Press Release

August 12, 2004

LGBT Young People Deserve Better

Egale Canada highlights U.N. International Day of Youth

Ottawa—On today, the U.N. International Day of Youth, Egale Canada wishes to highlight that our country’s youth suffer to a greater degree than most Canadians the effects of homophobia, transphobia, racism and economic barriers.

“Our young people deserve better,” declared Gilles Marchildon, Egale’s Executive Director. “Canada still has an appallingly high incidence of youth suicide related to angst surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity/expression. Increased visibility in pop culture has not eliminated homophobia and transphobia.”

“There remains a huge social stigma on issues related to sex and gender,” Marchildon added. “Between a quarter and a third of youth who take their own lives are pushed by societal pressures and hang-up. This has got to change.”

A 2000 study by the University of Calgary’s Christopher Bagley and Pierre Tremblay demonstrated that gay, lesbian and bisexual youth are at least four times more likely than their heterosexual counterparts to have made a serious attempt at suicide sometime in their lives. Researcher Pierre Tremblay, a noted expert on the problem of LGB youth suicide, told Maclean’s Magazine that: “It’s a problem every teacher knows about, but too often the attitude is, ‘We would like to help, but we don’t want to promote homosexuality.’ It is a total abdication.”

“Schools represent one of the best ways to reach youth, as well as adults,” stated Egale Vice-President Gemma Hickey. “This is why Egale recently established an Education Committee to inform and empower local action. While there are encouraging steps being taken by some school boards, much more needs to be done and by a greater number of boards.”

“Of course, homophobia and transphobia also affect our youth outside of the classroom,” added Marchildon. “In conjunction with Supporting our Youth and the Toronto Youth Migrating Project, Egale is planning a symposium in Toronto on October 2nd on the issues facing the increasing number of LGBT youth living in poverty in the downtown area. These youth flee less accepting communities in Canada or abroad and go to Toronto or other big cities in search of acceptance of their sexuality or gender identity. When they arrive, however, they face many barriers to living happy, healthy and productive lives relating to family rejection, poverty and a lack of services.”

Egale Canada was founded in 1986 to advance equality for Canadian lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people (LGBT) and their families, across Canada. Egale’s work includes: political action to lobby for more equitable laws for LGBT people; intervening in human rights and equality legal cases; and increasing public education and awareness. Egale has over 3,800 members including people in each and every province and territory of Canada.

For more information:
Egale Canada, (613) 230-1043 or www.egale.ca

Egale Canada ©2010

Advancing equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans-identified people and their families across Canada