United Way Perth-Huron’s Social Research & Planning Council And University Of Guelph Launch 2SLGBTQ+ Survey
by Bob Montgomery
United Way Perth-Huron’s Social Research & Planning Council is partnering with the University of Guelph on a study focused on local 2SLGBTQ+ individuals’ experiences with discrimination and exclusion, priorities important to the community and the availability, or lack, of services across Perth-Huron.
United Way’s Director of Community Impact and Research, Kristin Crane, says “United Way is committed to helping create a more inclusive community.” “Based on local discussions, it was recognized that not enough knowledge exists around what services would be most beneficial to local 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. We also don’t have a large amount of data on the diverse ways people experience being 2SLGBTQ+ in Perth-Huron. This study aims to start filling those gaps and build more understanding locally.”
Crane says one of the reasons for conducting the survey is to raise awareness of the discrimination that exists in our community and also to find out what is working well in some communities and what opportunities exist for new services that are not currently available in our communities but should be available to our residents. She says until they ask people what they need, they can't always anticipate what that might be. Crane says sometimes we have the perception that our community is very welcoming and inclusive and it could be for some of the members of our community but the experience may not be the same for all of the members or our community, but we only know our own perspective.
The survey is open until November 29. It takes about ten minutes to complete and is meant for individuals aged 12 and over who are part of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, or who are working or volunteering with organizations providing services to 2SLGBTQ+ people. The research aims to explore experiences of discrimination and exclusion, identify opportunities to build more diverse and equitable services and develop recommendations based on the priorities of the local 2SLGBTQ+ community. The study also invites participation in focus groups or interviews to further share perspectives. Questions about the survey can be directed to Kristin Crane at kcrane@perthhuron.unitedway.ca. Click here for the survey.
