It’s no secret that good reproductive healthcare is hard to come by these days, especially for queer folks. It’s hard enough to find any care at all, let alone queer- and trans-affirming care that actually puts your wellness and autonomy first… sounds dreamy but unlikely, to be honest.
Reya is always on the lookout for safe, reliable, and well-vetted resources to offer to our community, which is why we’d like to introduce you to Planned Parenthood Toronto (PPT)! PPT is a community health centre that has spent the last 63 years fighting for reproductive justice and
providing much-needed support and services to youth in Toronto. They have been a part of many important initiatives in Toronto over the years, including being the first in Canada to offer online therapeutic support groups for youth with mental health concerns.
“Planned Parenthood Toronto stands as a sanctuary for young people navigating a healthcare system too often shaped by indifference and inequity,” says Mohini Datta-Ray, Executive Director of PPT. “Our mission is not merely to provide services, but to affirm the dignity, agency, and humanity of every young person who walks through our doors. We believe that equitable, affirming care can change lives – and change systems.”
Today, PPT supports youth ages 13-29 of all gender identities, with or without insurance, with a focus on anti-racism, anti-oppression, and culturally responsive care. In a single year, PPT serves and supports 10,000 youth in the clinic and in communities across Toronto. You may read “Planned Parenthood,” and think of advocating for legal, safe abortions, which is already an incredible thing to be known for but PPT has so much more to offer, including:
Contraception & Birth Control
PPT sells birth control at cost (the same price at which they purchased it), which is huge. Condoms, lube, and pregnancy tests are free!
STI Testing
Free testing for STIs including but not limited to Herpes, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, and anonymous HIV testing in a sex-positive, non-judgmental environment. Barrier-free access to STI testing is such an important part of removing the stigma surrounding STIs in general. It also plays a huge role in preventing the spread of disease.
Case Coordination
PPT can connect youth to resources and offer external referrals to services like food banks, legal aid, parenting supports, and more. Sometimes you just need someone to point you in the right direction and get you in touch with the right people, and that’s the purpose of PPT’s case consultation service!
Counselling
This isn’t strictly sexual & reproductive health counselling. PPT can also provide cognitive and dialectical behavioural therapies, narrative therapy, and emotions-focused therapy. There are single sessions, short-term, and longer term options up to 20 sessions for folks looking for a little more support. PPT works with clients to decide what length of counselling works best!
Gender-Affirming Care
This was mentioned before but it’s worth repeating because gender-affirming care is everyone’s right! PPT provides access to support, resources, and treatments for trans and non-binary folks. This includes Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), gender-affirming, OHIP funded surgery referrals, gender dysphoria assessment and treatment, and more!
Community Programs
There are several ways for youth to get involved and build a supportive community with their peers at PPT. For example, Teens Educating and Confronting Homophobia (T.E.A.C.H.) is an award-winning, peer-based youth education program that gives folks ages 16-25 the opportunity to lead workshops in the community. You can also find support groups for young parents, non-binary youth, and youth struggling with chronic physical health conditions. When we talk about wraparound supports and intersectionality, this is what we mean!
Beyond the list of services Planned Parenthood Toronto offers, they’re also a reliable source of information. PPT features an entire library where you can find fact sheets, articles, and research covering over 65 different topics in the PPT library, including contraceptive methods, STIs, pleasure, and news. PPT also launched a sexual health peer information service called Teen Health Source (previously named Teen Sex InfoLine) more than 20 years ago! Teen Health Source is another treasure trove of resources! The website features even more info sheets, quizzes, a dictionary, and even text, phone, and online chat support where youth can communicate directly with peer educators!
If you’ve been a part of the Reya community for any length of time, you know that these things matter to us in a big way. Sexual and reproductive health is kind of our whole thing, after all, as your birth control bestie, we recognize that SO many factors go into deciding which contraceptive method could be right for you. Your gender identity and sexuality, your race and cultural background, your age and stage in life, your mental health, and your financial situation are just a few things that can have an impact on which birth control you choose.
It’s so important to have access to high-quality, wraparound support in these areas so we can make informed decisions that keep us safe and healthy. So many of us share negative experiences in sexual and reproductive healthcare. Feeling unheard, unseen, disrespected and discriminated against is all too common, especially among queer and gender-diverse communities. Planned Parenthood Toronto has been doing amazing work to bridge these gaps in our healthcare system, and that is why they are such an important pillar of sexual and reproductive healthcare.
If you’re in the Toronto area, we encourage you to pop in to Planned Parenthood Toronto for a visit! If you’d like to schedule an appointment, you’ll find all the info you need here. Say hi for us while you’re there!
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