Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line

The Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line (LGBT YouthLine, "YouthLine"), founded in 1994,[1] is a peer support organization for LGBT youth across the province of Ontario. Although originally known for their phone support line,[2][3] the organization also offers online chat, SMS and e-mail support services, as well as promoting and supporting other events and programs for 2SLGBTQ+ youth.

In 2011 the YouthLine, in conjunction with Toronto City Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, created an award, named in memory of Toronto artist Will Munro, to honour LGBT youth involved in community arts projects in Ontario.[4]

Toronto Catholic District School Board

In January 2021, YouthLine denounced the Toronto Catholic District School Board's decision to suddenly remove the service from their online mental health resource list for students. The removal was called "homophobic, transphobic, and racist."[5][6][7]

According to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Joseph Volpe, a former Liberal MP, published articles under his Italian-Canadian newspaper company, Corriere, with a number of homophobic comments and he called for the removal of the YouthLine's services. In May 2022, YouthLine and the other defendants won and all of Volpe's charges against them were dropped.[8]

See: TCDSB, Controversies, Elimination of LGBTQ+ Online Support

References

1. Johnson, Aidan (6 June 1996). "Cutting off youth phone line was shortsighted". Hamilton Spectator. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2010. But when the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Youth Line plugged in its phones in 1994 the situation began to look up...
2. Simpson, Kate (14 December 2009). "Last-minute gift ideas: Holiday donations". Xtra!. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
3. Keung, Nicholas (5 April 2008). "Childless, giving and gay". Toronto Star. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
4. (2010). "The Spirit of Will Munro Award Archived July 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine", Youthline.ca. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
5. "Toronto Catholic school board to review decision to remove LGBTQ+ support line resource after backlash". thestar.com. 2021-01-12. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
6. "TCDSB under fire for eliminating LGBTQ2 online resources". Global News. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
7. "Public Statement (January 11, 2021)". LGBT Youth Line. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-01-13.
8. "Volpe v. Wong-Tam, 2022 ONSC 3106 (CanLII)". 2022-05-26.

External links

• LGBT Youth Line fonds - Archival records at The ArQuives: Canada's LGBTQ2+ Archives