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Dr. Brittany Jakubiec (they/them) is the Director of Research at Egale Canada. A qualitative researcher based in Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island), their work focuses broadly on issues facing queer and trans people in Canada. They are currently leading a research project called Against the Current: A mixed-methods study of 2SLGBTQI people’s experiences of hate and violence in Canada. The project is currently in its second and conducting a national online survey.
“This survey looks at 2S/LGBTQI people's experiences of harassment and violence, as well as their concerns about the rise in hate that could lead to increased violence in Canada,” Brittany says. As the rights of and protections for queer and trans people deteriorate in the country and beyond, they say that “it's more important than ever to document what's happening. We''re seeing folks experiencing a rise in hate and violence, and greater feelings of unsafety or lack of safety.” There are various types of violence — the survey covers the realms of intimate partner violence, family violence, online harassment, and sexual violence.
While the project seeks to understand Two-Spirit, queer, and trans experiences with hate and violence, the survey also asks questions about resistance and queer joy. “It's important to also have stories of resistance, resilience, and joy to avoid a singular, deficit-based framing,” Brittany says. “Things like building community, making art together, and engaging in mutual aid are all strategies for queer survival.”
The survey builds on the first phase of the project, which consisted of 100 semi-structured interviews with queer and trans people about their experiences of homophobic and transphobic hate. The Egale team presented on the first phase at Summit 2025, focusing on participants’ experiences of combatting hate, particularly how community connections play a role in resistance. A preliminary data sweep revealed four ways in which participants were resisting: activism (e.g., attending protests and counter-protests and signing petitions); mutual aid (e.g., offering others material goods like money, food, and clothing, as well as skills, knowledge, and resources); and visibility (e.g., in art, community events, and education); and rest (e.g., self-care and mental health care).
Over the next few years, Egale will be releasing a variety of knowledge mobilization products connected to Against the Current. Brittany hopes that other organizations and individuals will use the findings to advocate for change and to support folks experiencing hate. “Being from the community and doing this kind of research, I feel an especially great sense of responsibility to not only collect the information, but to action it to push for change,” they share. “We don’t want this research to sit on a shelf.”
They also hope that Two-Spirit, queer, and trans people in Canada will see themselves and their experiences represented in the research through a strengths-based perspective. “It can be hard to stomach these kinds of stories, but I hope it motivates us all to continue resisting and building resiliency amongst ourselves and our communities.”
Photo: Dr. Brittany Jakubiec
“Our communities are really strong. We're all trying to dismantle systems and better meet each other's needs to have a world that is more just, for everyone.”
