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TORONTO – Youth homelessness, food insecurity, and isolation are major problems affecting 2SLGBTQ youth in Toronto. Up to 40 per cent of Toronto youth experiencing homelessness identify as 2SLGBTQ, with many facing violence and discrimination in the shelter system. Canadian 2SLGBTQ youth are disproportionately more likely to be isolated and depressed, issues which can be exacerbated by pandemic stress and hostile family situations.  

Supporting Our Youth (SOY) is a community development program of Sherbourne Health that has assisted thousands of youth navigating these issues since 1998. We help youth gain secure housing, meals, skills-building, and vital programming to help them overcome life’s challenges. 

This year, SOY is working with a reduced budget and a greater need for all of our services.  

Since last year, we have seen the attendance for some of our drop-in programs, including Black Queer Youth (BQY) – which serves African, Black, and Caribbean youth – and TransFusion Crew – a support group for trans youth — double. We are currently the most visited 2SLGBTQ community programming provider for trans youth in Toronto. The impact of the pandemic on marginalized 2SLGBTQ youth means our youth have reduced support to live safe, healthy, authentic lives.  

For 2022-2023, SOY is facing a budget shortfall of $90,000, due to reduced support from government funding sources and increased demand. This decrease could directly affect SOY’s vital drop-in programming, which provides 2SLGBTQ youth pathways to skills building and employment opportunities, wellness supports, and community connection. Like many other Canadians, we are also impacted by the increased costs of food and rising inflation, making it more expensive for us to offer some supports.  

Amid these concerns, we are hopeful Torontonians, 2SLGBTQ communities, and allies will rally to participate in an important fundraiser for Supporting Our Youth, and the newcomer, underhoused, racialized, and marginalized youth who rely on our services.  

Sherbourne Health will host the 21st annual SOY Bowlathon fundraiser on Saturday, October 22 at The Ballroom, a fun-filled afternoon where bowling teams will play to help us reach our $40,000 fundraising goal.  
Quotes from SOY Participants 

“Moving here as a queer and trans teenager on the run from an abusive and transphobic home environment, attending the SOY program when I got into Toronto helped me find community and support.” – Markus  

“Especially for queer and LGBT folks, [SOY is] really what we need. As simple as that. It’s one of the best things to happen to me.” – Leila  

“It’s a safe place to be who we truly are, share our emotions, and also helps with mental health.” – Mckandy.  

NOTE: THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED.

Thank you to all participants for supporting our SOY Bowlathon 2019 fundraiser. Together we raised a total of over $35,000 towards the health and well-being of local LGBT2SQ youth at SOY. We look forward to working alongside you again next year!

Registration is now open for SOY Bowlathon 2019!

It’s that time of year again to get the balls rolling … come join us at the 20th annual SOY Bowlathon! The SOY Bowlathon is the largest fundraiser for SOY, which raises funds to open up opportunities and pathways to health and wellness for LGBT2SQ youth.

As a program of Sherbourne Health, SOY is an innovative community development program offering holistic support and diverse programming to address the complex needs of LGBT2SQ youth aged 14-29 in Toronto. We create opportunities for youth to build resilience and confidence, improve health knowledge, and access community resources through group-based and one-to-one supports. At SOY, we aim to cultivate an inclusive, welcoming community, helping to reduce isolation, improve mental health, and support youth as they grow skills to take into their adult lives.

Our goal this year is to raise $40,000 for SOY’s groups and activities. At the Bowlathon, over 130 youth, volunteers, mentors, donors, workplace teams, community partners, and allies will come together to Open Up the Lanes for SOY and we hope that you can join us. You can form a team, join a team, lend some support and come out for a high energy, fun-filled afternoon of bowling.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Saturday, October 19
Time: 12:30-4PM
Location: The Ballroom Bowl, 145 John Street

REGISTRATION

• SIGN UP: Click here to sign up today! 
• MORE INFO:  Check out the Bowlathon Info Guide for full details.
• PLEDGE FORMS: Download a pledge form and start fundraising!

CONTACT

Questions? Contact Shellie at shellie@espinc.ca or 289-834-1980.
We look forward to seeing you on October 19! Together, we can continue to raise support for our LGBT2SQ youth community.

SOY is offering two sessions to anyone (all ages) who is trans or non-binary and seeking ID change support to meet with a lawyer for support with ID applications, name changes and gender marker changes.

The Trans ID Clinic’s scope is limited to providing free ID and name change related legal information (depending on the student and lawyer’s expertise), form-filling services for government-issued identification, and legal referrals where available.

Identification forms which the clinic is able to assist with include: birth certificates, name change certificates, Ontario driver’s licenses, Ontario health cards, SIN cards, citizenship cards, permanent resident cards, passports, and Indian Status cards.

NOTE: The Clinic is not capable of assisting with any other legal matters or immigration-related applications.

HOW

DROP IN!  There are very limited spots available per session (the clinic may be able to see ~4-6 people each evening).
NOTE: Service based on order of arrival beginning at 5:30 pm.

WHEN 

Two sessions are being offered:

• Session #1: Thursday, February 28th from 6-8:30 pm
• Session #2: Thursday, March 14th from 6-8:30 pm

WHERE

2nd Floor
Sherbourne Health
333 Sherbourne Street

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Bring any relevant documentation and available ID. Lawyers can support if documentation is not available.
• Limited financial assistance may be available to support application fees.
• Sherbourne Health staff from various teams will also be on hand to connect clients with other supports, resources and programs at Sherbourne Health.
• Tokens and a meal will be provided.

PLUS!

Additional free trans-focused community programming each night:

Gender Jaunt (all ages drop-in) FROM 4-6 pm
Dinner (for all Trans program and ID clinic participants) FROM 6 pm-onwards
Trans Men’s Surgical Support Groups (prior registration required) FROM 6:15-8 pm
Trans Fusion Crew (29 & under, drop-in) FROM 6:30-8:30 pm
Mature Trans Sisters (45 & older, contact facilitator in advance) FROM 6:30-8:30 pm
Voice Modification Group (prior registration required) FROM 6:30-8:30 pm

BEFORE COMING … JOIN A PRE-CLINIC INFO SESSION AT SHERBOURNE HEALTH!

Find out what you may need in advance of the Trans ID Clinic.

As there are only two ID Clinic sessions this season, to get the most out of your visit, learn more about what you may need in advance of the session. Please come to one of our Clinic Preparation Information Sessions at Sherbourne Health.

• Tuesday, February 19^th at 6:30 pm -2nd Floor (at SOY’s Intersections group)
• Thursday, February 21^st at 6:30 pm – 2nd Floor (at SOY Trans Fusion Crew and Mature Trans Sisters groups)

CONTACT US

For questions or more information, contact SOY at 416-324-5077 or soy@sherbourne.on.ca.

This is a queer and Trans positive, non-judgmental, anti-oppressive and inclusive learning space.

This Trans ID Clinic is run in partnership with Sherbourne Health, Pro Bono Students Canada volunteer law students, and Blakes volunteer lawyers.