409P
NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY OF GREATER SUDBURY AND SURROUNDING AREAS 2003-2004
M Theriault1, R Weir2, G Browne2
¹Access AIDS Network, Sudbury; 2McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
Objectives: The purpose of this survey was to determine the types and focus of support services for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Two-Spirit and Questioning (LGBT2-SQ) Community and their friends and families (PFLAG), of the City of Greater Sudbury to assist the Sudbury Pride Centre.
Methods: Two questionnaires, designed to assess LGBT2-SQ and PFLAG respondents' suggestions of the types and focus of supportive services that could be offered in the community, were distributed during Sudbury's Gay Pride Week to drop off boxes at 5 Sudbury locations. Completed, anonymous questionnaires were scored and analyzed by the CLEAR Unit.
Results: One hundred and sixty-two (65%) of the total distributed questionnaires (N=250) were returned for analysis and included 122 from LGBT2-SQ respondents (61%) and 40 from PFLAG respondents (80%). Respondents were primarily from Sudbury, heterogeneous in age, gender, gender identity, education, employment, family relationships and socioeconomic status.
The majority of respondents had experienced discrimination in the form of gay bashing as a witness or a victim. Youths experienced discrimination more at school while adults' experiences were more in their professional encounters. The two most endorsed resources for supportive services were a library/resource centre (85%), followed by a telephone support and information line (75%). Workshops were supported by 49% of respondents in varying amounts within a range of types.
Implications/Discussion: The results lend direction and support for the expansion of types of requested supportive services to better meet the needs of this community. The results also indicate the extent to which discrimination is a factor in these respondents' lives and what services might help fill these gaps. They also point to the areas where volunteer support might be more easily obtained, such as for the Telephone Information line and Resource Centre; while facilitating workshops, support groups and recreation might prove more difficult.