As part of its goal to ensure everyone feels welcome and supported in the community, United Way Perth-Huron is continuing to support Stratford Pride Community Centre (SPCC).
“United Way is committed to supporting our friends, neighbours, and family members in the local LGBTQ+ community and the SPCC plays an important role in those efforts," said Ryan Erb, United Way Perth-Huron's executive director.
Erb said the local organization was proud to help fund the launch of the SPCC last year and they have raised about 75 per cent towards their goal of providing core operational support funds.
Stratford Pride Community Centre is a safe space for the Perth-Huron LGBTQ+ community to share social, educational and health-related issues. It offers resources for local businesses who want to broaden connections with LGBTQ+ customers and employees.
Bruce Duncan Skeaff, president of the SPCC, said the United Way's support is "crucial to our goal of providing social and health supports and services for the LGBTQ+ population where none existed before."
Skeaff has noted that there was a lack of programs and services for LGBTQ+ residents, which has resulted in social isolation and poor mental and physical well-being. Data from CMHA Ontario and Rainbow Health Ontario shows that rates for mental health challenges among LGBTQ+ individuals are higher than the general population, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and phobic disorders, suicidality, self-harm and substance use.
The LGBTQ+ community face double the risk of post traumatic stress disorder, and youth are 14 times more likely to be at risk of suicide and substance use than their heterosexual peers.
Skeaff is also busy promoting a Stratford Pride Community Centre annual fundraising event - Stratford Winter Pride '23 - starting Feb. 9. More information on that four-day fundraiser is available here: https://stratfordpride.com/winter-pride-23
For more information on Stratford Pride Community Centre, go to http://stratfordpride.com.
