Jer's Vision on MTV.ca

Jer's Vision Director, Jeremy Dias, will be featured on an MTV.ca special on LGBTQ Youth Issues & Suicides. He just finished filming this morning. More updates soon!!

Jer's Vision on CKCU

Jer's Vision will be talking to Heather Bruce on CKCU this morning about LGBTQ suicides in Canada and the US.

JV at Lockview

Finishing up our tour of NS, Jer's Vision did workshops at Lockview. See pictures here.

Day of Purple Toolkit

Jer's Vision launches PURPLE DAY TOOLKIT

(for October 20th, 2010)

Following the recent suicides of Tyler Clementi, Raymond Chase, Seth Walsh, Justin Aaberg, Asher Brown, Billy Lucas and others whose story was untold, we have created a toolkit for your school or community organization to organize a Purple Day on Oct 20th, 2010.

Youth internationally have named October 20th, 2010 Purple Day, a day to remember those who were lost this past Sept 2010, and before. Our toolkit makes it easier for you organize your Purple Day. The kit includes 3 posters (1. to raise awareness about Purple Day, 2. to highlight Resources Available; and 2. 'We Remember' poster, to commemorate those lost); as well as ideas & instructions for activities.

CLICK HERE: http://tiny.cc/Oct20Toolkit and download from Sendspace.com. (having problems getting your toolkit, emai us at: ambassador@jersvision.org) (facebook event page; youtube video)

LGBTQ youth are frequently victims of homophobic and transphobic bullying and abuse on a daily basis. Studies reveal that suicide attempts of LGBTQ youth are four times more likely than heterosexual youth.

With your support we can work to eliminate tragedies such as these. Take Action. Be a Volunteer. Donate.

Thanks!-Jer's Vision Team

Sisters in Spirit

As the bells in the Peace Tower struck noon, a sombre hush fell over the large crowd gathered at Parliament Hill Monday. Everyone's eyes were on the stairs as a woman stepped down to the mic and asked us to make a path down the middle. A group of about 25 people began to walk slowly from the Eternal Flame, each one holding an enlarged picture of a woman or girl who had been murdered or is missing. As they took their places on the steps, the crowd was silent, the only sound coming from the drums that 3 men and a woman were sitting around, beating. Then their voices joined in as they sang a prayer to the Creator. Then an Algonquin elder took the stage, praying for the dead and missing Aboriginal girls and women, inviting us to pray with her,

The event was a sombre one, but there was an undertone of hope, because although there are more than 582 missing or murdered Aboriginal females in this country, the Sisters in Spirit initiative have been working hard to get police involved and work hard to find these girls.

This year 37 communities in 8 provinces held a vigil on October 4th in honour of this cause.

Volunteer

Jer's Vision is looking for volunteers to mentor youth in schools! Come on board as a mentor for youth in Diversity & Rainbow Alliance clubs, Workshop facilitator or Conference organizer.

We are always looking for people to also help out with offices duties, like creating new resources, networking with school and community partners, organizing events, fundraising, and supporting the organization.

There are tons of other ways of getting involved. Contact us to find out more opportunities.

To find our more, email us at: info@jersvision.rg

Our sympathies

In September, a number of LGBTQ teen suicides made international media turn theirs heads and wake up to this very real and disturbing reality for queer youth.
On behalf of Jer's Vision, our board, volunteers and staff, we would like to express our most sincere condolences to the friends and family of Tyler Clementi, Raymond Chase, Seth Walsh , Justin Aaberg, Asher Brown, Billy Lucas and to others whose story was untold.
As an organization that works to end bullying, discrimination, homophobia, and transphobia in schools and youth communities, these events serve as a reminder to the importance of the work that we do, and ongoing need of being proactive at creating positive and safe spaces for youth.
If you are in need of help, please do not hesitate to contact us for referral services. You are also encourage to contact Kids Help Phone at kidshelpphone.ca or call 1-800-668-6868.
All of us at Jer's Vision are committed to work to address teen suicide, bullying, and all forms of discrimination. For more information please contact us at: info@jersvision.org.
We also encourage you to see this video by Ellen Degeneres by clicking here.