By Lou Lamari, Articling Student-at-Law, University of Manitoba
On October 24-25, 2024, the University of Manitoba’s Queer and Trans Graduate Student Group and the Centre for Human Rights Research hosted the “Pride in Health” conference. The event brought together academics, healthcare providers and community members to examine barriers and disparities faced by 2SLGBTQ+ individuals within healthcare. Presentations highlighted issues in healthcare access, mental health, and inclusivity, stressing the need for both policy reform and community-driven support.
One presentation focused on the documented barriers that lesbian, bisexual, and queer (LBQ) women, as well as trans and nonbinary individuals experience in Canadian healthcare. These barriers— which include dismissal, invalidation, and discrimination—significantly affect patients’ access and experiences within the system. The presentation emphasized amplifying these communities’ voices to drive systemic change, highlighting five main areas: the labor involved in accessing healthcare, barriers in primary care, sexual and reproductive health, gender-affirming and transition-related services, and mental health care. Their findings call for an inclusive healthcare system that values and centers the experiences of people belonging to this group. More information is available here.
Mental health challenges facing the 2SLGBTQ+ community was a major theme. Mental health needs are often compounded by inadequate support from healthcare providers, underscoring the need for more culturally competent practitioners. Presenters also elaborated on the intersectional nature of this experience, which is impacted by factors such as race, gender, socioeconomics, ability, Indigeneity, culture, and family of origin as examples.
Another presentation examined the healthcare experiences of transgender and gender-diverse individuals who undergo gender-affirming surgeries and other transition-related medical interventions. Transgender people have specific health needs, yet research in this area remains limited. Patient-reported symptoms from this study highlighted a significant research gap and a need for more informed clinical support to improve outcomes. Limited resources and the lack of practitioners continue to pose substantial barriers to care, making this research a step toward addressing these gaps.
Research presented from the University of Manitoba School of Medicine explored ongoing work towards vaccine development for HIV, which disproportionately affects queer and trans people in Canada, especially men who have sex with men and Indigenous communities.
Access to healthcare for LGBTQ+ individuals is fundamentally an access to justice issue because everyone has a right to equitable, dignified healthcare. When LGBTQ+ people encounter discrimination, lack of understanding, or inadequate services in healthcare settings, it compromises their health, safety, and well-being, creating barriers to the rights that they are entitled to enjoy in society. Health disparities for LGBTQ+ populations — such as higher rates of mental health issues and lower levels of access to primary and preventative care — often stem from systemic inequities and discrimination that extend beyond medicine and into the justice system.[1] Ensuring equitable treatment in healthcare is not just about health; it’s about protecting equal rights and addressing biases that prevent LGBTQ+ people from meaningfully participating in society.
The “Pride in Health” conference underscored an urgent need for an inclusive, accessible, and responsive healthcare system for LGBTQ+ individuals. It fostered a sense of resilience and reminder of the momentum within the community, moving toward a future where healthcare is equitable and compassionate.
More information about the conference and its presenters can be found here.
[1] Kathleen A. Bonvicini, “LGBT healthcare disparities: What progress have we made?” (2017) 100:12 Patient Education and Counseling 2357 at 2358.