'They're not alone': As Pride month winds down in Sask., advocates say helping LGBTQ+ youth is critical
As Pride month comes to a close, some say educating people on the LGTBTQ+ community at a young age is important.
Emily Coates is a clinical social worker with the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) and says learning about Pride can help youth understand the meaning behind rainbows and other symbolism they might see during Pride month.
“It does help for young people to hear themselves and see themselves represented in their education,” Coates said.
Coates says having teachers or educators who don’t talk about Pride can make students feel like their school isn’t safe.
“Talking about these things means that you can be one of the adults that young people trust to come and talk to.”
Coates says students notice when teachers use correct names and pronouns and can tell the difference between someone who is trying and someone who never does.
“Even if they (students) never attend their schools LGTBTQ+ clubs, just the fact that is exists in their school is something that makes them feel more comfortable.”
Lyra Evans is a trustee in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and also a transgender woman. She says there were no conversations about what being LGTBTQ+ meant growing up so she didn’t have the proper language to express herself when she realized she was transgender.
“It’s really important to give people that language to give people the understanding and to know that they’re not alone, there’s shared experiences among other people they can talk about,” Evans said.
She says the lack of language can leave people not understanding the feelings they’re having and the inability to talk about it can lead to shame.
“If nobody is willing to talk about it, if nobody is willing to have those conversations, anyone who feels they might be LGBTQ will feel a great deal of shame and unwilling to address that in a healthy way.”
High rates of addictions and mental health issues within the LGBTQ+ community is tied to societal perceptions of the community and shame associated with it, according to Evans.
Evans says the best way to start the conversation with children is to discuss diverse families as not all families look the same and that it’s normal.
Coates also adds that it’s important for all people to be educated about the LGBTQ+ community and Pride regardless of their sexuality to create more acceptance and compassion.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Slovakia's populist prime minister shot in assassination attempt, shocking Europe before elections
The Slovak defence minister says doctors are fighting for the life of the country's prime minister, who was shot multiple times after a political event Wednesday afternoon.
Transport Canada's UFO 'lead' planned to meet with U.S. intel officials, called info requests a 'wild goose chase'
Canada's transportation department had a UFO 'lead' who tried to 'quell' media interest and planned to meet with U.S. intelligence officials.
'Very expensive lunch': Sask. driver handed a cell phone ticket for using points app in McDonald's drive-thru
A warning from a Saskatoon driver about using your fast-food app while in the drive-thru line — a trip to get some free lunch cost him a lot more than he bargained for.
'The Fly' has become notorious in France after a brazen escape. What's his criminal history?
A prisoner nicknamed “The Fly” has become notorious in France overnight after a daring and bloody escape from a prison convoy in Normandy that left two guards dead.
BREAKING Ontario's 'crypto king' Aiden Pleterski arrested
Aiden Pleterski, the self-proclaimed 'crypto king' from Whitby, Ont., has been arrested in Durham Region after allegedly running a Ponzi scheme worth more than $40 million.
BREAKING Barge hits a bridge in Texas, damaging the structure and causing an oil spill
A barge slammed into a bridge pillar in Galveston, Texas, on Wednesday, spilling oil into surrounding waters and closing the only road to a smaller and separate island that is home to a university, officials said. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
Person responsible for 1996 drugging of 'Titanic' crew likely not a local: Halifax police
Halifax Regional Police believe a non-resident could be responsible for the infamous drugging of numerous crew members of the 'Titanic' movie with a hallucinogenic in 1996.
Latest updates on the biggest wildfires burning in Canada
Thousands of people in Western Canada remain displaced from their homes as wildfires threaten their communities, triggering evacuation orders and alerts.
OPINION If you think you can’t focus for long, you’re right: Sandee LaMotte
Regaining your focus requires you to be mindful of how you are using technology -- a daunting task if you consider the average American spends at least 10 hours a day on screens.