This month and every month, Nellie’s stands proudly with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community here in Toronto and around the world. Our work is grounded in a vision where every woman — including trans women, non-binary, and gender diverse people — can walk through our doors and find a path to healing, stability, and hope.
But we know that gender-based violence doesn’t affect everyone the same way, and that people in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are disproportionately at risk of gender-based violence and are typically underserved when they experience these forms of violence. Data from Statistics Canada over the last five years shows us how significantly gender-based violence affects the queer community:
- Almost half (49%) of 2SLGBTQIA+ women have been physically or sexually assaulted by an intimate partner since age 15 — almost double what was reported by heterosexual women (25%)
- One in five (20%) 2SLGBTQIA+ women experienced some form of intimate partner violence within the past year — almost twice what was reported by heterosexual women (12%)
- One in two (50%) 2SLGBTQIA+ women have been sexually assaulted since age 15 — significantly more than among heterosexual women (30%)
- 69% of 2SLGBTQIA+ women have experienced inappropriate sexual behaviours in a public place that made them feel unsafe or uncomfortable in the year preceding the survey — more than double than among heterosexual women (31%)
Gender-based violence is rooted in gender inequality and is intensified by systemic inequalities — especially for trans women and racialized queer people, who too often experience silence, stigma, or out-right exclusion from the support they deserve.
That’s why at Nellie’s our response goes beyond offering a bed or a meal. We offer safety, affirmation, and a sense of belonging. We work every day to break down the barriers that keep 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors from getting the help they need. This means ensuring that our programs and spaces are trauma-informed, non-judgmental, culturally sensitive, and fully inclusive of everyone who walks through our doors.
Our staff receive ongoing anti-oppression and anti-racism training to help them learn how to take the time to really understand the unique experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ survivors, while reflecting on our own biases. All of our training focuses on the importance of being open to learning and growth; using inclusive language; standing up against discrimination; listening with empathy not assumption; and creating a space where everyone feels safe, respected, and seen.
Beyond our shelter walls, Nellie’s has also formed community partnerships with local 2SLGBTQIA+-focused organizations such as The 519, the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention, and the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto. These partnerships allow us to extend the support we can provide to our clients, and ensure that our response is appropriately tailored and grounded in community.
Nellie’s will proudly be hosting a booth at the Pride Toronto street fair on June 28. See you there!