Inclusion at heart of providing safe support and services for queer community

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Pride Week is cause for celebration, but it also serves as a catalyst for those needing to find support.

For Ace Rodriguez, coach at Every Body Stronger and graduate of Mount Royal University’s Personal Fitness Trainer diploma program, creating a more inclusive fitness industry gets their blood pumping.

“Joining a gym can be stressful, and there’s no such thing as a completely safe space, but we try to ensure every one is as comfortable as possible,” says Rodriguez.

For those who don’t feel at home in a traditional gym, training with a queer, non-binary person such as Rodriguez can feel liberating.

Here’s a look at welcoming 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations in Calgary that assist queer individuals in building resilience and community.

Skipping Stone

Cocktail lovers may have heard of Skipping Stone Foundation thanks to Eat North’s annual Shake, Stir, and Strainbow fundraising campaign. Until Pride wraps, you can sip Pride-themed cocktails at bars and restaurants across Alberta, raising awareness and funds for Skipping Stone.

“The visibility from Shake, Stir, and Strainbow is so important. Having a cool restaurant show in a really visible way their support for you is validating and goes a long way if you’re a kid with unsupportive parents,” says Lindsay Peace, executive director of Skipping Stone.

The foundation connects trans and gender-diverse children, youth and adults with the support and services they’re looking for. From programming to facilitating community groups to navigating the health-care system, their services are free and available to anyone in Alberta.

“We don’t tell people how to transition, we’re more of a systems navigator, finding both the helpers and the folks who need help. We do the heavy lifting,” says Peace.

How to access

• Community groups are currently available online, with some returning to in-person this fall.
• To access services, fill out the community intake form at: skippingstone.ca/intake

How to support

• Skipping Stone is a registered charity, accepting financial donations. Volunteers are accepted throughout the year.
• Their Community Pantry accepts donations of non-perishable food and hygiene items. Clothing and cosmetic donations are also appreciated.

Calgary Outlink

The oldest 2SLGBTQIA+ resources centre in Calgary, Outlink, Calgary’s Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity is a first point of contact for many. Whether you’re looking for advice on how to come out to your family, in need of peer support or counselling, Calgary Outlink can help you find what you’re looking for.

Community programs include Lavender TeaTime for folks who identify with feminine gender identity, Between Men, a social support group for queer men and Tea Time with Dorothy, a meet-up for adults 50+ who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+. For the younger set, Inside Out Youth Group welcomes 2SLGBTQIA+ identified or questioning youth aged 13-18, along with their friends and family.

How to access

• Email: info@calgaryoutlink.ca or call 403-234-8973 for general inquiries, peer support and resource referral.
• Outlink’s community calendar displays events, meetings and groups that are tailored to the 2SLGTQIA+ community.
• Launching this fall is You Matter, a non-crisis line at 587-800-4121, that provides additional support and resource referrals on weekday evenings.

How to support

• Applications for volunteer opportunities are accepted at various times throughout the year.
• Calgary Outlink is a charitable organization accepting donations.

End of the Rainbow Foundation

Working in collaboration with the Centre for Newcomers, the End of the Rainbow Foundation’s primary focus is to identify and support individuals from outside of Canada who are not safe in their own country due to their sexual orientation. Additionally, the foundation supports claimants from those who are already in Calgary on work or student visas. By co-ordinating sponsorship groups of five individuals, the centre facilitates the newcomer and volunteers who provide training and educational services.

The foundation also offers a complimentary tax clinic for the queer community. Community Volunteer Income Tax Program is a year-round, CRA initiative that connects trained volunteers with those who need assistance filing their taxes.

How to access

Email: elliot@endoftherainbow.ca for further information on services including CVITP. Or, ask questions via the live weekday chat box on their website: endoftherainbow.ca.

How to support

• Volunteers and refugee sponsors are needed. In-kind support is more important than monetary.
• Donate household items and gently used clothing at their Donation Centre: 223 12th Ave. S.W.
• Short-term accommodation with a dedicated bed and bathroom is needed while permanent housing is found for the LGBTQ+ person in need.
• The End of the Rainbow Foundation is a registered charity accepting donations.

Centre for Sexuality

Calgary’s Centre for Sexuality offers services and programs that support healthy sexuality for all ages. Short-term counselling is free for individuals and their guardians looking for support and information relating to gender, sexual health, sexuality and relationships.

For almost 50 years the centre has worked within schools, providing education on all manner of sexual health, in addition to providing resources through their training centre workshops.

“We recognize that when people are understanding their sexual orientation, they may encounter hurdles such as, who do I tell and how can do so in a safe manner? We help them build their skills and community,” says Pam Krause, president and CEO of the Centre for Sexuality.

Gender Creative Families offers caregivers of trans, non-binary, gender independent, gender fluid, gender-queer and gender non-conforming children aged four to 14 an opportunity to talk about their challenges during monthly gatherings.

Additionally, there are programs for trans and non-binary youth, plus Camp fYrefly, a transformational retreat for 2SLGBTQ+ youth 14 to 24. Additionally, the Centre provides HIV and STI testing two nights a week.

How to access

Email: info@centreforsexuality.ca, call 403-283-5580 or visit: centreforsexuality.ca for more information on programs and services.

How to support

• The Centre for Sexuality is a registered charity accepting donations.
• Contact their volunteer co-ordinator, Arielle at amcewen@centreforsexuality.ca.