What We Learned from Black 2SLGBTQI+ Youth in Simcoe County
Black 2SLGBTQI+ youth in Simcoe County are telling us something urgent: safety cannot be promised in policy and denied in practice.
In June 2025, UPlift Black hosted a community consultation in support of Parents of Black Children and their landmark Sankofa Framework for Dismantling Anti-Black Racism in Ontario’s Education System. This work is deeply connected to our own mission, and we are proud that UPlift Black President and Founder, Shelley-Ann Skinner served as an advisor for the framework.
The consultation created space to listen to lived experiences, examine systemic barriers, and map out practical solutions through an intersectional lens. We talked about schools, healthcare, mental health, family, public spaces, and community leadership. We listened to what happens when Black youth are also queer, trans, non-binary, questioning, mixed-race, disabled, newcomer, low-income, or navigating more than one of these realities at once.
What we heard was painful. It was also clear, courageous, and full of direction.
Why this consultation mattered
For many Black 2SLGBTQI+ youth, harm does not come from one place. It builds across systems.
A young person may experience anti-Black racism in a classroom, homophobia or transphobia in a hallway, dismissal in a medical appointment, and silence from adults who are supposed to protect them. When systems treat those harms as separate, youth are left to carry the full weight alone.
This consultation helped us name the gaps. It also helped us identify what needs to change.
Key findings from the consultation
Safety and acceptance
Participants described a pervasive sense of unease about physical and emotional safety in Simcoe County schools and public spaces.
They spoke about:
Avoiding certain places because they did not feel welcome
Monitoring how they dress, speak, or move through public spaces
Feeling unsafe reporting harm because they feared being dismissed or exposed
Wanting youth spaces where Blackness and 2SLGBTQI+ identity are both accepted without explanation
Safety is not only about preventing violence. It is about belonging without fear.
Pervasive discrimination and systemic inaction
Youth named overt racism, microaggressions, and slow or inadequate responses from authority figures.
They described:
Racist comments being treated as misunderstandings
Queerphobic and transphobic harm being minimized
Adults asking youth to “prove” what happened
School and community systems responding only after repeated escalation
The issue is not only individual behaviour. It is the pattern of systems failing to respond with urgency when Black 2SLGBTQI+ youth are harmed.
Intersectionality of identity
Young people spoke about the difficulty of navigating Black and queer identities at the same time, especially in spaces that recognize one part of them while rejecting another.
They raised concerns about:
Fear of family rejection after coming out
Pressure to hide queerness in Black community spaces
Pressure to minimize Blackness in white 2SLGBTQI+ spaces
Mixed-race youth feeling questioned, isolated, or unseen
The exhaustion of constantly explaining identity to peers, educators, and service providers
These experiences show why single-issue solutions fall short. Youth need spaces that understand the whole person.
Mental healthcare deficits
Participants pointed to serious gaps in mental health and addiction services. Some described healthcare providers as dismissive, culturally disconnected, or unprepared to support Black 2SLGBTQI+ youth.
Key concerns included:
Limited access to culturally competent counselling
Lack of providers who understand anti-Black racism and 2SLGBTQI+ realities
Fear that disclosures about gender, sexuality, substance use, or family conflict would not be handled safely
Long waits or unclear pathways to care
This content is informational and not medical advice. Still, the message from youth was clear: care must be accessible, affirming, and rooted in cultural understanding.
“Resource gaps are not neutral. When Black 2SLGBTQI+ youth cannot find safe care, affirming education, or trusted adults, systems create the conditions for harm. Closing these gaps is urgent, and it is how we build safer environments where young people can live, learn, and lead."- Shelly-Ann Skinner, President and Founder, UPlift Black
Inclusive sexual health and education
Youth called for sexual health education that reflects real lives and real questions.
They identified a need for:
Gender-affirming sexual health information
2SLGBTQI+-inclusive teaching in schools
Safer conversations about consent, relationships, identity, and health
Educators and healthcare providers who do not rely on assumptions about gender or sexuality
Inclusive education is not an “extra.” It is basic care. It helps young people make informed decisions and seek support sooner.
Representation matters
Youth also named the lack of Black 2SLGBTQI+ representation in curricula, community leadership, youth programming, and public decision-making.
They want to see:
Black queer and trans histories taught with care
Books, lessons, and events that reflect their identities
Mentors who share lived experience
Community leaders who understand intersectional harm
Youth voices included before decisions are made
Representation is not symbolism. It shapes what young people believe is possible for their lives.
What action must look like now
Listening matters, but listening alone is not enough. UPlift Black is committed to moving this work forward with partners, families, educators, service providers, and youth themselves.
Our action plan includes:
Continue data collection through academic research and community consultations Gathering local evidence helps identify patterns, gaps, and priorities that institutions can no longer ignore.
Expand culturally relevant mental healthcare Black 2SLGBTQI+ youth need access to therapists, counsellors, and support workers who understand racism, identity, trauma, and healing.
Require mandatory school board staff training Educators, administrators, and support staff need clear training on anti-Black racism, 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion, gender identity, and timely response to harm.
Build mentorship programs Youth should have access to trusted Black 2SLGBTQI+ mentors and allies who can offer guidance, care, and connection.
Support inclusive sexual healthcare Health services must provide gender-affirming, youth-friendly, culturally safe care without shame, assumptions, or dismissal.
How to get involved
This work belongs to all of us. If we want safer schools, better care, and stronger community spaces, we need families, educators, service providers, neighbours, and decision-makers to act.
Here are three ways to help:
Share this Blog and the findings with local schools, organizations, and youth support agencies so they can create better systems of care for Black 2SLGBTQI+ youth in Simcoe County.
Advocate in local school boards for stronger anti-racism measures, 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion, transparent reporting, and meaningful accountability.
Support UPlift Black and Parents of Black Children as we continue to push for systems that protect and affirm Black children and youth.
The voices shared in this consultation were brave, honest, and necessary. Now our responsibility is to honour them with action, care, and the collective courage to build the communities our young people deserve.
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