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Spotlite on: Northern Pride in Thunder Bay

Kristin Duare McKinnon, MSW
September 7, 1998
Northern Pride is a very important group in Northwestern Ontario. Started three years ago, and having grown from an initiative of the AIDS Committee of Thunder Bay (ACT-B), Northern Pride is a support and education group for gay, lesbian and bisexual youth in the city. Co-facilitated by social worker, Barbara Spencer and educator, Dave Belrose, the group offers support, friendship, acceptance and hope to youth struggling with sexual orientation issues.

Barb and Dave volunteer their time with Northern Pride because they know how lonely and confusing the world can seem for youth coping with homosexuality - especially in the smaller, isolated communities of Northwestern Ontario. Without support and understanding, these young people face obstacles that can erode their self-image and lead to destructive or deadly behaviours. Alcohol and drug abuse, depression, running away, living on the streets, hustling, suicide1 - these are too often the consequences of the stress and hopelessness that many gay youth experience as they try to accept themselves, their sexuality and the negative attitudes they may face from society, family and friends.

It is isolation of this struggle that can become deadly. Gay, lesbian and bisexual youth often feel they have nowhere to go and nobody to trust. Beyond the self-hatred that is imposed by society's views and fears of homosexuality, these youth must live in fear for their own security and safety. They face rejection and harm by their families, their peers and the community if they reveal their homosexuality. So they hide. This isolation, which is intensified in northern communities that lack adequate services and supports, has serious consequences. Youth in Northwestern Ontario often cope with their difficulties by becoming depressed, running away to larger centres like Winnipeg and Toronto, hustling and living on the streets, or committing suicide. They are unable to see that they have other alternatives.

Northern Pride strives to even out these odds and give hope back to gay, lesbian and bisexual youth. In the group, young people learn to accept themselves and others in a safe, open and caring environment. Barb, Doug, and other members support them while they learn. This learning comes in several forms:

Education
Gay, lesbian and bisexual youth don't often realize that the awful feelings they have about themselves come often from outside, not from within. In Northern Pride, they are taught to examine their own misconceptions and stereotypes about homosexuality. They are educated so that they can understand and challenge society's myths. For example, young people know that homosexuality is seen by many people as a "sin," but they don't know that there are religions that accept and embrace people regardless of their sexual orientation. Alternative information not readily available from family, friends, schools and communities helps youth to understand that they are not inherently bad and hopeless because of their sexual orientation.

Members of Northern Pride also learn that they do not have to label themselves, be it as "gay," "lesbian," "bisexual" or somewhere in between. Sexuality is defined as being on a continuum - with heterosexuality and homosexuality at either end. Group members come to understand this continuum and how the definition of their sexuality is neither absolute nor necessary. Barb and Dave instead emphasize what is really important - feeling good about who you are - regardless of the definitions or labels you may choose.

Acceptance
Members of Northern Pride learn and grow in an atmosphere of acceptance and friendship. They are supported and guided by the group's leaders and other members. Being a part of the group - belonging and contributing - leads them to realize that they have something of value to offer to others. The intense feeling of isolation is lifted and there is no need to hide - even if just for a few hours. There is tremendous personal power in knowing that there is someone out there who cares and will not reject them. With this support, gay, lesbian and bisexual youth can begin to accept themselves.

Example
The facilitators and guests of Northern Pride lead by example. Group members have the chance to see that people who are gay, lesbian and bisexual can lead normal, successful lives. Before joining the group, many young people do not know someone who is a homosexual, and rely on stereotypes and myths as their frame of reference. By meeting happy, successful people who are gay, lesbian or bisexual themselves, group members can have hope for the future. They meet people with successful careers, relationships, and families. They also have the opportunity to learn how these people cope with the barriers society presents to them because of their sexual orientation, and problem-solve based with what they learn.

Guests also include members of the community who are gay positive - those who are not homosexual but are supportive of people who are gay, lesbian and bisexual. One such visitor was the Minister from a church that welcomes gay members in its congregation. Through such encounters, group members learn that those who can offer them support and acceptance go beyond just their gay, lesbian and bisexual peers.

Action
The young people in Northern Pride also learn through action. The group belongs to everyone and the members take part in establishing the structure and rules. They work together on the group's newsletter, Northern Connection, as a vehicle to share their experiences with their peers across Northern and Northwestern Ontario. Learning to challenge myths about homosexuality means also learning to stand up for their rights in day to day life, and getting involved in the movement for equal rights. Members of Northern Pride learn how to access numerous resources about the rights, issues and challenges facing people who are homosexual - contacts that can give them strength, pride and hope for the future.

For more information about the important, vital work of Northern Pride, call Barb Spencer at (807) 622-6121 or Dave Belrose at (807) 345-1516.

Other Resources

THUNDER BAY (Area code 807)
SAULT STE. MARIE (Area code 705)

DRYDEN (Area Code 807)

ELLIOT LAKE (Area Code 705)

KENORA (Area Code 807)

NORTH BAY (Area code 705)

TIMMINS (Area code 705)

SUDBURY (Area code 705)

Note: 1 Suicide rates alone among gay, lesbian and bisexual youth unproportionately high and rates of attempted suicide are for these youth are three to 14 times higher than for their heterosexual counterparts. See: Gibson, P. (1989). Gay male and lesbian youth suicide. In Feinleib (ed.), Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide. Washington, DC: US Department of Health and Human Services. Public Health Service: Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Administration, 3: 110-142. Also see: December 1996 study by the University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work: of a study of 750 young men from 18 to 27 years of age, gay males were 14 times more like to have made serious suicide attempts.

Kristin Duare McKinnon has diverse front-line and administrative experience in nonprofit organizations providing health, social, and community services. She now has her own business, KDM, which offers program support to the non-profit sector. Kristin's special interests include leadership and service excellence, program development and evaluation, volunteer management, and working with seniors and people with disabilities. She can be reached at KDM, P.O. Box 429, Pontypool, ON Phone (705) 277-3262; Fax (705) 277-2921.

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