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5.1 Funding and Support for Services and Programs Funding was strongly indicated along a number of lines: to support existing services which are underfunded, to expand existing services province-wide, and for the creation of new services. Participants noted that the Provincial Government must recognize that services need to be province-wide, not just in Vancouver and that the provision of services must be led by, and in collaboration with, members of LGBT communities. The Provincial Government must recognize the need for both queer specific, that is 'tailored' services as well as integrated services, that is 'mainstream' organizations, and both tailored and mainstream services need to become more inclusive and accessible to members of all LGBT communities. Societal attitudes are such that there is no support for the harassed and abused persons to turn to. There is, quite literally, nowhere to turn, especially in rural communities. Queers cannot afford to seek support from anyone unless they are sure the care provider is not homo/bi/transphobic. There are almost no services outside the Lower Mainland, and our communities, both have a right to, and desperately need them. (e.g. alcohol and drug services that are queer or queer supportive, mental health and preventative health services, queer-friendly youth drop ins etc). A province-wide Bashline was recommended. This could be done by expanding the Vancouver based Bashline to a provincial level. In addition, it was also recommended that the province fund an expanded Prideline as an ancillary support service to the Bashline. The Prideline is an existing 1-800 number out of The Centre but is currently under-funded. These lines offer the potential of providing the support and information necessary around bashing and violence, as well as the capability of collecting statistics on the degree of bashing and violence occurring. Suggestions for specific programs were also offered. These included shelters, resources and support groups for victims of battering and batterers, and school and youth related programs (e.g. local school projects on-site, drop-in centres for LGBT youth in smaller communities, queer mentorship programs for youth, and LGBT speaker days at schools). Within the health stream, it was suggested that funding was needed to work with health care providers to develop care protocols for victims of LGBT bashing and relationship violence. |