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The Importance of Being an Ally

At the beginning of July, we shared some thoughts from Kadee Smedley (she/her), Lead Spiritual Care Practitioner at Covenant House Vancouver, on why she thought it was important to be an ally of the 2SLGBTQAI+ community.

Today, Lisa (she/her), Social Worker in the Rights of Passage program, shares her thoughts on why it is important to be an ally for the 2SLGBTQAI+ community.

What does Pride mean to you?

It’s a day to celebrate the 2SLGBTQAI+ community and acknowledge their strengths, their talents, and their contributions to society. I encourage all youth to participate, be an ally, and join the celebration of the 2SLGBTQAI+ community. Pride also provides a voice for this community, as there is much more work that needs to be done to help its members thrive. 

What, do you think, are some of the biggest societal challenges for queer youth?

Being able to change their name, acquire ID (it takes a long time and is expensive), access gender affirming care, find employment, find housing, and being able to access mental health care are some of the big ones that I see.

What does being an ally mean to you? 

It means supporting and advocating for the vulnerable communities that are often not heard or taken seriously. Being an ally means being able to create awareness about what that community needs to thrive, and it means being ready to join events, marches, and other campaigns, when called upon. 

How has the 2SLGBTQAI+ community impacted your life or perspective?  

It has impacted my life by introducing me to some of the most amazing people, who needed our support. Working with this community has empowered me with the confidence to correct people and educate people on the bus or Skytrain, when they are rude or using stereotypes when interacting with an individual.

What are the ways that you support 2SLGBTQAI+ youth in your role?

I will introduce youth to supports, job training programs, and housing that are queer friendly. I will work with staff to discuss the ways that we can support youth, where we can refer them to for help, and I will help staff understand the struggles that youth face when trying to access medical, mental health, and employment supports.

Can you share a recent youth story where you’ve seen a youth flourish because they’ve felt safe and supported at CHV?

There was one youth who came to Rights of Passage who was quite shy. He was often not allowed to leave his home because of his sexuality. He was using substances and had many behaviours that required our attention.  

We worked with him to legally change his name, and we worked with the school that he attended to change his name and pronouns. As he grew into himself, we began to see changes. We witnessed him advocate for change at his school for the queer community. He helped us change some of our forms that did not have the correct wording. He has become a strong advocate for the 2SLGBTQAI+ community.  He is now living out in the community, he is no longer using, because he is proud of his success and who he has become.

Do you participate in Pride?

I live in New Westminster and celebrate there. I attend their Pride parade and the drag shows that they have every year.

Any last thought that you’d like to share? 

Pride is a celebration for a community that is often silenced. We need to support this community — their needs may be different than yours, but that’s okay. 

I am an advocate who will continue to educate those who need it, assist where I can, and I’m thankful for all of you.

We [Covenant House Vancouver] have become inclusive, and we hear that all of the time from the youth we serve. To all of you in the 2SLGBTQAI+ community, we see you and you matter!