TORONTO – High profile public figures—from Seinfeld’s Jason Alexander to Academy Award winner Marlee Matlin—are lending their support to a new national campaign, calling on people across Canada to join together against the crisis of homelessness among LGBTQ2S youth. OUTatNight, launched by national equality group Egale Canada Human Rights Trust (Egale), invites participants to collect sponsorship as they sleep outside for a night, raising awareness of the struggles experienced by thousands of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S) youth across the country.
“Too often, coming out means being kicked out,” said Helen Kennedy, Executive Director of Egale. “In the years since equal marriage, many of us have become complacent, but the reality is, LGBTQ2S youth are still being abandoned by their families simply because of who they are. We’re calling on people across Canada to pledge their support to these youth, either by giving up their beds for a night, or by making a financial contribution.”
The campaign is supported by a rapidly growing number of celebrities and public figures, including entertainers, politicians and business leaders, many of whom are showing their support by participating in a series of Public Service Announcements. The PSAs will be rolled out progressively between March 12 and May 30, airing nationally on television and streaming online.
People across the country are encouraged to sponsor, pledge and participate to help kick-start Egale’s goal of raising $10 million over the next 5 years to fuel a national strategy to address LGBTQ2S youth homelessness. Participants will be asked to sleep outside on May 30, whether in their backyards, patios or community spaces, or by joining us at one of the Egale-hosted events in Calgary and Toronto. All will be connected via live webcasting.
Egale Canada Human Rights Trust is Canada’s only national charity promoting LGBT human rights through research, education and community engagement.
