We’re thrilled to announce this year’s Community Youth Awards Recipients! Thanks to all of the nominees and nominators- the Selection Committee was overwhelmed by the incredible work being done by LGBTTIQQ2S youth in Ontario!
Outstanding Contribution to Arts and Culture
Travoy Deer
Toronto, ON
Travoy has worked for the past eight years with Suite Life Arts for Youth, an urban dance studio, where he teaches the art of hip hop dance to youth. His love of dance and teaching led him to found the House of Monroe, Canada’s first voguing house for LGBT black youth. Since its inception in 2006, The House of Monroe has been awarded numerous trophies for their performances in Buffalo, New York and Baltimore. Under Travoy’s leadership, in 2009 they launched “PlayPen” Canada’s first official Ballroom Event.
Travoy has also contributed to a number of fundraising events lending his creative talent to raise funds for HIV/AIDS support services and relief efforts in Haiti. Not only has his work been of undeniable artistic merit, it has created safe, creative and welcoming space for Black LGBTQ youth through the community built in The House of Monroe. It is inspiring just how much Travoy’s contribution has added to the cultural fabric of Toronto and how generous of time and spirit he has been in providing real community for so many youth.
Outstanding Personal Achievement
Desiree Rudd-Kerr
Aurora, ON
Desiree has been a vital part of the Toronto People with AIDS Speakers Bureau for 7 years. During this time she has reached hundreds of people with her story, putting a face to youth living with HIV. Through her public speaking, she has also shared her experiences of being a black, bisexual newcomer youth living in homeless shelters. She has worked passionately to correct dangerous myths and misconceptions about HIV/AIDS. By courageously sharing her story, she directly combats the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS. Desiree has brought her compelling message to high schools, colleges, universities, churches, service agencies and other organizations. This 26 year old now trains new additions to the Speaker’s Bureau, sharing with them her skills at speaking about lived experiences and infusing those stories with a strong call to action to correct misinformation about the virus and those living with it.
Outstanding Contribution to Community Empowerment
J.Andrew Baker
Barrie, ON
At 26, Andrew acts as a mentor, an educator and a source of hope for youth, service providers and educators across Simcoe County. He has proven his commitment to LGBTTIQQ2S community empowerment through serving and building connections between numerous organizations, including Rainbow Health Ontario, PFLAG, The Simcoe County LGBT Network, the Aboriginal Health Circle, and the AIDS Committee of Simcoe County. By dedicating himself to so many organizations, and serving as a source of support for so many, Andrew links communities together towards a common goal of creating an inclusive service net for queer and trans folks. All of his work with queer and trans youth, and his additional environmental and Aboriginal rights activism reflects kindness, determination and patience as well as a true understanding of the power of communities to create positive change
Outstanding Contribution to Social and Health Services
Hannah-May Wilson
Toronto, ON
24 year old Hannah-May is a young staff member of the Ontario Public Service (OPS) and has become a Positive Space Champion through her role, creating more inclusive workplaces at the OPS and providing information and resources that help OPS staff ground their work in anti-oppressive principles. In addition to this, Hannah-May adds a queer youth voice to the Youth Advisory Committee for a University of Western Ontario research project focusing on sexual health services for youth living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic health conditions. In compliment to her work advocating with policy makers and researchers, she is a very active volunteer with Teens Educating and Confronting Homophobia (T.E.A.C.H), where as a peer facilitator she works with youth to confront and combat homophobia in schools and youth groups across Toronto. Through her vital work on so many fronts, Hannah-May is making space where the issues LGBTTIQQ2S youth face in accessing services are acknowledged and prioritized both now and in the future.
Outstanding Contribution to Social Justice
Onyii Ugebe
Toronto, ON
At 26, Onyii has made a name for herself as a self identified African/Black queer, fat, disabled femme woman, poet, activist and community worker.
She has reached across communities and borders with groups such as METRAC, the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre, The Canadian Mental Health Association, The African Student Association (University of Toronto), Queer Nigeria to name just a few, building connections and investing her own lived experiences in the fight for justice and equity.
Using her art and her passionate voice, she has created innovative programming for marginalized youth communities that unpacks the intersectionality of race, disability, gender, sexuality and immigration.
Her commitment to representation for LGBTTIQQ2S communities that refuses compartmentalization of identities is evidenced in all that she does. In the words of one of her nominators: “Toronto is a better place because of Onyii!”
Outstanding Contribution to Trans Youth Visibility
Alexander Kennedy
Ottawa, ON
Since the age of 15 when he co-founded his high school’s first GSA, Alexander has been doing vitally important work within the queer and trans youth community in Ottawa. Alex has worked with city employees, students, service providers, sexual health educators and members of the police, educating them about the medical, legal and social issues faced by trans people. In addition to this, Alexander works to integrate queer and trans issues into the human rights activism and internal policy work he does with Amnesty International Canada, where he has served on the Board of Directors and the Gender Rights Network and Diversity Taskforce. Alexander received a Volunteer Service Award from the Ministry of Citizenship in 2003 and was short-listed for a Capital Xtra Hero Award in 2007. Overcoming feelings of isolation and an early fear of public speaking, 22 year old Alexander brings an impressive history of results and equally important, inspiration to trans youth.
Outstanding Contribution to Queer Youth Visibility
Jean Yves Benard
Ottawa, ON
Jean Yves has committed himself to bringing the issues of LGBTTIQQ2S youth to the table in Ottawa communities. Through work with organizations such as Camp Ten Oaks, Pink Triangle Services and the Youth Service Bureau, he has consistently highlighted the need for relevant and accessible services for LGBTTIQQ2S youth and pushed service providers to prioritize those needs in areas such as housing, addiction services, poverty eradication, sex work and health services. He has brought his message of inclusion and visibility to the Governor General of Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Child and Youth Services, youth leaders, service providers, educators and sex worker’s activists groups, pushing for safe and positive spaces for LGBTTIQQ2S youth.
At 25 years old, Jean Yves has left an indelible mark on youth services and spaces in Ottawa and beyond.
Outstanding Contribution in an Academic Environment
Trent Eady
Renfrew, ON
17 year old Trent did with so few have the courage to do in a small town high school- he stood up and made students and staff take notice. In October of 2009, he stood up in front of a school wide assembly and spoke openly about the intolerance faced by queer and trans folks in his school. This was the first time anyone had done so in his school. Trent took it upon himself to address a glaring lack of support and services for LGBTTIQQ2S youth in high schools across Renfrew County and started calling student councils of every school in his board to gather support for a pro-tolerance movement. Using silicon rainbow bracelets, imprinted with “Tolerance, Diversity, Pride” he enlisted students, teachers and staff to display openly their commitment to safer spaces in schools in Renfrew County. In his school alone, 150 students bought and wore those bracelets, and continue to wear them daily. In January 2010, Trent co-founded his school’s first GSA. Since then, the GSA is spoken at school assemblies and organized a successful Day of Pink. He has also been a great friend to the Youth Line, creating his own posters to increase awareness of our service which he put up in hallways, bathrooms and classrooms around his school. Trent has spearheaded a movement towards safe, accessible spaces for LGBTQ for students across Renfrew County and his actions will echo and inspire others to pick up where he leaves off as he graduates this year.
Honourable Mention
Open Closet Youth Group
London, ON
Open Closet is the only group of its kind in London. For eight years, it has provided safe, accessible space for LGBTTIQQ2S youth to share stories, ask questions and make connections. Since its founding, the group has served over 1500 local youth. Youth members not only find support within the group, but also find a way to give back to the London community by participating in events such as the AIDS Walk for Life, Youth Week, Take Back the Night, and the London Pride Festival. Their success in engaging youth has been recognized by many, and they have been asked to support setting up similar programs in communities outside of London. Even after losing government funding in 2006, the group has remained dedicated to providing space and place for queer and trans youth and has built new a new home at the AIDS Committee of London while searching for secured funding. Open Closet serves as a reminder and shining example of the power and importance of youth directed, safe spaces for the LGBTTIQ2S community.
We’d also like to recognize the following phenomenal nominees for their contribution, passion and dedication to making Ontario a more positive place for LGBTTIQQ2S youth:
Rosa Brooks, Tyler Carson, Blaze Rafferty, Daniel Faranda, Andrea Shine, Spencer Rayner, Felipe Mendes, Rob Salerno, Stas Tikhonov, The Trans Inclusion Group at The Centre for Women and Trans People at UofT, Alex Wells, Nish Israni, Dento Lam, Ricky Rodriguez , Kate Welsh, Zach Witte
