Program of acceptance a life-saver for LGBTTQ* youth

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This article was published 28/10/2017 (2958 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Every Wednesday, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., nearly 50 LGBTTQ* youth head to Rainbow Resource Centre on Scott Street for an evening of bonding, education and, most importantly, acceptance.

Skyllar Martin is one of them. Martin, 20, identifies as pansexual and prefers they/them pronouns. They’ve been attending the Peer Project for Youth program since February.

“I was told by a friend to check it out. When I first found out about it, I thought it was a like, basically, hangout centre, where you could get more friends and get more into the community — but I learned that it was so much more than that.

“It’s a place to really truly find yourself.”

Aimed at LGBTTQ* youth from 13 to 21, Peer Project for Youth (PPY)meets on the second Saturday of the month, as well as Wednesdays. It’s a positive, inclusive support group that offers the opportunity to meet new people, work on projects, learn new skills and celebrate their identities. The programming, which is delivered by centre staff, focuses on building self-esteem, resillience and confidence.

And it’s fun. Earlier in October, they celebrated LGBTTQ* history month with a night of LGBTTQ* Jeopardy. They’ve also had movie nights, karaoke nights and gym activities. Every January, the group puts on a winter dance; during Pride Week in June they host a fundraising pancake breakfast for Camp Aurora, Manitoba’s only LGBTTQ* summer camp.

“There have been a lot of changes over the past few decades, but there’s still a need for a group like this,” says Dianna Grywinski, a youth counsellor and programmer at the centre. “There’s still youth dealing with bullying or environments where they are not accepted. So I think the importance of having this program is reaffirming their identities and who they are, and being able to express that in a place that’s positive.”

For Martin, who has experienced both bullying and depression, Peer Project for Youth has been a rainbow among the storm clouds.

“It’s a place where we can go and be ourselves. I think in our general daily lives we can’t always do that, and it gets really stressful. We can’t always be out and proud and wear what we want — whether it’s a dress or makeup or whatever the case. (This) is the place where we can express ourselves and feel safe.”

The program has been supported by the United Way for more than a decade. “We wouldn’t be able to do it without them,” Grywinski says. “It’s so important to have their support.”

The centre has been able to offer a sit-down meal as part of the program, which takes place at 6 p.m. before the activities get underway. “That’s been really meaningful to many of them,” Grywinski says. “It’s that family thing.”

She says feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We hear that the programming has saved their lives,” she says. “They look forward to coming here, and having the space to connect with their peers and be relaxed in a positive space that affirms them.”

Without the program, Martin says, life would be a lot darker.

“To be honest, I truly don’t know how I would be with my mental health. I mean, not going to lie, sometimes my mental health is not very good. Before I was at PPY, I didn’t have any friends — I had just gotten out of the worst group of friends. Through PPY, I found hope in people again.”

jen.zoratti@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @JenZoratti