At LGBT YouthLine we’re very happy and relieved to see the federal government’s renewal of the 2SLGBTQIA+ Action Plan in the Budget announcement. This is a great development that will allow collaboration between the government and community partners to begin once we have more information on how the funding will be rolled out. This announcement also makes clear that when we come together and work as a coalition, we get things done. Collective organizing and solidarity have great power, and I encourage all of us to invest more in these strategies.
We hope that this funding can reach a level of $90 million annually in the near future. Something of note in this announcement was the lack of funding for queer and trans refugees and newcomers specifically. Overall, we want to see a holistic approach to support for our communities throughout all governmental departments. 2SLGBTQIA+ people live whole lives and engage with the government on many levels, including immingration, housing, employment, education, and healthcare.
As providers of frontline mental health support, we believe that queer and trans youth deserve to live full, healthy, balanced lives of dignity and well-being. Mental health across the country is still chronically underfunded and needs serious investment to avoid larger and more serious social and material impacts in the future. We look forward to partnering with the government to continue supporting 2SLGBTQIA+ youth for years to come.
Click here to read a NOW Toronto article featuring quotes from YouthLine’s Executive Director Lauren Pragg about the funding announcement.
