Pushed (Back) in the Closet: Research Findings on the Safety Needs of LGBTTIQQ2S Women and Trans Communities of Toronto
Presenters:
Howard Shulman, Coordinator, The 519 Anti-Violence Program, The 519 Church Street Community Centre,
Toronto
Keli Bellaire, Program Assistant, METRAC, Toronto
Ruth Cameron, Research Consultant, Hamilton
Despite the successes of the LGBTTIQQ2 communities (the legalization of same-sex marriage, inclusion of sexual orientation in human rights legislation) and the presence of a few prominent gay and lesbian individuals in popular culture, there is the mistaken notion that equality, acceptance, and the opportunity to live a life free of harassment based on sexual orientation or gender identity are available to LGBTTIQQ2S-identified individuals. The reality though is quite different: recent statistics from The 519 Anti-Violence Program and the Toronto Police Service Hate Crimes Unit show increased reports of hate-motivated violence based on sexual orientation. And while there has been little research on
this issue, a recent Statistics Canada study found that LGBT individuals are more likely to experience violence than their heterosexual peers. In an effort to get a better sense of the issues from our
client communities, METRAC and The 519 Anti-Violence Program partnered to conduct a study to assess the safety needs of the LGBTTIQQ2S women and trans communities, in relation to their experiences of violence and the fear of violence in public spaces, in the City of Toronto.
The survey was structured to capture the complexity of individual experiences of harassment, discrimination, and violence and in turn, the multiple ways that oppressive behaviours occur against members of LGBTTIQQ2S communities. In completing the survey, individuals were asked to self-identify their sexual orientation and gender and to identify areas of concern regarding their public safety. Survey questions were designed to elicit responses from individuals about witnessed and personal experiences of discrimination and harassment, reporting behaviour, and outcomes of reporting incidents. Participants were also asked to identify the current safety strategies they employ in dealing with discriminatory behaviour and the fear of harassment or violence encountered in public spaces.
