Who is the Queer Café for?
Anyone in BC between the ages of 12 and 24 who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ2IA+ community is welcome to attend, including but not limited to people who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, Two-Spirit, queer, non-binary, asexual, aromantic, agender, genderqueer, genderfluid, intersex, or questioning. You don’t need to have used Foundry services before, and you don’t need a referral from a professional.
When and where is the Queer Café?
The Queer Café is held over Zoom and takes place Wednesday evening from 6:30-8:00pm. The facilitators will be available for half an hour after the Queer Café if you would like to talk more about anything that came up during the session.
Who runs the Queer Café?
The Queer Café is facilitated by a youth peer supporter who identifies as LGBTQ2IA+. A peer supporter is a trained support worker who has lived experience of the different types of issues they help others with, like mental health or substance use challenges. A youth peer supporter is a peer supporter who is close to your own age (between the ages of 20-30.)
What activities does the Queer Café involve?
The Queer Café features a wide variety of different activities, and you can choose which sessions you’re interested in attending. Every session includes time for introductions, going over guidelines for the group, and talking about how we are all doing. You never have to share anything you don’t want to and can participate as little or as much as you would like in conversations and activities.
Some examples of activities the Queer Café might include are making art together, playing games, workshops on topics like sexual health, and presentations by LGBTQ2A+ artists. You can talk about anything at the Queer Café, not just LGBTQ2IA+ issues, but the facilitators may also lead discussions about topics specifically related to being LGBTQ2IA+, like relationships or coming out.
How can I attend the Queer Café?
You need to register for the Foundry BC app and then for the Queer Café before you are able to attend any sessions; however, once you are registered, you can attend as many or as few as you want (or none at all).
How do I get news and updates about the Queer Café?
To see what’s happening at this week’s Queer Café, or to check what’s planned for upcoming sessions, follow us on Instagram, or email us at online@foundrybc.ca to be added to our email list.
Do I have to use my legal name to sign up for the Queer Café?
When you register, you’ll be asked to give your first and last name as well as your birthday so that Foundry can keep track of how many people attend the Queer Café and what age demographic they belong to. You’ll also be asked for contact information, like a phone number or email address. You’ll have the option to provide a preferred name that’s different from your legal name. You can also select your own display name on Zoom.
Is the Queer Café confidential?
The Queer Café facilitators are part of the Foundry team and will take notes after the group so that we can keep track of what services and activities young people are interested in or how the group could be improved. That information won’t be shared with anyone outside of Foundry unless someone is in danger and needs immediate help or we’re ordered by a court to share it. The Queer Café welcomes young people from all over BC who might have a range of experiences and privacy concerns to attend, so we ask that participants don’t share personal information they hear during the group without permission.
I’m worried about upsetting topics that might come up. Is the Queer Café safe?
Participants are free to talk about anything at the Queer Café, but the facilitators will do their best to ensure that everyone in the group feels comfortable with any topics that come up and pause the conversation if needed. We ask that participants check in with the rest of the group before sharing something that could be triggering (meaning it could be emotionally distressing for others in the group). The facilitators will also work with the group to create a community agreement beforehand to make sure everyone feels safe during the Queer Café. If you need additional support during or after the Queer Café, one of the facilitators can check in with you individually.
Can I leave the Queer Café?
Yes, you can leave the Queer Café at any time, for any reason. We encourage you to message the group facilitator before you leave. If there are concerns about your safety, a Foundry worker will contact you afterwards to check in.
I don’t see my identity listed here/I’m not sure how I identify. Is the Queer Café right for me?
The Queer Café strives to be as inclusive as possible, and while the facilitators may not be familiar with your unique identity and experiences, they are always open to learning more. You don’t need to use any specific word for your identity or experiences to attend. The facilitators are happy to speak to you privately during or after the Queer Café if you have concerns about names, pronouns, or other language related to your identity, or would like additional support communicating your identity to the group.
I’m experiencing a crisis right now and need immediate help. Is the Queer Café right for me?
The Queer Café is an activity and discussion group and isn’t meant to provide crisis support or intervention. If this is an emergency, consider contacting one of the following services, or call 911:
I’m looking for one-on-one support from a counselor or peer supporter. Is the Queer Café right for me?
Although Foundry also offers virtual counselling and one-on-one peer support for LGBTQ2IA+ youth, the Queer Café is intended as a social space. This means it is not well-suited to provide one-on-one support. If you would like to speak to someone individually, you can check out Foundry’s other virtual services.
I’m looking for group therapy/a clinical group. Is the Queer Café right for me?
The Queer Café is a peer support group, not a clinical group. This means that we come together as peers for social support; however, we don’t teach therapy techniques in this group and the facilitators are not professional counsellors. Foundry will be offering clinical groups online in the future. Check out Foundry’s other virtual services.
