COMMUNITY ONE BLOG
Scarborough-based Transgender Advocate Rainbow Hunt Awarded Steinert & Ferreiro Award for Work with Queer Youth
TORONTO, ON (November 14, 2022) – On the evening of November 13, 2022, trans advocate Rainbow Hunt was honoured by Community One Foundation with the Steinert & Ferreiro Award for her work in assisting 2SQTBIPOC+ youth, most notably those living with disabilities. The Steinert & Ferreiro award presents annual recipients with a commemorative award and a $10,000 cash prize, celebrating unsung heroes for their contributions to the Canadian 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Rainbow is the 17th recipient of this prestigious community award, which was presented at the annual Canadian LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce Black & White Gala.
Rainbow is a transgender woman, labelled with an intellectual disability, who advocates for queer youth with disabilities through her activism, youth support projects and public education work. Rainbow’s insight, conviction, and strength have created a space for queer youth who are often isolated and invisible within the 2SQTBIPOC+ community.
Among Rainbow’s many storied accomplishments includes creating Pride in Scarborough (RPIS), an organization that works closely with 2SQTBIPOC+ youth with disabilities from diverse communities across Scarborough: an area of Toronto that Rainbow knew, from her own experience, to have almost no support services for queer disabled youth. RPIS provides a space for youth to build community, friendships, and a strong voice to fight for their rights. Rainbow has also created countless artistic exhibitions and educational programs to assist Queer disabled youth in connecting, collaborating and claiming their voices.
“Rainbow works closely with 2SQTBIPOC+ Multicultural youth with disabilities from diverse communities across Scarborough, an area which has limited support services for queer, disabled youth,” says Michael Thompson, City Councillor, Ward 21 – Scarborough Centre. “She creates activities, resources and employment opportunities and support for youth who feel isolated and voiceless. She is widely seen by the queer, disabled youth in our community as a role model and source of vital support and guidance that helps them to develop the life and leadership skills they need to mitigate racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism and ableism.”
“I feel so deeply honoured and overwhelmed to be this year’s recipient of the Steinert & Ferreiro Award,” says Hunt. “The amazing support from Community One Foundation and others in the Scarborough Community makes me so happy and heartfelt when doing the work I enjoy and care about.”
About the Steinert & Ferreiro Award:
The Steinert & Ferreiro Award was founded in 2005, through a bequest from the estates of Fernando Gumercindo Ferreiro and Jonathan Steinert. Ferreiro immigrated to Toronto from Santiago, Chile in 1973 to earn his doctorate in Psychology at the University of Toronto and established his private practice. While on vacation in San Francisco in 1985, he met Jonathan Steinert and the two very quickly fell in love. Jonathan relocated to Toronto and assisted Fernando at his practice. In 1990, Jonathan was tragically diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and quickly succumbed to his illness. Two years later, Fernando quietly passed away from AIDS in Casey House.
While not persecuted for his homosexuality in Chile, Fernando felt a certain degree of discrimination in Canada, hoping an organization would promote individuals who, through either the arts or sciences, made a significant contribution to the understanding and acceptance of gays and lesbians in the community. Fernando chose the Lesbian and Gay Community Appeal (now Community One Foundation) as the organization to carry out his wishes.
About Community One:
Established in 1980 as the Lesbian and Gay Community Appeal, Community One Foundation provides grants to 2SLGBTQIA+ community projects in Greater Toronto Area including Durham, Halton, Peel and York Regions, focusing on the areas of arts and culture, health and social services, and research and education. The Foundation also promotes community philanthropy through strategic partnerships such as the Bill 7 Award and the LGBT Giving Network.
Website: www.communityone.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CommunityOneFoundation/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/C1Foundation
Instagram: www.instagram.com/C1Foundation
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