Some amazing young people received awards at a gala ceremony in Toronto on June 11 for their contribution, passion, and dedication in making Ontario a more positive place. The awards, presented by the Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line, celebrate outstanding contributions by LGBTTIQQ2S youth to their communities.

The youth line is a service for youth, by youth, to affirm the experiences and aspirations of young members of the LGBTTIQQ2S community. It provides confidential peer support through telephone listening, in recognition of the isolation and lack of information many queer youth face. "We get calls about all kinds of topics," said Aniska Ali, Outreach Coordinator of the LGBT Youth Line. "Our callers call to talk about relationships, to look for referrals or support in their area, to ask questions - it's really all over the board."

The selection process for the community award winners begins with nominations from organizations across Ontario. "Anyone can nominate, and you can also self-nominate...We send [requests for nominations] to all the contacts we have across the province. We send it to every LGBTQ organization, our partners in schools, gay-straight alliances across the province, and community health centres. We try to cast the net as far as we can," Ali said. The LGBT Youth Line selected nine award winners this year.

The winners show an incredible range of talent. From founding Canada's first voguing house (voguing is a type of dance) for black LGBTQ youth in Toronto, to public speaking for the People With Aids Foundation, to activism to ensure that health services reflect the realities and needs of queer youth, to writing and directing a short film featured at multiple queer film festivals - and many more outstanding contributions - these youth members of the LGBTTIQQ2S community showed passion and dedication in making Ontario a better place.

Youth from across the province attended the award ceremony, and all award recipients received a commemorative plaque and a cheque for $250. "They are an amazing group of young people, and put us all to shame," Ali said.

Award Winners:
Outstanding Contribution to Arts and Culture: Travoy Deer
Outstanding Personal Achievement: Desiree Rudd-Kerr
Outstanding Contribution to Community Empowerment: Andrew Baker
Outstanding Contribution to Social and Health Services: Hannah-May Wilson
Outstanding Contribution to Social Justice: Onyii Sandra Udegbe
Outstanding Contribution to Trans Youth Visibility: Alexander Kennedy
Outstanding Contribution to Queer Youth Visibility: Jean Yves Bernard
Outstanding Contribution to an Academic Environment: Trent Eady
Honorable Mention: Open Closet

- Words by Natalie Fraser, Media Committee Journalist