Yellowknife LGBTQ youth centre now offers support for adults

An organization that began as an outlet of support for LGBTQ youth is now expanding to help queer adults, a demographic that can be easily overlooked, according to some people in the community.

The Rainbow Coalition of Yellowknife opened a youth centre in the summer, offering peer counselling, support groups for parents of queer or trans youth, addictions support, as well as play groups for children whose parents want to show their acceptance of all genders and identities.

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This month, the group continues to grow, now expanding pastits initial goal of helping LGBTQ youth, and branching out to help adults.

"There's this misunderstanding that things like coming out or feeling safe at home or bullying are all kind of like, youth issues, when in reality LGBTQ adults often are also experiencing those issues with much less support than youth," saidJacq Brasseur, co-founder of the coalition.

While some of the programs at the centre, likes the addictions support group, have been open to adults,Brasseursays the new weekly group will be a way forLGBTQadults to talk to each other about whatever they'd like.

'Sober space' needed for adults

Lauren Gostick, 26, who moved from Toronto to Yellowknife with her partner about a year ago, says there are few visibly"safe spaces" available for LGBTQ adults to meet and socialize.

"It's hard to meet other queer folk unless you walk around with a sign saying,'I'm looking for queer buddies to hang out with,'"Gosticksaid.

She says many people end up relying on the pubs and bars in town, but says that doesn't work for everyone.

She says that's where the Rainbow Youth Centre comes in.

"For older queers who might be trying to abstain from drinking or value a sober space to meet people that they identify with in a community, the Rainbow Youth Centre is so vital to that.

"I think that kind of peer support is really valuable no matter what age you are."

Gostick says though the group's main mandate is to help youth in Yellowknife, it wants to have a space where everyone feels comfortable and has the support they need.

Every Thursday night, the Rainbow Youth Centre, located at 5112 52 Street in downtown Yellowknife, will offer support groups forLGBTQadults starting at 7 p.m. MT.