Loneliness, and the negative effects of isolation, can affect anyone at any point in their life. Some communities however have a higher degree of people who suffer from loneliness. When measuring loneliness through self-reported feelings and mental health issues the LGBTQ+ community is overrepresented compared to others.

One in four teens who identified as LGBTQ+ said they attempted suicide during the first half of 2021.  

Documentary filmmaker and activist, Gerry Rogers, says the awareness of transgender people has come a long way. “When I was young, you could get arrested if you were at a gay bar. If a man had more than three pieces of clothing that was seen as female, he could get arrested.”

According to Statistics Canada, about one million people
identified themselves as LGBTQ. 30% of LGBTQ2+ Canadians
are under 25 years old. 

Loneliness in LGBTQ communities arises from several factors. Some of these are, social isolation, emotional isolation, concealing their identity, and feeling different or left out. Many of these feelings come from a sense of being socially isolated. LGBTQ+ people may not trust others to understand their unique circumstances. Recent studies show that four out of five LGBTQ+ people do not trust professionals working in healthcare or other governmental services.

According to the LGBTQ+ Lockdown Wellbeing Report, loneliness has become an outbreak during the pandemic. During lockdown, 56% of LGBTQ+ people said they felt a lot lonely  compared to just 21% before it. 67% of LGBTQ+ people under 18 felt lonely a lot during lockdown.

They are more likely to experience violence and inappropriate behaviors. Police reported 263 hate crimes against LGBTQ+ Canadians in 2019. In 2018, gender minority Canadians were two times more likely to report inappropriate behavior in public. Over half of transgender people have not disclosed their gender at work for fear of discrimination. “For some folks, it’s smart not to reveal the fact that they are queer,” says Rogers. “I know I have friends who would say don’t let anybody know that you’re lesbian or you’re not gonna get any film projects.”

LGBTQ+ Canadians are also more at risk economically. In 2018, 41% of LGBTQ2+ Canadians had a total income of less than $20K per year. One in three LGBTQ+ Canadians found it hard to meet their needs of transportation, housing, food, and clothing. 

“There’s still work that needs to be done,” says Rogers. For trans people, they don’t get the full medical help they need here in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

According to a Stonewall study, LGBTQ people over 55 are three times more likely to be single, two times more likely to live alone, and two times less likely to see their relatives. 

Every year, Transgender Day of Remembrance is held on November 20 to honor the lives that were loss due to anti-transgender violence. This was sparked after Rita Hester, a transgender woman was killed in 1998. In the week leading up to Transgender Day of Remembrance, we take part in Transgender Awareness Week which brings attention to the violence that affects the transgender community. 

This issue is slowly being addressed with more resources appearing to help LGBTQ+ people suffering from loneliness and mental health concerns. Some of these include the It Gets Better Project, and the Trevor Project. These resources aim to connect people and reduce feelings of loneliness or helplessness amongst the LBGTQ+ community. Connecting with people with similar life experiences is shown to be the most effect method of reducing loneliness in these situations. Sheridan College also has resources that can help people in the LGBTQ+ community that are feeling the effects of loneliness. There are sites for Pride as well as Transgender Awareness that cover any questions a student might have as well as posting awareness raising events that are taking place around campus.

We encourage everyone to bring comfort to those who identify as LGBTQ+ by speaking out against discrimination.