W.E. Trans Support
1435 Tecumseh Rd E N8W 1C2 Windsor, ON, Canada

Today’s service feature is our Tuck Shop! The Tuck Shop seeks to provide gender affirming products like chest binders, packers, and packer pouches; branded merchandise, and queer and trans supportive apparel to folks in our community, allies, and youth who may not have the means to make online purchases (due to lack of a credit card or supportive adults). Currently we are offering chest binders, packers, packer pouches, t-shirts, travel cups and straws, tote bags. Soon, we wi...ll be selling shirts and sweaters with our new name and logo so stay tuned for that early February!!! We also have a sponsorship service where folks can donate funds to provide these tuck shop items to community members who can't otherwise access them themselves. Currently, you can purchase any of our tuck shop items by messaging us on social media, emailing us at [email protected], or calling the centre at 226-674-4745. The website does also have a Tuck Shop link, but the inventory may not be up-to-date as we are currently renovating the website for our rebrand coming in February. Please contact us with any questions about purchasing tuck shop items! In terms of getting your item after purchase, we have contactless pick up available as well as local delivery. Shipping can be arranged if necessary but please contact us to arrange this prior to order. Please contact [email protected], call 226-674-4745, or message us on social media to access up-to-date information on our merchandise inventory and to make a purchase.

Today’s service feature is for our individual counselling! Individual counselling is for individuals seeking support regarding historical trauma, mental health challenges, and present day obstacles. Counsellors can help guide clients through a path that helps to meet their specific goals while providing motivational and strength-based encouragement. We currently offer counselling for individuals, families, youth, relationships, chemical dependency, and general counselling. We... currently have four counsellors on staff. All counselling is currently being offered virtually or over the phone. If you are a current client interested in accessing our counselling services, please reach out to your peer mentor or to reception to book an appointment. If you are a new client, please call or email reception to book an intake.

Today’s service feature is the MOSAIC Chemical Dependency Program! MOSAIC Chemical Dependency Program seeks to provide services for folx in need of harm reduction, addiction, and recovery support. It offers peer support as well as working one-on-one with counsellors to set and meet individual goals. The services offered through MOSAIC include an alumni group, a harm reduction group, and one-on-one counselling to meet specific and measurable goals. This service is currently fu...nded by the Government of Canada's Emergency Community Support Fund and United Way Centraide Windsor-Essex County. All MOSAIC services are currently being offered virtually through Zoom or Doxy. If you are a current client interested in accessing this program, please reach out to your counsellor or peer mentor to let them know. If you are a new client, please call or email reception to book an intake.

Today’s service feature is the group Aced It! Aced It is a monthly, peer-facilitated support group for people who identify on the asexual and/or aromantic spectrum. Recognizing the fact that asexual and aromantic people experience a unique form of oppression and discrimination, this group creates a safe space for people to explore what it means to be on the asexual and/or aromantic spectrum. We welcome and celebrate people of all gender identities and expressions; this space ...is safe for everyone regardless of who they do/don’t experience attraction to. Together, we will explore the different types of attraction, learn about asexual and aromantic identities, and explore sexuality as a changing, fluid spectrum. We are seeking to provide a space to learn from each other, to share our stories, and to find a community of people like us. Aced It meets on the last Saturday of every month, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. The meetings are currently being held virtually through Zoom. If you are interested in being added to our email list to receive the Zoom link, please email [email protected]

Today’s service feature is the group OFF of the Rainbow! Our Family & Friends of the Rainbow is a peer-led support group for the family, friends, and allies of LGBTQIA2S+ loved ones. Our current co-facilitators, Sarah Taylor and Lisa Renaud, have been conducting mostly virtual meetings since March 2020. Many of our participants have found it challenging to meet at the same time on the same platforms, and so, we have been in smaller groups at different times and days.... Pre-pandemic, our regularly scheduled, twice monthly meetings would have educational and discussion components; but, first and foremost, it was about what our members needed from our group, in that moment. Sarah and Lisa have been available for direct support virtually during these challenging times, and will continue to provide resources, support, and virtual hugs, until we are able to regularly meet again in person. <3 {{{hugs}}} <3 and please stay safe, everyone!! For more information about getting connected to this group, please email [email protected]

Today’s service feature is the Empowerment, Resilience, and Suicide Prevention Program! The Empowerment, Resilience, and Suicide Prevention Program’s aim is to help our LGBTQ2IA+ clients gain friendships and focus on building confidence and empowerment while learning social skills. Participants learn to live their best lives by using the tools within themselves and learning from each other. They will identify goals and take an active role in their lives by educating themselve...s with the tools needed to prevent suicidal thoughts. This program will include mental health worksheets and crafts, art and music therapy, and mindfulness and decentering activities. Topics that are discussed include risk of depression and protective factors, self care, healthy relationships vs. red flags, various types of abuse, and bullying. The Empowerment, Resilience, and Suicide Prevention Program runs every Saturday from 11:30am to 1:00pm. If you are interested in accessing this program, please email [email protected] or [email protected] for the Zoom link.

Please view our attached Community Standards Guidelines for all social media accounts associated with W.E. Trans. If you have any questions, please email us, at: [email protected] Thank you!

Today’s service feature is the group Trans* Spectrum! Trans* Spectrum is a bi-weekly, peer-facilitated support group for people who identify on the trans* spectrum, including those who are transmasculine, transfeminine, and those who identify outside of the gender binary. This is a space for people who identify as transgender, non-binary, agender, genderqueer, gender neutral, and everything in between. We invite people of all ages, walks of life, gender identities and expres...sions, and sexualities to join us. Together, we will explore what it means to be in the trans* community, the different ways to express our gender identities, and experimenting with different pronouns or names that feel right for us. We are seeking to provide a space to learn from each other, to share our stories, and to find a community of people like us. Trans* Spectrum meets on the first and third Saturday of every month from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. The meetings are currently being held virtually through Zoom. If you are interested in being added to our email list to receive the Zoom link, please email [email protected] Upcoming Trans* Spectrum Meetings: January 9th (3:00pm to 5:00pm) January 23rd (3:00pm to 5:00pm) February 6th (3:00pm to 5:00pm)

Today is the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Our team has been putting together an amazing video to honour this important moment that will be uploaded in the next half hour, so be sure to keep your eyes out! #TDOR2020

We will be having a virtual meeting for Aced It this coming Saturday, November 28th from 1-3pm! This is a peer-facilitated support group for folx on the asexual and/or aromantic spectrum. Join us this week for a conversation around relationships and consent. Email [email protected] to receive the Zoom link!

Please see our newest press release introducing Alexander Reid as our new Executive Director!

Trans Awareness Week continues! Learn how to be a better ally to trans* folx... https://www.thetrevorproject.org//a-guide-to-being-an-all/ #TransAwarenessWeek

The United Nations’ theme for the Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence this year is Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect. Community members are encouraged to help kick off the campaign by wearing the colour orange and raising awareness about gender-based violence in their workplaces, public spaces, and online spaces. Learn more here:... https://www.unwomen.org//e/take-action/16-days-of-activism #16daysofactivism

Alexander Reid, B. Ed, Executive Director of W.E. Trans Support. After 2 years of working diligently as a substitute teacher by day and at W.E. Trans by night, I am SO PROUD to say I’m taking over as Executive Director effective November 9th, 2020! This past year has been incredibly challenging and I DESERVE this win. I can’t wait to serve and represent my community with pride and get to work making the world a better place for queer and trans folks. ... To my community: I love you, I support you, and I am so honoured to represent you. I promise to do you proud. #transandproud by Tessa Johnston

Check out this fantastic resource for #transawarenessweek by Schuyler Bailar, Pinkmantaray!

From November 24th to December 10th, keep an eye on our social media for posts about the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, including statistics, resources, and ways to be an ally. #16daysofactivism

Attention queer and trans* folks and allies!! If you want to be featured in our Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil, representing our community, please email a photo to [email protected] by Thursday, November 19th (tomorrow) at 11:59pm.

Please tell us what you want to see for our centre, what services you need, what programming you want to attend, and what changes we should implement. We can't wait to read your feedback! Please feel free to remain anonymous if you feel more comfortable doing so. https://docs.google.com//166h4TAiqBocqtHDCD5IMwmm9noS/edit

We wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who contributed to our Transgender Day of Remembrance Virtual Celebration, especially... Community Partners: Sexual Misconduct and Response Office Flip the Script ... Bystander Initiative Our Sponsors: OHREA University of Windsor Women and Gender Studies Department W.E. Trans Team and Volunteers who contributed to our virtual video Musicians: Nick Lawrence "Invincible" Sydney Brouillard-Coyle "Eulogy for the Trans* Day of Remembrance" We couldn't have put this together without each of your important contributions. Thank you. #TDOR2020

Today's feature for Queer History Month is focused on our amazing Global "Queeroes" who have helped make our world what it is today! Our hero is Canadian Jim Egan, who was born in 1921 and passed away in 2000. Jim Egan began his activism by writing letters in 1949 to newspapers and magazines. He was protesting the negative depiction of homosexuality in the media, and he lobbied for legal reform and rights. He was most well-known for challenging the Old Age Secruity Act after... he and his partner were denied spousal support. His case led to the inclusion of sexual orientation as grounds for discrimination in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Jim Egan's work is featured in Canada's Heritage minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3e5jC7yZeo #queerhistorymonth

Join us tonight virtually for Youth Drop in! Email [email protected] for the meeting link and passcode.

We wanted to take a moment to recognize and honour the Transgender Day of Remembrance through this virtual video. We encourage you to consider lighting a candle and sharing this video to help raise awareness about transphobia and violence towards the trans* community. Special thanks to... Our guest speakers... Alexander Reid (he/him), W.E. Trans Support Derrick Biso (they/them), University of Windsor Frankie Cachon (she/her), University of Windsor Kaye Johnson (she/they), University of Windsor Our musicians and composers: Sydney Brouillard-Coyle: "Eulogy for the Trans* Day of Remembrance" Nick Lawrence: "Invincible" The W.E. Trans Staff, Team Members, and Community for contributing through recordings and photos to put this video together. We couldn't have done this without all of you. Though our event may look differently this year, we hope you find this video meaningful in honouring the lives lost due to transphobia. #TDOR2020

Guess what? W.E. Trans has a YouTube Channel now! Make sure to subscribe to stay up-to-date with all our latest videos! If you weren't able to get to our Open House last week, don't worry! Our amazing staff and volunteers have put together a video for those who weren't available to join us in person! Featured in this video are our:... - Intake Assessments and Youth Drop-In Programs - Educational Workshops & Sensitivity Trainings - Peer-Facilitated Support Groups - Peer Mentors - MOSAIC Chemical Dependency and Harm Reduction Program - Clothing Cupboard - Food Bank - Volunteers, Allies, Families and Friends of the Rainbow, and Grant/Policy Writing To learn more, give our center a call or check out our social media pages! We are active on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46BwV3JF30E

Queer History Month continues! Today, we are featuring the organization Egale Canada, which was founded in 1986 and remains active today. Formerly known as "Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere", EGALS is an advocacy organization that seeks to advanced equality for the Canadian queer and trans* community. Their work includes: - lobbying for more equitable laws for queer people - intervening in legal cases that affect human rights and equality... - increasing public awareness and education "We believe in a world where every person, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity, can achieve their full potential, free from hatred and bias." https://egale.ca/ #queerhistorymonth

In discussing our collective queer history, we must also discuss the history of oppression, prejudice, and discrimination. Today we will be discussing "The Fruit Machine", which was used in Canada between the 1950s and 1960s. "The Fruit Machine" is the term for a device developed in Canada to determine if a man was gay. The goal was to eliminate all gay men from civil service. The man would be strapped to a chair before being subjected to images of men and women ranging from ...mundane to pronography. It was believed that the visual stimuli would cause one's pupils to enlarge, which was "evidence" if the man was heterosexual or homosexual (depending on which caused the pupils to enlarge). As a result of the Fruit Machine, many civil servants and members of the RCMP and military lost their jobs and livelihoods. https://www.cbc.ca//the-fruit-machine-why-every-canadian-s #queerhistorymonth

This week at our Youth Drop-In, we made our very own superheroes! Drop in on Tuesdays from 4-6pm for a snack and a craft with our Bachelor of Social Work students! Open to ages 9-19. #wetranswindsor

Queer History month continues! Today's focus is on the history of rights, protections, and victories, including amendments to the Canadian Human Rights Act. In 1996, the Canadian Federal Government passes Bill C-33, which adds "sexual orientation" to the Canadian Human Rights Act. In 2017, Bill C-16 is passed to include the terms gender identity and gender expression. ... These bills make it illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression, providing protection under the Human Rights Act for those in the queer and trans* community. #queerhistorymonth

It's Monday, which means we continue to celebrate the many pride flags and terms that make up our community! Our feature today is the transgender flag, which was created by American trans woman Monica Helms in 1999. It was first unveiled at a pride parade in Phoenix, Arizona in 2000. Each of the colours represent something unique: Blue represents masculinity and 'maleness';... Pink represents femininity and 'femaleness'; White represents those who are neutral, intersex, transitioning, and/or undefined. This flag represents all who are within the trans* community. The asterisk (*) in trans* represents those who identify outside the gender binary. The term "trans*" is an umbrella one that is used to describe a range of identities that transgress the socially-defined gender norms. #queerhistorymonth

We wanted to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving from your family here at W.E. Trans! Please note that our office is closed today, but we will be back to our regular hours and programming tomorrow. <3

Happy National Coming Out Day! What does it mean to come out? Coming Out as queer or trans* is a lifelong process. It starts with coming out to oneself: inner exploration and discovering term(s) that feel right for you. Then, some people may choose to formally come out to other trusted people - family, friends, coworkers, etc. ... What is National Coming Out Day? The original intention for National Coming Out Day was to let people see us, who we are, people they already like, know and respect - who happen to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Today, it provides the space to educate people about queer and trans* identities, to tell our stories, and to celebrate who we are with the people we love. Resource for Coming Out: https://www.thetrevorproject.org///Coming-Out-Handbook.pdf Coming Out in a Pandemic: https://www.cnn.com//national-coming-out-day-20/index.html How to Support Someone Who is Coming Out: https://www.bustle.com//26838-how-to-support-a-friend-who- https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/z6d28xs A Message from the Human Rights Campaign: https://youtu.be/6-FPbnA9hL4 #NationalComingOutDay

Queer History month continues with a celebration of queer and trans* representation in the media! Today's feature is the film Brokeback Mountain, which was released in 2005. In 1963, rodeo cowboy Jack Twist and ranch hand Ennis Del Mar are hired by rancher Joe Aguirre as sheep herders in Wyoming. One night on Brokeback Mountain, Jack makes a drunken pass at Ennis that is eventually reciprocated. #queerhistorymonth

Happy National Coming Out Day! Swipe to see a special message from Alexander Reid, one of our fantastic peer mentors and the education coordinator at W.E. Trans! #nationalcomingoutday

Happy World Mental Health Day! World Mental Health Day is observed on 10 October every year, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues around the world and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health. World Mental Health Day provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.... This year’s World Mental Health Day, on 10 October, comes at a time when our daily lives have changed considerably as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The past months have brought many challenges: for health-care workers, providing care in difficult circumstances, going to work fearful of bringing COVID-19 home with them; for students, adapting to taking classes from home, with little contact with teachers and friends, and anxious about their futures; for workers whose livelihoods are threatened; for the vast number of people caught in poverty or in fragile humanitarian settings with extremely limited protection from COVID-19; and for people with mental health conditions, many experiencing even greater social isolation than before. And this is to say nothing of managing the grief of losing a loved one, sometimes without being able to say goodbye. Given past experience of emergencies, it is expected that the need for mental health and psychosocial support will substantially increase in the coming months and years. Investment in mental health programmes at the national and international levels, which have already suffered from years of chronic underfunding, is now more important than it has ever been. This is why the goal of this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign is increased investment in mental health. Learn more here: https://www.who.int//27-08-2020-world-mental-health-day-an