Corina Berry grew up going to drop-in programs with the Rainbow Youth program at the Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN). Now, she is studying Gender Studies and Social Justice at Trent University, and is the director of PARN’s Rainbow Youth programming. Berry credits the program’s weekly drop-ins and events with helping her find community and friends that had similar experiences as her. But since the U.S. presidential election, concern for Canada’s LGBTQ2S+ communities losing their rights comes up almost every session. “I’m really scared of what the future looks like,” she says. Berry adds that youth should never have to question if their life is worth living because of an election.

Here in Canada, on March 23, Prime Minister Mark Carney called an election to take place on April 28. For many young LGBTQ2S+ voters, this election feels crucial: it’s occurring in the midst of a significant rise in anti-trans and LGBTQ2S+ hate, on the brink of a recession and when Canada’s sovereignty is being questioned. With so much on the line, young queer voters like Berry are extremely worried going into this election. Speaking to young queer voters shows that they also feel exhausted, citing dissatisfaction with the candidates for prime minister, and the prospect of needing to vote strategically to protect their rights as queer people.