There are lots of web-based resources available for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning people. Hopefully, we can direct you to some good ones as a starting point. Remember that there are some not-so-good ones out there, too, so use critical thinking when you evaluate their messages.
Below are links to some websites with a focus on Montreal, Quebec and Canadian organizations.
Project 10 - A Montreal-based support group concerned with issues of importance to lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex, queer, trans, two-spirit, and questioning youth. Among many services, they have a support line that welcomes your calls Monday-Thursday 12-6 p.m. www.p10.qc.ca/
AlterHeros - AlterHéros is "the Internet reference portal that allows you to become better informed about homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality, and homophobia by yourself. This portal contains over 800 articles that cover just about everything: coming out, homophobia in the school environment, sexuality and safer sex, tools and activities, the discovery of your sexual orientation, self acceptance, etc". This website also has an excellent brief history of gay rights in Canada. www.alterheros.com/english/
CAEO Québec - the needs of the Québec English-Speaking LGBTQ Community currently operates three community programs that help us achieve our objectives:
GAY LINE - a free and confidential listening, referral and support telephone service for the community.
514-866-5090 or 1-888-505-1010 during hours of operation
SILK -(Sexual Information Leads to Knowledge) - a volunteer program developed in 2008 that, in partnership with Allies Montreal, provides free workshops to all the Anglophone high schools (as well as a few CEGEPs and universities) on the island of Montreal. Being called a “fag” or a “dyke” is one of the most common insults that one can hear in the halls of any school. Additionally, “that's so gay” is often itself a derogatory phrase, used synonymously with “that sucks.” Habits like these create a homophobic and intolerant atmosphere in a school, and as a result, youth who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, questioning, or who are simply perceived as that, are often placed at great risk within school environments. According to the Québec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission (2001), “Youths are often exposed to homophobic jokes and innuendos, harassment, outright rejection, incomprehension, and are sometimes victims of violence. At the very moment, when they most need a supportive school and family environment, they are too often left alone, unable to look for the help they so desperately need.
Gay ONLINE - a free and confidential monitored chat room service, whose main focus is to provide referrals and support to the community via an online medium.
Gai Écoute - Un centre d'aide, d'écoute téléphonique et de renseignements à l'intention des personnes intéressées par les questions relatives à l'orientation sexuelle. Les services d'écoute téléphonique sont offerts gratuitement à l'échelle de tout le Québec, sept jours sur sept, 19 heures par jour. Aussi, leur site web possède une banque de données informatisée, le Répertoire des ressources (Infoguide) , inventoriant toutes les ressources utiles aux membres de communautés LGBT (lesbienne, gaie, bisexuelle, transgenre et transsexuelle), à leurs proches, aux intervenants et intervenantes. Plus de 2 800 ressources, couvrant toutes les régions du Québec, sont inscrites dans cette banque d'information. www.gai-ecoute.qc.ca/
Allies Montreal - a youth-based program that provides free English workshops to the Montreal area, addressing sexual orientation, gender, negative language, sexual health, and more. Allies strives to create safer spaces for all youth by encouraging students to act as “allies” to each other. http://allies.queermcgill.ca/
PFLAG -Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays - PFLAG Canada is there when it seems no-one else is. Every day, PFLAG Canada volunteers are contacted by frightened adolescents and by angry, fearful or ashamed parents. PFLAG Canada supports, educates and provides resources to anyone with questions or concerns. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.www.pflagcanada.ca/en/index-e.asp
Toronto Children's Aid Society - This site provides a lot of really high-quality information and resources relating directly to LGBTQ youth, especially information about coming out. www.torontocas.ca/category/out-and-proud/
AfterEllen - News, reviews and commentary on the representation of lesbians and bisexual women in entertainment and the media, including television, movies, books, and celebrity news. www.afterellen.com/
SexualityandU - this Canadian website is committed to providing you credible and up-to-date information and education on sexual health. Your "link to sexual well-being", this site has a lot of information about sexual orientation and gender identity that is written specifically for teens, including sections on coming out to family and friends, helping a friend who's gay, cross-gender identity, transgendered support groups, and atypical sexuality.
Quebec Alliance for Queer Youth - QAQY's mission is to group community organizations, projects, and student associations that work with young lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, questioning and their allies, everywhere in Quebec, to help each other in their common objectives.
Queer McGill - Organization that provides social, political, information, and support services at McGill University for lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender students, and their friends. Queer McGill is open to undergraduates, post-graduates, staff, as well as non-students in the Montreal community. Provides support groups and discussions about sexuality, coming out and safer sex. We offer several discussion groups and social activities at McGill and across the city. We have an extensive library and resource centre, and will take action against discrimination or harassment toward our members.
Q2 Ally Network - a group of individuals from the Concordia University community who share the common goal of working towards embracing and celebrating sexual diversity. http://q2.concordia.ca/
Canada's Gay Guide - local and national community resources for gay, lesbian, bisexual, & transgendered (LGBT) people in Canada. gayguidecanada.com/
LGBT/Queer University Programs
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, and Queer studies in the USA and Canada. Check out this website for a listing.
Resources for Gay Christians - finding an affirming church, seeking support, guide to gay marriage (specifically in the U.S.), finding organizations & support, and other recommended reading
Mark Roeder's Website - Mark is the author of The Gay Youth Chronicles, a series of novels about growing up, discovering oneself, coming out, and falling in love. Set primarily in the fictional town of Verona, Indiana and spanning a twenty-year period, these novels explore the lives of a group of interrelated characters as they deal with issues of prejudice, hatred, violence and teen suicide. www.markroeder.com/
Slap Upside the Head - voted the Best GLBT blog in Canada at the Canadian Blog Awards for the second consecutive year. The author, a 30-something year old Montrealer named Mark, has an interesting insight into what's going on in the world from a pro-gay perspective. He posted the YouTube of the interview below. His motto is: "Combatting bigotry the gayest way I know how". In Jan. 2009, he posted a very clear and positive entry about the rainbow flag sticker and safe space programs. He posted the following on his blog and it's worthy of a few minutes to watch:
Recently, from US figure skater Johnny Weir responding to recent comments made by two Quebec sports broadcasters,
including a suggestion that Weir should undergo gender testing and compete in women's events.
Dorothy Surrenders - Part Dorothy Gale. Part Dorothy Parker. All Friend of Dorothy
A GAY GAL'S GUIDE TO POP CULTURE. WHY LET THE BOYS HAVE ALL THE FUN?
Check out this blog by
Dorothy Snarker who says, "I'm misanthropic, but in a nice way". She has an intesting point of view and a positive perspective.
International Sites:
Amnesty International U.S.A. - from their website:
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Human Rights
Amnesty International believes that all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, should be able to enjoy the full range of human rights, without exception. However, every day, across the globe, sexual orientation or gender identity leads to abuse in the form of discrimination, violence, imprisonment, torture, or even execution. Persecution on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity can take a variety of forms and these contravene the basic tenets of international human rights law. By highlighting instances of abuse against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) individuals, Amnesty's activists work to protect members of the LGBT community whilst striving to achieve decriminalization and marriage equality.
International Gay & Lesbian Human Rights Commission - The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) is a leading international organization dedicated to human rights advocacy on behalf of people who experience discrimination or abuse on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Click on the links below to view our tools for activists. www.iglhrc.org
If you know of a website that provides positive, supportive information, why not send us an email and suggest it for inclusion here?
