Health committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, and members of the standing committee for having us here today. My name is Ms. Rachel Loewen Walker, I'm a cis queer woman and I've been the executive director of OUTSaskatoon for the last five years. OUT is a queer, trans and two-spirit community centre t

Health committee  Thank you, Martha. In preparing for today, we read through the transcripts of the meetings that came before, and listening today, we are impressed with the breadth and rigour of all who have appeared before this committee. In light of this, we won't repeat evidence that's alread

Health committee  Our last recommendation is for the development of a national strategy for comprehensive health care for trans and gender-diverse people. Already you've heard powerful testimony on this front. The only addition we will make is that while in some of the larger cities in Canada, peo

Health committee  Yes, a cisgender queer woman.

Health committee  Yes.

Health committee  Sure. One of the things about Saskatchewan is that because it's so big and cities are relatively far apart, you don't need a huge centre or a huge staff. You need a place to gather and people who are going to support you when you walk in the door. You need people to talk to who

Health committee  We have six beds in the home, and it's supported by a live-in mentor. There is a suite in the basement. It's a pretty big house, with six bedrooms, and every bedroom has its own bathroom. It has wonderful privacy. Then there are shared living spaces: kitchen, dining room, as well

Health committee  That's a good question. When we talk about and work with indigenous groups, we describe it as “indigenizing queer” and “queering indigeneity”. It's a reciprocal relationship because there's lots of education within indigenous communities about trans, two-spirit people. There is

Health committee  Yes, huge.

Health committee  Yes. We do lots of mediation. We always say that anyone who walks through the door is welcome to services. Whether it's a mother and daughter who are struggling after the daughter comes out and they need counselling together, or they're supportive and they're figuring how to do i

Health committee  Yes, absolutely. It makes a huge difference. That's why they're in the home—one hundred per cent. It's because they do not have the support of their families.

Health committee  We have six right now. It's full. It's always full.

Health committee  It's $100,000 to run Pride Home.

Health committee  It's nothing. OUT's budget is a million, but it's $100,000 to run Pride Home in a year. It's all we need.

Health committee  Well, I know shelters have been created. You've heard already about Sprott House in Toronto. Pride Home was the first long-term home for LGBTQ2 youth. Since then, there's Lulu's Home in Regina, as I mentioned. There are different models. Across the country, everyone I talk to s