WE DON’T JUST SAY GAY

We say it all for 2SLGBTQ+ youth.

We say trans. We say lesbian. We say bisexual. We say pansexual. We say queer. We say intersex and asexual. We say questioning, nonbinary and two-spirit.

Welcome to our safe space for our LGBT+ community. A space to read, learn and educate yourself on the big issues of LGBT+ inequality. Here we want to encourage allyship and make sure our LGBT+ friends feel supported.

Take the pledge to support 2SLGBTQ+ youth

Join us in taking the pledge below to support 2SLGBTQ+ youth and help It Gets Better Canada by committing to stand up and speak out against hate and intolerance.

It Gets Better Canada is a registered charity in Canada that envisions a world where all 2SLGBTQ+ youth are free to live equally and know their worthiness and power as individuals. Proceeds from our “Out For Love” Highlighter will help drive their campaigns and community-based resources that help 2SLGBTQ+ youth find positive support for the challenges they may face.

SPEAK OUT FOR 2SLGBTQ+ YOUTH

The Body Shop X It Gets Better Canada

$1 from every “Out For Love” Highlighter purchased will go to It Gets Better Canada to continue their campaigns and community-based resources that help 2SLGBTQ+ youth find positive support for the challenges they may face.*

Shop our 'Out For Love' Highlighters

*From May 31, 2022 - August 31, 2022, $1 from every “Out For Love” Highlighter sold (up to $10,000) will go to It Gets Better Canada, a national charity that aims to uplift, empower, and connect 2SLGBTQ+ youth across Canada.

SOCIETY TELLS YOU THAT YOU DON’T FIT IN. WE’RE TELLING YOU THAT YOU DO. SOCIETY NEEDS TO CHANGE. NOT YOU.

ALL BLOOD IS FINALLY EQUAL

Last year, we joined the All Blood is Equal coalition to end the arbitrary and discriminatory blood ban in Canada, which required a 3 month period of abstinence for gay, bisexual, two-spirit, queer men and trans women to donate blood.

This year, Canadian Blood Services officially announced the end of this policy!

Thank you for coming together with us and All Blood is Equal to fight for this issue. Over 20,000 of you joined in signing the petition to advocate for this change!

A long campaign, finally realized. Let’s continue to drive change together.

RISE UP WITH SELF LOVE

It can be hard to love yourself in a world that doesn’t seem to love you back. But we’re here to tell you otherwise. You are loved and you are more than enough.

The Body Shop Global Self Love Index shows that 2SLGBTQ+ people are nearly twice as likely to have low self-love than their cisgender and/or heterosexual peers.1

We want to encourage you all to rebel against the prejudice the community face every day and fight for a fairer, more accepting world. Discover our 9 acts to be a better ally below and let’s rise up to fight for change.

NINE WAYS TO BE A BETTER ALLY

This Pride, we’re doing more than celebrating. We’re raising our voices to bring 2SLGBTQ+ issues to light. We’re speaking out loud and we’re here to make change. We see you. We stand with you. We support you.

We know not everyone is at the same stage in their journey to become a better ally. Some of you are already on the front line (we salute you), while some of you want to do more. Whether you’re looking for ways to educate yourself, show your support or put your allyship into action, we’ve put together some things you can do to be that better ally.

EDUCATE YOURSELF

LISTEN

Stop and take it all in. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to soak up everything. Take time out to actively listen to others’ personal stories and experiences with mental health – whether it’s through podcasts, case studies, biographies or your own 2SLGBTQ+ friends. It’s time to get uncomfortable.

LEARN

Read up. Take those stories you’ve heard and find out more. Educate yourselves. Get beneath the skin of the issue, read stats and find out more about the mental health crisis within the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Lack of understanding and willingness to learn is just as harmful as discriminative systems. You’ve listened to experiences, now it’s time to understand why.

PRONOUNS

Small things can make a big difference. Referring to someone as the wrong title can hurt. Be thoughtful. Pronouns are a huge point of stress for the trans community. We need to learn and understand how to properly use and normalize pronouns so that our transgender friends can feel seen. Start by adding your pronouns to your email signature or Instagram bio.

INFLUENCE YOUR CIRCLE

Spread the word. Add to the awareness. The more people are informed, the quicker we lose any stigma. Share your findings with your friends, discuss with your colleagues and share on your social media. The silence must be broken. We need to speak out and shout out. The more open conversations we have, the better chance we have to make real change.

SUPPORT

Console people, be there for them, do what you can do to help. Learn how to ask your 2SLGBTQ+ friends how they really are. Don’t be afraid to open up conversations with them. Be a listening ear and be a friend. Learn which direction to point your 2SLGBTQ+ friends if they need tailored support.

CHALLENGE

Call things out. Don’t sit in silence. Tell someone when they’re making a mistake and offer a solution for the future. Not sure what the best solution is? Then research it. You don’t have to know everything; learning is the whole part of the process. The more learning, listening and reading you do, the more equipped you are to handle discrimination.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT, PROTEST

PROTEST

Do what you can to change perceptions. Follow social media pages, talk to friends, support policy change and find out how you can get involved. Showing up for your 2SLGBTQ+ friends is just as important as speaking up. When we’re united, we’re unstoppable.

DANCE

Protest, make noise, fight against the system, yes. But have fun. Dance. Pride is a party, too. Nothing can stop you having fun. Pride is a time for many to feel free and be themselves. It’s a time for self-love. Loving yourself is rebelling against outdated systems and discriminative mindsets. Self-love is your superpower. So, go love yourself.

DONATE

There are lots of good causes fighting the good fight. Find them, research, support. However you can. Join us in taking the pledge above to support 2SLGBTQ+ youth and help It Gets Better Canada by committing to stand up and speak out against hate and intolerance.