Exeter • Fergus • Fort Frances • Gananoque • Georgetown • Georgian Bluffs 48 Goderich • Godfrey • Guelph • Haldimand • Haliburton County • Halton Hills • Hamilton • Hanover • Hastings Havelock-Belmont-Methuen • Hearst • Huntsville • Huron County • Ignace • Ingersoll • Iroquois Falls • Jarvis 1,200 Kapuskasing • Kawartha Lakes • Kenora • Kincardine • Kingston• Kitchener-Waterloo • Komoka Lac Seul First Nation • Lanark County • LaSalle • Laurentian Valley • Leamington • Lindsay • Listowel 2SLGBTQ+ Little Current • London • Manitowadge • Marathon • Marmora • Massey • Meaford • Melancthon youth participated in % % Middlesex Centre • Midhurst • Minden • Mississauga • Mitchell • Moose Factory • Moosonee • Moravian the needs assessment 31 32 Morrisburg • Mount Elgin • Mount Forest • Muskoka • Neebing • New Hamburg • New Lowell • Newcastle Newmarket • Niagara • Nipigon • Nipissing First Nation • Norfolk County • North Bay • North Perth Northshore of Lake Huron • Novar • Oakville • Orangeville • Orillia • Ottawa • Otterville • Owen Sound • Paisley Palmerston • Parry Sound • Pembroke • Perth • Peterborough • Petrolia • Pickering • Port Burwell • Port Elgin 18% Racialized Trans+ Quinte West• Red Lake • Renfrew • Richmond Hill • Rockland • Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation • Sarnia (Black, (Trans, Sault Ste Marie • Sharbot Lake • Simcoe • Sioux Lookout • Smiths Falls • South Frontenac • St. Marys • St. Catharines % % From 15 15 Indigenous and/ Nonbinary and/ St. Thomas • Stoney Point • Stouffville • Stratford • Sudbury • Sydenham • Temiskaming Shores • Thamesville or People of or Gender Northern Under the Thessalon • Thornhill • Thorold • Thunder Bay • Timmins • Tiny Township • Tiverton • Toronto • Trenton • Tweed Colour) Diverse) Rural Indigenous Ontario age of 18 Val Caron • Vankleek Hill • Vaughan • Wabaseemoong Independent Nations • Walkerton • Wallaceburg • Wasaga Beach • Waterford • Watford • Webequie First Nation • Welland • Whitby • Wiikwemkoong First Nation • Windsor 55% of youth What did 2SLGBTQ+ youth have not accessed a Sense of community in Ontario tell us? 2SLGBTQ+ space Overwhelmingly, 2SLGBTQ+ youth 4.4 reported having a very low sense Access to 2SLGBTQ+ of community. Have Not youth spaces Accessed Overall sense of Most 2SLGBTQ+ youth shared 4.2 community among that they had not accessed a 2SLGBTQ+ youth space dedicated to 2SLGBTQ+ 0 10 youth in their geographic 0 10 Indigenous community. 4.2 This is especially true for 3 .9 Indigenous youth, youth in 0 10 0 10 , and youth under the age of 18. Have Accessed From Northern Ontario Racialized 4 .9 4.5 0 10 0 10 Give us a space to gather together. Trans+ Racialized Under 18 “ A safe, comfortable space. Under the Age of 18 Trans+ Northern Indigenous

Accessing cultural/ On average, religious support Supporting 1/3 Call/text/chat support lines 40% 37% 32% of 2SLGBTQ+ youth mental health said their mental health Support groups/community spaces When asked how they support their needs are not being met Trans+ Racialized Under 18 own mental health, 2SLGBTQ+ Practicing alternative healing youth shared that they rely on self- directed or self-driven resources. Using substances 32% 40% Across all communities, practicing self care and talking to friends/ Mental health needs are not being met peers are the top two strategies. Northern Indigenous Connecting with members of community

Accessing mainstream mental health supports

Talking to friends/peers

Practicing self care Top needs when What do 2SLGBTQ+ youth accessing services, Low to no financial love about being 2SLGBTQ+? resources & spaces #1 costs/expenses I love... However... Not everyone lives in the Close distance big city. Please help support # I love Knowing I don’t have to I love that I am free to love who “ 2 “leave a part of myself behind. “ I love, but that has come with rural communities in creating many hardships over my lifetime. safe and inclusive spaces. Community helps me find language for things that I I see people’s bigotry everyday. #3 Confidentiality didn’t know how to express. It wears you down over time. I have never been more .. My parents aren’t accepting I won’t go places unless it’s supported than I have by my and I am not accepting of “through word of mouth from queer/trans friends. myself ... so I feel a disconnect other queer folks. Youth-based space to what I want, who I am, and #4 what the world expects of me.

What do 2SLGBTQ+ youth want What changes do ...there are 8000 people to say to decision-makers? 2SLGBTQ+ youth “ in my town, and we need want and need in a queer space, not just a their communities? planning meeting for Pride Just ask a queer Do the work to better and subsequent Pride events. “person before “ yourself, educate yourselves. you make any decisions, ask us. Consult with us. Politicians don’t care about Spaces to gather, and ongoing [We need] “the future generations. If community events “empowerment and they did, they wouldn’t continue down the path they healing for oppressed are currently on. and marginalized We don’t need your prayers, Health services and resources, including communities, and “ we need action. mental health supports, trans-specific healing for those with health resources, and comprehensive more privilege, too, so We exist, ask services in smaller communities that we can all work Why do you say you’re for “what we want together toward a “the people, when you ignore and don’t better future. large groups of them and Greater awareness of our community their needs? Where is our make decisions and its needs representation? without us.

Challenging homophobia, biphobia [We need] more opportunities and transphobia everywhere “for inter-generational The system for transitioning All gender bathrooms should exchange and mentorship. “needs to be FIXED. “be mandatory by now. “Dare to imagine that we’re everywhere – we’re not an afterthought.” — 2SLGBTQ+ youth

Thanks to all the 2SLGBTQ+ youth across Ontario who shared their thoughts and experiences with us! A big shout out to the Provincial Youth Ambassadors who worked tirelessly on this project, and ensured that the experiences of those most marginalized are amplified.

In addition to this Summary Report, there are five smaller Snapshot Reports that highlight the needs and experiences of:

• Indigenous 2SLGBTQ+ youth • Racialized 2SLGBTQ+ youth • Trans, Nonbinary and Gender Diverse youth • 2SLGBTQ+ youth under 18 • Northern 2SLGBTQ+ youth

Access snapshot reports, and long form report at youthline.ca Questions? Contact [email protected]

LGBT YouthLine is a 2SLGBTQ+ youth-led organization that affirms and supports the experiences of youth (29 and under) across Ontario.

 @lgbtyouthline youthline.ca