FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – South Shore Sexual Health is troubled by recent social media posts being shared locally that allege members of the Pride community are harming children and youth. This cruel disinformation is profoundly dangerous to everyone’s well-being and safety, including that of the youth it claims to be protecting.
All of us must publicly uphold the hard-earned categories of human rights such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. The 2SLGBTQAIP* community has been disproportionately targeted by groups and individuals working to undermine sexual and reproductive health here and globally. We must not allow this to make our South Shore unwelcoming and unsafe.
As a charity that champions healthy sexuality, we believe adults and youth have the right to evidence-based, comprehensive sexual health education that protects them from negative outcomes like unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted and blood borne infections, and gendered violence. Folks also have a right to clothing and prosthetics that affirm their gender.
South Shore Sexual Health is home to the award-winning Transformation Closet, which supports people with free or pay as you can gender-affirming gear such as binders, packers, breast forms, and more. Such items increase self worth and confidence in an immediate and extraordinary way. In our office, we have heard people crying tears of joy when they try a binder for the first time.
This program started only three years ago and is now one of our most popular services. We expanded it in partnership with our provincial organization, Sexual Health Nova Scotia, to reach folks around the province. As a result, we have provided almost 400 gender-affirming items to all ages including seniors. We hope to distribute more as long as resources allow.
Our work is funded through grants and donations from governments, organizations, individuals, and churches. We are one of several sexual health centres around the province.
This Pride season, we ask our allies to stand up and uphold these basic but important human rights so we can make the South Shore a place where all folks are safe and welcome.
For more information on the national and international scene, our affiliate Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights has crafted this open letter on reproductive rights here.
Protecting and supporting young people whatever their personal identity or sexual preference is the responsibility of our community. Pride is critical because it gives our vulnerable and disenfranchised LGBT individuals a safe space to be themselves because not everyone/everywhere is tolerant, compassionate or even kind. They fear what they don’t understand or anyone who is different from them.