Increasing visibility of LGBTQ community in Pembina Valley leads to sense of safety, connection: advocate

The recent opening of anLGBTQ-focused counselling service in Manitoba's Pembina Valley isa sign the community is becoming saferand more inclusive for that group, an advocate says.

After Morden, Man., celebrated its firstPride celebration this past summer, the community has made some strides, says organizer and founder D Vaisius.

Vaisius, who is non-binary and uses the pronouns they and them,grew up in the cityabout 100 kilometres southwest of Winnipeg.

"In this general area of southern Manitoba it's fairly conservative, andit's very difficult growing up here," they said.

"Having Pride was hopefully a way to help open that up and make people here feel safer and like they have more connections and morecommunity."

One of those connectionswas set up just a few months ago with the opening of the area's first counselling service geared specifically toward the LGBTQ community.

Greg Costen, the therapist who owns Affirm Counselling,started the practice because he saw a need in the community.

"Society'smade great strides in embracing the LGBTQ+ community, but those strides are a little slower in catching on in religiously and socially conservative places," including parts of southern Manitoba, he said.

"Part of my goal is to forward the conversation a little bit, get people talking about it, get people thinking that hey, there's a need out here and agap, for sure."

Until lately, many people in the LGBTQ community in the area went to Winnipeg for counselling and specialized care at Klinic or the Rainbow Resource Centre. Some would travel to the city to take part in LGBTQ events or walk in the Pride parade, Vaisius said.

"There was really nothing out here that wasn't going to feel potentially unsafe. There was always a little bit of anxiety that you might get somebody who was not as welcoming as you would hope,"they said, although they have personally had good counselling experiences in the area.

"It's very cool to see this particular specializing clinic, especially in Winkler," Vaisius said.

Next steps

Now that Vaisius's group hashosted the first Pride parade in Morden, they want to take their work a step further and create more community groups where LGBTQ people can feel welcome.

This coming year, Vaisius and the rest of the Pride committee are working to starta monthly meet-up, and possibly support groups.

Vaisiushopesthe peer and professional support combined will make a difference for people who feeldisconnected.

"I hope that they will give people more space and more connections.Connecting to other people who might have similar experiences or have lived through similar things can kind of break up that isolation for people, I think," theysaid.

"I think that it helps to open the conversation and I think that it helps to feel represented andseen to feel like there are spaces where you're safe."

Costenplans to offer educational resources for people in the community who want to know more about promoting the inclusion of LGBTQ people.

This story was gathered as part ofCBC'spop-up bureau inMordenandWinkler. CBC will be in the two communitiesDec. 9-13. Visit us 1-7 p.m. at Whitecap Coffee in Winkler on Tuesday or 1-7 p.m. at Coffee Culture Cafe and Eatery in Morden on Wednesday.Have a story idea?Email Rachel Bergen.