Call it Intuition by Nikita Miller
Prism by Amanda Symth Life can often seem lonely for youth who identify within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, especially in a small place like Oxford County. It may seem overwhelming and feel isolating. Sometimes, their friends and family are just unsure of how to support them. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oxford County’s PRISM (Pride, Respect, Identity, Safety and Mentoring) program offers youth that extra support; the opportunity to build their village with both peers and adult mentors who identify in the queer community. Through group and one to one programming, youth can fill their world with support, connections, and people who love and accept them for their amazing and perfect selves. Youth who are in the program talk about
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had been contemplating surro- gacy for a while. After donating eggs to families in France, Australia, and Ontario I came across a post of a beautiful family looking for a surrogate. I instantly knew I wanted to help a family like them. After declining several families proposed by my agency, I took to Facebook and initiated my own search. I came across THE family that made me want to sign up in the first place. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized they were a real family looking for
how nice it is to be surrounded by people just like them and how just being around other 2SLGBTQIA+ identifying people, makes the world feel a little less lonely. Adult mentors in the PRISM program are offered the opportunity to be the person they needed when they were younger. They get to be a big kid, have fun, laugh, learn, share their experiences and support these incredible youths in navigating their gender and/or sexuality journeys. One to one matches spend a couple of hours together, once a week, appreciating each other’s company, exploring the world around them, getting involved in community and having fun participating in activities that the match enjoys doing together. Matches have gone to baseball games, snow tubing, golfing, bike rides, played video games, tried new foods, all while building life changing mentoring relationships. Group matches have a blast creating connection while doing activities like karate, dance, bowling, archery, horseback riding, arts and crafts and so many other fun adventures. BBBSOC has many amazing 2SLGBTQIA+ youth waiting to be matched with an adult mentor who wants to help ignite their power and potential. Apply today, your experience can mean the world to someone else! Or: Apply to be a mentee and meet other incredible 2SLGBTQ+ people who may have a good idea about what you may be dealing with as a youth! Apply at bbbsoxford.ca or email amanda.smyth@ bigbrothersbigsisters.ca for more information. “Having a 2SLBTQ+ mentor makes me feel like I’m not the only one and I’m not alone.” PRISM Mentee
a real surrogate. I watched their wedding slideshow through an entirely different lens; it was no longer admiration from a distance, I felt hope and possibility. I found myself laughing, crying, and I was so overwhelmed with the depths of love that I saw. I fell in love with Liam and Chris, a same sex couple from Australia. I instantly chose them. When I presented them to my agency, I was told that they had experienced some heartache and had taken a step back. I understood but my heart was theirs. I wrote a letter sharing information about me, my family, my motivations, and my desire to work with them. I asked the agency to give it to them only if they felt it would be a sign of hope. If they felt it would harm them, I asked them to hold on to it until they were ready to come back and then they could let them know a surrogate was ready. I was perfectly content waiting for this family. After pressuring my contact, I was told they were ‘given permission’ to match us. The information never lined up and my family shared that they never took a step back. I have my suspicions on what happened, but that’s a story for another day. I fought, we matched, and upon e-meeting, I instantly knew my instincts were right. We chose each other. Before embarking on our journey, my son and I flew to Australia to meet them and their people. We got to witness the love from the photos, in real life. During that trip, their people chose me back. After many hormones, and failed embryo transfers, we decided to try traditional surrogacy. In September 2019, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl at home. Liam, Chris, and I were surrounded by nine of my people and their 1-year-old son. 13 human beings chose each other in those wee hours of the night. In the four weeks after, this beautiful, new family of four stayed in my home. Their parents came to visit from Australia, and they had the opportunity to meet all of my people here. This experience brought so many of us together. We learned, we cried, we laughed, and we grew. Our lives will forever be changed, for the better
Meet one of BBBS’ new PRISM matches – Elizabeth and Maera! These two have SO much in common and had an instant connection from the moment they met. Their match introduction was full of smiles and laughs.
PRIDE Villager
Page 7 Issue 9 • Fall 2022
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