The Trans Peer Support Group was created to connect trans, gender diverse, and gender non-conforming community members on Haida Gwaii by offering a peer-to-peer facilitated, affirming space where participants can share lived experiences and support one another. The group is open to anyone who self-identifies under the trans “umbrella,” including but not limited to 2 Spirit, intersex, non-binary, FTM or MTF trans, trans masc/femme, gender-fluid, and other gender-diverse identities. Its goal is to support the wide range of identities and experiences within our local trans community, and to create opportunities for participants to explore and express what their gender identity means to them in safety and solidarity. Together, we find comfort, joy, and connection in relating to and learning from another. The group meets twice a month and rotates among island communities. All ages are welcome, contributing to valued intergenerational communication and connection.
Trans people have always and will always exist. Our place in this world long predates Western civilization, and our identities have endured the harmful impacts of colonization. Our histories and ways of being are woven into community and culture, and continue to shape and strengthen them. In today’s society, living as someone who does not connect or identify with the gender binary often comes with heightened levels of adversity—disproportionately affecting Indigenous, Black, and other racialized people. The prevalence of trans-related discrimination, anti-trans legislative activity, and significant disparities in housing and mental health—especially for trans youth—underscore the need for dedicated support. On Haida Gwaii, where trans-specific services are limited, this support group offers an essential opportunity for trans community members to connect and access relevant peer-based resources.
The Neighbourhood Small Grant has supported the stability and ongoing delivery of the program, enabling us to provide meeting spaces and reliable facilitation. This funding directly contributed to the group’s ability to run consistently and effectively throughout the reporting period. We are deeply grateful for this support and remain committed to offering the Trans Peer Support Group to our communities.
We acknowledge that this group gathers on the ancestral territory of the Haida Nation. We recognize the Haida people’s inherent title, rights, and responsibilities to these lands and waters, and we honour their ongoing stewardship, leadership, and cultural sovereignty.
