By Imogen Sloss
Coming out as someone who is part of the LGBTQ+ community is a challenging process. The first and hardest step may be in sifting through your potentially confusing emotions, thoughts and attractions, to determine your identity. There is much pressure on young people today to figure out and label their identity, such that some adolescents think that there is something wrong with them if they are not certain. If you do not have a strong sense of your identity or need to label yourself, that is okay. If however, you do conclude that you are part of the LGBTQ+ community, then your second step is to accept yourself. This might be especially difficult if you have grown up in a family, culture, religion or peer group that is judgmental of such diversity. It is important to find positive online resources, someone from the LGBTQ+ community, or an ally, who can affirm and support you.
The third step is to determine if, when and how you might want to come out to your family and friends. There are many reasons why people have been afraid to disclose their identity. Sadly, history has taught many young people that coming out can result in rejection, bullying, stereotyping, and harm. Experiencing such discrimination has a negative impact on your mental health and well-being. Fortunately, advocacy in Canada has resulted in greater support for people who are LGBTQ+ and anti-discrimination laws to protect them. If you are unsure about the safety of coming out, try to find a trusted and affirming therapist to help you make this decision. This can encourage you to take the risk and come out so that you can experience the acceptance and support of others. Or you might have to wait to be open about your sexual or gender identity until you can be in a safer environment.
A great resource is TrevorSpace which is a safe online community for teens and young adults, and was created by the Trevor Project. On TrevorSpace, you will be able to connect with other LGBTQ+ individuals who have had similar experiences to you. There are discussions on figuring out your sexuality or gender identity, coming out, and dealing with negative reactions and bullying. This can be a helpful safe space to discuss anything around this topic with people who understand and will not judge you. It is a great place to get advice from people who have been through similar situations, or to just talk about what you are going through. You can also read the stories of other young people, which can help you feel less alone.
Additionally, please see below for some Toronto-based LGBTQ2S+ organizations.
The 519 is a Toronto based agency that provides programs for people in the LGBTQ+ community, including counselling services, coming out groups, support for trans individuals, support for seniors, parenting resources, and much more.
Casey House is a hospital where people with HIV/AIDS can go to get treatment without judgement. They provide both medical and mental health care to its patients.
Toronto Pflag is an agency that offers many programs including support meetings, a phone line, workshops, and community events for people in the LGBTQ+ community.
ACAS is an agency that provides support for East and Southeast Asian individuals in the LGBTQ+ community and people with HIV/AIDS. This includes HIV/AIDS and STI testing, programs for Asian LGBTQ+ youth, mental health services, and workshops.
The LGBT Youth Line is an agency in Ontario that provides text, chat, and email support to LGBTQ+ youth.
SOY provides programs for youth (29 and under) who are part of the LGBTQ+ community. SOY provides mentoring, housing for homeless youth, support groups, and more.
Buddies in a Bad Time is a theatre company that performs productions written and acted by people in the LGBTQ+ community.
Inside Out is a film festival that produces and exhibits films made by and about people from the LGBTQ+ community.
Images
Emeny, S. (2021). Pride Flag. UnSplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/g8_RshvAYCY.
Hornung, Y. (2019). Love is Love. UnSplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/_FlNNNDezuw.