On November 29, 2023, Directions Youth Services 2SLGBTQIA+ Programing Coordinator Alysha Somerton spoke at a Vancouver City Council meeting. The topic? Councillor Christine Boyle put forward a motion to create a Trans, Gender Diverse and Two-Spirit (TGD2S) Inclusion and Safety Action Plan. The motion passed unanimously.
By Alysha Somerton (she/her)
Good morning members of the City Council. My name is Alysha Somerton, and I am the 2SLGBTQIA+ Programing Coordinator at Directions Youth Services under Family Services of Greater Vancouver. I have worked as a youth worker for almost six years and also work as a sexual health and relationship educator. I have been a resident in Vancouver all of my adult life. Today, I stand before you to express my explicit support for the Trans, Gender Diverse, and Two-Spirit Inclusion and Safety Action Plan.
There are many statistics that outline the adversities disproportionately experienced by trans, gender diverse, and two-spirit youth. Some of which are in motion.
Today, however, I’d like to share a recent experience from the anti-SOGI and anti-trans protest on September 20th that underscores the pressing need for the inclusion and safety action plan. Alongside colleagues and friends, I attended the counter-protest. I have been to many peaceful protests in the past, but this day was the first time I feared for my safety—a sentiment shared by most of the counter-protesters. In the days leading up to the protest, I spent time planning safety with a few youth I work with who feared for their well-being. These young people knew that there would be lots of violent, transphobic protesters in and around the city who were fueled by misinformation and hate. Most of the safety plans involved advising youth to stay inside our Drop-in Centre for their safety that day, being accompanied to appointments, and staying away from downtown, if that was an option.
The day was tough to say the least. Witnessing so much anger and hatred towards people who just want to exist in the world as themselves, towards people that I love and care deeply about. Despite the challenging day, in the evening, we held a transformative drag night for the youth. The event turned a day of transphobia into an evening of queer joy. Youth received gender affirming haircuts, got their drag makeup done, watched drag performances, ate pizza, and just spent time being in community. I had a few youth come up to me expressing how they had such an awful day feeling like everyone in the city hated them just for existing, but having this space to be themselves and be in community turned the day around. It was a really beautiful evening and quite the juxtaposition from the hateful protest earlier in the day.
However, the evening’s joy was tempered by the reality of the day when we had to advise each youth to remove their makeup and hide any drag-related items for their safety when leaving the building. We even had staff accompany youth to the bus stop because they were scared, which is something we have never had to do before.
And this was just one day. These experiences emphasize the critical need for the proposed action plan. As someone deeply involved in working with and creating safer spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, I witness firsthand the negative impact that the rise on transphobia and misinformation about trans, gender diverse, and two-spirit people have on their well-being. Supporting this motion offers an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals in our community and our city. Thank you for your time and consideration.