Pride Is About Belonging — And we take care of our community
At Covenant House Vancouver, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and identities of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. We create a safe, inclusive, and affirming space where every young person can be themselves without fear, build a community, and find a path forward.
Why This Work Matters
2SLGBTQIA+ are overrepresented among youth experiencing homelessness because of family rejection and a lack of community acceptance. At Covenant House Vancouver, we believe every young person deserves absolute respect—without exception.
of youth experiencing homelessness in Canada identify as
2SLGBTQIA+
of youth served at
Covenant House Vancouver identify as
2SLGBTQIA+
of 2SLGBTQIA+ youth at Covenant House Vancouver
developed the skills
necessary to secure or
maintain housing
Our Commitment To 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth
2SLGBTQIA+ youth face disproportionate challenges, including homelessness, discrimination, and family rejection.
At Covenant House Vancouver, we ensure that every young person feels seen, heard, and supported. Our programs are designed to meet their unique needs with compassion, dignity, and respect, empowering them to heal, grow, and build the futures they deserve.
How We Serve 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth
Safe and Inclusive Housing
We provide safe, welcoming spaces where youth can live free from judgement, discrimination, and rejection.
Specialized Mental Health Support
Our mental health services help youth navigate trauma, depression, anxiety, and other challenges, through one-on-one counselling and group supports.
Community Building and Peer Support
Through peer support groups and community-building activities, youth can connect with others who share similar experiences and build a sense of belonging.
Christine’s Path to Community
Christine came to Canada seeking safety, after facing serious risks for being openly queer in her home country. When she arrived, she struggled with isolation, trauma, and navigating a new life alone. At Covenant House Vancouver, she found acceptance, support, and a sense of belonging. Through counselling, art therapy, and connections to the local queer community, Christine began to heal and rebuild. Today, she is living independently, working, and confidently embracing who she is.
“For the first time, I felt free to just be me.”
The Power of Allyship
At Covenant House Vancouver, allyship is at the heart of how youth are supported every day. Staff like Lisa, a social worker in the Rights of Passage program, help 2SLGBTQIA+ youth overcome barriers to housing, employment, healthcare, and identity, while creating spaces where they feel seen and valued. Through this support, youth gain the confidence to advocate for themselves and others, building brighter, more stable futures.
“We see you and you matter.”
Dana’s Journey to Safety
After fleeing their home country in search of safety, Dana faced exploitation and isolation upon arriving in Canada. Everything changed when they found Covenant House Vancouver, a place where they could begin to heal and rebuild. With access to counselling, community, and creative opportunities, Dana is now pursuing their dreams as an artist and student.
“I feel really blessed to be here. The support lifted me up when I was drowning.”
You Can Help Youth Thrive
Your support helps provide warm meals, stable housing, mental health care, and a sense of belonging for youth who need it most.
Words Matter: Understanding Inclusive Language
Language plays a powerful role in creating inclusive spaces.
Explore key terms and definitions to better understand and support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
NON-BINARY
A collection, continuum, or spectrum of gender identities and expressions, often based on the rejection of the assumption that gender is strictly an either/or option of male/men or female/women, based on the sex assigned to a person at birth. Some non-binary individuals may also hold trans identities, but the terms non-binary and trans are distinct and should not be used interchangeably.
2S/TWO SPIRIT
An umbrella term used by many Indigenous communities on Turtle Island (what is referred to as North America) to describe people with diverse gender identities, gender expressions, gender roles, and sexual orientations. Two Spirit people were included and respected in most Indigenous communities, sometimes considered sacred and highly revered. They often took on important roles as healers, mediators, and warriors. It is a term that should only be used by Indigenous people.
LESBIAN
A woman who experiences romantic or sexual attraction primarily to other women.
Gay
Someone who is primarily attracted to those of the same gender; often used when referring to men.
BISEXUAL
Someone who is romantically, emotionally, or sexually attracted to more than one gender, or one’s own gender and other genders. A bi person may feel equally attracted to many genders, or may experience stronger attractions to one gender while still having feelings for others. This ratio of attraction may vary over time.
TRANSGENDER
Frequently abbreviated to trans, this is an umbrella term for a wide range of experiences and identities for people whose affirmed gender does not align with the gender they were assigned at birth. Being trans is something that can only be decided by an individual for themselves and does not depend on external criteria, such as surgery or hormone treatments.
Queer
An umbrella term used to refer to the spectrum of non-heterosexual and/or non-cisgender people. It also provides a convenient shorthand for the acronym 2SLGBTQIA+. It is important to note that this is a reclaimed term that was, and sometimes still is, used as a hate term, and thus some people feel uncomfortable with it.
QUESTIONING
A term sometimes used by those in the process of exploring personal understandings of their own sexual orientation and/or gender identity, as well as those choosing not to use another, more specific label.
ASEXUAL
Someone who does not experience sexual attraction to others. Sexual attraction is different from romantic attraction. Asexuality can be considered a spectrum, with some asexual people experiencing desire for varying types of physical intimacy. This desire may fluctuate over time or by person.
Intersex
General term used for a variety of features in which a person is born with, or develops, reproductive or sexual anatomy, genetic makeup, or hormonal levels that do not seem to fit the current, “typical” definitions of male or female. Intersex has replaced the term hermaphrodite, which is widely considered to be outdated, inaccurate, and offensive. An intersex person may or may not also be part of the trans community; however, the terms intersex and trans are distinct and should not be used interchangeably.
CISGENDER
A gender identity that society considers to “match” the biological sex assigned to someone at birth.
Note: Definitions were taken and/or summarized with permission from QMUNITY, BC’s Queer, Trans,
and Two-Spirit Resource Centre. If you would like to learn more, please refer to their Queer Glossary
CHV Resources
- Our Drop-In Centre hosts a monthly gathering for 2SLGBTQIA+, from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. Call 604-685-7474 for more information.
- We partner closely with QMUNITY to connect youth with additional support and community resources.
- We provide art therapy sessions that offer 2SLGBTQIA+ young people the tools that they need to manage their mental health, to help them heal from trauma, and to help them find community.
- In our Crisis Program, we have beds for female- and male-identifying youth. Youth can stay in the space where they feel safest and most comfortable.
- If you are a youth in need of support or have questions, please contact us toll free, at 1-877-685-7474.
The True Inclusion Assessment
In 2014, Covenant House International collaborated with the True Colors Fund to roll out a pioneering resource, the True Inclusion Assessment. The assessment was designed by the True
Colors United to help agencies implement best practices to welcome and serve 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. The tool measures the inclusivity of an agency’s policies, practices, physical space, and
programs, using information gleaned from anonymous surveys of youth and staff.
Based on the assessment’s outcome, the True Colors Fund then guides the agency through the necessary steps to create a more 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusive and affirming program and environment. The True Colors Fund applied the True Inclusion Assessment at Covenant House sites across the United States and Canada, including here in Vancouver.
The True Inclusion Assessment led Covenant House Vancouver to launch our Rainbow Advisory Committee. Covenant House Vancouver’s Rainbow Advisory Committee is made up of staff
members from each department in the agency. They are dedicated to insuring we use best practices to serve our 2SLGBTQIA+ youth and that we continue to enhance our spaces, policies, procedures, and programs.