Cochrane’s first official public LGBTQ (Lesbian-Bi-Gay-Trans-Queer) group is ramping up its awareness campaign as they start recruiting members and pushing education.
“I lived here during the suicides and I thought by 2015 we would be beyond that,” Jennifer Lane, president of Your Life Out said at the first meeting held by the organization on Monday.
Founded earlier this year by Lane and wife, Mariana Barney, after the couple realized there were no resources listed for adults in Cochrane, Your Life Out was made to create a safe place for the LGBTQ community while creating a network of supports and services for both youths and adults.
“People who are accepting (of the LGBTQ community) didn’t have a place to be loud about their acceptance,” said Meaghan Fisher, member of the organization.
“The thing about being in a place where you feel like you are the only queer in the village … you feel very alone.”
The board of directors invited community members to learn more about the organization while promising confidentially with approximately 10 residents in attendance on May 8.
“Right now, there are no networking or social events for the LGBTQ community outside of schools, that I know of,” Lane said.
Some of the future initiatives discussed included education, teaching the ABC’s of LGBTQ and community courses for the town, businesses and schools. There are also ideas for a needs assessment related to the LGBTQ community in town, one on one mentoring, creating networking nights, and working with the town to create more sexual and mental health resources.
“We don’t want to have whispered conversations anymore – we want to be part of the open conversations,” Fisher said.
Lane said the group has also been brainstorming ways to get the community to participate including a Pride-Business campaign, similar to what is seen on 17th Avenue in Calgary where business post rainbow or LGBTQ supportive stickers in their windows.
“We want people to know there are other people in the community who are like us,” said Jared Stevens, board director.
For more go to yourlifeout.com.
