In order to keep our communities safe and to reduce the spread and impacts of COVID-19, we have entered a moment of social distancing. For many of us, this has meant a return to our homes, connecting to our friends and loved ones digitally, and spending a lot more time alone or with the people, we share a home with. The impacts of social distancing present unique challenges for each of us, and these impacts are especially significant to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Gathering with friends and community, and being amongst people who accept and honour your identity is an integral part of many 2SLGBTQIA+ peoples’ experiences. Events like drag shows, Pride festivals, and community facilitated drop-ins are integral to queer community building and connection—what does it mean when these events cannot be accessed in the current moment of isolation?
Further, social and physical distancing can be especially hard when we are in places where we may not be able to be our full selves. This is an experience widely felt by 2SLGBTQIA+ youths who may be stuck isolating with families or roommates that they are not out to or with people who do not accept their identity (for more information, here’s an article about students isolating with homophobic parents: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52039832).
Social Inc. invited Sean Connors (Student Wellness Coordinator), Donna Moreau (Programs & Services Coordinator Student Life), and Lara Hof (Director, Student Rights & Responsibilities Office) to join us in a Q+A conversation about navigating 2SLGBTQIA+ Self-Care during COVID-19, and about resources available to students.
Resources mentioned in the video are:
TUMBLR:
Safe spaces where you can ask questions, and meet folks who share similar interests. The trick to Tumblr lies in following LGBT-positive blogs. This can be accomplished by searching “LGBTQ” in the tags, which yields suitable blogs to follow.
LGBT Advocate:
This is a private group set up as a safe and welcome online community where folks can ask questions, answer questions and meet new people. It currently has over 34,000 members.
Wattpad:
Wattpad, a social publishing platform where users share their written stories and fanfiction, and allows LGBT people to connect through writing. You can choose to write, read and comment on others work, or just read and comment – whatever is most comfortable for you
LGBTQ Youthline:
A peer-mentor resource for queer folks under the age of 29. It can be accessed through phone, text or online chat. https://www.youthline.ca/
Club Quarantine:
A daily 2SLGBTQIA+ Zoom dance party curated by organizers in Toronto. https://www.instagram.com/clubquarantine/
Schitt’s Creek:
Watch for free on CBC Gem https://gem.cbc.ca/season/schitts-creek/season-6/4beb167e-f4da-4435-9282-7acb77230775
What supports are available at Mohawk for students affected by gender-based violence?
Mohawk College is committed to creating an environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, and sexualized violence; and supporting those who experience sexualized violence. Students affected by sexualized violence can contact the Student Rights and Responsibilities Office for assistance understanding and exploring their options at SRRO [at] mohawkcollege.ca (SRRO[at]mohawkcollege[dot]ca) or 905.575.1212 ext. 4764
Other resources:
Queering the map:
A site where you can read the stories 2SLGBTQIA+ people have shared that are attached to various locations around the world (including Hamilton) https://www.queeringthemap.com/
The Trevor Project:
The Trevor Project is the leading organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
My Kid is Gay:
My Kid Is Gay is a first-of-its-kind digital presence, inclusive of videos, advice, and resources, dedicated exclusively toward helping parents understand their Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual children. https://www.mykidisgay.com/
Trans Community Health:
Trans Community Health is a weekly clinic for trans and gender non-conforming Hamiltonians. The clinic facilitates gender transitioning and hormone therapy for people 18 years and older who live in the city of Hamilton. http://shelterhealthnetwork.ca/?page_id=713
Speqtrum:
A youth-founded, youth-run, and youth-focused skill-sharing and community building program for queer and trans young people in Hamilton, ON. Speqtrum has been hosting a lot of online programming during COVID-19, check their work out here: https://www.facebook.com/speqtrumYHM/
