OUR STORY
OUR STORY
The Gay Nineties
1993
The Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth Project begins as two social support groups; one for young gay and bisexual men and one for young lesbian and bisexual women. Within a matter of months, the groups had grown. The project was housed and supported by Planned Parenthood Nova Scotia. With the help of the community, the passion of the youth and the support of Planned Parenthood, the Youth Project flourished beyond its limited beginnings.
1996
The members of the Youth Project are the Parade Marshalls for the Halifax Pride Parade.
1998
The Youth Project receives operational funding, from Health Canada, for the first time. The Youth Project, along with three other groups in Montreal, Moncton, and Kamloops, are funded under a project called Safe Spaces aimed at increasing supports for LGBT youth in Canada. This funding gives the Youth Project staff and a promotions budget. Services increase from social support groups and workshops to counselling and a full time education program aimed at schools, community groups and professionals.
The Youth Project hosts a conference for students wanting to start Gay Straight Alliances, leading to the first GSA in Nova Scotia at Millwood High School.
2000s
2001
The Youth Project receives funding from the United Way of Halifax Region, a relationship that remains strong today. The Youth Project will later receive the United Way’s Community Spirit Award as well as Human Rights Award from the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission and the Ken Belanger Award from the Nova Scotia Association of Social Workers.
2002
The Youth Project becomes its own organization, leaving the protective wing of Planned Parenthood and flying out on its own. In order to maintain the strong youth focus, the Youth Board is created as part of our structure, leading to our status as an independent non-profit charity run by two boards.
The Youth Project receives a grant from Human Resources and Development Canada to purchase a house. This will become the Youth Project’s long-term home.
The Youth Project receives funding from the Nova Scotia Department of Health, which will later be picked up by the Nova Scotia Department of Health Promotion and Protection.
2008
The Youth Board votes to remove lesbian, gay and bisexual from the front of the organization’s name. This is in response to the fact that transgender was not in the name and that there are many other youth who identify with other labels. Instead of making the name longer, they voted to make it shorter, becoming The Youth Project, working with youth around issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. The Youth Project is now a multiservice organization and has many events and programs occurring throughout Nova Scotia.