Short Films: Two-Spirit affirming care with the Urban Native Youth Association
Access to gender-affirming, trauma-informed, and culturally safe health care saves lives. Alongside the Urban Native Youth Association (UNYA) and the 2-spirit Collective, West Coast Leaf created a series of videos about what gender-affirming and culturally safe health care means and why it matters to Two-Spirit Indigenous youth. QMUNITY is now hosting the videos and any further communications for this project.
Drawing on learnings from the 2021/2022 Gender Equality Report Card, the videos illustrate the importance of health services grounded in respect, non-discrimination, and self-determination. They call for reliable, accessible, and safe services that uphold BC’s obligations to Two-Spirit and queer Indigenous youth, including expanded holistic supports.
Being affirmed in one’s gender is crucial for everyone’s wellness. Gender-affirming and culturally safe care is not only about access to treatments like hormones or surgery. It’s about knowing your identity is respected, that you are safe, and that health practitioners see you for who you are – a whole person comprised of mind, body, and spirit.
Short film 1: Your Community is Here for You
Short film 2: Two-Spirit Kin are the Medicine We Need
Take action for Two-Spirit youth
Join UNYA and QMUNITY in calling for a holistic, youth-led, and cross-government approach to ensure that all youth have access to gender-affirming health and mental health care, including:
Investing in life-saving gender affirming care
Ending gender-based discrimination
Investing in Indigenous-led and youth-led community-based services.
Share the reels in your community and on social media:
Add your voice to these powerful calls to action by endorsing the advocacy statement from the UNYA 2-Spirit Collective!
Emotional and legal support
QMUNITY has a legal clinic. If you need legal support, please reach out to our legal team. For support services in BC, please see our page.
Acknowledgements
Our sincerest thanks to all those who contributed to the development of these videos and calls to action.
We also want to thank West Coast Leaf for beginning this project with UNYA and their dedication to queer, trans, and Two-Spirit Indigenous youth.
