Sense of identity
Cape Breton Youth Project focuses on new virtual programming
SYDNEY — Madonna Doucette wonders if she’ll look like a big floating head on a white screen when she starts virtual LGBTQ+ education presentations at Cape Breton schools.
What she’ll look like to the students watching in the classrooms is important, just like being able to see them.
“Talking about LGBTQ2SIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual, queer, two-spirt, intersexual, asexual) can be a challenging conversation and we like to be able to pace ourselves, according to our audience. So, the solution has to still be live presentations,” said Doucette, the co-ordinator of the Cape Breton Youth Project.
The move to virtual presentations, support groups and events during the COVID19 pandemic was a decision Doucette made as a safety measure when the Cape Breton Youth Project reopened mid-September.
Working in schools and communities, the Cape Breton Youth Project promotes equality through its LGBTQ+ education programing and provides supports for LGBTQ+ youth, as well as those questioning if they are a part of that community.
Doucette said hearing firstperson experiences about being gay, trans, or asexual, then offering a “Cape Bretonspoken explanation,” is very effective for youth who are finding their identities, Doucette said.
“It shows them there is a community out there for them to find. That there are
people like them, that they aren’t alone.”
Working with the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education on how it will look and work for both in class and at home education, Doucette said the key is ensuring the programs continue.
For her virtual in-class presentations, Doucette is planning to use PowerPoint presentations and videos of people in the community telling their stories. She’s also planning to invest in better cameras and lighting so production quality is improved.
Cape Breton Youth Project peer support groups are also moving online and Doucette plans to have both up and running by Nov. 1.
“I feel so invigorated to be back at work. I feel like we’ve never been so needed,” said Doucette.
“Some kids just spent six months at home with family members who don’t like them, don’t like who they are, how they identify.
“There are some who being away from school and their friends for the summer isn’t good for them.”
Doucette is also eager to resume in school programming because she believes there needs to be “sustained education” to stop homophobia and transphobia.
“For every civil rights fight out there, it’s known although you’ve gained inches you can lose ground so quickly. You know, it needs to be sustained education and a sustained conversation on what’s appropriate and what’s not.”
Virtual community supports will also be very important as the Cape Breton Youth Project has closed its Sydney office, with Doucette and the two part-time staff working remotely.
Although Doucette said the virtual presentation won’t be like the real-life one, she sees many benefits to the online model.
“In theory, there will be less travel, so I might be able to reach more youth,” she said.
“We’re going to make it work because it has to work. We have to deliver these services.”