Toronto: It's Time to Start Supporting LGBTQ Homeless Youth

I recently wrote a Blog Post for the Huffington Post. My Blog Post discusses LGBTQ youth homelessness in Canada and the lack of support available, because Toronto, it really is time to start supporting LGBTQ youth who are street-involved and homeless.
If you're interested in reading, here is the link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/alex-ilona-abramovich/lgbtq-homeless_b_3343050.html

Thank you,
Alex

Digital Storytelling Project - Teal's Story

The film "Teal's Story" is part of a Digital Storytelling project from my PhD research study, which investigates LGBTQ youth homelessness in Toronto. I created the film with a very courageous young trans woman named Teal. "Teal's Story" visually illustrates her experiences in Toronto's shelter system and how she navigated daily occurrences of extreme transphobia. My hope is that this film will raise awareness to the issue of LGBTQ youth homelessness and begin a much needed shift in the shelter system. Everyone NEEDS to see this. Please watch and share "Teal's Story".

"Almost all LGBTQ people going into shelters have a fear of them, because it isn’t a matter of if it’s dangerous, but just how dangerous it will be. It is horrible to live in that fear everyday." (Teal, 23 years old, Digital Storytelling project)

A special thank you to the The 519 Church Street Community Centre for supporting this project.

Please watch and share the film:

International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

Today is International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.

Today we raise awareness to the ongoing violence and discrimination experienced by LGBTQ people around the world every single day.

Toronto may be considered one of the safest cities in the world for LGBTQ people, however, the prevalence of homophobic and transphobic violence is often normalized and invisible.

25-40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ. Queer and trans youth experiencing homelessness often feel safer on the streets than in shelters, due to the extreme homophobia and transphobia that occurs in the shelter system. But still there is minimal support available in Toronto and still we do NOT have specialized housing for LGBTQ youth in Canada.

I hope everyone can take a moment today to think about this and to help raise awareness because this type of discrimination affects us all.