The truth of being 2SLGBTQIA+ in Canada by Levente Beck
 |
| June.18/2022- Levente beck |
The truth of being 2SLGBTQIA+ in Canada is not a pretty one. A census done in 2018 (the safety in public and private spaces) estimated 1 million Canadians are sexual minorities-that means they self-reported as something other than hetrosexual-about 4% of Canada's population of 15 and older.
That is not the issue, the issue is the disproportionate homeless rates, hate crimes, and suicide rates of people who identify with the 2SLGBTQIA+ label. There's more but those are the big ones, but that does not mean those issues are unimportant. 2SLGBTQIA individuals are more at risk because they are apart 2SLGBTQIA+ which is a sad truth in Canada that we have to accept and help fix it.
Homelessness in Canada is a problem itself but there is over-representation of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, between 25% and 40% of homeless youth identify as a part of the 2SLGBTQIA+. Some of the studies suggest that is because of the rejection of family members when the youth are coming out.
The numbers show in the past four years in Canada hate crimes due to someone's sexual orientation, going from 10% to 12.6%. That doesn't seem like a lot but hate crimes have also been on the rise, with 1,817 in 2018 and 3,360 in 2021. Hate crimes against people for their sexual orientation are consistently in the top 3 for hate crimes in Canada.
Transgender teens showed 5 times the risk of suicidal ideation and 7.6% times the risk of a suicide attempt then their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts. As shown in a study by the Canadian medical association journal. The study also showed more risk of bad mental health for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.
With the sad truth in Canada for 2SLGBTQIA+ above something has to be done, there has to be more of an effort made. We have to be the generation of change in Canada. There is so much information and studies about the disproportionate amounts of 2SLGBTQIA+ at risk merely because they are a part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and living in Canada.
It's a simple fix that will take years to do, we could address this issue nationwide with more representation in schools, more help specifically for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. As in more programs that will support a Queer alliance with non-queer individuals, more support programs for the youth to help them feel seen and accepted. If we try and don't give up one day there will no longer be such disproportionate statistics. One day it won't have to be a sad truth in Canada.
Comments
Post a Comment