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2SLGBTQNEEDSPROJECT
ConneQT NB is a community-based project funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada. This report reects data gathered between 2021 and 2023 from community activists, organizers, and organizations in the province ofNew Brunswick. Data was collected through focus groups (virtual/in-person), organizational inventory and resource exercises with community partners,a survey on community and organizational needs, and anonymous commentand feedback forms. This project and report intend to highlight areas for so that 2SLGBTQ+ organizations and communities can . There are currently Pride organizations located in New Brunswick (NB), community organizations, and an additional health and advocacygroups. Scattered across a largely rural province, many of these organizationswork in silos and struggle with isolation, a lack of funding, minimal resources,and insucient capacity. The majority of these organizations are volunteer-run and rely on fundraising, sponsorship, and small grants to provide services,resources, and programming to their communities. By identifying the needsof the diverse 2SLGBTQ+ organizations in the province, we highlight themany opportunities for current and future partners, funders, stakeholders,and governments to contribute to their vital growth and . 2SLGBTQ+ organizations in New Brunswick are severely underfunded.2SLGBTQ+ organizations in NB are in need of nancial, physical,educational, and general resources.2SLGBTQ+ organizations in NB experience frequent turnover and facediculty nding and retaining volunteers.2SLGBTQ+ organizers in NB report high levels of burnout.2SLGBTQ+ organizations in NB have been signicantly impacted byCOVID-19 and have struggled to rebuild.2SLGBTQ+ organizations and organizers in NB report both public andprivate harassment (predominantly through online channels).
Out of the 27 organizations that participated in our organizationalinventory exercise, 18 were New Brunswick based, exclusively 2SLGBTQ+focused community organizations and/or nonprots. Of these groups:Almost all organizations agreed that dedicated, physical space wasintegral to oering consistent programming, building legitimacy, developing “brand” recognition and visibility in their geographic region, and creating safer spaces in their communities. Safer spaces are vital to building trust within 2SLGBTQ+ communities. This is dicult to achieve using external event spaces (libraries, public businesses, etc). Participantswere asked about their most immediate needs that require funds. Thefollowing responses came up across the majority of organizations:When asked about key resource needs that were not fund dependent, themost frequent answers among the 27 organizations were as follows:*Includes ASL, paid Zoom subscription, sensory items, translation, etc.
Almost all organizations raised SAFETY concerns related to organizers,volunteers, and the public at large at both virtual and in person events (such as protestors, threats, zoom bombing, other forms of harassment).Organizations highlighted barriers to navigating and responding toharassment. These barriers were compounded by lack of training,lack of capacity and support, trauma, feeling targeted orpersonally attacked, and mistrust of law enforcement. Barriers related to organizing in a rural area were shared among groupsbased in New Brunswick that operate outside of the three main regions (Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton). Organizations in all geographicregions identied common barriers that impact both 2SLGBTQ+ groupsand community members who may wish to access them. These include: 2SLGBTQ ORGANIZERS/ACTIVISTSREPORTED SIMILAR PRIORITIES: These priorities were relatively consistent across all 27 organizations,(except when superceded by specic missions, e.g. HIV/AIDS support).Knowledge of these priorities in addition to the barriers and resourceneeds of 2SLGBTQ+ organizations and communities in New Brunswickprovide a clear picture of how best to provide support and create change.