In some countries in the world, this month is LGBTQ+ History awareness month. As we all know, being different can feel very lonely, especially when that ‘difference’ is mocked, ridiculed, and if you openly live this frowned upon lifestyle, you can also become the target of hate crimes and violence.
That’s a heavy burden to carry for just living your truth.
Luckily the world has come farther along, even though there is still a very long way to go. There are many groups and organizations doing what they can to educate, help in many ways and raise awareness.
1). QUEER EVENTS
QE is committed to working towards a strong, welcoming and accessible LGBT2Q+ community by creating opportunities to connect, empowering their community and contributing through education and advocacy. The website is FULL of information, resources, support and help. They have PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES, ONLINE LEARNING RESOURCES and COMMUNITY EVENT LISTINGS.
From their website, PRIDE AT WORK CANADA works through dialogue, education and thought leadership to empower Canadian employer to build workplaces that celebrate all employees regardless of gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Their leaning, networking and community events happen across Canada, advising, celebrating and connecting the most inclusive Canadian employers. They help private, public and non-profit employers to create safer, more inclusive workplaces that recognize the skills of LGBTQ2+ people.
From their website, The Gilbert Centre is a community-based, not-for-profit, charitable organization that has been providing programs and services as the AIDS Committee of Simcoe County for over 25 years. In 2015, in part to recognize the reality of people with HIV not developing AIDS, but living healthy lives with HIV, the organization changed its name from the AIDS Committee of Simcoe County to the Gilbert Centre for Social and Support Services. The Gilbert Centre, named after our founder Ed Gilbert, not only reflects the change in HIV, but also embraces the expansion of programming to serve lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender individuals and families in the Simcoe Muskoka area.
The Gilbert Centre takes a broad, social determinants approach to our work that is based in social justice, health equity and human rights. We see to engage individuals, families, organizations, institutions and communities as partners and collaborators in the work we undertake.
They have some great resources available HERE.
4). SIMCOE PRIDE
Fierté Simcoe Pride (FSP) formed in May of 2012 as a small grassroots volunteer group aiming to unite people in Pride across the County. As an organization, FSP continues a long tradition of LGBT organizing in Simcoe while working with other organizations, groups, and partners to build community. Their vision is provide safe and inclusive communities within Simcoe County that support and unite people of all genders, sexes and sexual identities.
