Community groups and people in the province say it’s a big loss
Since 2007, Lex Edmunds has been going to Saskatoon. When the Two Spirits and the transgender USask student first came out as different genders, they felt safe there.
“But now, our facilitator tells us that there won’t be any more meetings about gender evolution for the foreseeable future. That makes me very sad, “they told me.
“It is the only free help I can get from other people.” “We’ve never ended something this way, let alone so quickly.”
In a news release sent out Wednesday afternoon, OUTSaskatoon said it had to take the “necessary steps to be able to continue serving the community,” but that it regretted having to let go of nine employees and the executive director.
All of the education and help services have been stopped. This is the second pride group in the province that has been having trouble recently. Last fall, Moose Jaw Pride was dissolved because it had too many debts.
“During the pandemic, there was a big rise in the number of people who needed critical services in Saskatoon. “Outside of Saskatchewan” hired more people to meet the demand, but they haven’t been able to keep up with the funding to keep this growth going, “the message said.
Edmunds said that there isn’t enough information about the layoffs and service cuts.
People from North Battleford, Regina, and other rural parts of the province traveled to their gender evolution meetings to get help, they said. Edmunds grew up in Dundurn, Saskatchewan, so they understand why LGBTQ people from rural Saskatchewan come to OUTSaskatoon for help.
“It makes a big mess. It’s hard for me to get out of bed just to be surrounded by transphobia. People in our area are latching on to the U.S.’s transphobic politics,” “they told me.
Edmunds said that because transphobic comments were being made aboutdrag performers and transgender artistsSupport groups like OUTSaskatoon are a great way to get the word out.
“Since they are closing their building, I can no longer get the therapy I got there,” they said.
“Because we love outside of Saskatoon, we are devastated. We need to know what’s going on. It was shocking when they only said on Instagram that they were closing. We needed to get that information faster. We need to know why people are getting fired.”
CBC tried to get an interview with Outside Saskatchewan more than once, but they never got back to them.
LGBTQ groups don’t have enough money
Lisa Phillipson, co-chair of Regina’s Queen City Pride, is saddened by the news, which affects a lot of people directly.
She said that OUTSaskatoon was “an essential service” to the community and that the group was a model for many other LGBTQ groups in the province.
“At the start of the pandemic, governments set up many ways for queer people to get money. Some of these streams have stopped this year, so the infrastructure groups that have been set up over the past three years don’t have enough money to keep going, “she told me.
“I’ve never heard of a good cause that didn’t want more money.” “We’re doing okay, but we can definitely do better.”
Phillipson said that the road ahead for Out Saskatoon will be rough, but he hopes that it will get better. She said that the government has to do something to keep such important groups going.
“Even though we can do it without them, I don’t think we should. We offer services like helping trans people figure out how to change their names in the system,” “she told me.
“I think both the provincial and federal governments need to do more. I know there are funds out there that could be used for this. They have spent money on even dumber things. I’m sure they can figure this out too. I really hope so.”
In an email statement, the province said it is focused on meeting the needs of the people of Saskatchewan by working with community-based groups to make sure services and programs are still available.
Other community groups say that they are already getting more requests for help.
The pride center at the University of Saskatchewan Students’ Union says it is already getting more calls and emails.
“Outside Saskatoon is one of the most important support services we offer to people who don’t live on campus or who don’t go to school here. Now, we just have to figure out how to do that.” Kseniah Pidskalny, who works at the university as the coordinator for pride, said
“It will be crazy from here.”
Pidskalny said that it is hard for outside of Saskatoon to provide services like doctors and psychologists. However, they do offer peer support as they and other community groups in the city try to fill the gap.
“It is a terrible loss. We hope that Outside is back to where it was because the community has your back and we feel bad for them.”