2024 letter to GSAs

Dear Gay/Straight Alliance Sponsors,

I am writing you today from the Elderberries Speakers' Bureau, Nova Scotia’s 2SLGBTQIA+ “elder states person” speakers group.

One of the services we make available is providing panels of speakers to NS youth about our lived experience in an "Ask Me Anything" format - frquently about coming out, what life is like as an adult 2SLGBTQIA+ person, and the history of 2SLGBTQIA+ people from a personal perspective.

If your GSA would like to arrange a panel discussion or if your school has a Pride Day or Wellness event and wants to do this, you can contact us at:

 AtlanticCanadaElderberries@gmail.com

I would also like to share with you some other resources that might be of use to teachers:

To include 2SLGBTQIA+ content in your course work:

https://unerased.org/

This service provides course modules to teachers that integrate directly into approved curricula. Please contact Deb or Danny directly through the website and they can help you to integrate 2SLGBTQIA+ content into your classroom. This is a service independent of the Elderberries.

A simple timeline of Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ history:

https://www.queerevents.ca/queer-history/canadian-history-timeline

This is a simple overview of historical Canadian events. This is a service independent of the Elderberries.

Extensive stories and archives of Maritime events

https://gay.hfxns.org/FrontPage

This is free service providing a broad overview of events and people who shaped the 2SLGBTQIA+ experience in Nova Scotia, the Maritimes and Canada in general. Many of the stories are reported by the people who lived them. This is a service independent of the Elderberries.

Pride Resources:

https://www.halifaxpride.com/nsresources

This is a list of support services, most of which are free to access for 2SLGBTQIA+ people or their allies. Pride is an independent group from the Elderberries. Many of the services listed are for HRM.

Youth Group:

https://youthproject.ns.ca/education/

This group also provides panels to youth to discuss issues around the 2SLGBTQIA+ experience. They also provide services in some areas like drop-ins, several outside of HRM. They are an independent group from the Elderberries.

Help/helplines:

https://www.youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject

The ItGetsBetterProject was started by sex columnist Dan Savage and his husband Terry to provide a better narrative to kids struggling with 2SLGBTQIA+ issues. It provides hundreds of online videos from real people who discuss their journeys in a frank and accessible way. The group is sponsored by Google and is not associated with the Elderberries.

https://www.youthline.ca/our-programs/peer-support/

This group provides text and chat based services to youth questioning or concerned about 2SLGBTQIA+ issues. It is open from 4pm-9:30pm EST. It is not affiliated with the Elderberries.

https://itgetsbettercanada.org/get-help/

This webpage provides a comprehensive list of helplines and groups for kids in crisis. It is independent of the Elderberries.

LGBT Youth Helpline: call 1-800-268-9688 or text 647-694-4275

This is a free helpline based in Ontario providing peer-based support for 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. It is not associated with the Elderberries.

Trans Lifeline: call 1-877-330-6366

This is a service run by and for Trans people to provide help navigating issues related to the Trans experience. It is independent of the Elderberries.