YWCA Toronto’s Post

What is evidence-based advocacy? Our #LBQConnect participant, DeeKay, explains what it means and why it's vital for Lesbian, Bisexual, and Queer advocacy. Data on the experience of LBQ people is scarce, which negatively impacts the visibility of LBQ issues and their relevance in advocacy agendas. Consequently, the rights and issues of LBQ people are radically underserved and under-resourced. Only 5% of global LGBTIQ funding (which itself represents less than 1% of all foundation and government funding) is specifically directed to LBQ issues. Our global LBQ program, LBQ Connect, works with advocates worldwide to develop LBQ-focused research initiatives that address needs and fill gaps. A strong LBQ movement is essential to advance human rights for all LGBTIQ people and improve all of our lives. Learn more about LBQ Connect here: https://lnkd.in/eymnUi4Q

Research on the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and other forms of sexual identities and orientations (LGBTQIA+) youth in care has mainly examined their experiences from a risk-based approach, while few studies have explored their resilience experiences. Check Rodrigo González Álvarez, Mijntje ten Brummelaar, Samar Orwa and Mónica López López's paper to learn more. https://lnkd.in/eHkzMric

Throwback to last month - An important Pride & Progress event discussing the fact that LGBTQIA+ professionals are significantly underrepresented in managerial roles, meaning organisations are missing out on diverse perspectives that drive innovation and success. And a short cameo from me at the end of the video below! 🌈 While these events are important, it's more pressing to keep the conversation going and take action. Consider what you can do to contribute to genuine change in inclusion practices. Key takeaways from the evening included: ✔ Queer inclusion is relevant to everyone, not just those who identify as LGBTQIA+. ✔ An organisations policies and practices not only support staff to show up as their best selves (if the policies and practices are inclusive!), but they can also determine if diverse applicants consider applying for roles within that company in first place. ✔ Visible representation is so important, 'you can't be what you can't see'. The data on people being out in the workplace is actually showing a decrease, making visible representation even more important. (According to AWEI Survey data, in 2023 40.5% were out in the workplace, in 2022 it was 58.7%, in 2021 it was 60.6% and in 2020 it was 66.9%). Sarah Bolitho, Lisa Harvey-Smith, Levyl., Out For Australia Abbie Jane, Hugo Welke 🏳️🌈, Rachel Mead, Rainbow Shoelace Project

THE IMPORTANCE OF LGBTQIA+ ADVOCACY IN CHALLENGING TIMES Amid times of conservatism and social setbacks, LGBTQIA+ advocacy becomes even more vital and necessary. DEFENSE OF RIGHTS: Law dedicated to the LGBTI+ community plays a crucial role in defending and expanding civil rights, combating discriminatory laws and ensuring equality before the law. AMPLIFICATION OF VOICES: It serves as a powerful voice for those who are often silenced, amplifying the demands and needs of the community before government agencies and society as a whole. AWARENESS AND EDUCATION: Through educational campaigns and awareness actions, LGBTQIA+ advocacy contributes to changing mentalities, combating prejudice and promoting a culture of respect and inclusion. ACCESS TO JUSTICE: Ensuring access to justice and specialized legal support for issues related to gender identity, sexual orientation and human rights is another fundamental aspect of this advocacy. RESISTANCE AND ADVANCE: In challenging times, LGBTI+ advocacy not only resists, but also advances, inspiring and strengthening the community to conquer spaces of equality and dignity. Let's continue fighting together for a world where everyone is respected, regardless of who they are and who they love. By: ARSF Team #angelsrefugeesupportfoundation #publicpolitics #LGBTQIA #diversity #social inclusion #respect

We’re proud to share a series of videos highlighting the stories of seven trans or nonbinary youth with lived experience with foster care, homelessness, and the juvenile legal system who shared their experiences for our upcoming report, Safe Havens II: We Must Affirm and Protect Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Diverse Youth in Out-of-Home Systems. Safe Havens II is co-authored with Elliott Orrin Hinkle 🏳️⚧️🦄🏳️🌈, principal and founder of Unicorn Solutions LLC, a nonbinary person with lived experience in foster care alongside our partners at Children's Rights and the Center for the Study of Social Policy. Elliott interviewed our seven lived experience contributors who also shared recommendations for how out-of-home systems should affirm and support trans, nonbinary, and gender diverse (TNGD) youth. In 2017, we released the first comprehensive analysis of the troubling lack of explicit laws and policies to protect TNGD youth in child welfare and juvenile legal systems and experiencing homelessness, with the launch of our Safe Havens report. Now, as anti-LGBTQ+ laws and policies at the state level are on the rise, particularly impacting trans and nonbinary youth, we knew it was time for an update. So after five years, we are proud to launch the second edition of Safe Havens later this month.  Watch the full series of videos at safehavensreport.org. #SafeHavens #ProtectTransYouth #SystemAccountability #TransRights #EqualityForAll #LGBTQYouth #YouthAdvocacy #PolicyChange #LGBTQRights #LGBTQ #SocialJustice

Did you know that in one study on justice-involved youth, ~40-50% of female respondents indicated that they were either LGBQ, GNCT, or both, while ~12% of male respondents identified as such? Clearly, LGBTQ kids are disproportionately represented in the youth legal system. Once involved in the system, these kids also face unique challenges; for example, they are three times more likely to be removed from their homes, and seven times more likely to be placed in a group home. This is a systemic problem that can be fixed! Learn how you can help in our virtual certificate program, launching this fall. Applications are now open. https://lnkd.in/eVbE8p4J

THE IMPORTANCE OF LGBTQIA+ ADVOCACY IN CHALLENGING TIMES Amid times of conservatism and social setbacks, LGBTQIA+ advocacy becomes even more vital and necessary. DEFENSE OF RIGHTS: Law dedicated to the LGBTI+ community plays a crucial role in defending and expanding civil rights, combating discriminatory laws and ensuring equality before the law. AMPLIFICATION OF VOICES: It serves as a powerful voice for those who are often silenced, amplifying the demands and needs of the community before government agencies and society as a whole. AWARENESS AND EDUCATION: Through educational campaigns and awareness actions, LGBTQIA+ advocacy contributes to changing mentalities, combating prejudice and promoting a culture of respect and inclusion. ACCESS TO JUSTICE: Ensuring access to justice and specialized legal support for issues related to gender identity, sexual orientation and human rights is another fundamental aspect of this advocacy. RESISTANCE AND ADVANCE: In challenging times, LGBTI+ advocacy not only resists, but also advances, inspiring and strengthening the community to conquer spaces of equality and dignity. Let's continue fighting together for a world where everyone is respected, regardless of who they are and who they love. By: ARSF Team #angelsrefugeesupportfoundation #publicpolitics #LGBTQIA #diversity #social inclusion #respect

Save the Date: Wed, June 5, 5.30-8 pm, The Showroom, Washington, DC. Journey to Justice 2024: An Evening with the Tahirih Justice Center. Join me at this annual event celebrating the progress made the past year and honoring the partners and supporters who have helped make the work of advancing gender equality and justice possible. ♦ Buy tickets here: https://lnkd.in/guAG92ts ♦ Find event details here: https://lnkd.in/gUCSewqh ♦ About: The Tahirih Justice Center is a national, nonprofit organization that serves immigrant survivors fleeing gender-based violence. Its interdisciplinary, trauma-informed model of service combines free legal services and social services case management with bridge-building policy advocacy and research-based training and education. By amplifying the experiences of survivors in communities, courts, and Congress, Tahirih’s mission is to create a world in which all people share equal rights and live in safety and with dignity. Did you Know.... ♦ Tahirih is a national leader in ending child marriage in America. ♦ Tahirih has supported more than 34,000 clients and their families since 1997. ♦ In 2022, 92% of cases were closed successfully. ♦ Tahirih's free legal services are valued at average of $48,000 per client. ♦ In 2023, Tahirih engaged more than 10,000 professionals in outreach and trauma-informed training to equip them with an understanding of unique obstacles that immigrant survivors face in the wake of violence and the essential tools needed to help. #genderequality #humanrights #immmigration

This is so harmful and so hateful.

The Cass Report is an important review that looks at gender identity services for children and young people in England. Led by Dr. Hilary Cass and commissioned by the National Health Service (NHS), this report examines how these services are currently working and identifies key areas that need improvement. The report aims to better understand the needs of transgender and gender-diverse young people. It offers clear recommendations on how to make the services more effective, including making sure the care provided is well-rounded and addresses not just medical needs but also psychological and social support. This report is an important read for aspiring clinical psychologists because it places a current focus on children's mental healthcare, policy making and advocacy, providing guidance on how to support and care for gender-diverse children and teenagers better. To learn more about what the Cass Report suggests and how it might affect services, get in touch with us! We may just have a resource on its way for you! #clinicalpsychology #dclinpsy #journalclub #gender #EDI