For Pride month, Distress and Crisis Ontario’s podcast, DCO Discourse, released a new episode featuring LGBT YouthLine’s Executive Director, Lauren Pragg. Hosts Lexie Stewart and Caitlin Ennis described YouthLine’s ongoing work supporting 2SLGBTQ+ youth across Ontario.
Along with this, they highlighted YouthLine’s emergency fundraising campaign to help sustain these life-changing resources in the face of an uncertain future.
Caitlin and Lexie spoke with Lauren about some of the challenges facing queer and trans youth as they navigate school, social media, new technologies, and a wave of increased discrimination. In this difficult climate, YouthLine’s peer support HelpLine continues to be vital resource for 2SLGBTQ+ young people.
“Peer support is about being present with someone, listening without judgement, and connecting through shared or similar lived experiences” describes Lauren.
Despite the importance of this resource, finding access to adequate funding has become a growing challenge for YouthLine.
“Over the last few years we’ve had a deficit because of declines in funding. We’ve seen drops in government, corporate and individual giving over the past few years” explains Lauren. “Some of the anti-DEI sentiment from corporations means that there’s less support for organizations like ours”.
Other groups serving the 2SLQBTQ+ community have been similarly impacted. “There have been quite a few organizations that have closed, that have really felt the bite of less government funding available”.
Facing an uncertain future, YouthLine has launched an emergency fundraiser to help ensure it can continue to operate. “We just want to continue to be there for youth” says Lauren.
Over the coming months, YouthLine hopes to raise $150,000 in order to continue providing community and affirming support to queer and trans young people in the years ahead.
Click here to listen to the full episode. Visit youthline.ca/donate to give today and help support YouthLine’s emergency fundraiser.
A big thank you to Lexie and Caitlin for featuring us on their show.
