Overview
One-third of young people under 25 self-identify as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Despite comprising a significant portion of the post-secondary student demographic, 2SLGBTQ+ young people face disproportionate barriers to post-secondary access and inclusion.
The 2SLGBTQ+ Community Access and Inclusion Fund will provide financial and programmatic support to students who self-identify as two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or as another nonbinary gender or non-heterosexual orientation.
This fund will support an award which will be distributed to 2SLGBTQ+ students to support their access to, or continuation of, post-secondary education. Once disbursed, the remaining funds will go towards programming developed by the Student Experience Office’s equity diversity, and inclusion team for educational initiatives related to gender identity and sexual orientation.
The Background
One-third of young people under 25 self-identify as a member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Despite comprising a significant portion of the post-secondary student demographic, 2SLGBTQ+ young people face disproportionate barriers to post-secondary access and inclusion.
Statistics Canada reports that 2SLGBTQ+ youth aged 15-24 are 31% more likely to experience homelessness and housing insecurity than their non-2SLGBTQ+ peers, partially due to rejection from parental households.
Statistics Canada also reports that 2SLGBTQ+ Canadians made 28% less than their non-2SLGBTQ+ counterparts in 2018, with two-fifths making less than $20,0000 per year.
A 2019 study by the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (CCGSD) also found that 2SLGBTQ+ post-secondary students experience almost twice as many instances of abuse (threats, assault, sexual violence) than their cisgender or heterosexual peers. Furthermore, the abuse experienced by 2SLGBTQ+ students has been tied to a decreased sense of belonging, impediments to academic performance, and poorer mental health outcomes.
The disproportionate socio-economic barriers experienced by 2SGBTQIA+ youth, combined with increased instances of abuse, impact their ability to begin and complete post-secondary education in a safe and supportive environment. The 2SLGBTQ+ Community Access and Inclusion Fund is one way the Carleton community is working to alleviate the marginalization and oppression experienced by 2SLGBTQ+ students.
The Rollout
The 2SLGBTQ+ Community Access and Inclusion Fund will provide financial and programmatic support to students who self-identify as two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or as another nonbinary gender or non-heterosexual orientation.
Based on the total donations, the bursary will be distributed to a 2SLGBTQ+ student (or students) in financial need to support their access to, or continuation of, post-secondary education. The programming fund will be distributed to the Student Experience Office’s equity, diversity, and inclusion team to support educational initiatives related to gender identity and sexual orientation.
The Student Experience Office’s equity, diversity, and inclusion team will use the remaining funds each year to host programs like Pride Festival, continue research projects like the Pride Timeline, and support other campus initiatives like expanding health and counselling services for transgender and non-binary students.
The Impact
The 2SLGBTQ+ Community Access and Inclusion Fund is one way the Carleton community is working to alleviate the marginalization and oppression experienced by 2SLGBTQ+ students and young people. The fund will not only alleviate socio-economic barriers for 2SLGBTQ+ students, but it will also support the establishment of a culture of inclusivity and belonging at Carleton University and the National Capital Region through programming and public education initiatives.