Dare2Imagine Week 4 Recap!

This week focused on activism and history! We wanted to show that we recognize that Pride is a protest, but it’s also about our existence and how it fits into the wider world. 2SLGBTQ youth deserve to know where we came from and we need to listen to them to figure out where we need to go. This week struck the perfect balance of highlighting 2sLGBTQ icons and heroes, identities and how we developed them with the influences we had in our lives, and looked back on some of YouthLine’s past work. We also put out a queer media recommendations list – check it out here!

Check out our images below!

Day 22:

 

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On #day22 of our #Dare2Imagine photo challenge, we want to say thanks for all the love you’ve shown up over the years! We couldn’t do the work we do without our partners, so today, we want to show some love to the groups that have welcomed us in the past year, partnered with us, and helped us support 2SLGBTQ youth across Ontario. Our partners on our Northern Zine: @teddy_syrette, Sudbury Action Centre for Youth, @koachkatrina.theklub, TG Innerselves, Space Kenora Our partners on our Grey-Bruce Zine: M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre and @makeitwrightgb Needs Assessment: @kindspaceca, PARN, Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre, @makeitwrightgb, M’Wikwedong Friendship Centre, SACY, TG Innerselves, The Gilbert Centre Join us for the final week of the challenge focused on Queer Activism and History.

A post shared by LGBT YouthLine (@lgbtyouthline) on Jun 22, 2020 at 10:10am PDT

Day 23:

 

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“On #day23 we #Dare2Imagine what resistance means for each of us individually so we can collectively building larger resistance movements. Each one of us needs to participate and resist in ways that work for us and maximize our impact. While it can seem overwhelming, even little actions can add up. Resistance can look like: marching in the streets; calling/writing to elected officials; building awareness on issues and mobilizing others; donating funds; helping groups to provide much-needed resources to communities in need, joining virtual healing and wellness spaces, and being a safe listening ear for marginalized folx who may be more affected than you. We know that 2LGBTQ+ youth are always resisting and finding new ways to resist, to imagine better futures – What does resistance mean for you?” ALT TEXT: Image shows a blue b/g with scribbles of white and teal. In the center is a white square with a dark blue border. on the top right corner of this square sits the dare2imagine logo. Inside the square text reads my EXISTENCE is RESISTANCE 13 times in dark blue. The fourth line is in pink.

A post shared by LGBT YouthLine (@lgbtyouthline) on Jun 23, 2020 at 9:16am PDT

Day 24:

 

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It’s #day24 of our #dare2imagine #30dayphotochallenge! Today, we are focusing on everyone within our 2SLGBTQ community, whether you are bisexual, asexual, pansexual, transgender, two-spirit, intersex, non-binary, or another identity within the umbrella. Today’s prompt is about the representations within our community and how all are valid and celebrated! In our 2020 Summary Report of our needs assessment, put together by 2SLGBTQ youth across Ontario, youth talked about how representation and being 2SLGBTQ makes them feel. How do you feel represented in our community? Could we do better to help you feel seen? Let us know! Alt-Text: Image 1 – Illustration of varying kinds of people on the page. Mostly young, vibrant, and colorful. Image 2 – A tan background with a white border encompasses the image. In the top center, green text reads “What do 2SLGBTQ+ youth love about being 2SLGBTQ+?” On the left-hand side, below the titular question reads “I love… I love knowing I don’t have to leave a part of myself behind. Community helps me find language for things that I didn’t know how to express. I have never been more supported than I have been by my queer/trans friends”. On the right-hand side reads “However… I love that I am free to love who I love, but that has come with many hardships over my lifetime. I see people’s bigotry every day. It wears you down over time. … My parents aren’t accepting snd I’m not accepting of myself … so I feel a disconnect to what I want, who I am, and what the world expects of me”. The bottom right corner reads “Quotes from youth participants”. Image 3 – A tan background with a white border encompasses the image. In the top left, green text reads “What changes do 2SLGBTQ+ youth want and need in their communities??” On the left-hand side, below the titular question reads “Spaces to gather and ongoing community events. Health services and resources, including mental health supports, trans-specific health resources, and comprehensive services in smaller communities. Greater awareness of our community and its needs. Challenging homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia everywhere.” On the right-hand side reads “…there are 8000 people

A post shared by LGBT YouthLine (@lgbtyouthline) on Jun 24, 2020 at 7:30am PDT

Day 25:

 

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It’s #day25 of our #Dare2Imagine photo challenge! When our team came up with these prompts, we had a wry chuckle thinking of #2SLGBTQ+ shows from our younger days that helped us discover our own identities. Looking back, many were quite problematic and rarely represented the vastness of our identities; however, we recognize them as shows that helped us discover our own identities. So, we want to know: what were those shows for you? Our team put our heads together and came up with some of the most iconic ones for us. Let us know what yours were! Shows we love: RENT, Glee, the L Word, Queer as Folk, Degrassi: The Next Generation ALT TEXT: Image shows a still from a movie streaming service-esque website. Under the main header, the category reads “Older Shows & Movies featuring 2SLGBTQ+ People”. Five images are featured. They are movie/show posters (from left to right) of Glee, Queer As Folk, Degrassi: The Next Generation, The L Word, and RENT.

A post shared by LGBT YouthLine (@lgbtyouthline) on Jun 25, 2020 at 8:12am PDT

Day 26:

 

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On #day26 of our #dare2imagine #30dayphotochallenge, we want to ask you what community represents for you? We show up for and feel community by collecting in spaces to watch #dragqueens and #dragkings, #burlesque #dancers, and other #queerperformances. By collecting to go #rally, #protest, and #march, while social distancing this year. We are also in community through feeding each other, grieving together, and creating/being with our chosen family. Alt-Text: Illustration – Black silhouettes of people rallying on a yellow b/g. In a teal circle in front of it are two drag queens. In a pink circle are three groups of people at a park having a picnic. A gay couple, a parent-child-dog, and a lesbian couple.

A post shared by LGBT YouthLine (@lgbtyouthline) on Jun 26, 2020 at 8:13am PDT

Day 27:

 

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Who’s your favourite 2SLGBTQ icon? On day #27 of our #Dare2Imagine challenge, we want to know who’s making spaces fun, safe, and affirming for you! Who are your local icons? Who do you look up to? Let us know! Here are some of ours: @ChiefLadyBird, @EllenPage, #MaNeeChacaby, #MonaHardy, @rajahrupert, @kimkatrinc (past youth award winner), @thecandyshow, @teganandsara Alt-Text: Image b/g shows a person holding a rainbow flag. Text in the upper right corner reads “Our favourite 2SLGBTQ+ Icons.” 8 circles show pictures of Chief Lady Bird, Ellen Page, Ma-Nee Chacaby, Mona Hardy, Rupert Raj, Kim Katrin Milan (past award winner), Candy Palmater, and Tegan and Sara

A post shared by LGBT YouthLine (@lgbtyouthline) on Jun 27, 2020 at 8:06am PDT

Day 28:

 

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On #Day28 of our #Dare2Imagine challenge, we look back over the years of @lgbtyouthline to see how far we’ve come! For our 25th anniversary, we were pleased to be able to create a digital #arquive (thanks to The ArQuives) of our work with 2SLGBTQ youth around Ontario. We’re sharing some of our favourite posters, buttons and mementors from the past today, and we want to know – what is your favorite 2SLGBTQ memento? What does it represent to you?

A post shared by LGBT YouthLine (@lgbtyouthline) on Jun 28, 2020 at 12:31pm PDT

And check out what our PYAP team is doing!

Day 22:

 

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On #day22 we have to say that #LGBTYouthLine is our favourite organization. We wouldn’t exist without them! In deference to #celebrating them, we have borrowed their post today. We #appreciate everything @lgbtyouthline does and how they’ve #supported the #PYAP project. All covers illustrated by @coyotewatson featuring work by: BIPOC – (Maisha Marshall-Ende) @uncle_guiseppe Indigenous – (Keisha Erwin Roberts) @wapahkesis Northern – Whitney Heroux @hamburger_help_me Trans+ – Cassandra Thompson @seedandserasee Under 18 – Harmeet Rehal @harmeetrehal Thank you!

A post shared by Provincial Youth Ambassadors (@pyap_youthline) on Jun 22, 2020 at 6:26pm PDT

Day 23:

 

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On #day23 we imagine what #resistance means to us Resistance happens at many levels, it can be marching at a protest, or donating to an org, or calling a politician. Resistance can mean taking care of yourself or others, organizing care and community resources and standing up for what you believe in in all the ways you can. #resistance is something that varies from each #person and we all do our #best with it- whether your resistance is #selfcare and #healing or #protesting or both or neither it’s still valid. Show us what #resistance means to you in your story and tag @lgbtyouthline #dare2imagine #dandelion #growing

A post shared by Provincial Youth Ambassadors (@pyap_youthline) on Jun 23, 2020 at 4:51pm PDT

Day 24:

 

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On #day24 we are asking what represents the #2SLGBTQ community to #YOU To us the 2SLGBTQ community is so varied that it’s impossible to pick just one picture or person or ideal- we are all #unique and have different experiences. That being said we did want to #highlight what some of the youth from last years #needs #assessment had to say. Our communities are #vibrant but very much in need of #support #dare2imagine #30dayphotochallenge #pride #rainbow #lgbtyouthline #2SLGBTQ #youth

A post shared by Provincial Youth Ambassadors (@pyap_youthline) on Jun 24, 2020 at 2:35pm PDT

Day 25:

 

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It’s #day25 of our #Dare2Imagine photo challenge! When the @lgbtyouthline team were coming up with #2SLGBTQ+ shows from our younger days we realized that many were problematic and rarely represented the vastness of our #identities That being said, these shows still helped us to #discover ourselves and for that they hold a #softspot in our #hearts. It is important to think critically about these #shows but that doesn’t change their #impact both #positive and #negative What were your favourite #2SLGBTQ+ shows? Shows we Love; RENT, Glee, The L Word, Queer as Folk, Degrassi:The Next Generation

A post shared by Provincial Youth Ambassadors (@pyap_youthline) on Jun 25, 2020 at 3:56pm PDT

Day 26:

 

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On #day26 of our #dare2imagine #30dayphotochallenge, we want to ask you what community represents for you? We show up for and feel community by collecting in spaces to watch #dragqueens and #dragkings, #burlesque #dancers, and other #queerperformances. By collecting to go #rally, #protest, and #march, while social distancing this year. We are also in community through feeding each other, grieving together, and creating/being with our chosen family. Alt-Text: Illustration – Black silhouettes of people rallying on a yellow b/g. In a teal circle in front of it are two drag queens. In a pink circle are three groups of people at a park having a picnic. A gay couple, a parent-child-dog, and a lesbian couple.

A post shared by Provincial Youth Ambassadors (@pyap_youthline) on Jun 26, 2020 at 5:07pm PDT

Day 27:

 

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Who’s your favourite 2SLGBTQ icon? On day #27 of our #Dare2Imagine challenge, we want to know who’s making spaces fun, safe, and affirming for you! Who are your local icons? Who do you look up to? Let us know! Here are some of ours: @ChiefLadyBird, @EllenPage, #MaNeeChacaby, #MonaHardy, @rajahrupert, @kimkatrinc (past youth award winner), @thecandyshow, @teganandsara Alt-Text: Image b/g shows a person holding a rainbow flag. Text in the upper right corner reads “Our favourite 2SLGBTQ+ Icons.” 8 circles show pictures of Chief Lady Bird, Ellen Page, Ma-Nee Chacaby, Mona Hardy, Rupert Raj, Kim Katrin Milan (past award winner), Candy Palmater, and Tegan and Sara

A post shared by Provincial Youth Ambassadors (@pyap_youthline) on Jun 27, 2020 at 5:15pm PDT

Day 28:

 

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Oooops! Looks like we forgot to post on #day28 (yesterday), we got so caught up in how #wonderful the @lgbtyouthline post was we forgot to make our #own On #day28 we took a look at all the #amazing things #youthline has accomplished, on our #25anniversary we were able to make a #arquive online. Share with us your #favourite button/poster/flag representing #2SLGBTQ community

A post shared by Provincial Youth Ambassadors (@pyap_youthline) on Jun 29, 2020 at 4:10pm PDT

We want to thank everyone who joined us for the #Dare2Imagine challenge. Without you, we couldn’t have made the impact we did, with over 400 new followers across our social media this month and new awareness for the needs of 2SLGBTQ youth, especially those who are Black and Indigenous!

Thanks to all who have helped us make this unusual-looking Pride happy and impactful this year. We appreciate you!

XO, YouthLine