Growing up LGBTQ2+ in 'isolation' of rural Ontario
Jay Ellis came out as gay in Grade 11.
It wasn’t until his university years that he told people he was transgender, which in this case means he’s transitioning from a woman to a man.
Growing up in rural Ontario, he heard his fair share of taunts and snide comments.
“It was never specifically directed at me, but I knew there were things being said, and mine was a slow burn. Slowly people finding out, more and more,” says Ellis.
That fear of ridicule, is what kept AJ Adams in the closet until after he left his native Kincardine, Ont.
“Looking around when I was sort of having those thoughts of, maybe I’m gay, there was nothing I could look to, not even a Pride flag or a person I could approach. There was nothing that said, 'Oh that might be me.' So, I just stayed in the closet until after college, like a lot of kids from the country who go away to the city for post secondary school,” he says.
Growing up LGBTQ2+ in the country is the focus of a series of webinars Adams is hosting in conjunction with Kincardine Pride, every Thursday in June, called "'Out' in the Country."
“It’s an important conversation we’re having,” says Adams.
With some years under their collective belts, coming back to their hometowns post-'coming out,' they both see more Pride flags and organizations signalling important change.
But, they also see room for improvement. Ellis, especially sees it in kids who are his age when he came out.
“They are still experiencing the same snide comments, the same little pokes that I did. So, we’re still getting there, but they have a community to fall back on, where I didn’t have that as much, outside of my small group,” he says.
“Sventy-six per cent of LGBTQ2+ folks experience some sort of hate speech based on their gender or sexual orientation. For those communities with pride organizations, 33 per cent felt that those organizations helped decrease that hate speech in their communities,” says Adams.
You can access the “‘Out’ in the Country” webinars here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs to start for Canucks in Game 1 vs. Oilers
Rookie goalie Arturs Silovs will start in net for the Canucks as Vancouver kicks off a second-round series against the Edmonton Oilers Wednesday night.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.