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5.2 Education and Information Each stream voiced a strong concern that education and training - mandatory training - throughout the system on issues related to sexual and gender orientation, and bashing and violence was needed. It was evident from the discussions that the effects of homo/bi/transphobia and the accompanying violence/hate crimes last longer and go much deeper than the event of the moment: transgendered and bisexual people, lesbians and gay men suffer such diminished self-esteem that they are over- represented among suicides and substance users. To end the cycle of victimization, it was noted that training was needed for all levels of government, social services, and corporations which are government contracted and/or funded. More specifically, training for teachers, police officers, health care providers, victim assistance programs, courts and crown counsels, transition workers, sexual assault centres, and childcare workers was recommended. The need for education and information within the LGBT communities on bashing, street and relationship violence was also raised (e.g. preventive steps, what to do, where to go). We need to explore ways of developing and disseminating this information, and making it widely accessible (e.g. website, provincial LGBT newpaper, workshops etc). It was suggested that information be made available at women's centres, hospital emergency rooms, counselling services, youth, and AIDS centres, libraries, churches, unions, and Employee Assistance Programs. This would serve dual purposes, informing both the LGBT communities, and service providers. Finally, another consistent theme was educating the public - raising the visibility of LGBT communities and services in the province and educating and changing attitudes about the LGBT communities. To this end, recommendations such as a province wide media campaign, and widely distributed educational pamphlets were brought forward, as well as recommendations that focused at the school level (e.g. mandatory resources and materials on LGBT issues, harassment policies, resources/speakers attending parent advisory councils). |