Legal Aid Clinics have been advocating for our communities for decades. It’s time we stand up for them:
Let them know your opinion.
Contact Premier Doug Ford, Attorney General Caroline Mulroney, and your Local MPP to let them know that access to justice is a fundamental right and that Ontario needs a legal aid system that works for the people.
Individualized emails are always the best. If you’re short on time, fill out the form below to contact Premier Ford and AG Mulroney.
If you want more information about how these cuts will affect LGBTQ refugees and other Ontarians, you can read up on the issue through our friends at:
Refugee Lawyer Association of Ontario
Encourage your networks, community, clients, and friends to take action.
Share this information with your networks and tell them why legal aid support is so important, especially for LGBTQ refugees. Ask them to spend a couple of moments to join in standing up for access to justice.
community safety
The 519 is continuing to develop strategies and mobilization efforts that center the safety of all members of LGBTQ2S communities and respond effectively to any acts of targeted violence, hate, and discrimination.
If you experience or witness the presence of hate groups in the village, we ask you to consider the following options:
1. Assess and Prioritize your Personal Safety
First and foremost, always contemplate and ensure your own personal safety. Do not put yourself in harm’s way, as some groups are known to be physically violent.
2. Let Us Know
If safe to do so, we encourage you to notify The 519 by calling our Front Desk at 416-392-6784 and sharing the presence and location of any hate groups in the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood. Our team will walk you through a series of questions to establish the nature of what is happening and propose next steps.
3. Grab a Mobilization Kit
If it feels safe to engage and participate in the peaceful disruption of anti-LGBTQ2S rhetoric, we will have mobilization kits ready and available for pick-up and use at the following locations:
- The 519 Front Desk (519 Church St.)
Mobilization Kits include:
- A large banner with affirming, community-centric messages of love
- Information on how to get involved, and how to report
- Affirmations; noise-makers; chant lists; safety and response tips and tricks
- Branded bandanas, so you can identify yourselves
Placards with affirming messages to LGBTQ2S communities will also continue to be available at The 519.
4. Refrain from Engaging in Physical Violence
We encourage community members to refrain from engaging in any physical violence or dialogue with members of hate groups. Many of these groups are known to embed video cameras in either periscope banner poles, wear body cameras and/or have a designated cameraperson with the intention to film your actions, and have you charged with assault, and/or to create video content for their media channels and propaganda as the ‘victims’.
5. Peaceful and Powerful Disruption
Peacefully disrupt anti-LGBTQ2S rhetoric through amplified messages of affirmation for queer, trans and two-spirit communities. Use the noise-makers to drown out the hate, use the signs and banners to block out hateful messaging. Watch out for each other.
6. Stay Connected
If you would like to be kept informed about any safety and/or community-based mobilization efforts, you can follow #ArmyOfLovers on social media, reach us at avi@The519.org, or call our Anti-Violence team at 416-355-6792 to get connected.
Sign up for our mailing list.
So we can keep in touch about upcoming actions and opportunities to stand up for our communities.
Support The 519
We ask you to join us in this critical moment and support us in responding to our communities' urgent needs. Support our LGBTQ2S communities by supporting The 519.