Creating Safe and Positive Spaces for LGBTQ Newcomers - A Project Update
September 10, 2009
The main objective of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants' (OCASI) Positive Spaces Initiative (PSI) is to support the immigrant and refugee serving sector to more effectively serve LGBTQ (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or questioning) newcomers.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBTQ) individuals are an integral, though often invisible, part of immigrant and refugee communities. Immigrant and refugee-serving organizations have an obligation and responsibility to provide relevant, effective and appropriate services for these immigrants and refugees who are often marginalized within multiple communities.
In these two videos Stacia Stewart, Positive Spaces Initiative (PSI) Communications & Partnerships Coordinator, provides an overview and reflections of the project to date.
Stacia provides an overview of the PSI initiative and current/future activities (5 minutes 19 seconds):
- Launching a Marketing Campaign, Fall 2009 which will include offline and online components
- Workshops will be delivered at the OCASI ED Forum/PD Conference and in Toronto later in the Fall
- Untold Stories project - PSI gathered stories from LGBTQ newcomers and will release a report about their experiences accessing settlement services in Ontario
- Service Provider feedback - those working on issues facing LGBTQ, shared their experiences, stories and promising practices.
Additional details are provided below.
Stacia provides her reflections on the project so far, the impact of hearing from LGBTQ newcomers and experiences reaching out to sector agencies (5 minutes, 51 seconds).
Recent Project News
What LGBTQ Newcomers Have to Say About Settlement in Ontario
The Positive Spaces Initiative did an environmental scan to gather information on the realities of LGBTQ newcomers in Ontario with it's recent Untold Stories Project. The project, which conducted in 26 in person interviews with LGBTQ newcomers and frontline settlement workers within all 7 OCASI regions, ran from March - July 2009. A project summary with key recommendations will be released at the 2009 OCASI Executive Directors Forum and the Professional Development Conference.
Tools and Resources for Settlement Workers
The PSI will launch "OCASI's Positive Space" Campaign in November 2009 at the OCASI Professional Development Conference. The campaign will include:
- Online audio visual tools
- Information and fact sheets (How to Better Support Your LGBTQ Client/Service User, Tips on Challenging Homophobia and Transphobia within Your Agency, Resources in Ontario, and Understanding the Rights of LGBTQ Newcomers)
- Print and Online Materials including a poster, audio visual tool, and how to find trainings throughout the province
Training for Your Agency
At this year's Professional Development Conference, the Positive Spaces Initiative in collaboration with community partners will be offering several training and dialogue opportunities.
There will be a panel discussion titled "Are You Missing Anything?: A Panel Discussion to Examine the Intersections of Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Faith".
There will be a training session titled "Adopting Positive Expressions: Working with Translators & Interpreters to Enhance Service Provision to LGBTQ Newcomers"
Additionally, several member agencies who are striving to create safe welcoming space within their organizations are offering training inclusive of LGBTQ issues. For additional information on the conference and to see the workshop summaries go to:
The PSI will also be developing further training modules which will be completed and offered in early 2010. The trainings are currently being developed and will be piloted with 4 OCASI regions between November 2009 and January 2010.
Continuing to Engage in a Dialogue on LGBTQ Issues Within the OCASI Membership
In early 2010, the Positive Spaces Initiative will host a One Day Forum, offering the sector an opportunity to assess it's next steps and future needs on enhancing service provision for LGBTQ newcomers. The forum is currently in the planning phase, stay tuned for future updates in early November.