June is recognized internationally as pride month. It’s a time to come together to celebrate and uplift LGBTQ2S+ individuals and their contributions to culture, community, and progress. All throughout the month of June there are parades, protests, performances, and community events to celebrate pride. Unfortunately, this was not always the case. We celebrate Pride in June to mark the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City, a pivotal moment in LGBTQ2S+ history that sparked a global movement for equal rights and liberation. 

This discrimination is an ongoing reality, especially for young people. According to data from the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, 77% of sexually and gender diverse youth aged 15–17 reported being bullied in the past year, compared to 69% of their cisgender, heterosexual peers. These youth were also more likely to experience multiple types of bullying ranging from exclusion and insults to cyberbullying and property damage. Additionally, 33% of bullied LGBTQ2S+ youth reported poor mental health, more than double the rate among other bullied youth (16%). Over one in four had considered suicide in the past year, compared to 13% of other bullied youth and just 5% of non-bullied cisgender, heterosexual youth. Many were also more likely to skip school, potentially due to the stress and fear of being targeted. 

LGBTQ2S+ youth have to live with the threat of discrimination and unacceptance by friends and family. These youth are uniquely vulnerable, and this feeling of rejection can be deeply damaging. Since these harmful experiences can happen anywhere including at home, school, online, or in public, it becomes everyone’s responsibility to create inclusive spaces and protect LGBTQ2S+ youth. Doing so can help cultivate a culture where young people feel empowered to be themselves.

Here are a few ways we can all contribute:

Lead by Example: Show acceptance and kindness. Shut down homophobic language and avoid media that mocks 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. 

Challenge Assumptions: Don’t assume individuals are straight. Always demonstrate inclusivity, you never know when someone might need that sense of support and safety. 

Listen & Take Action: Pay attention to signs of distress. If someone is being bullied, take it seriously and consider intervening on their behalf. 

Encourage Mental Health Support: Many bullied youth struggle with self-esteem or depression. Counsellors or peer groups can make a big difference. 

Education and Speak Up Publicly: Educate yourself about the systemic barriers LGBTQ2S+ youth face and advocate for policies that recognize and prevent homophobia. Your voice matters to school boards and governments. 

While Pride is a celebration, it is also a reminder that the fight for safety, visibility, and equality is far from over. The same hatred and discrimination that sparked the Stonewall Uprising in 1969 persists today. In a time when LGBTQ2S+ rights are under attack and misinformation spreads like wildfire, June reminds us that pride will not fall victim to political warfare but will continue to rise in protests, in parties, in classrooms, and in community. Pride Month is a testament to that resilience, and a reminder that identity is not up for debate. 

 

Sources:
Statistics Canada. (2021). Bullying victimization among sexually and gender diverse youth in Canada. 
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/221018/dq221018c-eng.htm 

Promoting Relationships and Ending Violence Network (PREVNet). (n.d.). 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. PREVNet. Retrieved June 9, 2025, from https://www.prevnet.ca/bullying/for-parents-and-caregivers/2slgbtqiayouth/