Finding Connections

We have found through various means that connecting with the Lethbridge community at large is quite difficult for the LGBTQ community. Reasoning can be chalked up to a seemingly reoccurring theme from several of the individuals we interviewed describing Lethbridge mentality as “very redneck” and “conservative”.  However it is important to acknowledge the importance of local and understanding support; so how do we gain this sense of community?

Where the Lethbridge community is not accepting of this demographic, we have found a strong cohesion and support for the most part within the population itself. “I think the LGBT is incredibly important. I think that everyone needs to feel a sense of community, and that it is great for LGBT to have people that they feel safe around, and a group they can belong to.” The only problem is finding these groups of people. Though there are several groups there seems to be a general consensus that not many exist as a means to social interaction and events. In general most of the groups, excluding major ones within more accepting demographics such as the U of L PRIDE CENTRE, are aimed more around creating awareness and provide little support besides unity. Even though we have found that the community is interested less in “forcing [pride parades] on a small town like Lethbridge” and “interested more about meeting people within thecommunity”.  Stephan Dunbar-Edge commented in one interview that he used his Theatre group and friends as his “primary crutches”. All of this is an interesting concept to grasp as it only further excludes the population socially; however it provides a safe support.

Another important question to ask is what is the awareness level of these support groups that do exist? Interestingly enough it may not just be a lack of support in Lethbridge; and if it is a lack of support why? I think that there are a couple of reasons for both questions that became evident in answers:

1. Limited awareness of support: “we have a Pride festival… and isn’t there a thing at the water tower?”  
2. Fear of seeking support: “I definitely didn't have a connection to any sort of support system in the community. I had friends who helped me along the way, but I felt like I had to be very hushed about my sexuality. It didn't feel like an open or safe place for me to be honest with who I was, for fear of being discriminated against.” Another individual talked about being aware of their sexuality around 15 or 16 but not fully acknowledging it until about 20. She spoke of attending the pride festival for the first time around then and being scared but having her horizons broadened. Another individual said that in their opinion “there is a lack of support either because they don't want to find it or because they are scared.”
3. Improper or inadequate Support: Again talking about more socially based support that’s agenda isn’t necessarily LGBTQ awareness but connection to the community. “There are small support groups but for someone who might not be comfortable with themselves and can't admit to themselves”, creating a place for only portions of the community to gather. Not to mention the difficulty we had contacting some agencies within the Lethbridge community that are supposed to provide certain support.  With our original group PFLAG we found that many of their social media outlets were severely outdated, upon trying to contact them via email we were unable to obtain a response and calling did not gain much support either.

Ultimately I found that to create more support within the community there is a need for creating less “closeted” groups so to speak and promoting safe social gatherings that don’t necessarily involve commitment or acknowledgement from the general public. This isn’t to say we should create an us vs them mentality and that awareness campaigns are useless.  A steady communication should be maintained to provide an environment of security for new individuals while preserving this vital cohesive community atmosphere. Awareness campaigns are a very essential part of social change and should be an integral part of the macro level community which creates visibility and internationality for the group.