Summary of Issue
- Social Isolation: Discrimination can lead to exclusion from social groups and community activities.
- Reduced Support Networks: Fear of rejection can prevent individuals from seeking support and building meaningful relationships.
- Mental Health Impact: Experiences of stigmatization contribute to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
Introduction
The 2SLGBTQIA+ community faces unique challenges due to discrimination and stigmatization. These negative experiences can significantly impact social connections, leading to isolation and loneliness. Understanding these barriers and finding ways to address them is crucial for fostering a more inclusive and supportive society.
Why the Barrier Exists
Several factors contribute to the social disconnection experienced by the 2SLGBTQIA+ community:
- Social Isolation: Discrimination can result in exclusion from social groups, community activities, and even family gatherings.
- Fear of Rejection: Many individuals fear rejection or hostility if they disclose their sexual orientation or gender identity, leading to reluctance in forming new relationships, and a lack of meaningful connection in existing ones.
- Internalized Stigma: Internalizing negative societal attitudes can result in self-isolation and a reluctance to seek out social interactions.
- Mental Health Impact: The constant stress of stigmatization can lead to higher rates of mental health issues, including depression and anxiety, which further contribute to social withdrawal.
Stat from the 2023 Canadian Social Connection Survey: According to the survey, 46.9% of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals reported feeling lonely. Additionally, the CSCS suggests that 9.1% members of the LGBTQ+ community are chronically lonely. The existence of strong community organizations founded to support marginalized individuals are an amazing resource for fostering social connection.
Recommended Solutions
To reduce the negative impact of discrimination and stigmatization on social connections, consider these strategies:
Seek Out Safe Spaces: Many community organizations exist to provide a safe space where 2SLGBTQIA+ people can connect with each other and provide a sense of belonging and mutual support.. Seek out these support groups in your area.
- Volunteering: Volunteering with local 2SLGBTQIA+ community organizations provides opportunities for connecting with people who share lived experience, creating a more supportive environment for yourself and your community.
- Advocate for Yourself: Educate people in your life about 2SLGBTQIA+ identities and challenges, and encourage allies to actively support and stand up against discrimination, helping to create a more inclusive community.
- Seek Professional Support: 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations can direct you to accessible mental health services specifically tailored to the needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals
By seeking out community support, accessing tailored mental health services, and connecting with people who have shared lived experience through volunteering, 2SLGBTQIA+ people can reduce the negative impacts of discrimination on their social lives, and foster stronger, more meaningful connections.
Expert Insight
The Canadian Alliance for Social Connection and Health explains how members of a marginalized group can achieve lower levels of loneliness despite social stigmatization: “communities with a strong sense of identity may form strong intra-group ties which can help individuals develop close, fulfilling relationships even when stigmatized by mainstream society. Such efforts can lead to lower levels of loneliness within these communities, but this does not undermine the reality that they face social marginalization in the first place.” (Goldsmith et al., 2024)
Community Resources/Solutions
To help manage the impact of discrimination and stigmatization, various organizations and groups across Canada provide opportunities and support in strengthening social connection and improving social health for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community:
- GenWell
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- Description: Is Canada’s Human Connection Movement and is working to educate, empower and catalyze Canadians around the importance of their social health.
- How it Helps: They provide tips, tools, resources and campaigns that can inspire social connection for all Canadians
- Contact Information: Visit website at www.GenWell.ca for more information.
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- Meetup
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- Description: A platform for finding and building local communities, connecting people with similar interests.
- How it Helps: Encourages participation in local social groups and events, reducing isolation in shared living environments.
- Contact Information: Visit website for local group details.
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- Egale Canada
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- Description: Advocates for the rights of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and provides resources, education, and support services.
- How it Helps: Offers programs and initiatives to promote inclusion and support for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.
- Contact Information: Email: info@egale.ca
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- PFLAG Canada
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- Description: Supports, educates, and advocates for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and their families.
- How it Helps: Offers peer support, resources, and community building activities.
- Contact Information: Email: info@pflagcanada.ca
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- LGBT Youth Line
- Description: Youth led organization that connects 2SLGBTQ+ youth (29 and under) to peer support.
- How it Helps: Provides confidential and non-judgemental peer support through text and online chat services.
- Contact Information: Text:647-694-4275
Further Reading
- Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD): Resources and advocacy for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals across Canada.
- Chosen Family: Fostering Connection Away from Home published by the American Psychological Association.
- Loneliness in pregnant and postpartum people and parents of children aged 5 years or younger: a scoping review published in the Journal of Systematic Reviews.
- Social relationship experiences of transgender people and their relational partners: A meta-synthesis published in Social Science & Medicine.