What supports exist for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community on the Coast?
Hayley Toth | Sunshine Coast Resource Centre
The Sunshine Coast is home to several inclusive programs and welcoming spaces that support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Whether you’re looking to connect with others, access support, or simply find a safe space to be yourself, there are resources available for people of all ages.
Youth on the Coast can check out monthly Queer Youth Drop-Ins. Open to youth aged 12-24, these drop-ins offer a warm, inclusive space to meet peers, share some food, and participate in fun activities such as craft and movie nights. The drop-ins take place on the last Thursday of each month from 6-8pm at the Sechelt Youth Centre, 5538 Shorncliffe Avenue. For more information, youth can follow/DM @scyouthoutreach on Instagram or call/text 604-865-0178.
The Gender Diverse Network is another great drop-in on the Coast. This peer-led monthly drop-ins is for anyone aged 16 and older who identify within – or are questioning whether they fall within – the gender-diverse spectrum, including transgender, nonbinary or genderqueer. The group meets on the second Thursday of each month also from 6-8pm at 5538 Shorncliffe Avenue. Enjoy a free dinner and come as you are. For more details, contact 604-865-0812 or email sforster@sccss.ca.
Don’t miss the Sunshine Coast Pride Festival happening this weekend, a signature annual event that celebrates diversity and fosters inclusion. The 2025 festival will be held on Sunday, June 1st. Kicking off with a Pride March by the Sea from Davis Bay Pier to ts’úkw’um Park (Mission Point Park) at 12:00 p.m The festival runs from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at ts’úkw’um Park and features live music, drag performances, an artisan market, community resources, and more! This is a free, family-friendly event open to everyone.
Year-round, the Sunshine Coast Pride Society continues its work to create a more inclusive community through events such as the Pride Festival, education, and advocacy. One of their initiatives, “Here & Queer,” is a directory of queer, trans, and ally-owned businesses and services on the Coast. The guide and other resources are available at prideonthecoast.com, and participating businesses often display the initiative’s logo—a red location marker with a Q and rainbow accents—on their storefronts.
Beyond the Sunshine Coast, several provincial organizations offer additional resources. Qmunity, based in Vancouver, is British Columbia’s queer, trans, and two-spirit resource centre, providing free counselling, information and referrals, and one-on-one peer support for youth. Trans Care BC connects trans individuals, their families, and healthcare providers with information, education, and access to care. The Dignity Seniors Society advocates for culturally safe supports and services tailored to the needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ seniors.
If you are wondering how you can support this community, it starts with showing up—with openness, curiosity, and respect. Adriana, from the Sunshine Coast Pride Society, says “We’d love to see everyone from across the Sunshine Coast at the Pride Festival this Sunday, June 1st. In a small, rural community like ours, visibility is everything. When you show up, it sends a powerful message that our 2SLGBTQIA+ friends, family, and neighbours belong here! If you want to learn more you can check out our website www.prideonthecoast.com. Happy Pride!”