The Nelson and District Women's Centre is widening its mission of advancing gender equality and fighting oppression of all kinds.
Starting this week, the centre will provide space, support and resources for the trans and gender diverse community through a weekly drop-in at their centre at 420 Mill Street.
"The time is right for this," said executive director Lisa McGeady. "The centre has long been a safe, welcoming space for so many, and we are thrilled to be able to share this little oasis with the trans and gender diverse community."
The Trans and Gender Diverse Drop-In is held on Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m. The drop-in offers free coffee and tea, nutritious food, a free clothing store, access to computers, free internet, referrals and a resource library.
It is a place to socialize, with compassionate peer counselling available. This drop-in time is a trans and gender diverse only space.
This new initiative is made possible through a social grant from the Columbia Basin Trust, which enables the Women's Centre to provide a safe, inclusive space for all self-identified trans and gender diverse people in Nelson and area. It also enables the centre to provide anti-oppression training and education, working to change misconceptions that perpetuate violence and discrimination.
In addition to opening the centre an additional day a week, there will be quarterly consultation-education sessions open to the wider community to learn about issues that affect trans and gender-diverse people. The centre is dedicated to facilitating dialogue to promote tolerance and ending gender based violence in all forms.