Program - Rainbow Health Ontario

Transcription

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Smoking rates within LGBT
communities are two to three times
higher than the general population.
It’s time to clear the air.
For more information, visit
clear-the-air.ca
Rainbow Health Ontario is a program of Sherbourne Health Centre
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
Rainbow Health Ontario Gratefully Acknowledges
Our Generous Sponsors
C’est avec une grande reconnaissance que Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario
remercie nos généreux commanditaires.
LEADERS / CHEF DE FILE
Locals 175 & 633
CommunityAction Network
Rainbow Alliance Arc-en-ciel
P LE NARY SESSION / COM M A N D I TA I RE D ’ U N E S É A N C E P L É NIÈ R E
EXHIBITORS
Access Alliance www.accessalliance.ca
Addiction Services of Thames Valley www.adstv.on.ca
Association of Ontario Health Centres www.aohc.org
Canadian Professional Association for Transgender Health
www.cpath.ca
CIHR Institute of Gender and Health www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/8673.html
Connex Ontario www.connexontario.ca
Health Canada www.hc-sc.gc.ca
Mental Health Commission of Canada
www.mentalhealthcommission.ca
OPSEU www.opseu.org
Rainbow Health Ontario www.rainbowhealthontario.ca
Registered Nurses Association of Ontario www.rnao.ca
Sexual Assault Centre London www.sacl.ca
Smokers’ Helpline www.smokershelpline.ca
Tweed Inc. www.tweed.com
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
March 9-11, 2016
Rainbow Health Ontario’s LGBTQ Health Conference – London 2016
Dear participants, volunteers and organizers,
Welcome to the Rainbow Health Ontario’s LGBTQ Health Conference. I am so
pleased to welcome you all to London for the nation’s largest conference on
LGBTQ health issues. Our Forest City will make a great host for the conference
this year.
Over the next few days, you will have the chance to learn from experts in more
than 50 different sessions regarding LGBTQ health issues. Sessions will touch on
a range of important issues, including trans health, cancer, HIV, aboriginal health,
newcomer health, advocacy, bisexual health, mental health, tobacco and health
policy.
Between and after the sessions, I hope you have a chance to explore London’s
downtown. Our city’s core is our calling card to the world, full of incredible
restaurants and shops.
Thank you to the organizers and volunteers who make this conference a success.
Sincerely,
Mayor Matt Brown
1
Welcome
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
(Letter from Hazelle Palmer and Anna Travers for the RHO 2016 Conference )
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Dear (Letter
Friendsfrom
and Colleagues,
Hazelle Palmer and Anna Travers for the RHO 2016 Conference )
Welcome to our 4th Rainbow Health Conference and to the City of London and the southwest Ontario
Dear
Friends
Colleagues,
Rainbow
Health Conference
to Canada-wide
the City of London
and we
thecan
southwest
Welcome
to
our
4 and
region.
We are
thrilled
that
this conference
is becomingand
a truly
event where
th
Ontario
region.
We are
thrilled
this conference
is becoming
a truly
Canada-wide
event
all
share
our
knowledge
skills on that
LGBTQ
and wellness.
This City
year,
weLondon
have
registered
th Rainbow
Health health
Conference
and to the
of
and the southwest
Welcome
to our 4and
where we can all share our knowledge and skills on LGBTQ health and wellness. This year, we
delegates
from region.
British Columbia,
the Northwest
Territories,
Alberta,
Quebec,
New
Ontario
We are thrilled
that this
conference
is Saskatchewan,
becoming a truly
Canada-wide
event
have registered delegates from British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Alberta,
Brunswick,
and
as well
Ontario. We
also
haveoncolleagues
joiningand
us from
the United
where
weNova
can Scotia
all share
ouras
knowledge
and
skills
LGBTQ health
wellness.
This year, we
Saskatchewan, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia as well as Ontario. We also have
have registered delegates from British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Alberta,
States.
colleagues joining us from the United States.
Saskatchewan, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia as well as Ontario. We also have
joining
us
from
the United
States.
As
review
thethe
2016
RHO
Conference
program,
it is apparent
that together
are making
As we
wecolleagues
review
2016
RHO
Conference
program,
it is apparent
thatwe
together
we real
are making
progress
in
advancing
LGBTQ
health
and
wellness.
Many
of
you
have
now
been
involved
in
LGBTQreal progress in advancing LGBTQ health and wellness. Many of you have now been involved
As we review the 2016 RHO Conference program, it is apparent that together we are making
in LGBTQ-focused
servicesforora research
for
a number
of years;
many more
professionals
have
focused
services
or research
number
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many
more
professionals
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training
real
progress
in advancing
LGBTQofhealth
and
wellness.
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now
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taken
to increase
their
knowledge
and
and
from more
all
sectors
are
to
increase
their knowledge
and
skills;
and
leaders
from
all sectors
are
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partnerships
intraining
LGBTQ-focused
services
or
research
for
a skills;
number
of leaders
years;
many
professionals
have
developing
partnerships
and
networks
to
broaden
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deepen
their
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are
excited
to
and networks
to broaden
and deepen
their
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are skills;
excitedand
to showcase
a variety
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taken training
to increase
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knowledge
leaders from
all sectors
are
showcase
a variety
of presentations
that demonstrate
thisdeepen
new level
ofimpact.
experience,
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partnerships
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networks
to broadenconfidence
and
their
We are excited to
presentations
that demonstrate
this
new
level of experience,
and
reflectiveness.
confidence
andareflectiveness.
showcase
variety of presentations that demonstrate this new level of experience,
and
reflectiveness.
One ofconfidence
the strengths
of this
conference is the diversity of our program and our delegates. You
One of the strengths of this conference is the diversity of our program and our delegates. You
will
LGBTQ
community
leaders,
clinicians,
researchers,
policy analysts
and
educators
– all
willmeet
meet
LGBTQ
community
leaders,
clinicians,
policy
analysts
One of
the strengths
of this
conference
is theresearchers,
diversity of our
program
andand
oureducators
delegates.– You
with
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also
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learning
opportunities
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all with
expertiseleaders,
and perspectives.
You will also policy
discover
learning
willtheir
meetparticular
LGBTQ community
clinicians, researchers,
analysts
and educators –
demonstrate
how
sexual
orientation
and
gender
identity
intersect
with
race,
colonization,
migration,
opportunities
that
demonstrate
how
sexual
orientation
and
gender
identity
intersect
all with their particular expertise and perspectives. You will also discover learning with
race,
colonization,
migration,
age,
sex,
ability,
economic
and
status,
and
age,
sex,
ability, economic
and health
status,
and more.
Wehealth
encourage
you geography,
tointersect
get to
opportunities
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sexual orientation
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with
more.
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or
to
attend
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and
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people
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a workshop
thatsex,
takes
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a new learning
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on a new
learning
journey.you to get to know new people or to attend a workshop that takes you
more.
We encourage
on a to
new
journey. sessions, there are exciting informal events taking place each
In addition
the learning
formal conference
In addition to the formal conference sessions, there are exciting informal events taking place
day: an opening reception on Tuesday, a movie night on Wednesday, hands-on wellness sessions
addition
to thereception
formal conference
sessions,
there
areonexciting
informal
events wellness
taking place
each In
day:
an opening
on Tuesday,
a movie
night
Wednesday,
hands-on
throughout the main conference, and caucus meetings on topics of interest. Three breakfast
eachthroughout
day: an opening
reception
on Tuesday,
a movie
night onon
Wednesday,
hands-onThree
wellness
sessions
the main
conference,
and caucus
meetings
topics of interest.
caucuses
have
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organized
already
(LGBTQ
youth
and
tobacco,
Gender
Journeys
groups,
sessions
throughout
the
main
conference,
and
caucus
meetings
on
topics
of
interest.
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breakfast caucuses have been organized already (LGBTQ youth and tobacco, Gender Journeys
access
toaccess
gendercaucuses
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additionalalready
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and
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request
Registration
makingatathe
request
at theDesk.
Registration Desk.
making a request at the Registration Desk.
Thisconference
conference
is also
about
building
community.
However
you ifidentify,
if you
here you
This
is also
about
building
community.
However
you identify,
you are here
youare
have
This
conference
is alsoinabout
building
community.
However
you to
identify,
if youthe
arelives,
here you
have
indicated
an
interest
being
part
of
a
community
dedicated
improving
indicated an interest in being part of a community dedicated to improving the lives, experiences and
have
indicated
an
interest
in
being
part
of
a
community
dedicated
to
improving
the
experiences
and
health
LGBTQ we
people.
For
success,
we need to work together. Thanklives,
you
health
of LGBTQ
people.
Forofsuccess,
need to
work
together.
experiences
and
health
of
LGBTQ
people.
For
success,
we
need
to
work
together.
Thank
for being part of that community and for taking part in this vital and important conference.you
for being part of that community and for taking part in this vital and important conference.
Thank you for being part of that community and for taking part in this vital and important conference.
Warmly,
Warmly,
Warmly,
!
!
!
!
Anna TraversHazelle Palmer
Anna Travers
Hazelle Palmer
Anna
Travers
Director,
Rainbow
Health Ontario
Hazelle
Palmer
President
and CEO,
Sherbourne Health Centre
Director, Rainbow Health Ontario
President and CEO, Sherbourne Health Centre
2
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
Bienvenue
Amies, amis et collègues,
C O N F E R E N C E
Bienvenue à la 4e Conférence Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario, dans la ville de London et dans le sudouest de l’Ontario. Nous sommes très heureux que cette conférence soit en train de devenir un réel
événement pancanadien où nous pouvons partager notre savoir et nos compétences sur la santé
(Letter
fromdes
Hazelle
Palmer
and Anna
for the
RHO 2016
et
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personnes
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desConference
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Friends
and
Colleagues,
from
HazelleduPalmer
and Anna
Traversde
forlathe
RHO 2016 Conference
Brunswick et de la Nouvelle-Écosse, en plus de l’Ontario. Quelques collègues des États-Unis se sont
Dear
Friends
and
Colleagues,
Rainbow
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Welcome
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nous.4th
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La directrice, Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario
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3
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Conference Overview
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
Rainbow Health Ontario 2016 Conference:
“Because LGBTQ Health Matters”
London Convention Centre
Tuesday, March 8 – Friday, March 11, 2016
CONFERENCE OVERVIEW
The Rainbow Health Ontario 2016 Conference (RHO) Registration Desk opens in the
afternoon of Monday, March 7. Conference activities begin with optional pre-conference
Learning Institutes on Tuesday, March 8. The main conference then runs for three days
starting on Wednesday, March 9 and ending on Friday, March 11 at approximately 2:30 pm.
Conference Theme and Key Issues
The biennial Rainbow Health Ontario Conference is the only conference in Canada
focused on the health and wellness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ)
communities. The conference is remarkable for its size, scope, and the diversity of
programming. All three previous RHO conferences have been well attended and received
outstanding evaluations for content, organization, learning and their inclusive atmosphere.
Why does LGBTQ health matter? Because LGBTQ people deserve greater visibility and
attention within our health care system; because some of our health issues are different;
and because providers with knowledge and skills deliver better care.
Clinicians, researchers, academics, policy makers, social service providers, students
and community leaders gather at the RHO Conference to take in the latest evidence and
approaches, share information and work together to improve the health of our LGBTQ
communities.
The 2016 conference in London Ontario is the fourth one hosted by RHO. Previous
conferences have been held in Toronto (2010 and 2014) and Ottawa (2012). We look
forward to welcoming new and returning delegates to learn from each other, create new
networks and ensure that Ontario continues to be a leader in LGBTQ health.
Rainbow Health Ontario
Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO) is a unique, province-wide program funded by the Ontario
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. RHO’s mandate is to improve access to services
and to promote the health of Ontario’s LGBTQ communities. Our capacity building services
include fostering LGBTQ research, sharing evidence based information on LGBTQ health,
consulting on LGBTQ related policy and practice issues and training health and social
service professionals across the province. We are based at Sherbourne Health Centre, a
leader in providing primary health care services to Toronto’s LGBTQ communities.
4
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
Conférence 2016 de Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario :
Centre des congrès de London
Mardi 8 mars – vendredi 11 mars 2016
APERÇU DE LA CONFÉRENCE
Le bureau d’inscription à la Conférence SAO 2016 sera ouvert dès le lundi après-midi, 7 mars.
Les activités commencent avec les séances de l’Institut d’apprentissage, en préconférence
facultative, le mardi 8 mars. La conférence principale, qui dure trois jours, aura lieu du mercredi 9
mars au vendredi 11 mars, jusqu’à 14h30.
Thème de la Conférence et grands enjeux
La conférence biennale de Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario (SAO) est la seule au Canada à être dédiée à la santé
et au bien-être des communautés lesbiennes, gaies, bisexuelles, trans et queer (LGBTQ). La conférence
se démarque par son ampleur, sa portée, et la diversité de sa programmation. Les trois conférences
précédentes de SAO ont connu un grand succès, une excellente participation, et un retour d’information très
positif quant au contenu, à l’organisation, la qualité de l’apprentissage et l’environnement inclusif.
La santé LGBTQ compte, mais pourquoi? Parce que les personnes LGBTQ sont dignes d’une plus
grande visibilité dans le système de santé; parce que certains de nos besoins en matière de santé sont
effectivement différents; et parce que les prestataires de services ayant des connaissances et compétences
adaptées offrent de meilleurs soins.
Aperçu de la conférence
R A I N B O W
La conférence accueille des clinicien-ne-s, chercheur-e-s, professeur-e-s universitaires, décideur-e-s,
prestataires de services sociaux, étudiant-e-s, et leaders communautaires afin de partager et d’en apprendre
plus à propos des données probantes actuelles, des démarches innovatrices, et des opportunités de
collaboration afin de travailler ensemble pour améliorer la santé de nos communautés LGBTQ.
La Conférence 2016, qui aura lieu à London, en Ontario, est la quatrième à être organisée par SAO. Les
conférences précédentes ont eu lieu à Toronto (2010 et 2014) et à Ottawa (2012). C’est avec beaucoup
d’enthousiasme que nous accueillerons les personnes déléguées qui reviennent à la Conférence ou s’y rendent
pour la première fois, contribuerons à la création de nouveaux réseaux et nous assurerons que l’Ontario
demeure un chef de file en matière de santé LGBTQ.
Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario
Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario (SAO) est un programme provincial unique financé par le ministère de la Santé et
des Soins de longue durée de l’Ontario. Le mandat de Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario consiste à améliorer l’accès
aux services et à promouvoir la santé au sein des communautés LGBTQ de la province. Nos services de
renforcement des capacités visent entre autres à favoriser la recherche sur les questions LGBTQ, à partager
de l’information fondée sur des faits probants relativement à la santé LGBTQ à mener des consultations
sur des questions entourant les politiques et les pratiques touchant les LGBTQ et à assurer la formation
de professionnels de la santé et des services sociaux dans toute la province. Nos bureaux se trouvent
au Sherbourne Health Centre, un centre chef de file dans la prestation de soins de santé primaires aux
communautés LGBTQ de Toronto.
5
Acknowledgements
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
Rainbow Health Ontario Staff
Anna Travers
Loralee Gillis
Anna oversees the funding, administration and
management of all of Rainbow Health Ontario’s
activities. She has been involved in LGBTQ health
care for over 15 years and led the development
of RHO in 2008. In addition to her core duties at
RHO Anna enjoys working on new projects, public
speaking, and travelling to meet partners and
community members throughout Ontario.
Loralee is responsible for promoting the
development of LGBTQ health research in Ontario
and for encouraging public policy that supports
LGBTQ health. She coordinates a network of 40
researchers across Ontario whose work focuses
on LGBTQ health. Loralee is a co-investigator on
several large team grants. She also works with a
team of research assistants and community partners
to produce fact sheets about particular areas of
LGBTQ health research. Loralee leads RHO’s policy
initiatives, and writes policy briefs about issues
that affect LGBTQ communities in Ontario. Loralee
supports the development of local networks, events
and partnerships in the following Regions: Erie
St. Clair, South West, Waterloo Wellington, and
Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant.
Director
Research & Policy Coordinator
Donna Turner
Communications Coordinator
Donna coordinates the development and
implementation of communications strategies and
materials for RHO. She is responsible for the RHO
website and social media, and edits the monthly
newsletter. She also coordinates the creation of print
materials such as brochures, posters, postcards
and reports. Donna supports the development
of local networks, events and partnerships in the
following Regions: North Simcoe Muskoka, Central
East, and South East.
Gael Hinnighan
Administrative Coordinator
Gael provides administrative support to the entire
RHO program and team. She handles all accounts
payable, accounts receivable, meeting minutes,
office systems and event planning and coordination.
Gael also operates RHO’s online store, mailing
out resources on LGBTQ health to customers
throughout Ontario and beyond.
Devan Nambiar
Education Coordinator
Devan develops and coordinates a wide range
of training initiatives on LGBTQ health disparities,
clinical skills and organizational inclusiveness.
He also works with universities and colleges to
incorporate cultural and clinical content regarding
LGBTQ health and social services into their
curricula. Devan supports the development of local
networks, events and partnerships in the following
Regions: Mississauga Halton, Toronto Central,
Central, and Central West.
Jordan Zaitzow
Trans Health Connection Coordinator
Jordan coordinates Trans Health Connection. The
program is increasing the capacity of primary health
care systems across the province to provide highquality, comprehensive care to trans communities
through training, education, mentorship, resources,
and networking. Previous to joining RHO, Jordan
has also done years of front line shelter work, and
has volunteered for and facilitated various drop-in
programs for trans folks in Toronto. He also spent
years as an independent trainer about trans access
and issues.
6
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario : notre équipe
Anna Travers
Directrice
Anna supervise le financement, l’administration et la
gestion de toutes les activités de Santé arc-en-ciel
Ontario. Elle œuvre dans le domaine des soins de santé
aux personnes LGBTQ depuis plus de 15 ans et a dirigé
la mise sur pied de SAO, en 2008. En plus de ses tâches
de base au sein de Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario, Anna aime
entreprendre de nouveaux projets, prendre la parole en
public et voyager afin de rencontrer nos partenaires et des
membres de la communauté dans tout l’Ontario.
Donna Turner
Coordonnatrice aux communications
Donna coordonne la conception et la mise en œuvre
de stratégies et de documents de communication pour
SAO. Elle est responsable de notre site Web et de notre
présence dans les médias sociaux et de la préparation
de notre infolettre mensuelle. Elle coordonne également
la production d’imprimés tels que des brochures, des
affiches, des cartes postales et des rapports. Donna aide
à la mise sur pied de réseaux locaux, d’événements et de
partenariats dans les régions suivantes : North SimcoeMuskoka, Centre-Est et Sud-Est.
Gael Hinnighan
Coordonnatrice à l’administration
Gael assure le soutien administratif nécessaire à tout le
programme et à l’équipe de Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario.
Elle traite tous les comptes créditeurs et débiteurs, rédige
les procès-verbaux, est responsable des systèmes de
bureautique, de la planification et de la coordination
d’événements. Gael veille aussi au bon fonctionnement
de la boutique en ligne de SAO et s’occupe des envois
de documents sur la santé LGBTQ aux clients de tout
l’Ontario et d’ailleurs.
Devan Nambiar
Coordonnateur à l’éducation
Jordan Zaitzow
Coordinateur de Trans Health Connection [réseau de santé trans]
Remerciements
R A I N B O W
Jordan assure la coordination des activités de Trans
Health Connection. Ce programme travaille à accroître
la capacité des systèmes de soins de santé primaires
de la province à offrir des soins complets et de qualité
aux membres de la communauté trans par la formation,
l’éducation, l’accompagnement et le réseautage, et en leur
fournissant des ressources. Avant de joindre Santé Arcen-ciel Ontario, Jordan a œuvré pendant des années en
première ligne dans les refuges et comme bénévole dans
le cadre de programmes d’accueil pour les personnes
trans à Toronto. Il a aussi été, pendant plusieurs années,
formateur indépendant sur les questions d’accès et les
enjeux liés aux personnes trans.
Loralee Gillis
Coordonnatrice, recherche et politiques
Loralee est responsable de la promotion du
développement de la recherche en santé LGBTQ
en Ontario. Elle travaille aussi à encourager la
mise sur pied de politiques publiques en appui
à la santé LGBT. Loralee coordonne un réseau
de 40 chercheurs de partout en Ontario, dont les
travaux se concentrent sur la santé LGBTQ. Elle
est co-chercheuse au sein de plusieurs grandes
équipes bénéficiant de subventions. Elle travaille
également avec une équipe d’adjoints à la
recherche et de partenaires communautaires pour
la production de fiches de renseignements sur des
domaines particuliers de la santé LGBTQ. Loralee
dirige les initiatives politiques de SAO et rédige des
documents de politiques sur des enjeux qui touchent
les communautés LGBTQ en Ontario. Loralee aide
à la mise sur pied de réseaux locaux, d’événements
et de partenariats dans les régions suivantes : Érié
St-Clair, Sud-Ouest, Waterloo Wellington et Hamilton
Niagara Haldimand Brant.
Devan conçoit et coordonne un large éventail de projets de
formation sur les disparités de santé des personnes LGBTQ,
les compétences cliniques et l’inclusion organisationnelle.
Il travaille également avec les collèges et les universités
afin d’intégrer aux cours du contenu culturel et clinique
sur la santé et les services sociaux LGBTQ. Devan aide
à la mise sur pied de réseaux locaux, d’événements et
de partenariats dans les régions suivantes : Mississauga
Halton, Centre de Toronto, Centre et Centre-Ouest.
7
Conference Committee
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
2016 Conference Program Committee
Thanks to the Conference Program Committee members for their time and contribution to the task of
reviewing and recommending this year’s conference program content.
Dr. Margaret Robinson is a Mi’kmaq scholar
from Nova Scotia and a member of the Lennox
Island First Nation. Her work examines mental
health and substance use in Indigenous and Settler
populations, especially among sexual and gender
minority people. She is currently a Researcher in
Residence in Indigenous Health at the Ontario
HIV Treatment Network and an Affiliate Research
Scientist at the Centre for Addiction & Mental Health
in Toronto, Ontario.
Monique Beaudoin est la Coordonnatrice
en promotion de la santé au Centre de santé
communautaire du Grand Sudbury. Elle occupe ce
poste depuis 2006. Dans le cadre de ses fonctions,
elle développe des projets avec et pour des
populations francophones marginalisées, dont les
familles à faible revenu, les nouveaux arrivants et
les immigrants, et la population LGBTQ. Elle est une
passionnée de la promotion de la santé et surtout du
travail d’équité en matière de la santé.
Monique Beaudoin is the Coordinator of Health
Promotion at the Centre de santé communautaire du
Grand Sudbury and has been there since 2006. An
important aspect of her work is to develop projects
with and for marginalized francophone populations
including low income families, immigrants and
newcomers, and the LGBTQ population. She is
passionate about health promotion and especially
about health equity work.
Leanne Powell is a public health nurse, working
at the Middlesex-London Health Unit in the area of
Sexual Health Promotion. Her passion is LGBTQ
health issues and is actively involved with community
to help improve access and equity. Over the last
14 years she has been involved with developing
resources for the community and for care providers,
participating in research and listening to community
needs. Leanne has partnered with local agencies
and Rainbow Health Ontario to provide training
to health care providers in the Middlesex-London
area. Her most recent work with community partners
is developing a web listing of LGBT2Q positive
resources. Leanne is committed to working with
others to make positive changes for the LGBT2Q
community.
8
R. J. (Bob) Williams is Executive Director of the
Windsor Pride Community Education and Resource
Centre and brings a tremendous community
non-profit background to the Centre, and to the
strengthening of LGBTTIQ Community Relations
in the Windsor Essex Ontario Region. The Windsor
Pride Community Centre through his leadership has
recently celebrated its 5th Anniversary of operation
and is proud to be responsible for the development
of Gay Straight Alliances now in every public high
school within the Greater Essex County District
School Board. Bob continues to maintain his position
as a community leader as a Director on many
boards. He is a recipient of the Queens Jubilee
Medals for his contributions to the community. In addition, Bob has helped strengthen the trans*
spectrum group and the T-Party that meet regularly
at the Windsor Pride Communicability Centre.
Dr. Vanita Lokanathan, MD, CCFP is a Family
Physician with 20 years of experience working coast
to coast from Newfoundland and Labrador to Haida
Gwaii, BC. She has extensive experience working in
rural and First Nations communities. Since moving to
Peterborough in 2008, she has included the primary
care of trans people as part of her practice, and now
manages the care of 150 gender variant people. Dr.
Lokanathan has spoken at the 2014 RHO conference,
the 2014 Ontario Family Physician ASA as well as
offering CME sessions for primary care providers and
specialists on cultural competence and primary care
management for trans people.
Rainbow Health Ontario 2016 Conference Planners
Rachel Gillooly and Associates, Minden, Ontario
Rachel Gillooly, Holly Fisher, Barb Lewis, John Schmidt
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Full Day Schedule
7:00 am - 6:00 pm Registration
7:45 - 8:30 am
Breakfast
9:00 - 10:30 am
Concurrent Learning Institutes 1-4
10:30 - 10:45 am
Refreshment Break
10:45 am - 12:30 pm
12:30 - 1:30 pmLunch
1:30 - 3:30 pm
3:30 - 3:45 pm
Refreshment Break
3:45 - 5:00 pm
7:00 – 9:00 pm
Welcome Reception
CONCURRENT LEARNING INSTITUTES
Learning Institute 1:
Building Competence,
Knowledge and Skills to Serve
LGBTQ Communities
This interactive, full-day workshop consists
of three linked topics which together form
the building blocks for developing cultural
competence, sensitivity and skill in serving
LGBTQ communities and creating a welcoming
environment for clients, volunteers and staff.
Part one of the workshop addresses the myths
and stereotypes related to LGBTQ people and
the history of LGBTQ communities on global and
Canadian perspectives, the assumptions that we
are raised with, and the ways in which LGBTQ
people are made invisible in our society and our
services. Participants will also learn about the
various LGBTQ terms and definitions, differences
between sexual orientation, sexual behaviour,
gender presentation and gender identity using
group activities, case scenarios and videos.
In the second part of the workshop, we will
explore the intersections of oppression in our
diverse LGBTQ communities and examine their
health needs. The presentation will highlight
the particular challenges faced by LGBTQ
people, how they cope and adapt, and how
discrimination, societal, institutional and
internalized homo/bi/transphobia plus social
isolation can lead to health disparities throughout
the life cycle.
Drawing from their learning in the earlier part
of the day, participants then focus on how to
remove the barriers to create inclusive programs
and services and to make their organization
welcoming to LGBTQ clients, volunteers and
staff. Using an anti-oppression/anti-racism
framework, we will develop practical strategies
in the areas of program planning and delivery,
human resources, communications, governance
and the physical environment. Participants will
use case scenarios to examine key aspects of the
organizational structure, culture and services and
develop strategies for change.
9
Full Day Learning Institutes
R A I N B O W
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
This learning institute is open to participants who are new
to LGBTQ issues and want to learn about the health needs
of LGBTQ persons. Participants who have some familiarity
with the LGBTQ communities may benefit from the indepth knowledge shared at the session. Managers and
board members as well as front-line staff will benefit from
the opportunity to share and learn with others from across
the province and beyond. Tools, tip sheets and handouts
will be provided.
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will learn about appropriate language and
LGBTQ definitions and health disparities.
2. Participants will learn how to make their organization’s
environment and their services and/or program more
inclusive and welcoming to LGBTQ persons.
3. Participants will be able to demonstrate increased
confidence to provide culturally competent services
and programs to LGBTQ communities.
Faculty:
Devan Nambiar, MSc, develops and coordinates
a wide range of training initiatives on LGBTQ health
disparities, clinical skills and organizational inclusiveness.
He also works with universities and colleges to incorporate
cultural and clinical content regarding LGBTQ health and
social services into their curricula. He has been working
in the gay/ethno-racial MSM/HIV sector for 24 years. In
his previous position at CATIE, he worked as treatment
educator and co-authored/co-edited four publications;
three of the Practical Guides for PHAS and Managing
Your Health (2009). He was Co-principal Investigator of
Improving the Capacity of the HIV Sector to respond to
the Ethno-Racial MSM: Tapping Front-Line Expertise and
Wisdom, OHTN (2006) and Co-investigator of Canadian
Transgender Research, Canadian AIDS Society (2014). In
his professional capacity, he lectures on complementary
medicine, provides input on community based research
and has served on numerous boards and ethics review
committees. He is currently completing his doctoral study.
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
Building Competence to Work With
Gender Independent Children and
Their Families
There have always been gender independent children
– children whose gender is not what others may expect.
However as examples of gender variance, creativity,
and diversity appear more and more in dominant culture,
and as trans communities make huge strides in activism
around honouring gender difference, young people
internationally are coming forward in greater numbers and
asserting their need to live as their authentic selves. The
numbers of children, youth, and families identifying this as
an issue or aspect of their lives are currently increasing
between four and twelve fold at gender- focused centres
around the world.
Services here in Ontario are also seeing this dramatic
increase, and building responsive and affirming supports
is an urgent need. Centres providing trans primary care
are often overwhelmed with the influx of youth clients,
as we experience a shift in trans visibility, and indeed in
what being trans looks like. One affirming clinical service
that has emerged is the Gender Clinic at SickKids. Many
families struggle with questions around support, safety,
advocacy, and choices around medical interventions.
Staff from SickKids will be joining us to share some of their
experiences from clinical practice, including medical and
non-medical interventions. This day-long learning institute will share evidence-based,
informed, and affirming practices for working with gender
independent children and their families. It will be composed
of critical and clinical information, dynamic exercises, and
many opportunities for interaction and participation.
Participants will learn about existing resources and have
the opportunity to connect with other providers interested
in supportive and affirming approaches. By the end of the
day, participants will have a more comprehensive sense of:
1. The needs of gender independent children and their
families.
2. Effective and affirming strategies for supporting gender
independent children and their families in diverse
settings (mental health, recreation, education, primary
care).
3. Information about medical (puberty blockers) and
non-medical (affirming supports, systems advocacy)
interventions, including when and how to access.
10
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
to support medical gender transitions. We will cover
current and emerging clinical practices for binary and
non-binary trans and gender diverse clients seeking
hormones and/or surgeries. This will include a review of
what masculinizing and feminizing hormones can offer in
transitioning including what hormones do, the timelines of
effects and expected outcomes, and health benefits and
impacts. We will also touch on surgeries, changes in the
referral process in Ontario, OHIP coverage for different
procedures, surgical choices, and pre and post-operative
preparation, recovery, and care.
Faculty:
Hershel Russell RP, MEd, is an experienced psycho-
therapist, who has been counseling trans people and their
families since 1995 and, more recently, the parents of
gender diverse children. He is an older, white, transgender man, actively involved in program and policy development with health care providers and government decision
makers and a contributor to current debates in the field of
trans and gender variant research. As a trained adult educator, Hershel believes that effective learning is always
an active process, that respect for everyone’s dignity is
key and that shared, well-timed laughter can accomplish
much! Participants often comment on how easy it feels to
raise difficult or awkward questions in his workshops and
to discuss them with complexity.
In the afternoon, we will focus on experiential learning by
integrating the information on medical transition gained
with practical tools to inform our practice through the
use of role plays, media, case scenarios, arts-based
exercises, and critical self-reflection. We will broadly
explore how we can support trans and gender-diverse
clients navigation of institutional, social and cultural
barriers when seeking access to medical transitions.
Opportunities to deepen our understanding of the
intersections of medical and social transition, advocacy,
trans and gender diverse positive approaches to care
will be offered. Participants will be provided resources to
bring back to their professional practices.
Cathy Maser has been a paediatric nurse for over
28 years, working at The Hospital for Sick Children for
the past 25 years in the areas of Cardiac Intensive Care
Unit, Division of Neonatology, Acute Care Transport
Team and the Emergency Department. Cathy obtained
a Master of Nursing degree at University of Toronto
in 2007 and has been working as a nurse practitioner
in Division of Adolescent Medicine since then. Cathy
is currently the team lead for the SITY program
(SickKids Interprofessional Team for Youth) caring
for youth with chronic health concerns, minor mood
disorders, substance use, self-harm, family conflict,
school avoidance, somatic disorders and youth in care
or custody. Cathy’s clinical focus is with youth with
chronic illness focusing on the areas of medication
adherence, substance misuse, sexual health, and minor
mood disorders. She is the nurse practitioner in the
Transgender Youth Clinic.
1. To increase the capacity of mental health and social
service providers working with trans and non-binary
communities.
2. To better understand medical transition from a transpositive and gender diverse affirming approach.
3. To get acquainted with medical systems and social
and institutional barriers from an anti-racist and antioppression framework.
Faculty:
What Mental Health Practitioners
and Counsellors Need to Know
About Medical/Social Transition
We invite mental health counsellors, social workers,
therapists, students, and others to join us for this engaging
and exciting full-day learning institute. We recommend
this training for those who have a basic understanding of
the issues and barriers trans, gender non-conforming and
non-binary communities face.
Jordan Zaitzow is a social worker and currently the
Trans Health Connection Coordinator at Rainbow Health
Ontario, building the capacity of primary health teams
across the province to provide timely and informed
services to trans communities close to home. He is
an experienced educator and has been leading and
coordinating trans health training for over a decade.
The morning component will consist of sharing core
clinical information about medical pathways used
11
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Project Revision: Disrupting Dominant
Stories Through Digital Storytelling
“Stories are wondrous things. And they are dangerous.”
Thomas King, 2003, The Truth About Stories
“The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem
with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they
are incomplete. They make one story become the only
story.”
Chimamanda Adichie, 2009, TED Talk
Digital storytelling has become a popular way of integrating
the arts into qualitative research. At the same time,
researchers have paid less attention to rigour, artistry,
and impact in digital storytelling research processes and
outputs. In this workshop, we take a theoretically-informed
and practice-oriented approach to the challenges and
possibilities of digital storytelling as a research method and
knowledge mobilization tool. We situate digital storytelling
within the field of critical arts-based research—an
emergent mode of qualitative research that joins scholarly
with creative processes to make positive social change—
and focus specifically on the creation of digital narratives
as a promising method for community building, research
creation, and knowledge dissemination. We introduce
ways that digital storytelling responds to marginalized
communities’ calls to centralize representations that have
previously been relegated to the margins. To do this, we
show digital stories created through Re•Vision’s growing
networks of projects, methods, and partnerships that move
these types of representations into the centre.
We share Re•Vision’s methodologies, innovated to bring
majority and minoritized storytellers together to narrate
previously unstoried (or unattended to) experiences around
disability and mental and physical difference, to build urban
Aboriginal identity and Inuit cultural voice, and to identify
and shift policies and practices that create barriers to health
care, education, the arts, and other sectors. To bring you,
as participants, closer to our workshop processes, we
introduce some of our methods and curricula as well as the
experiential exercises we use to help storytellers find their
stories.
Turning to educational and artistic concerns related to our
outputs, in the second part of the workshop we describe
how we draw from aesthetic theory and engage intensively
with practicing artists, making the outputs (our digital
stories) more than a means of therapy or transferring
experiential knowledge but artistic creations in their own
right. Introducing processes used in/created through
M A T T E R S
our project to analyze these stories, we illustrate how our
methodology binds together social science research with
a genuine engagement with cultural theory and the values
of the arts/humanities. We reflect on how the digital stories
produced through Re•Vision workshops are thought
experiments, suggesting that they might disrupt biopedagogical ways of teaching—that is, normalizing and
moralizing instructions for life—and work to open up new,
non-didactic possibilities for living. We end by centering
ethical questions about listening to and sharing voices from
the margins, opening into a discussion about what is at
stake, benefits and challenges, when these sorts of stories
are loosened into the world.
1. Situate digital storytelling in the field of critical artsbased research, and explore digital storytelling as a
participatory, rigorous, and impactful research method.
2. Understand how you might use digital stories to gather
community stories and mobilize community knowledge.
3. Examine some of the tensions and possibilities of using
digital storytelling as a research method and knowledge
mobilization tool, and become familiar with the positive
social, cultural, health and educative impacts of this
approach.
Faculty:
Karleen Pendleton Jiménez, PhD, is a writer and
associate professor in education at Trent University. She is part of the research team for “Through Thick and
Thin: Investigating Body Image and Body Management
Among Queer Women,” through which she also produced
her short film Butch Coyolxauhqui. She has recently
completed research with approximately 600 students
(ages 8-18) documenting experiences of gender and
gender transgression in rural and urban communities
(see “Tomboys and Other Gender Heroes” on facebook).
She publishes both academic and creative works,
including journal articles such as “Latina Landscape:
Queer Toronto,” and “I love Barbies…I am a Boy”: Gender
Happiness for Social Justice Education”. Her books
Are You a Boy or a Girl? and How to Get a Girl Pregnant
were both Lambda Literary finalists. She also wrote the
screenplay for the award winning animated short Tomboy.
Carla Rice is Canada Research Chair in Care, Gender
and Relationships at the University of Guelph. A leader
in the field of body image and embodiment studies in
Canada, she is a founding member and former director
of innovative Canadian initiatives such as the National
Eating Disorder Information Centre and the Body Image
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Project among others. Her research explores cultural
representations and narratives of body and identity
and she recently founded Project Re•Vision, a mobile
media lab that works with communities to challenge
stereotypes. Notable books include Gender and
Women’s Studies in Canada: Critical Terrain (2013),
and Becoming Women The Embodied Self in Image
Culture (2014).
Loralee Gillis, Research and Policy Coordinator,
Rainbow Health Ontario, is responsible for promoting
the development of LGBTQ health research in Ontario
and for encouraging public policy that supports
LGBTQ health. She coordinates a network of 40
researchers across Ontario whose work focuses
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on LGBTQ health. Loralee is a co-investigator on
several large team grants. She also works with a
team of research assistants and community partners
to produce fact sheets about particular areas of
LGBTQ health research. Loralee leads RHO’s policy
initiatives, and writes policy briefs about issues
that affect LGBTQ communities in Ontario. Loralee
supports the development of local networks, events
and partnerships in the following Regions: Erie St.
Clair, South West, Waterloo Wellington, and Hamilton
Niagara Haldimand.
Visitususat:
at:www.accessalliance.ca
www.accessalliance.ca
Visit
Learn
Learnmore
moreat:at:
www.aalanguages.ca
www.aalanguages.ca
13
Full Day Conference
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Full Day Schedule
Note: Simultaneous Translation will be provided at all plenaries and one session in each time slot.
Traduction simultanée sera offerte à toutes plénières et un session par créneau horaire.
7:00 am – 6:00 pm Registration
7:45 – 8:30 amBreakfast
8:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibits
8:00 – 9:00 am Facilitated Caucus Meetings: (1) Gender Journeys Group Facilitators
9:00 – 10:30 am Welcome & Opening Plenary (Simultaneous Translation provided)
Mot de bienvenue et séance plénière d’ouverture
10:30 – 11:00 am Leadership in LGBTQ Health
Le leadership en santé LGBTQ (service de traduction simultanée au besoin)
Refreshment Break & Exhibits
11:00 am – 12:30 pm Concurrent Sessions
12:30 – 1:30 pm Lunch & Exhibits
1:30 – 2:00 pm Poster Presentations (Authors present)
2:00 – 3:30 pm Concurrent Sessions
3:30 – 3:45 pm Refreshment Break & Exhibits
7:30 pm
London Lesbian Film Festival & Reception
“SHE’S BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE’S ANGRY”
OPENING PLENARY/SÉANCE PLÉNIÈRE D’OUVERTURE 9:00 – 10:30 AM
Leadership in LGBTQ Health
We are accustomed to thinking of Canada as a leader
in LGBTQ human rights legislation and policy, but what
about LGBTQ health? Are we falling behind our stateside
neighbours and other countries? We are thrilled to have
special guest, Hector Vargas, Executive Director of the
renowned GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT
Equality, a multidisciplinary membership organization of LGBTQ health professionals and their
allies whose mission is to ensure equality in health care for LGBTQ individuals and health care
professionals. GLMA, formerly known as the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association, has engaged
its membership in advocacy and education to promote equality for LGBTQ people for over two
decades. Hector will speak to us about the history and work of the GLMA and other leaders in
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advancing LGBTQ health policy and practice. What
strategies have been used and which issues have gained
traction with decision makers? What progress has been
made and what are the most difficult challenges? As
we hear about the accomplishments of health care
providers, activists and researchers in the United States,
what lessons can we adopt or adapt as we work to
keep LGBTQ health on the radar of our leaders here at
home?
Keynote Speaker
Hector Vargas, JD, is Executive Director of GLMA:
Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality, a
multidisciplinary membership organization of LGBTQ
health professionals and their allies whose mission is to
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ensure equality in health care for LGBTQ individuals and
health care professionals. GLMA (formerly known as the
Gay & Lesbian Medical Association) is a leading voice
on LGBTQ health and employs the expertise of its health
professional members in policy, advocacy and education
to advance the health and well-being of the LGBTQ
community. Vargas serves on the Health Disparities
Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee to the Director
of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) and served for four years on President Obama’s
Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders. He has more than 20 years of LGBTQ and civil
rights advocacy experience, including with organizations
such as Lambda Legal, the National LGBTQ Task Force
and the American Bar Association’s Section of Individual
Rights and Responsibilities.
Le leadership en santé LGBTQ
Nous avons l’habitude de voir le Canada comme un chef
de file des lois et des politiques relatives aux droits de la
personne LGBTQ, mais qu’en est-il de la santé LGBTQ
au pays? Sommes-nous à la remorque de nos voisins
américains, et derrière d’autres pays? Nous sommes
heureux d’accueillir comme invité spécial Hector Vargas,
directeur général de Health Professionals Advancing LGBT
Equality (GLMA), un organisme américain multidisciplinaire
regroupant des professionnels de la santé LGBTQ et leurs
alliés et dont la mission consiste à assurer l’égalité dans
les soins de santé pour les personnes et les professionnels
de la santé LGBTQ. GLMA, connue autrefois sous le nom
de Gay & Lesbian Medical Association, travaxille avec
ses membres depuis deux décennies à faire pression
et à assurer une éducation en vue de favoriser l’égalité
pour les personnes LGBTQ. M. Vargas nous entretiendra
de l’histoire du travail de GLMA et des autres chefs de
file qui contribuent à l’avancement des politiques et des
pratiques en matière de santé LGBTQ. Quelles stratégies
ont été utilisées et quels enjeux ont pu faire leur chemin
jusqu’aux décideurs? Quels progrès ont été accomplis et
quels sont les défis les plus ardus? Devant les réalisations
des fournisseurs de soins de santé, des activistes et des
chercheurs américains que cette plénière nous donnera
15
l’occasion de découvrir, quels enseignements pouvons-nous
tirer, adopter et adapter alors que nous travaillons à garder
la santé LGBTQ sur l’écran radar de nos dirigeants ici, chez
nous?
Conférencier principal
Hector Vargas, JD, est directeur général de Health
Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality (GLMA), un
organisme multidisciplinaire regroupant des professionnels
de la santé LGBTQ et leurs alliés et dont la mission
consiste à assurer l’égalité dans les soins de santé pour
les personnes et les professionnels de la santé LGBTQ.
GLMA, connue autre fois sous le nom de Gay & Lesbian
Medical Association, est une voix forte en matière de
santé LGBTQ et a recours à l’expertise de ses membres
professionnels de la santé en matière de politique, de
défense des droits et d’éducation pour l’avancement de la
santé et du bien-être de la communauté LGBTQ. M. Vargas
est membre du sous-comité sur les disparités en matière
de santé (Health Disparities Subcommittee) du comité
consultatif du directeur du Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) américain et a fait partie pendant quatre
ans de la commission consultative du président Obama
sur les Asiatiques américains et sur les citoyens des îles
du Pacifique. Il possède plus de 20 ans d’expérience en
défense des droits des personnes LGBTQ et des droits civils,
notamment auprès d’organismes tels que Lambda Legal,
la National LGBTQ Task Force et la section du Barreau
américain sur les responsabilités et droits individuels.
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
W1: AM
Format: Research Soundbyte
1. The Invisibility of LGBQ Women’s
Identities in the Context of Rural
Birthing Care
Presenters:
Jennifer Searle, BSc, Fourth Year Nursing Student, School
of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia;
Shannon Pringle, BA, MA, Project Coordinator, School
of Nursing, Dalhousie University, Sex Educator, Venus
Envy, Halifax, Nova Scotia
(Authors:) Jennifer Searle, BSc; Shannon Pringle, BA, MA; Lisa Goldberg, RN PhD; Megan Aston, RN PhD. School of Nursing,
Faculty of Health Professions, Dalhousie University,
The aim of the presentation is to offer new insights from
current research with women who selfidentify as lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and/or queer during their birth experiences
across rural Nova Scotia. Findings will be shared during
the presentation. Strategies will be offered to counter
current practices where, despite the caring nature of
many health care providers, the sociocultural privileging
of heterosexuality remains systemically pervasive within
institutionalized care grounded in the historical narrative
of perinatal health. This analysis has further benefit for
advancing health care practice, policy and education
with LGBQ women in birthing contexts (and beyond),
particularly when understood in the context of the broader
body of evidence in the areas of LGBTQ health, women’s
health, and perinatal nursing.
1. Recognize the harms to LGBQ women associated with
systemic heteronormativity socially constructed by
historical narratives within perinatal health.
2. Understand how health care providers’ use of power
to inhabit birthing spaces influences LGBQ women’s
decisions to disclose personal circumstances that
inform their birth.
3. Become aware how the findings offer insights to inform
educational curricula in nursing and other health care
disciplines especially when understood within the
broader body of evidence in LGBTQ health, perinatal
nursing and women’s health.
M A T T E R S
11 : 0 0 A M - 1 2 : 3 0 P M
2. Trans People’s Experiences with
Assisted Reproduction Services in
Ontario: A Qualitative Study
Presenters:
Sarah James-Abra, MSW, RSW, Social Worker, Child,
Youth, and Family Program, Lakeridge Health, Oshawa,
Ontario;
Lori Ross, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Social
and Behavioural Health Sciences, Dalla Lana School
of Public Health, University of Toronto and Affiliate
Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,
Toronto, Ontario
This session presents the findings of a qualitative
research study that explored the experiences of trans
people who sought or accessed assisted reproduction
(AR) services in Ontario, Canada, between 2007 and
2010. The study involved a secondary qualitative analysis
of data from nine trans-identified people and their partners
(total n=11) collected as part of a community-based study
of access to AR services for sexual and gender minority
people between 2010 and 2012 (the “Creating Our
Families” study). The data highlight barriers to accessing
AR services for trans people, including problems with
clinical documentation, providers’ cisnormative and
heteronormative assumptions and refusal of services for
trans clients. Participant recommendations for improving
AR service provision to better meet the needs of this
population will be presented. These recommendations
address the following areas: (i) AR service provider
education and training; (ii) service provider and clinic
practices and (iii) clinic environment. This study provides
recommendations for ways in which AR services can be
improved to better meet the needs of this population, from
the perspectives of service users themselves.
1. Describe the main ways in which trans people use
assisted reproduction (AR) services.
2. Explain the main barriers trans people may encounter
when attempting to access AR services.
3. Implement changes to AR services that will better
enable trans people to meet their AR needs.
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C O N F E R E N C E
W2: AM
3. Opening the Closet Door on
Reproductive Cancer Care for Lesbian
and Bisexual Women
Format: Workshop
Queering the Medical Curriculum:
How to Design, Develop, Deliver and
Assess Learning Outcomes Relevant
to LGBT Health for Health Care
Professionals
Presenter:
Laura Legere, MSc Nursing, Nursing Research Associate,
Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, Member,
Rainbow Nursing Interest Group, Toronto, Ontario
The experience of undergoing clinical cancer care can
undoubtedly be a tumultuous period in an individual’s
life and it becomes critical that health care providers
(HCPs) act as navigators for their patients during a
cancer journey. However, barriers can arise that create
challenges for individuals to receive equitable clinical
cancer care. These barriers to equitable clinical cancer
care can be perpetuated by interactions with HCPs, can
be distressing, and can also contribute to negative health
effects. For sexual minority women (SMW) experiencing
cancer, barriers to clinical care perpetuated by negative
health care interactions are well documented within
the literature (Boehmer & Case, 2004, 2006; Sinding,
Barnoff & Grassau, 2004). In an attempt to expand on the
limited research in the area of sexual minority women’s
reproductive cancer care, the aim of this research study
undertaken as a Nursing Master’s thesis was to illuminate
aspects of interactions between sexual minority women
with reproductive cancers and HCPs that may perpetuate
or challenge barriers to receiving equitable clinical care.
Presenters:
Jacques Abourbih, Retired Urology Surgeon, University
of Toronto for 27 years and then professor of surgery
and recipient of Professor Honorarius at the Northern
Ontario School of Medicine.
Karly Dudar, MA, Public Health, Queen’s University,
OPHA and Clinical Sciences Department, Northern
Ontario School of Medicine, Co-developing LGBTQ2-S
Curriculum for Undergraduate Medical Learners,
Kingston, Ontario;
Golnaz Ghaderi, MEd, Developmental Psychology,
Master’s Student, Applied Psychology, Laurentian
University, Member, Canadian Psychological
Association, Sudbury, Ontario;
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM)
in keeping with “its social accountability mandate to
contribute to improving the health of the people and
communities of Northern Ontario” has incorporated
relevant health issues of the LGBT community into the
undergraduate medical curriculum. This presentation
reviews the development of LGBT content in the
undergraduate medical education program offered
to medical students. We describe the challenges
encountered in designing a curriculum that was relevant
and practical for students entering general practice. This
workshop discusses the lessons learned by tracing the
historical development of the clinical curriculum and the
development of assessment tools. We will also discuss
the result of a questionnaire administered to faculty and
students about their learning experience, as well as
briefly present the aggregate performance of the students
on two assessment tools based on content knowledge
and simulated clinical encounter. Participation in this
workshop will provide medical educators, social sciences
educators, universities and public school educators with
a lived model to introduce in their curriculum to health
issues faced by the LGBT community.
1. Gain an increased understanding of the reproductive
cancer experience as it relates to women who selfidentify as lesbian or bisexual.
2. Gain an increased awareness of how health care
interactions and environmental elements related to
clinical cancer care may perpetuate or challenge
barriers to equitable care for sexual minority women.
3. Ask questions and discuss some suggested
recommendations for health care providers regarding
improving reproductive cancer care for sexual minority
women.
1. Providing audience members with transferrable
knowledge and skills in introducing LGBT curriculum
or training within their agency or organization.
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2. Explore different modalities of interactive curriculum
delivery (problem based learning (PBL), small group
case discussion, Structured Clinical Skills (SCS).
W4: AM
3. Providing participants with guidance in evaluating the
outcomes of the delivery of their curriculum offered
within their agency or organization.
Self-Care as Warfare: The Art of
Healthy Queer Relationships
W3: AM
Format: Workshop
Effective LGBTQ Tobacco
Interventions: You Can Make It Happen
Presenter:
Monica Bennett, Regional Coordinator, Smokers’
Helpline Canadian Cancer Society’s Smokers’ Helpline,
Hamilton, Ontario
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death
in the developed world and LGBTQ communities have
a higher prevalence of smoking rates than the general
population. In part, this is due to the tobacco industry
marketing their products to the LGBTQ community.
LGBTQ individuals are more likely to have risk factors for
smoking; this includes the daily stress related to prejudice
(sometimes from the medical community) and the stigma
that they may encounter. Also, the social determinants
of health disproportionately affect LGBTQ communities.
As a result, LGBTQ folks suffer more smoking related
death and illness than their straight/cis peers. The majority
of tobacco users want to quit and those who work with
LGBTQ communities are in a uniquely powerful position to
help them make a quit attempt. This session will provide
participants with the knowledge and tools to explore
and understand tobacco use and then to appropriately
and effectively intervene with their clients and patients.
Participants will learn about evidence-based interventions
that will build on their existing capacity to assist their
clients and practice employing techniques that have been
proven to make a difference.
1. Tobacco and its related health issues and the
importance of implementing smoking cessation
interventions with LGBTQ individuals and
communities.
Format: Workshop
Presenter:
anya gwynne, Prevention Education / Rainbow Youth
Facilitator, Peterborough AIDS Resource Network,
Peterborough, Ontario
Bailey Smith, The QueeRAdicals, Rainbow Youth
Program, Peterborough AIDS Resource Network,
Peterborough, Ontario;
Damien Murtha, The QueeRAdicals, Rainbow Youth
Program, Peterborough AIDS Resource Network,
Peterborough, Ontario
This interactive workshop explores ideas surrounding selfadvocacy, communication and consent. This workshop is
geared towards those working with LGBTQ* youth and will
focus on how to encourage conversations that youth want
but may struggle to have due to lack of validation and
visibility. With a strong focus on consent and sex positivity,
we will use self-care as a framework to discuss the unique
factors that affect LGBTQ* relationships and what we need
to feel empowered to make choices for ourselves and with
our partners. Starting with an exploration of holistic health
and happiness, we will create wellness wheels to identify
areas of personal strength and our challenges to self-care.
We will then practice what it might look and feel like to put
that care into action and advocate for our needs through
a consent lens. Finally, we will identify the importance of
communication and potential barriers that can impact our
ability to have the kind of intimacy we want and deserve.
1. Participants will gain comfort in using consent and
self-advocacy as a framework for conversations about
health and wellness.
2. Participants will develop new tools and strategies to
use when working with LGBTQ* youth populations.
3. Participants will engage in their own self-care
activities, in a sex positive, inclusive environment to
develop and exchange knowledge.
2. Reasons behind the higher prevalence of tobacco
use in LGBT communities compared to the general
population.
3. Practical tools and techniques for addressing nicotine
dependence, nicotine withdrawal and tobacco
cessation, and information about resources and
services available both to practitioners and smokers.
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W5: AM
3. Examine local interventions that are supporting
LGBTQ2S youth experiencing homelessness.
Preventing, Reducing and Ending
LGBTQ2S Youth Homelessness Across Canada
W6: AM
Format: Panel
Panelists:
Creating Primary Health Service
Capacity in CHCs for Trans*
Populations: The Ottawa Story
Lesley McMillan, Program Officer, Eva’s Initiatives,
Toronto, Ontario;
Alex Abramovich, PhD, Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health, Toronto, Ontario;
Kate Miller, Director, YMCA Sprott House, Toronto,
Ontario
Panelists:
It is estimated that up to 40% of youth experiencing
homelessness identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer, questioning and two-spirit
(LGBTQ2S). We have known about the issue of LGBTQ2S
youth homelessness in Canada for over 20 years, but we
have only recently started to have serious conversations
about this issue nationally. Over the past two years, a
number of dynamic systemic interventions have been
developed to support organizations in meeting the needs
of LGBTQ2S youth experiencing homelessness. This
session will provide background information on the issue of
LGBTQ2S youth homelessness in Canada and the unique
needs of this population of young people. It will also
explore various models for a strategy to prevent, reduce,
and end LGBTQ2S youth homelessness in Canada. Dr.
Alex Abramovich will provide an overview of LGBTQ2S
youth homelessness in Canada and share the findings of
his research. He will also outline his work with the Alberta
Government. Lesley McMillan will discuss the work of the
National Learning Community on Youth Homelessness
to create their LGBTQ2S Toolkit that has been designed
to offer staff training and tools to organizations in order
to make it better now for LGBTQ2S youth. Kate Miller will
share the work and experiences of the YMCA’s Sprott
House, the first LGBTQ2S youth transitional housing
program in Canada. Kate will discuss the LGBTQ2S youth
housing model put into practice at Sprott House, as well as
LGBTQ2S affirming practice in the context of the YMCA’s
youth emergency shelter.
1. Understand how homophobia and transphobia
lead to youth homelessness, how homophobia and
transphobia occur and are sustained in the shelter
system and how institutional norms and culture, and
broader policy issues serve to create oppressive
contexts for LGBTQ2S youth.
C O N F E R E N C E
2. Address specific barriers to support (housing and
health care) and gaps in services.
Format: Panel
2 0 1 6
Tamara Chipperfield, Director, Mental Health and
Addictions, Centretown Community Health Centre,
Ottawa, Ontario;
Jennifer Purkiss, RN, Trans* Health Nurse Navigator,
Centretown Community Health Centre, Ottawa, Ontario;
Bonnie Stephanson MSW, RSW, Mental Health
Counsellor, Somerset West Community Health Centre,
Ottawa, Ontario;
Beck Hood, Trainer & Public Educator, Family Services
Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario
Given the marginalization of individuals with trans*
identities, and CHCs’ longstanding history of serving
LGBT communities and equity advocacy, in 2011 four
Ottawa CHCs identified trans* health as a priority on their
shared strategic plan. Since then, Centretown CHC has
been leading an inter-CHC initiative to develop primary
health services that meet the needs of local members
of the trans* community. This session will provide an
overview of the progression of the trans* health initiative,
and explain key aspects in greater detail, including:
• Creating access to bilingual counselling services for
hormone assessment
• Stabilizing access to bilingual services for hormone
maintenance and initiation
• Capacity building for trans* positive primary
health care services, including hormone treatment
prescribed by CHC primary care providers
• Community engagement
• System navigation for clients and support for clinicians
via the Trans* Health Nurse Navigator role
• Creating a network of local trans* health experts
across multiple agencies and professions
This session will also describe the unforeseen
challenges, opportunities and lessons learned. 19
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1. Learn about the progression of the Ottawa inter-CHC
trans* health initiative.
2. Gain an understanding of key success factors that
enabled and built momentum during the initiative.
3. Understand the challenges and lessons learned
throughout the initiative.
W7: AM
Format: Panel
The Impact of Migration and
Resettlement on the Mental Health of
LGBT Refugees in Canada
Moderator:
Phyllis Waugh, Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator,
Envisioning Global LGBT Human Rights, Toronto,
Ontario
Panelists:
Nick Mulé, Associate Professor, School of Social Work,
York University, Toronto, Ontario;
Kathleen Gamble, PhD Candidate, Gender, Feminist and
Women’s Studies Program, York University, Toronto,
Ontario;
Polina Rakina, LGBT Refugee Programs Coordinator,
The 519, Toronto, Ontario
This panel will include a presentation and discussion
of the findings of a research study that examined the
experiences of LGBT refugees and asylum seekers and
their service providers in Toronto. The team’s work has
focused on a number of issues including: a) emerging
trends and root causes of forced migration for LGBT
people; 2) experiences and obstacles for LGBT asylum
seekers in navigating the refugee claims process and
accessing services; 3) how and to what extent their
needs are being met by agencies and services; and 4)
how the implementation of Bill C-31 has impacted LGBT
asylum seekers. The study was conducted by the Canada
Research Team (CRT) is one of the five research teams
part of the Envisioning Global LGBT Human Rights project.
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
3. Examine the structural implications of the current
refugee system in Canada and its implications on
LGBT refugees and settlement workers.
W8: AM
Forme: atelier
(Simultaneous Interpretation provided)
La violence conjugale ou l’agression
sexuelle chez les lesbiennes: le silence
de notre communauté
Présentatrices :
Suzie Bordeleau, Coordonnatrice par interim, Centre de
solidarité lesbienne, Montréal, Québec;
Marjolaine Landry, intervenante, Centre de solidarité
lesbienne, Montréal, Québec
La violence conjugale et les agressions sexuelles chez
les lesbiennes ne sont pas des phénomènes nouveaux.
Pourtant, après 15 ans de travail comme intervenante,
ça demeure un sujet tabou dans notre communauté.
Pourquoi? Certaines disent ne pas vouloir en parler car
les masculinistes reprennent nos dires pour démontrer
que les femmes aussi sont violentes. D’autres affirment
que le nombre de victimes n’est pas assez nombreux
pour en faire mention. Mais à qui profite ce silence?
Comment protéger les victimes et responsabiliser les
agresseures?
Objectifs d’apprentissage :
1. Comprendre ce silence et l’impact qu’il a sur les
victimes.
2. Susciter l’intérêt de vouloir dénoncer cette violence.
3. Apprendre comment il est possible de responsabiliser
les agresseures.
1. Gain a better understanding of the specific mental
health challenges experienced by LGBT refugees
claimants in Canada through personal testimony.
2. Learn about the specific challenges service providers
experience in providing mental health services to
refugee claimants.
20
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
W8: AM
Format: Workshop (service de traduction simultanée au besoin)
Spousal Abuse and Sexual Assault Among Lesbians: Silence in the Community
Presenters:
are abusive as well. Others say that there are not enough
victims to bother talking about it. Who benefits from the
silence? How can we protect victims and hold abusers
accountable?
Suzie Bordeleau, Acting Coordinator, Centre de solidarité
lesbienne, Montreal, Quebec;
Marjolaine Landry, Case Worker, Centre de solidarité
lesbienne, Montreal, Quebec.
Spousal abuse and sexual assault among lesbians is
not something new. However, after 15 years as a case
worker, the topic is still taboo in our community. Why?
Some people say they don’t want to talk about it, because
masculinists twist women’s words to show that women
Learning objectives:
1. Understand the silence and its repercussions on
victims.
2. Arouse interest in speaking out against the abuse.
3. Learn how we can hold abusers accountable.
CIHR INSTITUTE OF
GENDER AND HEALTH
SH A P I N G SC I E N C E F O R A H E A LT H I E R WO R L D
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Institute of Gender & Health
is proud to support the
Rainbow Health Ontario
2016 Conference
For all the latest on sex & gender science:
Subscribe to our newsletter:
http://j.mp/IGH-Subscribe
21
B E C A U S E
POSTER
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
PRESENTATIONS
M A T T E R S
1:30-2:00PM
Authors present
A. Mind the Gap: Social Determinants of
Transgender Health Disparities
B. Work Conditions and Health of
LGBTQ Employees in Taiwan
Presenter:
Presenter:
Maaya Kuri Hitomi, Master’s Student, Applied Social
Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan
(Jaden) Hsin-Yun Peng, Case Manager, Taipei City
Employment Services Office, New Taipei City, Taiwan
Past research has demonstrated a relationship between
experiences of transphobia and health disparities in the
transgender communities. These findings suggest an
explanation for the health disparities found generally
throughout the transgender population; yet, no research
has attempted catalogue, organize, or compare the size
of these disparities across samples. This analysis begins
to fill this gap, by systematically reviewing available
English literature and by building an estimate for the
extent of these disparities. Topics of interest include HIV/
AIDS prevalence, sexual risk taking, suicide, depression,
anxiety, and smoking and drug use. Special attention was
given to research which included a cisgender comparison
group. Overall, evidence was found supporting
disturbingly large health disparities between transgender
and cisgender populations.
1. Identify and quantify the consequences of prejudice
and discrimination on the health and well-being of
transgender people.
2. Highlight gaps in the literature and understand what
these gaps mean for academics, health care providers
and transgender people.
3. Explore community centred ways of addressing health
concerns and improving transgender health care
services.
This study observes the working experiences of Taiwan’s
LGBTQ employees in facing career planning and
explores the pressure and consequences in dealing
with the gender stereotypes of entering the workplaces.
In my work, ten LGBTQ people were interviewed from
June 2014 to February 2015. Each interview was 1.5 to 3
hours long with follow-up interviews added if necessary.
Research methods include semi-structured interviews,
with self-identified LGBTQ people who have struggled
to make their career choice, or who are unemployed.
Through analyzing the subtle feelings and strategies
in career choices, this study hopes to bring out LGBTQ
subjectivities, and to critically examine the consequences
of traditional gender stereotypes in the workplace within
a heterosexual society. The study findings will be shared
during the poster presentation. In Taiwan, the employment
services do not focus on improving working conditions or
the mental or physical health of employees in workplace.
The service providers are also somewhat lacking in social
justice and counseling skills for diverse people. LGBTQ
workers have adopted the strategy of following the
principles of office culture. Otherwise, they choose to leave
if they do not adapt well. To improve the health of LGBTQ
employees requires not only eliminating discrimination,
but also increasing acceptance of LGBTQ employees
from employers. Career counseling and LGBTQ friendly
employment services help both employers and LGBTQ
employees to face the struggles in workplace and review
how past experiences influenced career decisions. The
goal is to raise awareness by understanding specific
individuals and minorities, which will make LGBTQ
employees healthier in the working environment and
decrease their anxiety from life’s uncertainties.
1. Understanding of LGBTQ experiences in Taiwan.
2. Acknowledge workplace homophobia and
transphobia.
3. Examine health disparities within LGBTQ workers in
Taiwan.
22
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
C. Inequalities in Social Determinants of
Health in the Ontario Trans Population
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
D. Single Lesbian Mothers and
Support: Implications for Service and
Information Providers
Presenter:
Presenter:
Rachel Giblon, MSc Candidate, Department of
Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Shulich School of
Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London,
Ontario
Lara Descartes, PhD, Faculty Member, Family Studies,
Brescia University College, London, Ontario
Results from a qualitative study are used to address the
experiences of single lesbian mothers. Areas examined
include the women’s pathways to lone parenting, their
interactions with others, and the support sources they
had access to, including family, friends and neighbours,
the LGBTQ community, support groups, daycares and
schools, health care providers, and online and print
resources. Room for improvement in recognizing the
women’s existence and supporting them was found
particularly in mental health care venues, support
groups, and online and print parenting resources.
Recommendations are for those providing services and
information to parents, and the LGBTQ community in
general, to be more aware of the existence and needs of
single lesbian mothers.
It is now widely recognized that the major factors
shaping the health of Canadians are not, as formerly
believed, lifestyle choices or medical treatments, but
are instead their everyday surroundings and living
conditions: the social determinants of health. I aim
to explore whether and to what extent inequalities in
social determinants exist between trans Ontarians
and the general Ontario population. In 2009-2010 the
Trans PULSE team collected survey data on social
determinants, demographics, health and health care
from 433 trans individuals in Ontario. Comparison data
will come from the 2009-2010 Canadian Community
Health Survey (CCHS), which collects cross-sectional
information on “health status, health care utilization and
health determinants for the Canadian population”. While
previous studies have lacked comparable baseline
data, a series of the Trans PULSE questions. I will
provide preliminary results, conclusions and potential
implications for this study. Investigation into this area
will add to a growing collection of research on the
marginalization of gender minorities in Ontario,
and answers questions on how inequalities in social
determinants for this group may lead to global health
disparities. This knowledge can lay the foundation for
policies and programs aimed at community
development, improved health care access, and
education.
1. Identify the pathways by which single lesbian mother
families might form.
2. Create awareness of some of the challenges specific
to being a single lesbian mother.
3. Become aware of some of the ways in which service
providers, community agencies, and others may
better serve single lesbian mothers
E. Be Our Ally - Photographic Images
Presenter:
Anna Gaby-Trotz, MFA, Printmaker & Photographer,
Associate Artist, Sheatre, Kemble, Ontario
1. Bring attention to the importance of social determinants of health in shaping health outcomes for
trans individuals.
Profound social, educational and health issues have
been well documented among LGBTQ youth. The overall
goal of Be Our Ally is to improve the lives and health of
LGBTQ youth by energizing others to be allies. Be Our
Ally draws on the unique perspectives of LGBTQ youth
and their allies who live in rural and small-urban settings
to address issues of homophobia and homophobic
violence to foster understanding, diversity and respect
for difference. These posters are a composite of
photographs of youth taken at GSA Conferences and
schools during the creation and presentation of the
2. Assess the existence and magnitude of inequalities in
social determinants of health.
3. Explore the health and social justice implications of
inequalities in social determinants of health for the
transgender population.
23
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
Be Our Ally Forum Theatre show and photographic
exhibitions. Photographer Anna Gaby-Trotz asked the
subjects why they want to participate and be an ally. As
they responded, they revealed themselves. The resulting
photographs capture their essence. By creating a show
that sheds light, literally and metaphorically, on the
strength, resiliency, and struggle of rural LGBTQ youth,
we can begin to create positive social change and give
voice and image to those often not seen in our society.
1. Viewers respond to and feel the humanity of the
individuals in these visceral images, promoting
inclusivity and health benefits.
2. The exhibit showcases an educational method using
visual art to make a statement and reach learning
objectives set out by the Ontario Ministry of Education.
3. Viewers become interested in learning more about the
reality of rural LGBTQ youth.
F. Gender Journeys CMHA HKPR:
From Project to Program
The successes and challenges of creating
and sustaining services to support trans and
gender diverse people, their allies and
communities in rural Ontario
Presenters (Authors):
Jan Tkachuk, M.A., RP, Program Coordinator Gender
Journeys CMHA HKPR, Peterborough, Ontario;
Stacey Vetzal, Education and Support Worker, Gender
Journeys CMHA HKPR, Durham Region, Ontario;
Stacey Love-Jolicoeur, Education and Support Worker,
Gender Journeys CMHA HKPR, Belleville, Ontario;
Drew Whatman, Education and Support Worker, Gender
Lori Thompson, Education and Support Worker, Gender
Sharon Hagan-Vetzal, Education and Support Worker,
Gender Journeys CMHA HKPR, Durham Region,
Ontario
With a three year grant from the Trillium Foundation,
CMHA HKPR began to develop services across the Four
Counties to educate and support people identifying as
trans or gender diverse, their loved ones, allies, agencies
and communities. Beginning with a Core Gender
Journeys program (adapted from Sherbourne Health
Centre’s template in order to more effectively support
people in rural communities), the project has grown to
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
provide Parent and Guardian Support groups, Youth
Gender Journeys groups, Beyond Gender Journeys peer
support groups and three ongoing drop-ins situated
in Lindsay, Peterborough and Cobourg. We have also
developed and delivered various training modules for
organizations, institutions and communities. We advocate
for inclusive and thorough Primary Health Care for trans
and gender diverse people and strive to provide access
to those requiring support where it has been previously
been unavailable to them. We utilize resources within
CMHA HKPR to support clients (such as the OTN for
access to specialized health care and consultations).
Through connection with Gender Journeys, clients can
more easily access other programs that address needs
of housing, crisis support, employment and mental health
supports, if required. We also act as a resource for other
people and agencies throughout Canada but primarily in
Ontario and rural areas to share what we have learned
through the development of this project. Our team
collaborates with other not for profit agencies throughout
the Four Counties, as well as hospitals, primary health
care professionals, school boards, law enforcement/
justice systems, media and communities, as a whole, to
help trans and diverse people traverse the stigma they
inevitably face and to assist them in gaining the access
to services and support they require. Our challenges are
many, the first being fiscal. We are in the final year of a
3 year funded project and acquiring sustainable funding
to keep Gender Journeys services running and keeping
up with the increasing needs of our service as it gains
momentum is of paramount importance. Other challenges
include finding ways to bring our services to people and
people to the services across the large expanse of the 4
Counties.
1. To promote awareness of Gender Journeys CMHA
HKPR services in order to maximize outreach to the
trans and gender diverse communities.
2. To network and to exchange knowledge and tools for
the betterment of future programming with likeminded
organizations and allies.
3. To share our knowledge of funding resources and
discover knowledge of new funding options to ensure
the continued existence and growth of Gender
Journeys CMHA HKPR.
24
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
anonymous survey
www.transformingjustice.ca
focus groups + one-on-one interviews
www.halco.org/our-services/trans-legal-needs-assessment-ontario
Survey Launch March 2016
For more information about all of the project’s activities,
eligibility for participation, confidentiality, and sign-up sheets for
focus groups, including one-on-one interviews for trans* people
living with or impacted by HIV, visit the project website:
www.halco.org/our-services/trans-legal-needs-assessment-ontario.
The TRANSforming JUSTICE, Trans* Legal Needs
Assessment Ontario project, will help to ensure that the
legal needs of trans* people in Ontario are being met and to
determine the barriers that trans* people face in accessing justice.
An anonymous survey for Ontario residents, age 16 and over,
who identify as trans* will launch in March 2016 at:
www.transformingjustice.ca.
If you are interested in participating, or if you would like more
information, please contact Nicole Nussbaum, project lead:
email [email protected]
Focus groups and workshops that will be held across
Ontario in the coming months:
The core survey will take approximately 30-45 minutes to complete for most
participants. An optional section which asks more in depth questions about
experiences in the legal/justice system that will take approximately 20 minutes
to complete. Focus groups and interviews will take up to 90 minutes.
• trans* community focus groups & trans* legal rights and legal
services workshops open to trans* community.
• legal service provider focus groups & trans* 101 and trans* legal
basics for the legal service provider community.
”Trans*” is as an umbrella term to refer to a diverse array of experiences and identities, including two-spirit, non-binary, agender, gender queer, cross dressers, transgender, transsexual, as
well as those who identify as men or women but have a history that involves a gender transition. While the project is focussed on the needs of the broader trans community, a specific
component of the project is dedicated to trans people living with HIV.
25
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
W9: (2)PM
M A T T E R S
2:00 - 3:30 PM
2. What’s Up With Older LGBTQ Folks in
Niagara?
Presenters:
Sarah Burtch, Women’s Community Development
Coordinator, Positive Living Niagara, St. Catharines,
Ontario;
Colleen McTigue, Activist & Facilitator, Transgender
Niagara, St. Catharines, Ontario
1. The Role of Technology in Quality of
Life and End-of-Life Planning Among
LGBT Adults and Their Service
Providers
Presenter:
The results of the environmental scan being conducted
with older members of the LGBTQ community in Niagara
will be discussed. What’s Up With Older LGBTQ Folks
in Niagara? is a project developed in collaboration with
Quest Community Health Centre, Positive Living Niagara
and a community advisory committee consisting of older
LGBTQ Niagara residents. The goal of this study is to
document challenges and risks to healthy aging among
older (50+ years of age) LGBTQ individuals residing
in the Niagara Region; to explore and understand
the role of community and voluntary sectors working
with older LGBTQ individuals and to identify gaps in
current services and develop recommendations for best
practices with this population. Project outcomes will
be identifying the health and support needs of Niagara
regions’ older (50+ years of age and older) LGBTQ
communities as well as any current gaps in knowledge
and services for community organizations working with
older populations. Data analysis will focus on emerging
themes and recommendations for best practices with
older LGBTQ communities in Niagara region.
Steven Mock, Associate Professor, University of
Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
Technology is often intended to enhance performance
of daily tasks and contribute to quality of life. However,
technological advances can sometimes make life more
difficult and frustrating, stereotypically, especially for
older adults. Although this stereotype does not hold
up to scrutiny, to get the most out of technology it is
important to consider individual, social, and contextual
factors that enhance or detract from the usefulness of
technology for older adults (Rogers & Fisk, 2010; Wahl,
Iwarsson, & Oswald, 2012). One often overlooked context
in the lives of older adults is LGBT status. LGBT adults’
experiences with stigmatization and social isolation have
been examined (Meyer, 2003), but LGBT adults share
similar developmental needs with all adults and may use
technology to help overcome isolation and stigmatization.
Drawing on data collected with focus groups in five
Canadian cities we examined the breadth of technology
use, the ways technology contributed to social integration
and enhanced later-life planning, and also explored the
ways technology sometimes falls short for LGBT adults.
Results will be shared during the presentation.
1. Barriers to aging well among the LGBTQ community in
underserved areas.
2. Strategies for building community capacity to meet
the needs of LGBTQ people as they age.
1. Learn about the diverse meanings and uses of
technology among older LGBT adults.
3. Engaging and working with LGBTQ seniors in
research.
2. Learn what technology means to service providers
who work with older LGBT adults.
3. Explore the challenges and opportunities related to
technology and later life planning.
26
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
W10: (2)PM
3. Where do we look for care as we age?:
Reporting Back on the Landscape in
Ontario
Follow-Up Discussion:
Leadership in LGBTQ Health: What’s
happening in the US and Canada?
Presenter:
Celeste Pang, PhD Student, Anthropology, University of
Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
Where do we look for care as we age? What strategies are
individuals, families, and communities using to mobilize
for later and end-life-care? What networks are created,
and what barriers are faced? This session reports back
on preliminary qualitative research undertaken in Ontario
in summer of 2015. It provides an analysis of the current
landscape of later life care for aging LGBTQ people
in the province in the wake of shifting health care and
housing policies, and foregrounds the stories of older
adult community members and stakeholders in their care.
It invites the audience to engage with these stories and to
take a critical look at how the balance of care sits between
formal sources (such as services provided by the state or
sought from private industry) and informal sources (such
as care provided by family and friends). It also aims to
inspire reflection and conversation about people’s own
professional practices and plans for their own futures.
Join GLMA Executive Director Hector Vargas for a followup discussion to the plenary session Leadership in LGBTQ
Health: What’s happening in the US?. During this informal
discussion session, participants will be able to engage in
a more detailed conversation about the progress being
made in the US to advance LGBT health. We will look at
the groups that have provided leadership as well as the
issues and opportunities that have provided leverage for
change. We will compare our progress in the Canadian
context and look for similar opportunities within our federal
and provincial health systems and among our colleges and
associations.
1. Gain a more detailed understanding of the keys to LGBT
health policy change in the United States.
2. Begin an in-depth conversation among service providers
and advocates in Canada on strategies that could be
adapted to address LGBT health policy issues at the
federal and/or provincial level.
1. Gain insight into the diverse situations of LGBTQ older
adults seeking care throughout Ontario.
2. Learn about the structural and socio-economic factors
that influence the options people have for care, and the
way that we are beginning to mobilize around later-life
care for our older adults.
3. Become equipped with analytical tools to interrogate
how responsibility for care is balanced between formal
and informal sources and networks.
Keeping
PUBLIC SERVICE
for the
PUBLIC
opseu.org
27
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
W11: (2)PM
M A T T E R S
1. Participants will gain a greater understanding of how
front-line providers conduct online sexual health
outreach and of the strengths, challenges, and ethical
implications involved in the provision of these services
to diverse MSM communities.
Format: Panel
“Cruising Counts”: Online Sexual
Health Outreach for Gay, Bisexual,
and Other Men Who Have Sex With
Men in Ontario
2. Participants will be presented with the survey results
from the Cruising Counts study conducted among MSM
in Ontario.
Panelists:
David J. Brennan, Associate Professor, Social Work,
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario;
Rusty Souleymanov, MSW Doctoral Student, FactorInwentash, Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ontario;
Daniel Pugh, BSW, MSW, RSW, LGBT Team, Sherbourne
Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario
This interactive, interdisciplinary panel will present
mixed-methods research on online outreach services in
Ontario and provide implications for health providers,
managers and others interested in effective online
outreach programs for MSM. This panel will draw on
findings from the qualitative and quantitative arms of
the Cruising Counts Study, and provide an overview of
the unique implications of this innovative sexual health
service for MSM. First, we draw on the data from the
province-wide community-based Cruising Counts study of
MISM aged 16+ who completed a 15-minute anonymous
online questionnaire In this panel, we will present five
major themes that were identified across interviews: the
importance and goals of online outreach, the strengths
and advantages of online outreach, challenges and
barriers to providing effective online outreach, the
personal skills and training required for online outreach,
and online outreach service evaluation practices. Service
providers suggested that there is increased demand
for online outreach services for MSM. We present and
elaborate on themes that were identified as barriers to
providing effective online outreach services. We also
present findings for managers and funders with regard
to the strengths and advantages of online outreach
over face-to-face outreach. Based on the results of this
study, we present the newly revised guide that will be
used to increase capacity of online outreach programs in
Ontario. This presentation will be of interest to front-line
workers who are committed to gain new skills and the
training required for providing culturally competent online
HIV prevention and sexual health outreach to MSM
communities.
28
3. Increase awareness of the skills and tools required
for health service providers interested in providing
culturally relevant online outreach programs for MSM
communities.
W12: (2)PM
Format: Community Soundbyte
1. Opening Doors to LGBTQ Communities
Presenters:
Dale Boyle, Community Development Coordinator, Gilbert
Centre, Barrie, Ontario
How does an organization become LGBTQ competent?
How does an organization work toward organizational
change and become knowledgeable of the tools and
resources that are available to build LGBTQ capacity?
This community soundbyte will review the work done by
the Gilbert Centre. The Gilbert Centre conducted a survey
to local human service organizations, the results showed
many organizations self-identified as needing to be more
LGBTQ competent. The findings of the survey contributed
to the Gilbert Centre which has been awarded a two-year
Trillium Foundation Grant to do capacity building with
organizations across Simcoe/Muskoka, to increase access
to services to LGBTQ individuals in the region. This project
supports organizations as they undergo an assessment
of how accessible the organization is currently, identify
barriers to providing service and develop plans to address
training needs and any policy issues. In this session, an
overview of the Capacity Development project in Simcoe
County will be provided. Some of the content will include
local data that supports the project, initial feedback from
participating agencies, ways in which organizations can
evaluate change, and a review of some of the documents
used.
1. Awareness of how to engage an agency towards
organizational change for LGBTQ competency.
2. Knowledge of the tools and resources available for
building capacity.
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
3. Awareness of ways to evaluate and assess community
impact from organizational development.
2. The Ottawa Paramedic Service Diversity
Champion Program: Internal Culture
Change and External LGBTQ Community
Engagement to Provide Culturally Safe
Emergency Clinical Care
Presenters:
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
2. Be able to distinguish and evaluate their own
experiences between external training and the role that
“Diversity Champions” play and how they support and
help create a more inclusive workplace and help offer
better pre-hospital health care to the community.
3. Apply the cultural shift activities in their home
agencies to support LGBT Diversity both inside their
organization as well as with their patients or clients with
a commitment to accomplish within the year.
W13: (2)PM
Ashley Murfin, MA, ACP(f), Commander (Operations),
Ottawa Paramedic Service, Diversity Champion
Program, Ottawa, Ontario;
Paul Morneau, BSc, ACP, Acting Commander
(Professional Standards), Ottawa Paramedic Service,
Diversity Champion Program, Ottawa, Ontario;
Deanna Schofield, BSc, ACP, Acting Superintendent
(Operations), Ottawa Paramedic Service, Diversity
Champion Program, Ottawa, Ontario
Format: Workshop
Our Mad Selves: Queer and Trans*
Youth Exploring Mental Health
Presenters:
In 2010 a few service members of the Ottawa Paramedic
Service Diversity Champion Program (DCP) asked
permission to start a group to work on supporting and
increasing the diversity within the service. The group started
off with their first event which was the PRIDE Flag Raising
BBQ at Ottawa Paramedic Service HQ. This event has now
grown to a full City of Ottawa Bus Tour featuring multiple
stops for Flag Raising Events with Paramedics, Police, Fire,
By-Law, OC Transpo & City Hall. Those who were the first
members took on this challenge in addition to their jobs and
at no additional cost to the Service or City.
The Diversity Champion Program main objectives:
1. Support the current diversity that we have within the
Ottawa Paramedic Service;
2. Engage and build relationships with diverse
communities in Ottawa. Allowing us to learn how we
can better meet their unique needs and to educate
them on what we need from them;
3. Improve diversity through recruitment and retention
strategies so the Ottawa Paramedic Service is diverse
and representative of the community we serve.
The Diversity Champion Program has won multiple awards
both internal and external City Manager Kent Kirkpatrick
announced that all City of Ottawa Departments will have a
DCP-like Committee by the end of 2015.
1. Learn how the Ottawa Paramedic Service set up
their Diversity Champion Program and how it is being
adopted for all City of Ottawa departments.
29
Agnieszka Forfa, Mental Health Counsellor, Sherbourne
Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario;
Sonny Berenson, Trans-identified Community Coordinator,
Facilitator & Artist, Toronto, Ontario
Through presentation, discussion, creative activities and
skill sharing, Our Mad Selves is a workshop that invites
participants to envision new ways of talking and thinking
about mental health and madness within the context of
queer and trans* identities and communities. Even though
the medical and recovery model have made significant
contributions to our well-being, the exclusive reliance on
these approaches of understanding and approaching
mental distress/variance has become detrimental. In
contrast, this workshop aims to explore how psychiatric
conditions can be mad gifts which need cultivation
and care; and that mad people have unique ways of
experiencing the world, making meaning, developing
community and creating culture. Deeply inspired by
Disability Justice movements, Our Mad Selves embraces
difference, moves away from normalizing experiences,
neoliberal notions of individualism and single issue
organizing; instead we commit to understanding how
madness/sanism is interconnected with other struggles,
such as those of disabled people, people of color,
genderqueer and transgender, poor and working class,
youth, immigrants, queer and more. We are pushing for an
understanding of how sanism affects all of our movements
for justice. To ground the conversation, this workshop
will heavily draw from our experiences facilitating and
developing a group at Supporting Our Youth, which
was focused on LGBTQ youth who are living with and/or
affected by experiences often diagnosed and labeled with
psychiatric conditions.
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
1. Inspire transformation through linking creativity,
madness, collaboration and care.
2. Share and gather information/experience on how
sanism operates with other systems of oppression,
such as homophobia and transphobia, and how this
impacts our well-being.
3. Provide an opportunity to confront the shame and
oppression experienced as a result of psychiatric
histories/experiences and encounters with the mental
health system.
W14: (2)PM
Format: Workshop
Queer Think for the Straight Shrink:
How to Integrate the Canadian
Psychiatric Association Position Paper
on LGBTQ Mental Health Into Your
Practice
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
paper. The aim of the workshop is to ensure that mental
health practitioners gain more knowledge and comfort in
providing LGBTQ-affirmative care within their respective
practices.
1. Gain knowledge about the mental health care needs
of individuals who identify as LGBTQ.
2. Increase awareness of the health care barriers that are
often faced by individuals who identify as LGBTQ and
discuss with colleagues various methods of reducing
these barriers to care.
3. Understand and be able to incorporate the
recommendations from the CPA position paper on
mental health care for people who identify as LGBTQ
into their practices.
Mental Health
of Emerging Adults
Presenter:
Albina Veltman, MD, FRCPC, Associate Professor,
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural
Neurosciences, Diversity & Engagement Chair,
Undergraduate MD Program, McMaster University,
Hamilton, Ontario
La santé mentale
des adultes émergents
In most medical schools and psychiatry residency
programs in North America, there is a lack of education
related to LGBTQ health. Lack of knowledge about the
health care needs of LGBTQ-identified individuals is
one of the major barriers to the provision of high-quality
care to this traditionally marginalized and underserviced
population. In 2014, the Canadian Psychiatric Association
(CPA) published a position paper entitled “Mental Health
Care for People who Identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
www.mentalhealthcommission.ca / www.commissionsantementale.ca
Transgender and (or) Queer”. Unfortunately, psychiatry
has a history of conflating LGBTQ identities with mental
illness and has, therefore, historically contributed to the
stigma and discrimination faced by people who identify
2016-02-23 9:14 AM
as LGBTQ, affecting not only their mental health but also2016-02-2116-MHCC-Rainboh Health 2016 Conference Ad.indd 1
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their access to appropriate mental health care. This CPA
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increase their understanding ofREVISION
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needs
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February 23, 2016 9:13 AM
of people who identify as LGBTQ.
This
OUTPUT
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02/23/16 will
provide participants from a wide variety of mental health
APPROVALS
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REALLY?
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
W15: (2)PM – Cancelled
W16: (2)PM
W16: (2)PM
(service de traduction simultanée au besoin)
Format: Workshop
Forme: atelier
The Settlement Needs of Francophone
LGBTQIA Immigrants and Refugees
Les besoins en matière
d’établissement des immigrants et
réfugiés LGBTQIA francophones
Presenters:
Présantatrices :
In this interactive workshop, the results of the evaluation
of the settlement needs of Francophone LGBTQIA
immigrants and refugees in Ontario will be presented.
This evaluation was conducted in 2014 by FrancoQueer
and the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants
(OCASI). The evaluation report was released in English
and in French in 2015. First of all, we will take a brief look
at the research methodology. Next, we will present the
evaluation results, highlighting the aspects affecting the
physical and mental health of Francophone LGBTQIA
immigrants and refugees. Lastly, we will present the
recommendations that arose from the evaluation
and discuss the progress being made to implement
them. The second part of this interactive workshop
will be an opportunity for participants to discuss the
research findings, identify ways to implement the
recommendations in the evaluation report, and share best
practices in the area of health services for Francophone
LGBTQIA immigrants and refugees.
(Simultaneous Translation provided)
Julie Lassonde, avocate, membre du Barreau du HautCanada et du Barreau du Québec, Toronto, Ontario;
Cet atelier interactif présentera les résultats de
l’évaluation des besoins en matière d’établissement
et d’intégration des immigrants et réfugiés LGBTQIA
francophones en Ontario. Cette évaluation a été effectuée
par FrancoQueer et OCASI – the Ontario Council of
Agencies Serving Immigrants en 2014. Le rapport
d’évaluation a été publié en français et en anglais en
2015. Nous ferons d’abord un survol de la méthodologie
de recherche. Nous présenterons ensuite les résultats de
l’évaluation, en mettant l’accent sur les aspects touchant
à la santé physique et mentale des immigrants et réfugiés
LGBTQIA francophones. Finalement, nous présenterons
les recommandations tirées de cette évaluation et
l’état de leur mise en œuvre. La deuxième partie de
l’atelier interactif permettra de discuter des résultats de
recherche, de trouver des pistes de mise en œuvre des
recommandations du rapport d’évaluation et d’échanger
des pratiques exemplaires en matière de services
de santé pour les immigrants et réfugiés LGBTQIA
francophones.
1. Mieux comprendre les besoins en matière
d’établissement et d’intégration des immigrants et
réfugiés LGBTQIA francophones en Ontario.
2. Comprendre l’intersection entre les identités
immigrantes/réfugiées, LGBTQIA et francophones.
Julie Lassonde, Lawyer, Member of the Law Society of
Upper Canada and the Barreau du Québec, Toronto,
Ontario;
1. Better understand the settlement and integration
needs of Francophone LGBTQIA immigrants and
refugees in Ontario.
2. Gain an understanding of how immigrant/refugee,
LGBTQIA and Francophone identities intersect.
3. Develop strategies for implementing the
recommendations to better respond to the needs of
Francophone LGBTQIA immigrants and refugees in
Ontario.
3. Développer des stratégies de mise en œuvre de
recommandations visant à mieux répondre aux
besoins des immigrants et réfugiés LGBTQIA
francophones en Ontario.
31
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
W17: (3)PM
1. “It’s For Us—Newcomers, LGBTQ
Persons and HIV-positive persons. You
Feel Free To Be”: Experiences of Social
Support Group Participation Among
LGBTQ African, Caribbean and Black
Newcomers and Refugees in Toronto,
Canada
Presenters:
Carmen Logie, PhD, Assistant Professor, FactorInwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto,
Adjunct Scientist, Women’s College Research Institute,
Toronto, Ontario;
Ashley Lacombe-Duncan, PhD Student, FactorInwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ontario
Background:
African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) populations in
Canada are over-represented in the HIV epidemic.
Social drivers of HIV—including racism, sexual stigma,
and HIV-related stigma—enhance HIV vulnerability
among ACB populations. The Black Coalition for AIDS
Prevention implements monthly peer support and
psycho-education groups: (1) Rainbow Sistahs (RS),
for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer
(LGBTQ) ACB women, and (2) Foreign Integration (FI),
for LGBTQ ACB newcomers and refugees. We explored
perceived benefits of social support group participation
among LGBTQ ACB newcomers and refugees in
Toronto, Canada. Methods: We conducted three focus
groups with ACB participants (n=29) who attended RS,
FI or both. We conducted semi-structured individual
interviews with health care and social service providers
(n=5) from AIDS service organizations and community
health centres serving ACB populations. Interviews and
focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and
analyzed using narrative thematic techniques. Findings
will be shared during the session. Findings highlight the
synergistic effects of social exclusion produced through
multiple forms of marginalization, including sexuality
and newcomer/refugee status. Social support groups
tailored for LGBTQ ACB newcomers and refugees have
the potential to address the complexity of social, legal,
economic and health issues that elevate HIV vulnerability.
M A T T E R S
3:45 - 5:15 PM
1. Describe the social determinants of health for African
and Caribbean Black LGBTQ newcomers and refugees,
such as poverty, HIV-related stigma, and racism.
2. Explain social support groups as a community based
intervention to address health, social isolation and
basic needs among LGBTQ newcomers and refugees.
3. Discuss the associations between poverty, stigma
and health among African and Caribbean Black
LGBTQ newcomers and refugees, and situate these in
discussions of HIV vulnerability and syndemics theory.
2. Access, Identity & Men (AIM) Study:
Exploring How South Asian MSM
Navigate Their Sexual Health
Presenter:
Ramraajh Sharvendiran, Men’s Sexual Health
Coordinator, Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention
(ASAAP), Toronto, Ontario
The AIM study explores how South Asian MSM navigate
their sexual & overall health within the diaspora in
the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The purpose of this
study was to generate a strong evidence base for HIV/
AIDS and sexual health programming; address the
lack of representation in research; and, to adapt to the
needs of the community. This presentation will explore
the qualitative data collected from thirty-nine (39)
participants. The following is the thematic breakdown
of the results: •Relationships •Mental Health and Social
Isolation •Navigating Sex •Sex, HIV and Health The
presentation will delve deep into the lived experiences
of the participants and present both the strengths and
challenges of being a South Asian MSM in the GTA.
1. Understand the socio-cultural context some South
Asian MSM are coming from.
2. Understand the systemic and internal challenges that
South Asian MSM are experiencing as it pertains to
their sexual and overall health.
3. Understand the strength there is within this population
and how they’ve used it to navigate the system to
survive and thrive.
32
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
W18: (3)PM
W19: (3)PM
Breaking Down Medical Barriers to
Better Serve Transgender People
Providing Excellent Palliative Care for
the LGBTQ Community: Challenges
and Opportunities at the End of Life
Format: Workshop
Format: Workshop
Presenters:
Presenter:
Vincent Bolt, Student, School of Indigenous Relations,
Indigenous Social Work Program, Laurentian University,
Project Coordinator, TG Innerselves, Sudbury, Ontario;
Jenna Webber, Third year Medical Student, Northern
Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, Ontario;
Rita Olink, Community Relations Representative, TG
Innerselves, Sudbury, Ontario;
Darlyn Hansen, Community Relations and Education, TG
Innerselves, Sudbury, Ontario;
Stephan Imbeau, Third year Medical Student, Northern
Ontario School of Medicine, Sudbury, Ontario
Kate Whitehead, MD, Palliative Care Physician, Toronto
Grace Hospital, Facilitator, Centre for Inter-Professional
Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
TG Innerseselves and the students from the Northern
Ontario School of Medicine’s Breaking Down Barriers
Project have collaborated on improving health care
and creating positive change for lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, queer, and two spirit people in Northern
Ontario. Being a member of the trans community in
Northern Ontario for many is a determinant of health.
Many trans individuals have difficulty finding physicians
that will assist with transition in small cities and remote
communities. There are also difficulties in finding
employment, housing, and experiences of social exclusion.
This project revealed through community engaged
research what physicians and health care providers can
do to create a trans inclusive space, engage members
of the trans community in the services they provide, and
improve the health of the trans people they are serving.
1. Highlight the strengths and opportunities in
collaboration between the medical community and
LGBT2-SQ people.
The end of life can be a time of diverse and changing
clinical and psychosocial needs. People of the LGBTQ
community face challenges and opportunities that can be
unique when faced with life limiting illness. This workshop
will encourage participants to explore issues that are
common for LGBTQ people as they approach death with a
mind to improving our collective approach to end of care
in this population. Real clinical cases will be presented
from hospital, hospice, and home settings. Participants are
encouraged to share their own cases and experiences.
These will be incorporated in to the workshop discussion
and activities. Highlighted concepts will be: -What current
research tells us (and doesn’t tell us) about the expectations
and realities of end of life care for the LGBTQ community.
-Barriers and enablers to seeking and receiving end of life
care for LGBTQ clients. -Advanced care planning. -Consent
and substitute decision makers (the law and the practical
realities). -Identity and self-image issues in people who are
dying. -Communication strategies for end of life issues.
-Fears and expectations of families and caregivers of a
dying person. -Common end of life changes and how they
can impact identity and relationships. -Treatment in dying
persons (including hormone treatment) . -Death Certificates
and other forms that may need a “non-standard” approach.
The presenter, who is experienced in Palliative Care, does
not pretend to have all of the answers and hopes to both
share expertise and be enlightened by participants.
2. Learn how a person’s gender identity and gender
expression in itself becomes a social determinant of
health.
3. Encourage creative ways to address the barriers to
health care for trans people in a manner that is inclusive
and culturally sensitive.
1. Gain an understanding of consent laws and advanced
directives in Ontario and how LGBTQ people can best
prepare themselves to have their wishes known and
respected at the end of life.
2. Become familiar with common clinical changes at
the end of life (feeding, self-care, mental status, pain
etc.) and appreciate how they may present unique
challenges to LGBTQ clients.
3. Understand death in the context of identity.
33
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
W20: (3)PM
M A T T E R S
1. Listen to first hand lived experiences of LGBTQ2S
children and youth who are (or have been) involved
with Ontario’s systems of care. These voices are not
often heard within the broader LGBTQ community.
Format: Panel
Be Our Ally: Voices of LGBTQ2S Youth
In & From Ontario’s Systems of Care
2. Hear about the experiences of hundreds of youth from
around Ontario and develop a better understanding of
the unique needs of youth in the Provincial Advocate’s
mandate, including those in rural and remote
communities.
Panelists:
Sandy Wynia Katz, Child and Youth Advocate, Provincial
Advocate for Children and Youth, Lead Advocate, You
Are Not Alone Project, Toronto, Ontario;
Theodore Syrette, Batchewana First Nation of the
Ojibways, Advocate, Community Creationist & Artist,
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario;
Yaz Martens, Youth Artist & Advocate, Toronto, Ontario;
Elys Gardiner, Activist, University of Ottawa, Ottawa,
Ontario;
Victoria Corbett, Youth Advocate, Sault Ste. Marie,
Ontario;
Jay Bruneau, Youth Advocate, Sudbury, Ontario;
Brandon Timmerman, Activist, Brockville, Ontario
3. Obtain concrete strategies for how to support and be
allies to LGBTQ2S youth from Ontario’s systems of
care.
W21: (3)PM
Format: Seminar
This is Our Community:
Creating Education Videos to
Disseminate Research Findings
The Advocate’s Office launched the You Are Not Alone
(YANA) campaign during PRIDE Week 2012 in response
to a youth demand for a province wide LGBTQ2SIA
strategy. For two years Sandy Wynia Katz and YANA
‘Amplifier’ travelled around Ontario meeting with LGBTQ
youth in and from care and posing two questions:
Presenters:
(1) What is it like for LGBTQ2S/GSM youth in care today?
(2) What can be done to make it better?
After hearing from hundreds of youth, a group of 12
Queer youth from around Ontario came together and
formed the YANA Working Group. They reviewed all of
the submissions and recommendations. One message
came up again and again: Find a way to create allies to
help LGBTQ2S/GSM youth in care as they negotiate their
way through the system and find their way in the wider
world. During WorldPride 2015 the Advocate’s Office
launched #BeOurAlly (#BOA). In addition to a short,
award winning video developed by and for youth, sharing
the Be Our Ally message, the #BOA presentation features
youth from the Advocate’s Office mandate telling their
own stories and the stories of youth from around Ontario.
The presentation will consist of a brief introduction
about the Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children
and Youth and the history of the You Are Not Alone
Project. Five youth presenters will speak about their lived
experience in the five mandated areas of the Advocates
Office. They will also talk about how others can be allies
to children in these systems of care. Then there will be
a facilitated discussion/Q and A session. A brief, award
winning video about allyship and youth in systems of care
will be screened.
Loralee Gillis, Research and Policy Coordinator, Rainbow
Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario;
Margaret Robinson, Mi’kmaq Scholar, Lennox Island First
Nation, Researcher in Residence, Indigenous Health,
Ontario HIV Treatment Network, Affiliate Research
Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health,
Toronto, Ontario
Many researchers struggle with the perennial question
of how to get people -- community members, service
providers, policy makers -- to pay attention to their
research. In our ever evolving digital age, traditional
methods of knowledge dissemination are not effective
if you want to reach a broader audience. Academics
are being challenged to learn and use new methods
of communication which may be unfamiliar and
technologically challenging. The Re:Searching LGBTQ
health team and Rainbow Health Ontario have been
conducting research on bisexual health together since
2006. In that time we have created two major campaigns
to share the findings from our work: a poster campaign
and a video campaign. Both initiatives were highly
successful and garnered much attention in social and
print media. In our session we will share the process
we undertook to: (1) identify opportunities for creating
change, (2) create accessible and interesting products
that appeal to diverse audiences, and (3) engage
audiences through social media. During our session we
will share the resources we developed and screen the
34
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
videos. Our videos and posters were created to respond
to issues that continually arose in our research and
generally caused stress in the lives of our participants.
During our presentation we will share data we are
collecting to evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives.
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
Bring your questions, ideas, comments and thoughts, and
we’ll develop a plan for action! Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss significant health challenges faced by gender
diverse young people, and review research that
connects affirmation to positive health outcomes.
2. Equip practitioners to provide gender diverse young
people and their families with adequate and accurate
information to promote safety and wellbeing for
gender non-conformers at home, at school, in health
care settings and in the community.
1. Learn how to identify key messages from research.
2. Learn how to develop knowledge translation products
that resonate with diverse audiences.
3. Learn how to effectively disseminate knowledge
translation products through social media.
3. Explore strategies for providing gender affirming
health care and social services to gender diverse
and trans young people, including an exploration of
take away tools including language glossaries, policy
recommendations, training tools, and suggestions for
gender inclusive forms, spaces and practices.
W22: (3)PM
Format: Workshop
Affirming Their Place:
Research and Practice to Support
Gender Diverse Children in Families,
Schools and Health Contexts W23: (3)PM
Format: Workshop
Integrative Medicine: integrating
eastern medicines and western
biomedical health care for optimal
health
Presenters:
Kathy Witterick, Writer & Violence Prevention Consultant,
Facilitator, The 519, Toronto, Ontario;
Ilana David, Social Worker, Gender-Based Violence
Prevention Office, Toronto District School Board,
Toronto, Ontario;
Recent affirmation research identifies families, schools
and health contexts as critical to promoting the health
of gender diverse young people. Supporting all people
to live in their felt gender improves their health and
wellbeing, which makes provision of gender affirming
services an important aspect of delivering adequate,
quality heath care to children and youth. Come to this
interactive session to discuss and acquire knowledge
and skills to support families and promote safety and
wellbeing for gender non conformers at home, at school,
in health care settings, in the community and in every
social and service context that youth engage with. We’ll
look at research that connects affirmation to positive
health outcomes, and the reduction of negative health
challenges faced by many gender diverse and trans
young people. The session will also include personal and
professional narrative and experience from the perspective
of a parent, social worker, community activist and
facilitator. There will be discussion, interactive activities,
and group work, to identify effective tools like language
glossaries, policy recommendations, and gender inclusive
practices. Implementing these strategies could save lives
and most certainly will improve the health of young people.
35
Presenter:
Devan Nambiar, MSc, Integrated Health Care,
Education & Training Coordinator, Rainbow Health
Ontario, Toronto, Ontario
Canadians have been integrating various complementary
and alternative medicines (CAM) into personal health
care practices to treat the whole person. CAM has been
researched to treat “pain, stress related condition, living
with HIV and addictions” (Singer & Adams, 2014). LGBTQ
persons have been exploring and using various CAM
modalities to gain and maintain health, however, there
is little research on best practices of CAM. Consumers
have to be knowledgeable of efficacy, potency, placebo,
red flags, drug interactions, and pharmacokinetics of
herbs and non-prescriptions medicines/CAM when
mixed with prescription drugs. This session will provide
clear guidelines and evidence on how to assess CAM
and get your money’s worth. This workshop will explore
the integration and practices of CAM within a western
biomedical framework. The session will provide theory
and practices of various CAM as per eastern practices
and materia medica. The workshop will examine
herbs and drug interactions, peak and trough and
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
pharmacokinetics of herbs. We will explore acupressure
vs. acupuncture and understanding of meridian points
and energy flow. Thirdly we will explore the connection
of breath to meditation and to mindful meditation and
practices. Lastly we will explore Yoga as taught in India
vs. western yoga , Pantajali yoga sutras, Astanga eight
limb yoga goals, hatha yoga Pradipika, mantras, tantras,
chakras, prana, pranayama and mudras. Participants will
learn to practice acupressure, meditation techniques,
breath work as in pranayama and core yoga practices to
gain Sat-chit-anada (being-consciousness and bliss).
1. Learn of complementary and alternative medicines
modalities, use, practice and intake.
2. Integrate complementary and alternative medicines in
daily use for mind-body health.
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
W24: (3)PM
Format: Workshop
STD Prevention for Lesbians:
How to Prevent STDs
While Having Fun
Presenters:
Marjolaine Landry, Case Worker, Centre de solidarité
lesbienne, Montreal, Quebec;
Audrey Trilène, Community Worker, Centre de solidarité
lesbienne [Centre for Lesbian Solidarity], Montreal,
Quebec
3. Understand various best practices of complementary
and alternative medicines in the context of western
biomedical/allopathic medicine.
Health practitioners are unfamiliar with STDs in
lesbians. Many lesbians report that their doctors say
little or nothing about the risks involved in failing to take
preventative steps. However, they are at risk. So how can
they protect themselves without making a big deal of it?
W24: (3)PM
Forme: atelier
La prévention des ITSS ches les
lesbiennes: comment les prévenir tout
en s’anusant
1. Find out about the difficulties lesbians experience in
getting information on protecting themselves from STDs.
2. Become aware of the different STDs that can be
contracted by lesbians.
3. Learn ways in which lesbians can protect themselves.
Présentatrices :
Marjolaine Landry, intervenante, Centre de solidarité
lesbienne, Montéal, Québec;
Audrey Trilène, Intervenante, Centre de solidarité
lesbienne, Montréal, Québec
Les ITSS chez les lesbiennes sont méconnues par notre
système de santé. Plusieurs lesbiennes nous affirmes
que les médecins leurs parlent peu ou pas des risques
qu’elles peuvent encourir si elles ne se protègent pas.
Pourtant, elles sont à risque alors comment se protéger
sans dramatiser.
1. Apprendre les difficultés d’obtenir de l’information
qu’ont les lesbiennes concernant leur protection
contre les ITSS.
2. Connaître les différentes ITSS que peuvent contracter
les lesbiennes.
3. Apprendre à faire leur moyen de protection.
36
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
LONDON LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL & RECEPTION
7:30 PM
SHE’S BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE’S ANGRY
factions of women’s liberation; from intellectuals like
Kate Millett to the street theatrics of W.I.T.C.H. (Women’s
International Conspiracy from Hell!). Artfully combining
dramatizations, performance and archival imagery, the
film recounts the stories of women who fought for their
own equality, and in the process created a world-wide
revolution. Mary Dore, Director/ Producer
Nancy Kennedy, Editor/ Producer
Pamela Tanner Boll, Executive Producer
Elizabeth Driehaus, Executive Producer
Abigail Disney, Co-Producer
In partnership with the London Lesbian Film Festival, we
are offering a free event to attendees of the RHO 2016
Conference: a special screening of the award-winning
documentary film She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry. SHE’S BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE’S ANGRY resurrects
the history of the outrageous, often brilliant women who
founded the modern women’s movement from 1966 to
1971. It takes us from the founding of NOW, with ladies
in hats and gloves, to the emergence of more radical
The film does not shy away from the controversies over
race, sexual preference and leadership that arose in the
women’s movement.
We invite all conference attendees to join us for the
screening of this film about activists working to change
the world.
Cash Bar (including non-alcoholic beverages) and
film-night snacks free of charge.
25 years of curating and
presenting films made for
queer women.
London Lesbian
Film Festival
April 15, 16, 17, 2016
For tickets or more information
please go to www.llff.ca
37
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Full Day Schedule
Thursday March 10th is “Clinical Highlights Day” with plenary speakers, practice innovations and
research soundbytes designed for physicians, nurses, psychotherapists, and other clinicians.
There will also be general interest, non-clinical content available.
Le jeudi, 10 mars est une « Journée clinique » avec une séance plénière, des pratiques innovantes
et des segments de recherche ciblant les médecins, infirmier-ère-s, psychothérapeutes et autres
clinicien-ne-s. D’autres sessions d’intérêt général seront aussi au programme.
7:45 – 8:30 am
Breakfast
8:00 am – 5:00 pm Exhibits
8:00 – 9:00 am Facilitated Caucus Meetings:
(2) LGBTQ Youth and Tobacco Provincial Caucus
9:00 – 10:30 am PLENARY: (Simultaneous Translation provided)
(1) Access to Gender Affirming Surgeries
LGBTQ Health Matters: Service Providers as Leaders
SÉANCE PLÉNIÈRE : (service de traduction simultanée au besoin)
Questions de santé LGBTQ : les fournisseurs en tant que chefs de file
10:30 – 11:00 am Refreshment Break & Exhibits
Concurrent Sessions
1:30 – 2:00 pm
Poster Presentations - Authors Present
3:30 – 3:45 pm Refreshment Break & Exhibits
5:30 - 7:00 pm
Queering Home Care (Informal social gathering with refreshments)
11:00 am – 12:30 pm 12:30 – 1:30 pm Full Day Conference
B E C A U S E
Lunch & Exhibits
OPENING PLENARY/SÉANCE PLÉNIÈRE D’OUVERTURE 9:00 – 10:30 AM LGBTQ Health Matters: Service Providers as Leaders
On Clinical Highlights Day, our plenary session will feature four service providers from rural, northern
small town and urban areas of the province. Representing the disciplines of medicine, nursing, health
promotion and mental health counselling, each of our panelists is recognized for their knowledge,
skills and outstanding commitment to LGBTQ health.
As practitioners, they will speak about what drew them into their work with LGBTQ communities
and how they serve their patients and clients. From their diverse and personal perspectives, they
will share with us why LGBTQ health is important to them and what has driven them to become the
leaders that they are today. We invite you to take home some inspiration from this powerhouse panel.
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Panelists:
Carys Massarella, MD, FRCPC, is an attending
emergency physician at St.Joseph’s Health care
in Hamilton and is also the lead physician for the
Transgender Care Program at Quest Community Health
Centre in St. Catharines. Dr. Massarella sees and treats
transgender identified clients of all ages and is a leading
expert in transgender care in Ontario. She teaches at
the Degroote School of Medicine and is an Assistant
Clinical Professor there. Dr. Massarella lectures widely on
transgender health care and has also done a TEDx talk
on “The Depathologization of Trans Identity”. She recently
appeared at TEDx Hamilton where she presented
“The False Narrative of Deception”. Dr. Massarella
also appeared in the CBC doc zone documentary
“Transforming Gender”. She was the first transgendered
person to be a President of a large teaching hospital
medical staff anywhere in the world and was named one
of the World’s 50 Transgender icons by the Huffington
Post. She also sits on the gender advisory committee for
gender independent children for Rainbow Health Ontario,
is a member of WPATH and was recently appointed to
the board of CPATH.
Sue Hranilovic, MN, NP-PHC, ACRN, considers
herself an “old nurse” and a “newer nurse practitioner”.
As a Masters-prepared Primary Health Care Nurse
Practitioner and an AIDS Certified Nurse, Sue has
provided hospital, community and primary health care in
Toronto’s inner city for over 25 years. Her practice has
included patients living with HIV, those injecting drugs
and those on methadone maintenance, transgender
patients, patients with mental health issues and those
infected with hepatitis C. She has a commitment to
continuing involvement in professional development
and community-based volunteer activities which have
included Board of Directors positions for the Canadian
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, the Ontario HIV
Treatment Network and Fife House Foundation. Sue is
proud to have been one of the founding members of
the Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment and to
have participated in volunteer nursing in Zimbabwe. She
has done over 60 presentations to colleagues, patients
and community and has received ten awards related
to excellence in academia and clinical care. Sue’s
high level of expertise and commitment to working with
diverse, marginalized, stigmatized, at-risk and vulnerable
populations has served her both locally and internationally,
and she hopes to continue nurturing the resilience of the
clients she walks with, learns from and serves.
Sharp Dopler is of Sauk/Fox, Cherokee and Irish
descent and has worked on LGBTT2SQA issues
professionally and personally since coming out around
1983. Sharp has extensive experience as a presenter
including presentations at National and International
gatherings. Sharp serves the Indigenous community as
a traditional Helper to the Elders in ceremony and enjoys
sharing the gift of the drum. Sharp has a Master’s Degree
in Canadian Studies and an honours diploma in Social
Service Work. Sharp also holds a second Dan (or 2nd
degree) Black Belt in Taekwon Do.
Betsy Martin is a queer mother, grandmother, and
great grandmother who lives in Kaministiquia, a rural
community north of Thunder Bay. Betsy was raised in
the Mennonite community where she did not have any
exposure to “gay people”. She quit school and left home
at a young age, and aside from parenting she spent
the first half of her life as a physical labourer. Betsy
later completed her HBSW at Lakehead University, and
has been a social worker in the north for the past 25
years. During the 90’s she worked in a women’s shelter
providing groups and services for adult survivor’s of child
sexual abuse. She spent several years in another small
program that worked with First Nations residential school
survivors. She has been working with Children’s Centre
Thunder Bay, a local children’s mental health agency
for the past 15 years. The bulk of Betsy’s work has been
assisting children and families who have been affected
by violence, bereavement, and trauma. Betsy is also a
co-facilitator for The Other 10% - a youth group for kids
who identify as LGBTTQ, and are often struggling with
identity, isolation, and minority stress. She had her first
opportunity to work with Rainbow Health Ontario several
years ago as a member of the advisory committee for the
gender independent children’s project. Two beliefs that
guide my own work are an understanding of the capacity
of the human spirit to “become whole” under adverse
circumstances, and an understanding of the role that
community plays in nurturing and advocating for each
other, resisting violence together, and creating healthy
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Questions de santé LGBTQ :
les fournisseurs en tant que chefs de file
Dans le cadre de la journée consacrée aux faits saillants du domaine clinique, notre séance plénière mettra en
vedette quatre fournisseurs de services de milieux ruraux, de petites villes du Nord ou de milieux urbains de
la province. Représentant les secteurs de la médecine, des soins infirmiers, de la promotion de la santé et du
counselling en santé mentale, nos panellistes sont reconnus pour leur savoir, leurs compétences et leur engagement
exceptionnel pour la santé LGBTQ. En tant que praticiens, ils parleront de ce qui les a amenés à diriger leur
pratique vers les communautés LGBTQ et de leur façon de servir patients et clients. À partir de leurs perspectives
individuelles et variées, ils nous expliqueront pourquoi la santé LGBTQ est si importante pour eux et nous diront
ce qui les a motivés à devenir les chefs de file qu’ils sont aujourd’hui. Nous vous invitons à ramener chez vous
quelques-uns des propos inspirants de ces experts de premier plan.
Les panélistes :
Carys Massarella, MD, FRCPC, est urgentiste et
médecin traitant au St.Joseph’s Health Care Hamilton et
est aussi médecin-chef du Transgender Care Program
(programme de soins aux personnes transgenres) du
Centre de santé communautaire Quest de St. Catharines.
La Dre Massarella rencontre et traite la clientèle qui
s’identifie comme transgenre de tous âges; elle est aussi
une experte de premier plan en soins aux personnes
transgenres en Ontario. Elle enseigne à la Degroote
School of Medicine, où elle est professeure adjointe en
clinique. La Dre Massarella prononce régulièrement
des conférences sur les soins de santé aux personnes
transgenres et elle a aussi livré une conférence TED sur
la « dépathologisation » de l’identité trans. Récemment,
elle est montée en tribune lors des conférences TEDx,
pour une présentation intitulée The False Narrative of
Deception (La représentation faussée de la déception).
La Dre Massarella a aussi participé au documentaire
Transforming Gender, diffusé dans le cadre de l’émission
Doc Zone du réseau CBC. Mme Massarella est la première
personne transgenre au monde à occuper un poste de
présidence au sein d’un grand établissement hospitalier
universitaire. Elle a été choisie parmi les 50 personnalités
transgenres les plus influentes au monde par le Huffington
Post. Elle siège au comité consultatif sur les enfants de
genre indépendant de Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario, est
membre de la WPATH et a été récemment nommée au
conseil d’administration de la CPATH.
Sue Hranilovic, MSc, inf., IP – soins primaires, IP
– soins du SIDA, se considère comme une « vieille »
infirmière et comme une « nouvelle infirmière
praticienne ». En tant qu’infirmière praticienne
spécialisée en soins primaires titulaire d’une maîtrise, elle
offre des soins en milieu hospitalier et communautaire
et des soins primaires à Toronto depuis plus de 25 ans.
Dans le cadre de sa pratique, elle a pris en charge des
personnes vivant avec le VIH, des personnes utilisatrices
de drogues injectables ou en traitement d’entretien à
la méthadone, des patients transgenres, aux prises
avec des problèmes de santé mentale ou atteintes
de l’hépatite C. Mme Hranilovic travaille en continu
en développement professionnel et à des activités
communautaires bénévoles. Elle a notamment siégé aux
conseils d’administration de la Canadian Association of
Nurses in AIDS Care, de l’Ontario HIV Treatment Network
et de la Fife House Foundation. Sue Hranilovic est fière
de faire partie des membres fondateurs du Committee for
Accessible AIDS Treatment, et d’avoir travaillé comme
infirmière bénévole au Zimbabwe. Elle a effectué plus de
60 présentations à des collègues, des patients et dans
des communautés, et elle a reçu 10 prix d’excellence
dans le domaine universitaire et des soins cliniques. Son
degré d’expertise élevé et son engagement à travailler
auprès des personnes marginalisées, stigmatisées,
vulnérables et à risque l’ont motivée tant à l’échelle locale
qu’à l’échelle internationale, et elle espère continuer à
favoriser la résilience des personnes qu’elle sert, auprès
de qui elle chemine et qui lui permettent de poursuivre
son apprentissage.
Sharp Dopler dont l’origine autochtone descendante
des Sauk-Fox et des Cherokees se mêle à du sang
irlandais, porte un intérêt professionnel et personnel aux
questions LGBBTTQA depuis l’affirmation de son identité,
vers 1983. Sharp possède une vaste expérience de
présentateur et est monté en tribune à maintes reprises
lors d’événements nationaux et internationaux. Sharp
travaille auprès des communautés autochtones en tant
qu’aide traditionnel aux aînés lors de cérémonies et
aime partager sa passion pour le tambour. Sharp est
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titulaire d’une maîtrise en études canadiennes et d’un
baccalauréat spécialisé en assistance sociale. Sharp est
également ceinture noire 2e Dan en taekwondo.
Betsy Martin est queer, mère et grand-mère. Elle
vit à Kaministiquia, une petite communauté rurale au
nord de Thunder Bay. Betsy Martin a grandi dans
une communauté mennonite, où elle n’a jamais eu de
contact avec des « personnes gaies ». Elle a cessé de
fréquenter l’école et quitté le foyer familial très jeune.
En plus d’être parent, elle a passé la première partie
de sa vie comme travailleuse manuelle. Plus tard, elle
a obtenu un baccalauréat spécialisé en travail social à
l’Université Lakehead, puis elle a œuvré en travail social
dans le Nord au cours des 25 dernières années. Au
cours des années 1990, elle a travaillé dans une maison
d’hébergement pour femmes, où elle offrait des services
individuels et de groupe aux adultes ayant subi des
agressions sexuelles dans leur enfance. Betsy Martin a
passé plusieurs années comme travailleuse au sein d’un
programme de plus petite envergure visant à aider les
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membres des Premières Nations qui ont vécu dans les
pensionnats autochtones. Au cours des 15 dernières
années, elle a travaillé au Children’s Centre Thunder
Bay, un organisme local de santé mentale pour enfants.
La majeure partie de son travail consiste à aider les
familles et les enfants touchés par la violence, un deuil
ou un traumatisme. Mme Martin est aussi coanimatrice
du groupement The Other 10 %, un groupe destiné
aux jeunes qui se désignent comme LGBTTQ et qui
sont souvent confrontés à des problèmes d’identité,
d’isolement et de stress associés à leur statut de minorité.
Elle a travaillé pour la première fois avec Santé arc-enciel Ontario il y a plusieurs années, en tant que membre
de son comité consultatif pour le projet pour les enfants
de genre indépendant. Son travail s’appuie sur deux
croyances : comprendre la capacité de l’esprit humain à
« ne faire qu’un » dans l’adversité et comprendre le rôle
de la communauté pour permettre à ses membres de se
nourrir les uns les autres et de défendre leurs droits, de
résister à la violence et de créer des espaces de vie plus
sains.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
T1: AM
11 : 0 0 A M - 1 2 : 3 0 P M
health focuses on negative identity experiences and
poor outcomes, and often excludes bisexual people
or lumps them in together with gay/lesbian people. In
this presentation, we report experiences that young
(18 to 30 year old) bisexual and other non-monosexual
people (i.e., those attracted to more than one gender)
perceive as positively affirming of their sexual identity.
A 28-day, daily diary study was used to investigate
whether bisexual and other non-monosexual participants
encountered positive experiences related to their sexual
identity, and which type of experiences they perceived
to be positive. Using a constructivist grounded theory
approach, participants’ experiences were organized
according to a social ecological model. Experiences
were reported at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and
social-structural/institutional levels, but most positive
sexual identity experiences occurred at the interpersonal
level. By understanding more about what bisexual and
other non-monosexual people perceive as positive daily
experiences, we can learn more about what it means
to thrive as a bisexual or non-monosexual person. This
presentation will be relevant to LGBTQ community
members broadly, researchers, and service providers.
We will discuss implications for positive well-being
research, the integration of positive psychology with
1. Positive Identity Experiences of
Bisexual and Other Non-Monosexual
People
Presenters:
Corey E. Flanders, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow,
Re:searching for LGBTQ Health Team, Toronto,
Ontario;
Margaret Robinson, PhD, Researcher in Residence,
Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN), Associate
Research Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health, Member, Re:searching for LGBTQ Health
Team, Toronto, Ontario;
Melissa L. Legge, MSW, PhD Student, School of Social
Work, McMaster University, Member, Re:searching for
LGBTQ Health Team, Hamilton, Ontario
The majority of LGBTQ psychological research
focuses on psychological dysfunction. The exclusion
of strengths-based perspectives in LGBTQ psychology
limits the understanding of overall LGBTQ mental
health. Likewise, much of the research on LGBTQ
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LGBTQ psychology, and strategize ways in which to
foster (and support) positive identity for bisexual and
other non-monosexual people.
2. Learn about the community-based approach used to
develop the measure.
1. Learn about the positive identity experiences of
bisexual and other non-monosexual people from a
recently conducted study.
2. Think about the benefits of using a positive psychology
approach to explore bisexual and LGBTQ people’s
experiences and health broadly.
3. Identify strategies to foster (and support) the positive
identity experiences of bisexual and other nonmonosexual people.
2. Microaggression & Microaffirmation
Among Non-monosexual Women
Co-Presenters:
Corey Flanders, Postdoctoral Researcher, Re:searching
for LGBTQ Health Team, Dalla Lana School of Public
Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario;
Margaret Robinson, PhD, Researcher in Residence,
Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN), Associate
Research Scientist, Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health, Member, Re:searching for LGBTQ Health Team,
Toronto, Ontario
Bisexual and other non-monosexual women (e.g.,
pansexual, fluid) report experiencing common and
subtle moments of stigma (called microaggressions)
as well as common and subtle moments of support
(called microaffirmation). Research indicates that
experiences of microaggression and microaffirmation
have an important impact on the health of sexual minority
people. Despite this, research has been hampered by
a lack of ways to measure these experiences, and to
determine how they are related to health of bisexual and
other non-monosexual women. This research soundbyte
will share details about the creation and testing of a
microaggression and microaffirmation survey measure
designed for use with bisexual and other non-monosexual
women. The presenters developed a community-based
research project to develop this innovative survey based
on the lived experiences of bisexual and non-monosexual
women. This presentation will include the developed
questionnaire in addition to the results from a qualitative
focus group study and a large scale quantitative survey
study. Recommendations will be made regarding how
researchers and health practitioners can incorporate the
new measure into their own work.
1. Learn about the new measure of microaggressions and microaffirmations and how to use it.
3. Learn about the impact of microaggression and
microaffirmation to the health of bisexual and nonmonosexual women, and how these experiences may
be different for non-monosexual women in comparison
to other LGBTQ people.
3. The ‘Queer Women Conversations’
Group-based HIV and STI Prevention
Intervention for Lesbian, Bisexual,
Queer and Other Women Who Have
Sex With Women in Toronto and
Calgary, Canada: Results From a Non-randomized Cohort Pilot Study
Presenters:
Carmen Logie, PhD, Assistant Professor, FactorInwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto,
Adjunct Scientist, Women’s College Research Institute,
Toronto, Ontario;
Ashley Lacombe-Duncan, PhD Student, FactorInwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto,
Toronto, Ontario
Lesbian, bisexual, queer (LBQ) women and other women
who have sex with women (WSW) are vulnerable to
sexually transmitted infections (STI), including HIV. Yet
structural drivers of HIV/STI among WSW, such as sexual
stigma, are underexplored. Scant research has evaluated
HIV/STI prevention interventions among this population.
The Queer Women Conversations (QWC) study pilot
tested a group-based HIV/STI prevention intervention with
WSW in Toronto and Calgary, Canada. We conducted a
multicentre, non-randomised pragmatic cohort pilot study
using a pre-test/post-test design with 6-week followup. The intervention was developed in collaboration
with community-based organizations in Calgary and
Toronto, informed by key informant interviews (n=6), and
theoretically grounded in the social ecological model.
The primary outcome was sexual risk practices, and
secondary outcomes included intrapersonal (self-esteem,
STI knowledge, resilient coping), interpersonal (safer
sex self-efficacy), social (community connectedness,
social support) and structural (sexual stigma, health care
access) factors. Results and conclusions will be shared
during the session.
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2. Learn about Queer Women Conversations, a groupbased STI prevention intervention that is tailored
for the needs of LBQ women and addresses social
factors, such as stigma, and interpersonal factors,
such as relationship dynamics, associated with STI
vulnerability.
2. Increase knowledge of the barriers that LGBTQ
communities experience in accessing cancer
screening.
1. Describe the social and structural factors that
influence sexually transmitted infections (STI) risk
among lesbian, bisexual and queer (LBQ) women.
3. Learn about STI prevention needs, and how to
address sexual health in a way that is inclusive of
individual, social and structural vulnerabilities, among
LBQ women.
1. Learn LGBTQ terms and definitions to better
understand the diversity of LGBTQ communities and
have a language with which to speak to patients.
Learn practices to create more inclusive health care
environments.
3. Gain knowledge about LGBTQ cancer screening,
including new information transgender screening.
T3: AM
Format: Workshop
T2: AM
Trans Migration
LGBTQ Populations and Cancer
Screening
Kusha Dadui, Trans Program Coordinator, Sherbourne
Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Format: Seminar
Presenter:
Ed Kucharski, MD, Regional Primary Care Lead (Toronto
Central LHIN South), Cancer Care Ontario, Family
Physician, Sherbourne Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario
LGBTQ people are less likely to participate in regular
colon, breast/chest and cervical cancer screenings than
their heterosexual and non-transgender counterparts.
This, despite the fact that LGBTQ communities
experience additional risk factors for some of these
cancers including higher rates of alcohol and tobacco
use. LGBTQ people experience numerous communityspecific barriers in accessing these screenings including:
discomfort arising from the highly gendered nature of
these tests; a lack of knowledge or sensitivity from health
care providers about their particular needs; systemic
barriers in accessing reminder letters and self-referrals;
health promotion messages that do not speak to their
realities; a fear of or experience of a “chilly climate” in
screening centres or doctor’s offices due to their sexual
orientation, gender identity or gender expression In this
workshop, participants will learn: LGBTQ terms and
definitions; LGBTQ cancer screening issues and barriers;
How to create a welcoming and inclusive environment
for LGBTQ clients; how to provide culturally and clinically
competent cancer screenings for LGBTQ clients;
new information about transgender cancer screening;
practical methods to incorporate this knowledge into
practice. Hands-on case studies will be reviewed in
small groups to incorporate LGBTQ cultural competency
supportive and useful.
Presenter:
This is a presentation to describe the barriers that the trans
community faces as migrants and refugees. The lack of
knowledge and understanding of trans bodies of color is
impacting this particular community. I have sat in refugee
hearings with trans refugees who have had to explain what
trans means and explain their gender identity and bodies
over and over. This is not acceptable and one of the
main reasons is because of issues around identification
documents and the difficulty of getting these documents
from governments even if there are no legal issues. Many
times the presentation of the person and the gender
identity on identification does not match and that creates
many problems, including incarceration at borders.
Access to health care, shelters and essential needs can
also be very difficult for trans refugees and non-status
trans identified people. Many times the immigration officers
at the border with very little knowledge about trans identity
is the first person that trans refugees come out to as trans
to claim refuge. After that, there are many barriers to face
often including housing and shelter issues.
1. Bring knowledge and awareness around barriers for
trans refugees and migrants and the impact of this
on the mental health and the general health of trans
newcomers.
2. Brain storm and work towards dismantling these
barriers and centre the voices of trans community of
colour.
3. Think differently about provision of service and their
role in a system that is oppressive.
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T4: AM
Format: Workshop
“I Felt Like Fainting”: What Happens to
Bodies When Gender is Transgressed
at School
Presenter:
Karleen Pendleton Jiménez, Associate Professor,
Education, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario
“I felt like fainting” was written in shaky words by a grade
four student describing how boys at his school were
laughed at for participating in choir. This declaration is
part of the data I collected in a two-year study of gender
and gender transgression in school children and youth in
rural Ontario. I taught gender equity workshops to grades
4-12 students in which I asked participants to document
what gender looked and felt like in their communities.
Through writing prompts, pictures, discussion, and
theatre the roughly 600 participants had the opportunity
to describe gender, as well as responses to perceived
transgressions of gender. During this presentation I will
focus on the responses that reference bodily experience.
I will present qualitative data (writing and images) that
articulate a range of physical and emotional reactions
to perceptions of gender. I will situate their responses
within the theories of biopedagogies and body becoming
pedagogies that encourage critical investigation of
the ways in which social response and treatment of
bodies influence their shape, appearance, and abilities.
In addition to presenting what the children and youth
document, I will also offer session participants a gender
workshop like those I conducted in my study, offering
more meaningful learning for conference participants, as
well as a workshop format that they can take away and
use in their own communities. Educators might use the
results to rethink curricular and policy design. Healthcare professionals would be drawn to the implications for
student health, particularly when students are identified
and targeted for possessing alternative gender identity
and/or expression. Mental health professionals would
be most interested in students’ expressions of emotion
as tied to perceptions of gender. In addition, I will share
the students’ explanations of what types of experiences
constituted harm and which were experienced as
supportive and useful.
1. Greater understanding of the types of gender coercion
that students endure in schools.
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2. Learning how responses to gender affect students’
physical and emotional wellbeing.
3. Learning how to create a gender workshop that
encourages participation and critical investigation.
T5: AM
Format: Seminar
Applying the Men’s Trauma Recovery
and Empowerment Model to
Transgender and Cisgender Queer
Male Trauma Survivors
Presenters:
Peter Hall, Registered Psychotherapist, Canadian
Certified Counsellor, Canadian Certified Counsellor—
Supervisor, LGBT Team, Sherbourne Health Centre,
Associate Faculty Member, Yorkville University, Adjunct
Instructor, University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash
Faculty of Social Work, Toronto, Ontario;
Daniel Pugh, BSW, MSW, RSW, LGBT Team,
Sherbourne Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario
The Men’s Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model
(M-TREM, 2001) was adapted from W-TREM, a model
for female trauma survivors (Harris, 1998). It has been
effectively implemented in Washington, D.C. since then.
M-TREM is an empirically-based, psychoeducational and
skills-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) group
divided into four parts: Empowerment, Trauma Recovery,
Advanced Trauma Recovery Issues and Closing Rituals.
The early focus on empowerment addresses some key
skills (e.g., self-protection, self-soothing, self-esteem,
maintaining appropriate emotional and social boundaries)
helpful to participants as they begin to deal more directly
with trauma-specific content, and lay the foundation for
the challenging work of trauma recovery. Subsequent
emphasis on trauma, positive coping skills and healing
builds on these empowerment themes. At Sherbourne
Health Centre in Toronto, we applied this model to 12
trans and cisgender (non-trans) queer (gay or bisexual)
male trauma survivors. Our pilot group consisted of
25 two-hour sessions. One facilitator (presenter) is a
registered psychotherapist, the other a registered clinical
social worker – both identify as cis gay men. Note: the
group was originally co-developed with the work of
Rupert Raj (psychotherapist, transman) who has since
retired. The group members consisted of 4 transgender
men and 8 cisgender queer men. The group dynamics
of our pilot are noteworthy given that this is a rare male
trauma group which is trans-inclusive, bringing together
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both trans and non-trans (queer) men. Whereas abuse is
common to both sub-populations, the assigned birth sex
and subsequent early childhood experiences differ, and
these commonalities and distinctions are negotiated and
navigated amongst the participants over the course of the
25-week life cycle of the group.
1. Discuss ways in which trauma variously impacts trans
and cisgender men.
2. Determine whether it is feasible to implement the
M-TREM intervention model into programming
involving trans and cisgender male trauma survivors.
3. Discuss ways in which the M-TREM intervention
contributes to the health and wellness of GBT men.
T6: AM
Format: Seminar
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reality. It will look at the role and significance of this
specialized service delivery model in supporting the
well-being of LGBTQ2S youth and preparing them for
independent housing by describing the processes the
City of Toronto undertook to identify service needs, foster
partnerships and support project development. The
presentation will also share the early project outcomes,
and the key challenges and opportunities when planning
for, opening and delivering a tailor-made service that
supports LGBTQ2S youth to leave homelessness for good.
1 Gain a better understanding of the unique health
and wellness issues facing LGBTQ2S youth who are
homeless.
2. Gain a better understanding of how a large
municipality such as the City of Toronto assesses
and subsequently addresses the needs of its most
vulnerable residents.
Canada’s First LGBTQ2S
Transition-to-Housing Shelter:
The Toronto Experience
3. Identify the ways in which a partnership between local
government and the non-profit sector can leverage the
strengths of each to result in strengthened outcomes
and improved well-being for vulnerable individuals.
Presenters:
T7: AM
Alexandra Vamos, Policy Development Officer, City of
Toronto Shelter, Support and Housing Administration,
Toronto, Ontario;
Kate Miller, Director, YMCA Sprott House, Toronto,
Ontario;
Ronnie Ali, MA, Counsellor, Egale Youth Outreach,
Toronto, Ontario
Canada’s first LGBTQ2S Transition-to-Housing youth
shelter opened in Toronto in 2015, responding to
the critical need for LGBTQ2S youth experiencing
homelessness to have access to safe shelter spaces
and specialized services. The City of Toronto began
to better understand the intersection of LGBTQ2S
self-identification and homelessness as a result of the
2013 Street Needs Assessment, which included, for
the first time, a question about identification with the
LGBTQ2S community. For the first time, there was
clear and quantifiable evidence that there was an
over-representation of LGBTQ2S youth in the city’s
shelter system, and, as such, the need to better address
LGBTQ2S-specific needs. This presentation will tell the
story of this important initiative to address the complex
needs of homeless LGBTQ2S youth in Toronto. It will
explore the roles that advocacy, community engagement,
and political interest have played in shaping this unique
Transition-to-Housing shelter model and making it a
Format: Workshop
Building Positive Space in Primary
Care for LGBTQ Patients and Providers
Moderator:
Sabrena Dorris, BSc, MA, Communications/Operations
Manager, Hamilton Family Health Team (HFHT),
Hamilton, Ontario
Presenters:
Rob Kerr, MD, CCF(EM), FRCP, Family Physician,
Member, Hamilton Family Health Team (HFHT),Chair,
HFHT’s Positive Space Committee (HFHT Positive),
Hamilton, Ontario;
Devan Nambiar, Dipl. Addictions Ed, MSc, PhD (c),
Education & Training Coordinator, Rainbow Health
Ontario, Toronto, Ontario;
Jackie Bootsma, MSW, RSW, Mental Health Counsellor,
HFHT, Hamilton, Ontario;
Ken Burgess, MD, Family Physician, HFHT;
Dawn Atwell, Practice Manager, HFHT, Hamilton, Ontario
The Hamilton Family Health Team is made up of
approximately 165 family physicians and their primary
care teams. We are committed to inclusion and access
45
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
for all citizens of Hamilton. The HFHT Positive Working
Group was formed in 2012 to discuss ways to create a
more LBGTQ friendly organization for our patients and for
our providers. This initiative has employed strategies to
increase access and create a “positive space”. A report
released by the Social Planning and Research Council
of Hamilton found that only 57% of LGBTQ-identified
respondents were out to their family physician. The
isolation experienced by LGBTQ people can lead to a
higher rate of alcohol and drug use, smoking, mental
health issues and suicide (Peterkin and Risdon, 2003).
Some members of the LGBTQ community may be
reluctant to enroll with a family practice, or disclose
certain aspects of their personal history unless they are
certain that they will be completely welcome. Creating a
safe and LGBTQ-friendly environment for both patients
and providers aligns with our quality improvement goals
of population health approaches to increase health
equity. Members of the interprofessional HFHT Positive
Working Group will share our journey, strategies utilized,
things that worked and those that didn’t, and future
directions. We will involve participants in considering what
might be done in their organizations and about further
ideas to improve positive space in primary health care.
LGBTQ
health
matters
here.
Our union actively promotes inclusive, appropriate,
positive, universal health care for all Canadians. We are proud to support the efforts of health care
workers and join in your determination to
tackle discrimination, raise awareness and
deliver the quality and equality of care the
LGBTQ community deserves. H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
1. Strategies to increase positive space for patients and
staff in a primary care health organization.
2. Outcomes of the employment of each strategy.
3. Lessons learned and future directions the HFHT is
taking, and future directions participants may want to
take in their own organizations.
T8: AM
Format: Workshop
Visibly Gay and Coming Out Native
Presenter:
Theodore Syrette, 2-Spirited/Queer-Indigenous Artist &
Advocate, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Visibly Gay and & Coming Out Native addresses
intersectionality of multiculturalism, from a
queerindigenous perspective. This interactive
presentation, creates guided dialogue on effects of
racism and homophobia on rural and First Nation
communities, using traditional storytelling and arts
advocacy. This research is based on the question, “what
are the impacts of racism and homophobia/biphobia/
transphobia on queer indigenous and 2-spirited people;
especially youth in rural communities?” Participants are
asked to sit in a sharing circle and introduce themselves:
name, home community, pronoun, and listen to a poem
written by Theodore Syrette, called I Need to Tell You
Something. This piece sets the tone of the conversation,
as it deals with themes of growing up facing cultural
identity crisis, as a First Nation youth, in Northern Ontario.
The facilitator writes the word ‘indigenous’ on a dry erase
board or flip chart. Participants are asked to share what
they know or don’t know about the word ‘indigenous’.
After a few rounds, the cloud is created and group
takes a moment to reflect on their findings. The process
is repeated, with using the word ‘queer’ on a different
piece of paper or dry erase board. Once each cloud is
completed, the facilitator, then breaks down aspects of
intersectionality, between the two cultural groups. This
includes highlighting the needs for these groups, but also
identifying the shared similarities, that other cultures and
groups can empower. And also begin a solid foundation
on further understanding 2-spirited people, and queer
and indigenous relations within Turtle Island/Canada.
unifor.org/pride
1. Brainstorm aspects of chosen cultural groups/
populations.
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O N T A R I O
2. Highlight similarities/differences between two chosen
cultural groups/populations.
3. Identify the intersections between cultural relationships
and impacts of oppression.
T8: AM
Formule: atelier
Visiblement gai tout en affirmant son
identité autochtone
Présentateur :
Theodore Syrette, militant et artiste autochtone queer et
bispirituel, Sault Sainte-Marie, Ontario.
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
ces deux groupes et souligne les similitudes que les
autres cultures et groupes peuvent s’approprier. Il
amorce ainsi l’établissement de bases solides pour une
compréhension plus profonde des relations entre les
personnes bispirituelles, queer et autochtones dans l’Île
de la Tortue/le Canada.
1. Réfléchir, à l’aide d’un remue-méninges, sur les
aspects qui distinguent divers groupes culturels et
populations.
2. Souligner les similitudes et les différences entre deux
groupes culturels et populations donnés.
3. Cerner les points d’intersection entre les relations
culturelles et les conséquences de l’oppression.
L’atelier Visibly Gay and Coming Out Native traite
de l’intersectionnalité du multiculturalisme dans une
perspective queer et autochtone. À l’aide de récits
traditionnels et d’un travail de défense des droits par l’art,
cette présentation interactive ouvre un dialogue balisé
sur les répercussions du racisme et de l’homophobie
dans les collectivités rurales et dans les communautés
des Premières Nations. Cette recherche pose la question
suivante : quelles sont les répercussions du racisme,
de l’homophobie, de la biphobie et de la transphobie
sur les personnes queer autochtones et bispirituelles,
particulièrement pour les jeunes des collectivités rurales?
Au cours de cet atelier, on demandera aux participants
de former un cercle de partage et de se présenter : nom,
communauté où ils habitent et pronom de désignation. Ils
seront ensuite invités à écouter la lecture d’un poème de
Theodore Syrette, intitulé I Need to Tell You Something
(J’ai quelque chose à te dire). Ce poème donnera
le ton aux échanges à suivre, car il parle de grandir
en étant déchiré par une crise d’identité culturelle en
tant que jeune des Premières Nations dans le nord de
l’Ontario. L’animateur de l’atelier écrit d’abord le mot
« indigenous » (indigène) sur un tableau à essuyage
à sec ou sur un tableau-papier. Ils demandent ensuite
aux participants d’échanger sur ce qu’ils savent ou
qu’ils ignorent à propos du terme « indigène ». Après
quelques rondes de prise de parole, un nuage a été
créé et le groupe prend un moment pour réfléchir sur
les propos échangés. On répète le processus, cette
fois avec le mot « queer », écrit sur une autre feuille de
papier ou sur le tableau. Une foi que chaque nuage
est finalisé, l’animateur décortique les divers aspects
de l’intersectionnalité entre les deux groupes culturels.
Il met particulièrement en évidence les besoins de
47
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
POSTER PRESENTATIONS
A. Gender Journeys CMHA HKPR:
From Project to Program
The successes and challenges of creating
and sustaining services to support trans
and gender diverse people, their allies and
communities in rural Ontario
Presenters (Authors):
Jan Tkachuk, M.A., RP, Program Coordinator Gender
Stacey Vetzal, Education and Support Worker, Gender
Journeys CMHA HKPR, Durham Region, Ontario;
Gender Journeys CMHA HKPR, Belleville, Ontario;
Drew Whatman, Education and Support Worker, Gender
Lori Thompson, Education and Support Worker, Gender
Sharon Hagan-Vetzal, Education and Support Worker,
Gender Journeys CMHA HKPR, Durham Region,
Ontario
SEE WEDNESDAY
B. Families in TRANSition Guide
Presenter:
LeeAndra Miller, MA, Registered Psychologist, Pride &
Prejudice Program, Central Toronto Youth Services,
Toronto, Ontario
The Families in TRANSition Guide has been circulated
worldwide since it was released in 2008. This guide has
been utilized by parents and families of Trans* youth,
mental health service providers, primary health care
providers, and Trans* youth themselves. The guide was
written to support caregivers of trans* youth so that in
turn they could support their children. Since the guides
release, the landscape of identities, services and systems
have significantly shifted. This poster presentation is
intended to release the new and improved guide so that
service providers across Ontario can gain awareness of
this important resource. We will highlight excerpts from
the guide, emphasize research that supports the need
for this resource and share the voices of caregivers of
transgender youth.
M A T T E R S
1:30 - 2:00 PM
Authors present
1. Gain knowledge of research that highlights the
importance of providing resources and services
to families of transgender youth, in order to create
positive health outcomes.
2. Learn about the Families in TRANSition Guide and see
the ways in which the guide has been updated and
improved.
3. Read the experiences of caregivers of Trans* youth
and discover what they found to be helpful in the
journey of supporting their child.
C. Mind the Gap: Social Determinants of
Transgender Health Disparities
Presenter:
Maaya Kuri Hitomi, Master’s Student, Applied Social
Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon,
Saskatchewan
SEE WEDNESDAY
D. Work Conditions and Health of LGBTQ
Employees in Taiwan
Presenter:
(Jaden) Hsin-Yun Peng, Case Manager, Taipei City
Employment Services Office, New Taipei City, Taiwan
SEE WEDNESDAY
E. Inequalities in Social Determinants of
Health in the Ontario Trans Population
Presenter:
Rachel Giblon, MSc Candidate, Department of
Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Shulich School of
Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London,
Ontario
SEE WEDNESDAY
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O N T A R I O
F. Brown ‘N Proud: Celebrating Queer
South Asian Men
Ramraajh Sharvendiran, Men’s Sexual Health
Coordinator, Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention
(ASAAP), Toronto, Ontario
Presenter:
Brown N Proud is a fun and powerful campaign from
the Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention that
celebrates South Asian identities, promotes pride within
brown bodies and confidence to navigate how we
connect, hook-up and love. What initially inspired this
campaign were community voices and the Imagine Men’s
Health study (IMHS) results. IMHS was a communitybased study that examined the relationship between
experiences of racism, homophobia, ethno-racial identity,
resilience and risks for body image dissatisfaction, and
associated eating behaviours and attitudes among
ethno-racial men who have sex with men (MSM). Our
communities have already been speaking about their
experiences when exploring the queer community, but
by having a formalized study that further highlights these
narratives, really propelled us forward in taking some
action. Out of the four ethno-racial groups that were
surveyed for the study, South Asians were significantly
more likely to report experiences of racism and social
appearance anxiety. These unique findings demonstrated
how brown faces and bodies are rarely well represented.
With the help of an illustrator and an advisory committee,
four illustrated images were created that show different
online profiles of South Asian men. Using humour,
each profile celebrates the uniqueness of queer brown
men while creatively referencing and challenging the
ignorance that brown men experience within the gay
community. The campaign will be on display for audience
members to see and interact with in the form of a poster
presentation. See campaign: dosti.ca/brownnproud
1. Become informed of challenges that queer South
Asian men face when navigating hooking up within the
queer community.
2. Tools to help foster resilience within queer South Asian
men.
3. Understanding that queer South Asian men are very
diverse and come from a variety of backgrounds and
experiences, don’t fall into a particular archetype, but
share similar cultural experiences.
C O N F E R E N C E
G. Using Peer Educators to Increase
Cancer Screening Rates in LGBTQ
Communities: Findings and
Recommendations
Presenter:
2 0 1 6
Mari LeBlanc, Student, School of Social Work, Ryerson
University, Toronto, Ontario
Research shows that LGBTQ communities are underscreened for colon, breast/chest and cervical cancers,
despite experiencing multiple risk factors for some of
these cancers including higher rates of smoking, obesity
and alcohol use. As a response to this health disparity,
the Canadian Cancer Society developed Get Screened,
initially using a peer-based model to increase awareness
about screening for these cancers amongst LGBTQ
populations in Ontario. While peer-based programs
have shown to be an effective way to increase rates
of cancer screening among ethno-racial populations,
there has been little to no research on how peer-based
approaches may be utilized to increase screening in
LGBTQ communities. A systematic literature review
was conducted on existing interventions using peer
educators to increase health outcomes in LGBTQ
communities. My poster presentation will share results
of this literature review. The poster will feature examples
of effective peer education interventions that increased
health outcomes in LGBTQ communities, a summary of
the use of peer educators in the Get Screened program
and recommendations on how to effectively use peer
education to increase cancer screening rates in LGBTQ
communities. For information on Get Screened, please
visit www.cancer.ca/getscreened and “like” us on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/lgbtqgetscreened.
1. Learn about effective peer education interventions that
increased health outcomes in LGBTQ communities in
the available literature.
2. Understand what the successes and challenges of
using peer educators in the Get Screened program
were.
3. Understand recommendations on how to effectively
use peer educators to increase cancer screening
rates amongst LGBTQ populations.
49
B E C A U S E
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H. Simple Strategies to Include Social and
Health Care Needs of LGBTQ People in
Education of Health Care Professionals
and Nurses
Presenter:
Roya Haghiri-Vijeh, Masters of Nursing, Professor of
Nursing, Centennial College, Bradford, Ontario
Background:
There are several studies that suggest lack of education
for practitioners about the health care needs of LGBTQ
community still exists. The bachelor and diploma
nursing curriculums are condensed and heavy, and the
health care needs of the LGBTQ community are often
not addressed in sufficient number of hours. This is a
serious omission as studies suggest that individuals
who are introduced to the needs of this population show
reduced discrimination against individuals with different
gender identities or sexual orientations. Methodology and
methods, findings and conclusions will be shared during
the presentation. Throughout the poster presentation
health challenges of LGBTQ throughout the lifespan will
be discussed. During the poster presentation teaching
strategies to address the health needs of LGBTQ in
different courses are discussed. These components then
can be incorporated into teaching content in the nursing
and other health care professionals courses to increase
awareness.
1. Drawing on a review of literature to address lack of
education for health care professionals on the need of
LGBTQ community.
2. Demonstrating in a linear manner the importance of
including the needs of LGBTQ people in the education
of health care professionals.
3. Providing practical examples of including needs of
LGBTQ in the curriculum for health care professionals.
I. Be Our Ally - Photographic Images
Presenter:
Anna Gaby-Trotz, MFA, Printmaker & Photographer,
Associate Artist, Sheatre, Kemble, Ontario
SEE WEDNESDAY
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
J. A web-based, visual resource guide
with non-sequential access to medical
and basic care protocols to improve
primary care providers’ knowledge and
confidence in caring for trans clients
Presenter:
Kelly Speck, MSc Candidate in Biomedical
Communications, Institute of Medical Science,
University of Toronto, Toronto Ontario
Background:
Many primary care providers are currently uncomfortable
with, and avoid treating, trans clients because they
perceive their own knowledge to be inadequate to meet
their clients’ needs (Bauer et al. 2009, Dewey 2008, Kitts
2010, Grant et al 2011, Beagan et al. 2013).
Trans*-sensitive care is often neglected in medical and
nursing school curricula and existing online training
resources are often text-heavy and/or lengthy in content
and mostly restricted to linear narratives (which do
not encompass the various different medical and nonmedical transition paths sought by trans* individuals).
Given the practical constraints of many physicians and
nurses, convenient access to essential guidelines on
the management of new and existing trans* clients is
extremely useful. In collaboration with Rainbow Health
Ontario, this project aims to develop a web-based, visual
resource guide that simulates Sherbourne Health Centre’s
individualized, client-centred (harm reduction) approach
to trans care. Through an iterative design research
strategy involving trans*, community and primary care
provider feedback my research aims to figure out to what
extent this resource will increase primary care providers’
knowledge and confidence in caring for trans clients. Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize the need for primary care provider
education on trans* care and learn how online
continuing medical education resources could help
decentralize trans* expertise out of Sherbourne Health
Centre and Toronto. 2. Explore how illustrating medical discourse through
visual narratives and interactive information
visualizations could help readers attend, comprehend
and relate to information at hand. 3. Preview (and give feedback on) draft materials for
this online resource tool for educating primary care
providers on the primary health care of trans* clients.
50
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H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
T9: (2)PM
1. LGBTQ Social Justice Through
Transformative Research
Presenters:
Andrea Daley, Associate Professor, School of Social
Work, York University, Toronto, Ontario;
Judith MacDonnell, PhD, Associate Professor, School of
Nursing, York University, Toronto, Ontario;
Melissa St. Pierre, Post-Doctoral Visitor, LGBTTQI Home
Care Access Project, York University, Toronto, Ontario
In this presentation we explore the utility of mixed
methods research (MMR) informed by the transformative
paradigm to address the methodological dilemmas
presented in LGBTQ-related research. The transformative
paradigm facilitates an understanding of “useful
knowledge” produced through research as that which
furthers human rights and social justice through both
the research process and outcomes. Of particular
importance to this project of social justice are research
designs and methods that serve to centre the voice
of marginalized people and communities speaking
to the complexity of social, economic and political
inequities and injustices. We describe how we used
mixed methods research informed by the transformative
paradigm to explore the home care access experiences
of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, Two-spirit, queer,
and intersex (LGBTTQI) people. More specifically,
we examine how we used a MMR design to address
longstanding dilemmas in LGBTQ-related research
to further the project of social justice for LGBTQ
communities. We structure our discussion by weaving
together the assumptions of the transformative paradigm,
the research design, and the quantitative and qualitative
methods to address three dilemmas in LGBTQ-related
research including 1) sampling based on sexual and
gender identity categories; 2) intersectionality; and
3) uncovering complex and nuanced experiences of
self-disclosure of sexual orientation and/or gender
identity. In addition, we will explore how the research
design, particularly community participation as a
research process, is integral to the production of “useful
knowledge” through LGBTQ health services access
research.
C O N F E R E N C E
2:00 - 3:30 PM
1. Develop understanding of the assumptions of the
transformative paradigm in relation to advancing
LGBTQ social justice through research.
2. Explore methodological dilemmas in LGBTQ research
and their implications for what we ‘know’ about LGBTQ
people and communities.
3. Recognize the utility of mixed methods research
informed by the transformative paradigm to address
these methodological dilemmas.
2. “I really have no knowledge, but I’d like
to have some”. An Ontario-based Study
on In-Home Health Care Providers’
Access to LGBTTQI Specific Education
Presenters:
Care Access Project, York University, Toronto, Ontario;
Nursing, York University, Toronto, Ontario
The LGBTTQI Home Care Access Project is one of the
first research programmes to bring attention to issues of
access and equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, twospirit, queer, and intersex communities receiving in-home
health and/or social services from an agency in Ontario.
In this presentation, we highlight findings from the service
provider arm of the project. Surveys were completed with
379 in-home service providers from across the province
and from a range of professional backgrounds, including
personal support workers, nurses, and social workers.
We also conducted either individual interviews or focus
groups with 19 of these same providers, to gain further
insight into working with LGBTTQI seniors, providing HIV/
AIDS related in-home care, mental health, and palliative
services. The primary goal was to better understand
access to education and training opportunities for these
professionals. Findings will be presented during the
presentation. The qualitative data is used to contextualize
the findings from the survey, for example, home care
service provider perspectives regarding whether knowing
a client’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity
matters to their home care. Implications for the delivery of
LGBTTQI-affirmative home care are discussed.
51
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H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
2. Understand implications for policy, programming and
education that would support LGBTQ-inclusive home
care.
2. Understand the differential access to diversity and
LGBTTQI-specific education and training opportunities
across health care professional groups.
3. Learn about an Access and Equity Framework
that can provide a user-friendly tool to enhance
organizational change to improve LGBTQ-inclusive
care in the home care sector.
1. Learn about the unique context of receiving home
care health services for LGBTTQI people.
3. Exploring the meaning of these findings in relation to
a home care LGBTTQI-specific access and equity
framework.
3. Integrating a LGBTQ Focus Into Home
Care: Organizational Readiness
Presenters:
Nursing, York University, Toronto, Ontario;
Care Access Project, York University, Toronto, Ontario
Despite the increasing emphasis on delivery of health
care in the community, very limited research addresses
how home care organizations meet the care needs of
the diverse LGBTQ people who receive in-home care.
Our research team, having completed Ontario-wide
home care research with service users and service
providers, undertook interviews with administrators from
Ontario’s Community Care Access Centres (CCACs) to
examine organizational readiness to address identified
gaps in home care access for LGBTQ people. Through
purposeful sampling to represent geographic diversity
of CCACs that serve urban, rural and suburban regions,
six CCACs participated. One administrator from each
CCAC who had insight into issues of access and equity
participated in a 90-minute audiotaped interview that
was transcribed and anonymized for analysis. Research
findings will be shared during the presentation. The
research findings, in conjunction with the service
user and provider findings were used to develop an
Access and Equity Framework that accounts for the
unique context of home care and which provides a
user-friendly tool for home care service organizations
to support LGBTQ inclusivity. There are implications
for understanding how to implement a comprehensive
approach to create home care services that are LGBTQ
inclusive.
1. Develop understanding of the factors that CCAC
administrators identify as facilitating and hindering
implementation of strategies to support inclusive home
care for diverse people.
T10: (2)PM
Format: Seminar
What’s So Special About Aging
With HIV? An Interactive Seminar on
the Medical and Social Aspects of
Aging with HIV and Other Complex
Conditions
Presenters:
Ron Rosenes, MA, LLD(hon), CM, Ron Rosenes
Consulting/CWGHR, Toronto, Ontario;
Kate Murzin, Health Programs Specialist / Spécialiste en
programmes de la santé, Canadian Working Group on
HIV and Rehabilitation (CWGHR) / Groupe de travail
canadien sur le VIH et la réinsertion sociale (GTCVRS),
Toronto, Ontario
We are all aging from the minute we are born and
our likelihood of having at least one chronic illness
increases as we age (Statistics Canada, 2008). People
living with HIV carry an added burden that we are only
beginning to understand. Research tells us that people
with HIV live with more co-morbidity across the lifespan
as compared to the general population (Kendall et al.,
2014). Our session will discuss this added burden of
physical illness but will also go beyond the bio-medical.
We will examine the epidemics of depression and
addiction that impact people living with HIV and lead
to poorer health outcomes. We will also examine the
role of social determinants, which may further reinforce
health inequities experienced by people living with
HIV. An overview of research will be shared during the
presentation. It is crucial that health and social care
providers consider the ‘age’ of a person’s HIV infection,
not just the age of the person when considering their
health needs. In order to ensure that gay, bi and MSM
living with HIV receive optimal care as they age, we must
address knowledge gaps and attitudinal barriers among
service providers. We will briefly discuss the outcomes
of the Working Together Project, which demystifies
growing older with HIV and fosters understanding among
participants of the specific needs of HIV+ individuals
52
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O N T A R I O
in the later stages of life. Quick win projects between
community-based HIV organizations and providers of
home, community and long-term care for older adults
were used to build lasting partnerships between these
sectors.
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
• Discuss community partnerships that can help youth
• Show BOA’s elements through film, audio and
photographs
• Demonstrate how the arts can lead to deep, impactful
interactions that can effectively raise awareness of
critical issues
1. Gain a deeper understanding of the added burden of
HIV on the aging process.
• Engage you in creative experiences that can be used
in professional practice and personal life
2. Understand the nature of health-related syndemics
(intersecting biomedial and social epidemics that
impact individual and community health).
3. Be better able to access information and resources
about the care needs of older LGBTQ people living
with HIV.
T11: (2)PM
Format: Seminar
Be Our Ally: Tools for Enhancing
Youth Engagement in GSAs
Presenters:
Joan Chandler, Founding Artistic Director, Sheatre,
Wiarton, Ontario;
Joan Beecroft, Educational Consultant and Be Our Ally
Youth Support, Grey Bruce County, Ontario;
david sereda, Theatre Artist, Singer/songwriter,
Composer and Producer, Sheatre, St. Catharines,
Ontario
Sheatre will engage you in Be Our Ally (BOA), a
collaborative project that draws on the perspectives
of 50 youth in rural and small-town Ontario. Using
interactive theatre, music, audio, photography and
educational activities, this award-winning project for
grades 5 – 12 explores the struggle of LGBTQ youth and
the impact of bullying and homophobia to foster diversity,
respect for difference, and inclusion. BOA uses group
expression and personal experience to explore issues in
a safe environment, create powerful artistic media that
encourage personal and social change, help decrease
isolation and encourage a sense of positive community,
and promote membership and activity in GSAs. This
session includes an oral presentation, multimedia pieces
to watch and hear, and arts activities to participate in.
We will:
• Introduce the link between the arts and health
• Outline the project’s 20-years-in-the-making history
and its social context
• Talk about GSAs and growing up gay in Grey Bruce
1. Explore GSAs and growing up gay in Grey Bruce.
2. Discuss community partnerships that can help youth
and show BOA’s elements through film, audio and
photographs.
3. Demonstrate how the arts can lead to deep, impactful
interactions that can effectively raise awareness of
critical issues and engage participants in creative
experiences that can be used in professional practice
and personal life.
T12: (2)PM
Format: Workshop
Coming Out and Staying Out: How to
Support and Sustain LGBTQ Inclusivity
for Senior Citizens
Presenters:
Lezlie Lee Kam, Volunteer and Co-chair, Senior Pride
Network, The 519, Toronto, Ontario;
Shoshana Pellman, Member, Senior Pride Network, The
519, Toronto, Ontario;
Kate Hazell, Facilitator of Education and Training, The
519, Toronto, Ontario;
Laura Gibbon, Education and Training Specialist and
Facilitator, The 519, Toronto, Ontario
Seniors are the fastest growing population within LGBTQ
communities. Their voices often go unheard in long-term
and community care facilities. These populations deserve
higher visibility and attention. This workshop will provide
an overview of the unique challenges facing LGBTQ
seniors in Ontario. Attendees will have the opportunity
to develop action plans for creating and sustaining safe
and supportive care environments. How can service
providers develop and incorporate knowledge and skills
to create improved care for older LGBTQ communities?
What can be done to provide an affirming and equitable
atmosphere when dealing with different health issues
unique to mature LGBTQ communities? Our facilitators
will address these questions within an atmosphere of
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collaboration and shared learning. Our objectives for
this workshop are organizational changes that focus
on sustaining safe, supportive and inclusive care
environments. This workshop has been developed and
will be delivered jointly by representatives of both the
Senior Pride Network (SPN) and The 519. The SPN began
in 2002 as a group of representatives of service provider
organizations including faith groups, who were interested
in expanding and improving programs and services for
older LGBTQ people. The 519’s Older LGBT Program
provides people with opportunities to make deeper
connections with their peers by socializing and learning
through special events, guest speakers and promoting
related community resources.
In this session, we will:
1. Identify and discuss appropriate ways to create and
sustain safe care environments for LGBTQ seniors.
2. Participants will write a short personal action plan
to support older LGBTQ communities within their
organizations.
T13: (2)PM
Format: Seminar
LGBTQ Family Planning for Service
Providers: Anticipating our Clients’
Needs
Presenter:
Andy Inkster, MA, Health Promoter, LGBTQ Parenting
Network, Sherbourne Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario
This seminar provides an opportunity for primary health
care and other service providers to develop and deepen
their knowledge of the legal, social, and practical
aspects of LGBTQ family planning, and become aware
of information and resources available to prospective
parents. Multiple pathways to parenthood for LGBTQ
prospective parents including adoption, sperm, egg,
and embryo donation, co-parenting, and surrogacy will
be examined. LGBTQ people have specific needs that
differ from those of cis and straight people around family
planning. Sperm, egg, and embryo donation, surrogacy,
assisted human reproduction, and adoption are all
much more common and expected for LGBTQ parents;
struggles like infertility bring unique challenges for
LGBTQ people. This workshop draws on the “pathways to
parenthood” model developed by Chris Veldhoven for the
Queer & Trans Family Planning courses.
• Examine multiple pathways to parenthood for LGBTQ
prospective parents including surrogacy, donor
insemination, egg and embryo donation, and adoption
• Identify issues LGBTQ prospective parents may need
to consider such as pre-transition fertility preservation,
non-biological and adoptive parenting, post-transition
fertility options, fertility/infertility and pregnancy loss
• Examine the role of the service provider in supporting
LGBTQ prospective parents
• Become better informed to support LGBTQ
prospective parents in making decisions and finding
resources and information.
1. Identify issues LGBTQ prospective parents may need
to consider such as pre-transition fertility preservation,
non-biological and adoptive parenting, post-transition
fertility options, fertility/infertility and pregnancy loss.
2. Examine the role of the service provider in supporting
LGBTQ prospective parents.
3. Identify resources to support LGBTQ prospective
parents in making decisions and finding resources
and information.
T14: (2)PM
Format: Community Soundbyte
1. Trans Health Forum – Identifying Trans
Community Needs in Middlesex-London
Presenters:
Leanne Powell, Public Health Nurse, Middlesex London
Health Unit, London, Ontario;
Ayden Scheim, PhD Candidate, Trudeau Scholar, Vanier
Scholar, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Western
University, London, Ontario
The London Ontario Trans Health Working Group came
together in the fall of 2013 with the goal of organizing a
one-day forum to assess the health and social service
needs of trans community members in Middlesex County,
using a social determinants of health lens. The forum
took place on June 7, 2014 and was attended by 31
trans community members (including some partners
and parents of trans people). The forum included four
roundtable sessions, in which attendees could choose
to participate in conversation around the following
themes: primary health care, access to transition care
at the Gender Identity Clinic at the Centre for Addiction
and Mental Health, youth, older adults, housing and
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shelter, education, mental health and addictions, and
community building. Participants were asked to identify
(a) currently existing services in each area, (b) strengths
and limitations of the current services, (c) areas for
improvement, and (d) top priorities for concrete changes
or new services. This session will look at the process of
planning the forum, results and moving forward to meet
the identified needs of our trans community. There will
be opportunity for discussion about how to identify and
meet the needs of local trans communities, particularly in
smaller cities.
1. Learn the steps used to assess the need for, plan, and
implement a health forum.
2. Discover lessons learned and ideas for moving
identified needs forward.
3. Be empowered to use the information to plan and
deliver a health forum in their area.
2. Creating an Organizational
Cultural Shift Toward Providing Trans
Competent Care
Presenters:
Zachary Templeman, Health Worker, Transgender
Communities, London InterCommunity Health Centre,
London, Ontario;
Andrew Sharpe, Nurse Practitioner, London
InterCommunity Health Centre, London, Ontario
Robbie McLaughlin, Registered Nurse, London
InterCommunity Health Centre, London, Ontario
For transgender people, London, Ontario’s landscape
has historically been fraught with barriers to accessing
medical care that felt safe, comfortable and welcoming.
Participants in London’s 2014 Trans Health Forum
consistently identified a lack of trans-positive health
and social service providers, specifically physicians
willing to provide hormone therapy. Inspired by the
Trans Health Forum and subsequent report, the London
InterCommunity Health Centre became committed to
becoming a welcoming, inclusive and positive place for
transgender individuals and the trans community. The
proposed session will showcase the Health Centre’s
three prong strategy for achieving this goal: 1. Reviewing,
updating and developing policies and practices 2.
Building staff capacity through training 3. Transforming
the agency’s culture and environment. We will highlight
successes and challenges associated with this evolution,
touching on tactics such as: Board engagement and
leadership prioritization; role development and resource
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allocation; organization-wide training and education,
including clinical protocols and capacities; policy
review; community research and engagement; and
communications and visibility. Our intention is for the
Health Centre’s journey to serve as an adaptable model
for other health and social service agencies evolving to
provide safe, comfortable, trans-competent care.
1. Understanding of organizational trans-competency
and the importance of universal uptake/participation
across an organization (recognizing the necessity of
a comprehensive cultural shift within health and social
service agencies).
2. Understanding of the process London Intercommunity
Health Centre took in providing better care to trans
clients and ways that process can be adapted to fit
other health and social service agencies.
T15: (2)PM
Format: Seminar
Indigenizing Research to Examine
Resilience among HIV-Positive Two-Spirit Men: Findings from the
2-Spirit HIV/AIDS Wellness and
Longevity Study (2SHAWLS) in Ontario
Presenters:
David J. Brennan, PhD, Associate Professor, Social
Work, University of Toronto, Ontario HIV Treatment
Network, Applied HIV Research Chair in Gay and
Bisexual Men’s Health, Toronto, Ontario;
Tony Nobis, Ojibway, Rocky Bay First Nation, Executive
Director, Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy, Toronto,
Ontario;
Randy Jackson, Kettle and Stony Point First Nation
(Anishinaabe), PhD Candidate, School of Social Work,
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
Research reports often pathologize Aboriginal
communities by focusing on deficits, challenges and
barriers to care. Little is known about the factors that
support resiliency, health and wellness among Two-Spirit
HIV-positive men. Thus, the Two-Spirit HIV/AIDS Wellness
and Longevity Study (2SHAWLS) - a communitybased research project – was undertaken to examine
resiliency among long-term HIV-positive two-spirit men.
This collaborative project included a research team
comprised of both Indigenous people and White settler
academics and staff. The research team was committed
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to the foregrounding of Indigenous knowledges in the
study design, including data collection and analysis. The
Medicine Wheel – a common North American Aboriginal
symbol that represents an individual’s healing journey
– was used throughout the data collection process and
analysis as a grounding tool to focus the research.
Aboriginal sharing circles (i.e. focus groups) were used
to gather data in three locations (Toronto, Hamilton
and Ottawa, Ontario), where participants (n=14) were
asked only one question: “What’s allowing you to live
well long-term with HIV?” The recorded and transcribed
data were analyzed in several stages. Selected key
quotes were mapped to the Medicine Wheel in areas
expressing similar meaning by all members of the team,
codes that expressed a relationship to one another
were grouped and then labelled consistent with the
teachings of the Medicine Wheel and their relationship
to our study questions, and data visualization was used
to present findings using the Medicine Wheel. Validity
was established by independently verifying coding work
and utilizing member-checking of the findings with our
community advisory committee. The final analysis will be
shared during the presentation. The research team will
discuss examples of lessons learned and will present the
findings from a scoping literature review and thematic
analysis of the academic literature on the topics of
resilience among HIV-positive Two-Spirit men.
1. Develop an understanding of the historical,
biomedical, social, spiritual, sexual, and behavioural
factors affecting health, wellness and resiliency of twospirit Aboriginal people living with HIV long term.
2. Learn about new Indigenous and decolonizing
methodologies being used to conduct responsible
community-based research with Aboriginal
populations.
3. Understand the state of academic literature on the
resilience of two-spirit Aboriginal people living with
HIV.
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
T16: (2)PM
Format: Workshop
Working with Gender Diverse Children
and Youth
Presenters:
Stephen Feder, MD, MPH, Head, Division of Adolescent
Medicine, Co-director of Diversity Clinic, Children’s
Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), Ottawa, Ontario;
Sebastien Pangallo, RSW, MSW, Children’s Hospital of
Eastern Ontario (CHEO), Ottawa, Ontario
The demand for services for this largely underserved
cohort of children and youth has increased exponentially.
Efforts to respond to this previously unmet need have
been challenging but extremely rewarding. This workshop
will discuss the approach in working with gender diverse
children and youth at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern
Ontario based on our experience since 2011.
We will use a case-based approach to discuss issues
such as:
•Access
• Assessment components
• Family work
• Transitioning social and hormonal
Prepubertal
Postpubertal
• Support systems
Parent support group
Youth support group
Working with siblings
•Challenges
Aging out of pediatric services
Mental health comorbidity
Reticent families
1. Discuss current practices and support of gender
diverse youth.
2. Understand challenges and strength of gender
diverse youth.
3. Explore options for gender diverse youth.
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T16: (2)PM (Simultaneous Translation provided)
Formule: atelier
Travailler avec les enfants et jeunes
de genre variant
Présentateurs :
Stephen Feder, M.D., M. Sp., chef, division de la
médecine de l’adolescence, codirecteur de la clinique
sur la diversité, Centre hospitalier pour enfants de l’est
de l’Ontario (CHEO), Ottawa (Ontario);
Sébastien Pangallo, travailleur social autorisé, M.T.S.,
Centre hospitalier pour enfants de l’est de l’Ontario
(CHEO), Ottawa (Ontario).
La demande de services pour ces enfants et ces
adolescents, une clientèle largement sous desservie,
s’est accrue de manière exponentielle. Les efforts visant
à répondre à ces besoins sont ardus, mais extrêmement
gratifiants. Dans cet atelier, il sera question de la
démarche mise de l’avant au Centre hospitalier pour
enfants de l’est de l’Ontario pour l’intervention auprès des
enfants et des adolescents de genres diversifiés, dans le
contexte de l’expérience vécue depuis 2011.
2 0 1 6
Pour ce faire, les animateurs auront recours à une
approche par étude de cas, qui permettra d’aborder les
enjeux suivants :
• L’accès
• Les composantes de l’évaluation
• Le travail de la famille
• La transition sociale et hormonale
La clientèle prépubère
La clientèle postpubère
• Les mécanismes de soutien
Les groupes de soutien aux parents
Les groupes de soutien pour adolescents
Le travail avec les frères et les sœurs
• Les défis
Vieillir et quitter les services pédiatriques
La comorbidité en santé mentale
Les familles réticentes
1. Explorer les pratiques actuelles et le soutien offert aux
jeunes de genres diversifiés.
2. Comprendre les défis des jeunes de genres diversifiés
et les forces qui les distinguent.
3. Explorer les choix qui s’offrent à ces jeunes.
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
T17: (3)PM
1. Online Media, Fandom Participation,
and LGBTQ Representation: Insights for
Practice with LGBTQ Youth and Young
Adults
Presenters:
Lauren B. McInroy, Doctoral Student, Factor-Inwentash
Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto,
Ontario
Virtually all young people (99%) in Canada are online. A
significant minority also post their own creative content,
including artwork, audio/video clips, and remixed
video (Steeves, 2014a, 2014b, 2014c). LGBTQ young
people may be particularly engaged and active users
of online media (GLSEN, 2013). Clinicians working with
this population need to understand these activities, and
the context in which they are occurring. Online media
C O N F E R E N C E
3:45 - 5:15 PM
provides important opportunities for LGBTQ young
people to develop relationships (platonic, romantic,
and/or sexual), acquire sexual health information, build
connections with the community, and access resources
and specific services. ‘Fandom’ refers to vibrant digital
communities composed of fans of various media (e.g.,
television shows, books, movies), many of whom produce
and consume ‘Fanwork’ or materials created by fans
based upon characters, plotlines, settings, and/or other
distinctive elements of those media (e.g., stories, art,
music, multi-media). For LGBTQ fans, gaps and/or
ambiguity in media open up opportunities to integrate,
increase, and/or elaborate upon LGBTQ representation
and/or content, allowing individuals to appropriate and
creatively (re)interpret existing media to create narratives
more representative of themselves and/or their fantasies.
This presentation will discuss the findings of a qualitative
study undertaken in Toronto on online media participation
by LGBTQ young people, focusing particularly on
participants’ experiences of fandom and its impact on their
development and psycho-social well-being. The potential
use of fandom in practice settings with LGBTQ youth will
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also be discussed. Permitting young people space to
discuss their fandom activities can foster the working
relationship, identify sources of support and individual
strengths, detect areas of clinical concern, and open
opportunities for creative self-expression and exploration.
1. Introduction to online fandom as a significant
developmental and community space for many
LGBTQ youth and young adults.
2. Awareness of the impact of online media use,
particularly fandom participation, on LGBTQ young
people’s mental health and well-being through
discussion of the results from a study investigating
these emerging areas of research.
3. Introduction to strategies for integrating online media
participation, particularly fandom, into practice
settings with LGBTQ youth and young adults.
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
1. Introduction to existing discourses on LGBTQ young
people’s identification processes and self-labelling
practices; particularly focussing on the lack of
attention to socio-demographically diverse populations
of LGBTQ youth.
2. Awareness of the significant impact of social
environment and individual socio-demographic
context on same-sex attracted and gender nonconforming adolescents’ understanding and use of
language and terminology, particularly for socially
marginalized sub-populations, using the results of a
large-scale clinically-based study.
3. Acquisition of strategies for increasing the
inclusiveness of clinical settings for diverse
populations of LGBTQ youth through the assessment
of the particular environmental contexts.
3. Queer, Queering and Questioning:
2. The Impact of the Dominant Health Care Education Through Digital
Socio-Cultural Context on Narrative
Self-Identification & Labelling by LGBTQ
Presenters:
Young People: Clinical Implications
Presenter:
Lauren B. McInroy, Doctoral Student, Factor-Inwentash
Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto,
Ontario
LGBTQ youth negotiate and reconcile their individual
sexual attractions and gender identification within
taxonomies of identity which are meaningful in the
dominant socio-cultural systems they inhabit. There
remains a lack of attention to the complex ways in
which various sub-populations of LGBTQ young people,
including ethno-racial minority youth, negotiate their
multiple identity categories, and how the identification
of these diverse populations may impact practice with
them. Clinicians working with young people should
be knowledgeable about the contemporary language
around sexuality and gender used by same-sex attracted
and gender non-conforming adolescent clients. This
presentation will discuss a mixed-method study with
a sample of ethno-racial minority, low-income LGBTQ
young people (n=500, age 13—22) drawn from a
clinical population in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and
will investigate the role that socio-demographic and
contextual factors may play in access to discourses of
sexuality and sexual identity taxonomies for same-sex
attracted and gender non-conforming adolescents and
young adults. The impact on clinical practice with diverse
populations of adolescents in the Canadian context will
be discussed throughout.
Albina Veltman, MD, FRCPC, Associate Professor,
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural
Neurosciences, McMaster University, Diversity &
Engagement Chair, Undergraduate MD Program,
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario;
Tara La Rose, PhD, Assistant Professor, Trent University
BSW Program, Peterborough, Ontario
Lack of training, limited medical knowledge and scant
access to relevant information are contributors to health
care barriers experienced by queer patients. There is
a clear need for additional attention to LGBTQ health
care education evidenced by a recent survey of Deans
of medical education in 150 North American universities
which found that 70% of respondents rated their school’s
LGBTQ-specific curriculum as “fair” or below. Additional
research suggests a positive correlation between
medical students’ knowledge of the issues affecting
queer patients and exposure to this population; affirming
attitudes towards queer patients are developed on the
basis of patient interactions and through LGBTQ-related
curriculum. Digital media technology is proving to be
a powerful tool in medical education. Through “storying
circles” (semi-structured interviews), participants were
encouraged to develop and share narratives about
LGBTQ health care encounters. Qualitative data was
used to elucidate and synthesize relevant themes such
as successes and challenges, needed resources, and
barriers to effective care, using digital narrative research
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techniques to inform the process. This material was used
to create short digital narrative texts of “vignettes”.
Together, the texts will become a virtual library of
e-learning materials for inclusion in a variety of health
care professional education programs. This presentation
will focus on the important themes elucidated during
the process of creating the digital narrative texts about
LGBTQ health. Practical suggestions on how to best
integrate LGBTQ health issues into health education
curricula will be discussed.
1. Describe the health care disparities, stigma and
discrimination experienced by LGBTQ individuals.
2. Recognize digital media technology as an important
tool in health care education.
3. Identify various ways of integrating LGBTQ health
issues into health education curricula.
T18: (3)PM
Format: Seminar
Lessons Learned: Clinical Pearls
and Information That You Need
to Know When Delivering Health
Care and Harm Reduction Services
to Transgender and Gender Non
Conforming Clients
Presenters:
Sarah Eckler, MD, Family Physician, Queen West
Community Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario;
Max Ducsharm, Harm Reduction Worker, Queen West
Community Health Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Transgender (Trans) and Gender Non Conforming (GNC)
clients often face barriers to health care and social
services, in terms of supports for medical transition,
primary care, and general services to improve wellbeing;
made more difficult due to conditions of poverty and
transphobia. These barriers often originate out of service
providers’ misinformation and a lack of education,
contributing to stigma for trans folks. Barriers to health
care contribute to a number of negative health impacts
and lower participation in primary prevention initiatives.
Staff at Queen West Community Health Centre have
been working for over four years to improve services and
reduce barriers to these services for trans clients. During
the session, we will present key information that will be
useful to both clinical and non-clinical individuals who
provide health care, support and harm reduction services
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to trans and GNC clients. Topics that will be discussed
include: providing health care and other services
to trans clients from a harm reduction perspective,
implementation and distribution of safer hormone
injection kits, issues around testosterone and pregnancy,
the importance of pronouns and the unique challenges
faced by trans clients living in poverty.
1. Introduce and explore the concept of harm reduction
as it applies to service delivery to trans and GNC
clients.
2. Present information regarding the development and
use of Safer Hormone Injection Kits at Queen West
Community Health Center.
3. Present information that will be useful in providing
health care to trans clients that is not readily available
in existing trans health care guidelines and references,
including practical tools and clinical pearls to support
improved clinical care.
T19: (3)PM
Format: Workshop
Coming Home: Strengthening Families
of LGBTQ Youth
Presenters:
Lorraine Gale, MSW, Coordinator, Out and Proud
Program, Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, Toronto,
Ontario;
Lindsay Elin, MSW, RSW, Individual and Family Therapist,
Pride & Prejudice Program, Central Toronto Youth
Services, Toronto, Ontario;
LeeAndra Miller, MA, Registered Psychotherapist, Pride
& Prejudice Program, Central Toronto Youth Services,
Toronto, Ontario
Research demonstrates that family support is a
significant protective factor impacting LGBTQ health
outcomes (Family Acceptance Project; TransPulse).
When parents or caregivers reject LGBTQ youth, health
and mental health risks escalate. When families are
supportive, LGBTQ young people tend to have higher
self-esteem, better outcomes and positive futures; and
risks are significantly reduced. Despite the significant
protective factor that family acceptance provides for
LGBTQ youth, social service and health care providers
often focus on supporting the youth exclusively, without
tapping into the family’s potential for support. This
strategy may be based in the assumption that parents
who first reject their LGBTQ youth cannot change.
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However, the Family Acceptance Project demonstrates
that families often do become more accepting, especially
with support, and that this acceptance has measurable
impacts on youth outcomes. It is crucial that service
providers learn to work effectively with, not only LGBTQ
youth, but also their families. We will share research and
practice knowledge about why working with families of
LGBTQ youth is important and how to effectively do this
work. The workshop will provide an overview of relevant
research and current practice models, including the
experiences and practices at both CAST and CTYS
in their work with LGBTQ youth and their families/
caregivers. CTYS presenters will also describe their
experiences using attachment-informed approaches in
family therapy and group work with parents/caregivers
of trans* youth involved in the Families in Transition
Program. The workshop will include hands-on activities
to allow participants to practice using specific skills and
tools for working with families of LGBTQ youth, designed
to build compassion and strengthen family relationships.
1. Gain knowledge of research and current practices
related to the importance of working with families of
LGBTQ youth, and the potential for families to accept
and support their young people, thereby improving
youth outcomes.
2. Learn about current practice models that are effective
in working with LGBTQ youth and their families.
3. Build their capacity to work with families of LGBTQ
youth and have opportunities to practice these skills
within the workshop.
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
With the goal of promoting health equity for LGB
communities, population health surveys in Canada
have incorporated measurement of sexual orientation.
This is typically a single item (e.g., Statistics Canada
asks “Do you consider yourself to be: a. homosexual,
b. heterosexual, c. bisexual). However, attraction,
behaviour, and identity are often discordant, and findings
of health disparities differ depending on the dimension
of sexual orientation measured. Therefore, this single
item measuring sexual orientation measure may be
insufficient. Data on trans people are still not collected
as part of large government population health surveys
in Canada, as there is no option for trans people to
identify themselves. Such data are also rarely collected
in investigator-driven research outside of trans-specific
studies, or are collected in ways that may be problematic.
Moreover, if incorporated, some existing survey measures
run the risk of resulting in widespread exclusion of
trans participants from data analysis and results. Very
limited cognitive testing of survey measures has been
undertaken with regard to assessing appropriateness
of inclusion of sex, gender and sexual orientation in
large population health surveys. Using a mixed method
approach with a diverse sample of Canadians. We will
present quantitative data on agreement between the two
measures and also present qualitative data regarding
how participants understood these questions in light of
their own sex, gender, and sexual orientation. We will
provide preliminary recommendations for researchers.
Finally, we will discuss where opportunities may exist for
making change in data policies.
T20: (3)PM
1. Understand the importance and implications of valid
measurement of sexual orientation, sex, and gender in
health surveys.
Improving LGTB Health Data:
Assessing Survey Measures of Sex,
Gender and Sexual Orientation
2. Identify the strengths and limitations of uni- and multidimensional measures of sexual orientation, gender,
and sex for research or data collection, in the context
of Canada’s diversity.
Format: Panel
Panelists:
Greta Bauer, PhD, Associate Professor and Graduate
Chair, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Schulich School
of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London,
Ontario;
Ayden Scheim, PhD Candidate, Trudeau Foundation
Scholar, Vanier Scholar, Epidemiology & Biostatistics,
Western University, London, Ontario;
Christoffer Dharma, MSc Candidate, Epidemiology &
Biostatistics, Western University, London, Ontario
3. Consider changes in data collection policies and
practices that would enhance inclusion and analysis of
data on LGBT people.
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T21: (3)PM
Format: Film Screening
Followed by Q & A with the filmmaker
and director, Nancy Nicol
“No Easy Walk to Freedom”:
Lessons of the Movement to
Decriminalize Homosexuality in India”
Presenter:
Nancy Nicol (Producer, Director, Editor), Professor,
Visual Arts and Art History Department, York University,
Toronto, Ontario
No Easy Walk to Freedom, a new documentary by
veteran filmmaker Nancy Nicol, tells the story of the
struggle to strike down Section 377 of the Indian Penal
Code, and decriminalize homosexuality in contemporary
India. Filmed in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Lucknow
and rural India, and told through the voices of lawyers,
activists and community leaders, No Easy Walk to
Freedom exposes human rights violations perpetrated
under the law and documents the growth of queer
organizing in India in the context of this historic battle to
overturn a colonial-era law. Please note: the full screening and questions and
answer session will go beyond the 90 minutes allotted for
the session.
1. Community building - learning lessons of the struggle
in India - the relationship between the legal challenge
and community organizing from an intersectional
perspective.
2. Broaden an understanding of the movement for
LGBTQ rights in India.
3. Connect South Asian participants and nonSouth Asian participants in Canada with LGBTQ
organizations in India.
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
T22: (3)PM
Format: Panel
LGBTQ and Disabled: Promising
Practices – Panel of Community
Leaders
Moderator:
Kate Welsh, Community Activist, Masters Student,
Social Justice Education, Toronto, Ontario
Panelists:
Andrew Morrison-Gurza, MA, Disability Awareness
Consultant, Toronto, Ontario;
Lynx Sainte-Marie, Creator of QueerofGender, Toronto,
Ontario;
Inali Barger, London, Ontario
Queer/Trans Disabled Folks live in the intersection
of ableism and queer/transphobia and possibly
racism, classism, sexism etc. Community leaders will
engage in conversation surrounding issues of coming
out to caregivers and compounded vulnerability,
desexualisation of people with disabilities, systemic
and social barriers, asexuality as a protective coping
mechanism, coming “out” as disabled in the digital
dating age, and social models of disability including
the intersection with communities of care. Panelists will
focus on the importance of queer and trans people with
disabilities leading advocacy efforts.
1. A better understanding of barriers faced by LGBTQ
people with disabilities.
2. Reflecting on promising practices when working with
LGBTQ people with disabilities.
3. Importance of awareness-raising in local communities
including continuing this discussion in local
communities.
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H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
T23: (3)PM
T24: (3)PM
Attention: Hazards of Burnout, Handle
with Compassion
Format: Workshop
Presenter:
Lu Lam, MEd, CCC, Counsellor, David
Kelley LGBTTQQI2SA+ & HIV/AIDS Counselling, Family
Service Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
This experiential workshop will invite participants to
recognize the hazards of burnout, and to care for our
burnout as practitioners within the LGB2STTIQQA
counselling and therapy field. We will explore how
burnout is (re)produced and how we can address
burnout in relation to our self, our communities, and
systemically. When burnout impacts on our well-being,
our ethical decision making is compromised, and
our capacity to be present and empathic with our
clients diminishes, thus endangering the therapeutic
relationship. Particularly if we are working with
LGB2STTIQQA with complex identities and lived realities
of multiple oppressions, and do not centre our own selfcare in efforts to attend to our burnout, we endanger our
commitment to ethical practice; we risk jeopardizing our
most marginalized clients’ quality of care, and increase
the potential of reproducing institutional inequalities
in our clinical practice. An integration of mindfulness
compassion practice and social justice/ anti-oppression
principles will be introduced to centre embodied
knowledge as a transformative tool to respect and attend
to our burnout. Mindfulness is framed as pedagogy in
efforts to decolonize mainstream approaches to mental
health.
1. Provide a critical cultural and social perspective
on recognizing the risks and hazards of burnout in
LGB2STTIQQ counselling and therapy field.
2. Centering embodied knowledge of mindfulness to
decolonize mainstream approaches to mental health
that fosters conditions for burnout.
3. Offer mindfulness compassion practices to support
the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual pain of
our burnout.
1. LGBTQ Tobacco Use Prevention and
Cessation Intervention Preferences: A
Qualitative Analysis of Focus Groups
Presenter:
Bruce Baskerville, Senior Scientist, University of
Waterloo, Propel Centre for Population Health Impact,
Adjunct Professor, University of Waterloo, School of
Public Health and Health Systems, Waterloo, Ontario
The problem of tobacco in Canada is not over.
Victimization, bullying, family and peer stress, aggressive
tobacco industry marketing are just a few of the reasons
why LGBTQ youth and young adults pick up the habit to
smoke. The LGBTQ community bears an undue burden
from tobacco. A 2012 survey found that 38% of the
LGBTQ adult community in Toronto smokes. To address
this health inequity for LGBTQ youth and young adults,
our team at Propel in collaboration with the Canadian
Cancer Society, Rainbow Health Ontario, the University
of Toronto and partners in Ottawa engaged members
of the LGBTQ community and conducted focus groups
in Toronto and Ottawa to identify preferred evidenceinformed interventions that will prevent and stop tobacco
use among LGBTQ youth and young adults. We recruited
LGBTQ youth and young adults in Ottawa and Toronto
using strategies that included a Facebook ad campaign
and posters at partner agencies. Focus group participants
responded to questions about their attitudes towards
smoking, quitting and ideas for helping to quit. They were
presented with three program scenarios – group cessation
counselling, four social marketing campaign ideas,
and a mobile health cessation application. Participants
provided opinions on what they liked and did not like
about the program options and which of the options was
most preferred. Qualitative analysis of the focus group
transcripts was conducted using the framework approach.
This work culminated in a one-day long knowledge
exchange event in Toronto with decision-makers and
members of the community to discuss intervention options
and next steps for development. Developing effective
interventions for LGBTQ youth and young adults will
reduce morbidity and mortality associated with smoking
and improve the overall population health of Ontarians in
the process.
62
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H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
T24: (3)PM
1. Learn about the preferred intervention options within
and across the LGBTQ community.
Formule : communication de recherche
2. Gain an understanding of the qualitative methods used
to draw conclusions.
3. Engage in the next steps for creating effective
interventions for the LGBTQ community.
2. Pieces to Pathways: Report on
LGBTTQQ2SIA Substance Use Among
16-29 Transitionally Aged Youth in
Toronto
1. La prévention du tabagisme chez les
personnes LGBTQ et leurs préférences
quant aux méthodes de cessation :
analyse quantitative de groupes de
discussion
Présentateurs :
Presenters:
Geoffrey Wilson, Project Coordinator, Pieces to Pathways,
Toronto, Ontario;
Pina Michelle Newman, Toronto, Ontario
Pieces to Pathways is a peer-led initiative that conducted a
needs assessment of substance use among LGBTTQQ2SIA
youth aged 16-29 residing or accessing services in Toronto,
Canada. This project was conducted between January
to March 2015 and funded through the Toronto Central
LHIN (Local Health Integration Network). This project is
primarily supported by Breakaway Addiction Services in
collaboration with LOFT Community Services, Sherbourne
Health Centre, Toronto East General Hospital Withdrawal
Management Services and TRIP (Toronto Ravers Information
Project). We engaged in a three-stage process: 1. Met with
organizations providing services to LGBTTQQ2SIA folks,
youth and substance users to discern their perceptions of
these populations and their needs. 2. We conducted an
online and offline survey. 3. We conducted focus groups
to derive more specific information on program content for
substance use supports. Pieces to Pathways has completed
all of these stages, written a comprehensive report, made
program recommendations to our funders and we will share
our findings.
Bruce Baskerville, prépose principal à la recherche,
Université de Waterloo, Propel Centre for Population
Health Impact, professeur adjoint, Université de
Waterloo, École de santé publique et des systèmes de
santé, Waterloo (Ontario)
Le problème du tabagisme au Canada est loin d’être
résolu. Victimisation, intimidation, pressions de la famille et
des pairs et marketing insistant des compagnies de tabac
ne sont que quelques-unes des raisons qui expliquent
pourquoi les adolescentes et les jeunes adultes LGBTQ
se mettent à fumer. Le tabagisme impose un fardeau indu
à la communauté LGBTQ. Un sondage réalisé en 2012
révélait que 38 % des adultes de la communauté LGBTQ
de Toronto fumaient. Pour faire face à cette inégalité en
Congratulations
to Anna Travers and Bev Lepischak
On the occasion of their retirement as Director of Rainbow Health
Ontario and Director of LGBTQ Health programs at Sherbourne
Health Centre respectively. CPATH recognizes and thanks them for
their profound individual and collective contribution to the health
and wellbeing of queer and trans people in Ontario, across Canada,
and beyond.
1. Increase audiences’ knowledge about substance use
among queer and trans transitionally aged youth in
Toronto.
CPATH is a multidisciplinary professional organization comprised
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matière de santé, l’équipe de Propel, en collaboration
avec la Société canadienne du cancer, Santé arc-en-ciel
Ontario, la direction de la santé publique de Toronto,
l’Université de Toronto et nos partenaires à Ottawa et
des membres de la communauté LGBTQ, ont mis sur
pied des groupes de discussion à Toronto et à Ottawa
afin de définir les interventions fondées sur des données
probantes qu’ils préfèrent pour prévenir le tabagisme et
favoriser la cessation de fumer chez les adolescents et
les jeunes adultes LGBTQ. Des adolescents et de jeunes
adultes LGBTQ ont été recrutés à Ottawa et à Toronto
à l’aide d’une campagne publicitaire dans Facebook et
d’affiches installées chez des organismes partenaires.
Les participants au groupe de discussion devaient
répondre à des questions sur leur attitude par rapport
au tabagisme et à la cessation de fumer, et sur des
idées pour aider à cesser de fumer. On leur a présenté
les scénarios de trois programmes – counselling pour
cesser de fumer en groupe, quatre idées de campagnes
de marketing social et une application mobile pour
aider à cesser de fumer. Les participants ont livré leur
opinion sur ce qu’ils aimaient ou n’aimaient pas dans
les programmes proposés, et sur les options qu’ils
préféraient. Une analyse qualitative de la transcription
des discussions du groupe a été réalisée à l’aide d’une
approche-cadre. Ces travaux se termineront par une
rencontre d’échange de savoir d’une journée avec
les décideurs et les membres de la communauté,
qui se sont aussi penchés à cette occasion sur les
options d’intervention et les prochaines étapes de
développement. La création d’interventions efficaces
auprès des adolescents et des jeunes adultes LGBTQ
permettra de réduire la morbidité et la mortalité associées
au tabagisme et d’améliorer la santé globale des
Ontariens en cours de route.
1. Se familiariser avec les options d’intervention
préférées au sein de la communauté LGBTQ.
2. Comprendre les méthodes qualitatives utilisées pour
dégager des conclusions.
3. Participer aux prochaines étapes pour la création
d’interventions efficaces auprès de la communauté
LGBTQ.
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
2. « Pieces to Pathways » : rapport sur
la consommation de drogues chez les
personnes LGBTTQ de Toronto en âge
de transition 16 à 29 ans
Présentateurs :
Geoffrey Wilson, coordonnateur de projet, Pieces to
Pathways, Toronto (Ontario);
Pina Michelle Newman, Toronto, Ontario
« Pieces to Pathways » est un projet dirigé par des
pairs dans le cadre duquel on a réalisé une évaluation
des besoins en matière de drogues chez les personnes
LGBTTQQ2SIA de 16 à 29 ans qui vivent à Toronto ou
obtiennent des services dans cette ville. Le projet a été
réalisé de janvier à mars 2015 et son financement a été
assuré par l’intermédiaire du Réseau local d’intégration
des services de santé (RLISS) du Centre-Toronto. Ce
projet est appuyé en grande partie par l’organisme
Breakaway Addiction Services, en collaboration avec les
services communautaires LOFT de Toronto, le Centre
de santé Sherbrourne, les services de gestion de la
désintoxication du Toronto East General Hospital et TRIP
(Toronto Ravers Information Project). Les travaux liés à
ce projet ont été effectués en trois étapes : 1. Rencontre
avec les organismes offrant des services aux personnes
LGBTTQQ2SIA, aux jeunes et aux toxicomanes afin de
cerner la perception de ces personnes et de préciser
leurs besoins. 2. Réalisation d’un sondage en ligne et
hors ligne. 3. Organisation de groupes de discussion
visant à recueillir de l’information plus précise sur le
contenu des programmes de soutien en toxicomanie.
Pieces to Pathways a réalisé toutes ces étapes, a rédigé
un rapport exhaustif et a formulé des recommandations
sur les programmes et les a transmises à ses bailleurs de
fonds. Cette communication leur permettra de présenter
leurs conclusions.
1. Accroître les connaissances de l’auditoire sur la
toxicomanie chez les jeunes queer et trans en âge de
transition à Toronto.
2. Inciter l’auditoire à analyser de manière critique le
soutien existant à l’intention des toxicomanes queer et
trans.
3. Accroître le dialogue sur la toxicomanie et sur ses
effets sur les personnes queer et trans.
64
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H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
QUEERING HOME CARE 2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
5:30 - 7:00 PM
LGBTQ Home Care Access Project Launch
Join Andrea Daley, Judith MacDonnell and Melissa St. Pierre at a project launch of key findings from the
‘LGBTQ Home Care Access Project’. After five years of
research, collaboration, and partnerships, York University
researchers Andrea Daley (Social Work) and Judith
MacDonnell (Nursing) and Melissa St. Pierre (PostDoctoral Visitor and Project Coordinator) are unveiling the
findings of their research.
In partnership with Rainbow Health Ontario and the
Toronto Central Community Care Access Centre, this
CIHR-funded Ontario-based project has explored how
LGBTQ communities experience home care services, in
addition to service providers’ experiences working with
LGBT clients. Please join us as we discuss the research,
the core findings, and showcase our information sharing
materials.
All are welcome to this informal social gathering, where food and beverages will be served.
65
Full Day Conference
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
Friday, March 11, 2016
Full Day Schedule
7:45 – 8:30 am Breakfast
8:00 – 11:00 am Exhibits
9:00 – 10:30 am Concurrent Sessions
11:00 am – 2:30 pm Closing Plenary & Lunch
Queer, Non-binary and Trans Youth:
Contemporary Canadian Issues and Perspectives
Séance plénière de clôture et dîner
Adolescents queer, non binaires et trans :
perspectives et enjeux contemporains au Canada
CONCURRENT SESSIONS
F1: AM
1. How do Two-Spirit People
Understand Mental Health? Results
of a Community Based Study
Presenter:
Margaret Robinson, Mi’kmaq scholar, Lennox
Island First Nation, Researcher in Residence,
Indigenous Health, Ontario HIV Treatment
Network, Affiliate Research Scientist, Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario
Indigenous people who are also members
of sexual and/or gender minorities (i.e., twospirit people) live with numerous intersecting
oppressions that adversely impact our health.
Increasingly, mental health practitioners and
66
9:00 – 10:30 AM community workers are encouraged to adopt
a culturally-based treatment approach with
Indigenous clients, yet little is known about twospirit culture or two-spirit perspectives on mental
health. This research sound byte will present results
from a community based research project that used
qualitative data from 21 two-spirit people people in
Ontario. Methods will be shared during the session.
Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using an
innovative method of Indigenous analysis based
on the traditional medicine wheel and the seven
Grandfather Teachings (Humility; Honesty; Respect;
Courage; Wisdom; Truth; Love). This presentation
will help ground efforts to improve services for
two-spirit people.
1. Learn how two-spirit people define their own
identity and frame mental health in the context
of their own lives.
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
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2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
3. Animal-Assisted Interventions for
LGBTQ Health
2. Learn which practices two-spirit people identified as
supporting good mental health.
3. Understand how two-spirit perceptions of identity
and mental health fit within the context of Indigenous
culture more broadly.
Presenter:
Melissa Marie Legge, PhD Candidate, School of Social
Work, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario
2. Filtered Out: LGBTQ Parents Engage
with Special Needs Service Systems
Presenter:
Margaret F. Gibson, MSW, PhD, Visiting Professor,
School of Social Work, York University, Toronto, Ontario
Using ethnographic methods, this study started from
the everyday work LGBTQ parents of children with
‘special needs’ do to secure services for their children.
A critical approach to intersectionality was employed
to consider how certain parents, children, and families
are constructed as “different” or “not fitting” in particular
settings and contexts. Fifteen parents and six key
informants were interviewed, all of whom were based
in the Greater Toronto Area. Methods used were drawn
from institutional ethnography (Smith 2005) and discourse
analysis (Gee, 2005; Riessman, 2008). Study findings
will be shared during the session. The findings have
implications for service users, researchers, and providers
of special needs service systems, particularly those who
want to make special needs service provision accessible
and responsive to all.
Despite the need for ongoing research on animal-assisted
interventions (AAI) in social work practice, the evidence
presented in the existing literature overwhelmingly
supports their effectiveness. There are four categories of
the documented therapeutic benefits
of AAI for service users in a therapeutic context, which
are: (1) effects on loneliness, (2) socializing effects, (3)
motivating effects, and (4) physiologic and calming effects
(Fine, 2010). There is scant literature that focuses on
LGBTQ populations, but in a study conducted by Putney
(2012), older lesbians affirmed the importance of their
relationships with OTH animals, indicating that they were
non-judgemental and offered steadiness and consistency.
Drawing on the literature, personal experience as a social
service provider engaging in AAI with service users, as
well as two years’ experience conducting research in the
area of animals and social work, in this presentation I will
introduce attendees to what AAI are, the benefits that they
provide for service users, and in particular, how these
beneficial interventions could be used in conjunction with
an anti-oppressive framework with LGBTQ service users.
1. Learn what animal-assisted interventions are.
2. Increased knowledge of how services are inequitably
distributed along vectors of race, class, gender, and
sexuality.
3. Learn how they can be used in a therapeutic or
supportive setting with LGBTQ service users to
improve health outcomes.
2. Learn about the benefits and risks associated with
animal-assisted interventions.
1. Increased understanding of LGBTQ parents’
perspectives of special needs service systems.
3. Stimulate questioning of how special needs services
could be more accessible and equitable for all
families.
67
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
F2: AM
M A T T E R S
of facilitating and planning a rural community based
ongoing/continuous support group, which is constantly
in flux/moving through stages of group development.
Format: Panel
‘Finding True North’: Navigating
Our Way Through Changes in Trans-Specific Services Within the
Rural Communities of Quinte
F3: AM
Format: Seminar
Quest Community Health Centre:
A Model of Community Transgender
Care for Transgender Clients of all
Ages
Panelists:
Carla Vander Voort, Social Worker, Belleville & Quinte
West Community Health Centre, Belleville, Ontario;
Eric Hargreaves, Workshop Facilitator, TRANSforum
Belleville & Quinte Region, Ontario;
Devon Williams, Community Member, TRANSforum,
Belleville & Quinte Region, Ontario;
Gender Journeys CMHA HKPR, Belleville, Ontario
Presenter:
Within the South-East LHIN, there continues to be a
significant gap in trans-specific services, including access
to primary care and counselling supports. Community
members have long been vocal about these gaps, which
has prompted some change and service development
within the region. One of these notable changes has been
the development of TRANSforum Quinte – a weekly support
and recreation group for trans-identified persons and their
allies. TRANSforum has provided support and services to
individuals from the rural communities of Belleville, Prince
Edward County, Brighton and Quinte West, and is based on
a community development approach. Since its inception,
TRANSforum has run year round. The ongoing nature of this
group has allowed for challenges, celebrations/successes
and lots and lots of change! When we consider the fluidity
of our individual and collective journeys, it is not surprising
that it has been an ongoing challenge to establish a group
environment that is flexible enough to provide ongoing and
continuous support to the community, while maintaining
some level of stability and integrity to the ‘True North’ of
participants and the program. Changes that the program
has had to contend with have been numerous, including
changes in resources, membership, and needs and
priorities of participants.
Carys Massarella, MD, FRCPC, Attending Emergency
Physician, St.Joseph’s Health Care, Hamilton,
Lead Physician, Transgender Care Program, Quest
Community Health Centre, St. Catharines, Ontario
Trans primary care in Ontario has seen some radical
shifts in the last five years. A few clinics have emerged
as regional hubs, and therefore have established
comprehensive primary care approaches to trans
health access, and have a broad sense of how these
demographics are changing as we move towards the
future of trans health. At Quest Community Health Centre,
we have learned that trans health care is not specialized
care; it should be addressed in primary care and should
be a lifelong relationship. We have also seen a dramatic
increase in children and youth coming forward and
identifying their gender as different from what others might
expect. In this session, I plan to discuss the projection of
trans experiences as health care access becomes more
prevalent compared to 10 or 20 years ago, strategies
for effective and affirming support for trans and gender
independent children and youth, demystifying puberty
blockers with practical clinical tools for assessment,
administration, and monitoring, and strategies for
integrating trans care into typical primary care practice.
1. How care can be provided in the community to
transgender clients.
2. A model for primary care of the transgender patient.
1. Discuss rural community capacity building strategies
utilized in the development services for trans-identified
persons within the Quinte region.
3. How to provide care to transgender clients of all ages.
2. Explore and discuss the importance and challenges
of community engagement in the planning and
implementation of programming, within the context of
rural settings.
3. Discuss ‘lessons learned’ and the unique challenges
68
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O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
F4: AM
F5: AM
Intimate Partner Violence in Lesbian,
Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) Communities
Trans and LGBQ Human Rights in
Ontario: Community Advocacy and
the OHRC’s Mandate, Protections
and Policy, and Recent Legal
Developments
Format: Seminar
Format: Workshop
Presenters:
Care Access Project, York University, Toronto, Ontario;
Betty Jo Barrett, Assistant Dean of Academic and
Student Success, Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and
Social Sciences, Associate Professor of Social Work
and Women’s Studies, University of Windsor, Windsor,
Ontario
In this seminar we dare to name the thing that will not
be named - intimate partner violence (IPV) in lesbian,
gay, and bisexual (LGB) communities. We contextualize
our collaborative work by first discussing how we each
came to the field of LGB IPV (violence against women
+ LGB health lens). The methodological, political, and
social challenges involved in doing research in this field
are reviewed, as are the possibilities. For example, there
is a myth that we know nothing about LGB IPV – this is
simply not true (Barrett, 2015). We present findings from
our original research on the prevalence of LGB IPV using
Statistics Canada data where we use an intersectional
framework to examine how sexual orientation intersects
with other identity categories to create differential
vulnerabilities for IPV (Barrett & St. Pierre, 2013). We also
review community-based research on the help-seeking
trends of lesbian and gay survivors (St. Pierre & Senn,
2010). Implications for health and social service providers
as well as researchers are discussed.
1. Identify how LGB IPV is both similar to and different
from violence in heterosexual, cisgender relationships.
2. Learn about estimated Canadian prevalence rates of
LGB IPV.
3. Apply intersectional, anti-oppressive, and LGB
affirmative frameworks to understanding variations in
experiences of IPV within LGB communities.
Presenters:
Jacquelin Pegg, Inquiry Analyst, Ontario Human Rights
Commission, Toronto, Ontario;
Insiya Essajee, Counsel, Ontario Human Rights
Commission, Toronto, Ontario
This session will address:
1. The relationships between LGBTQ community
advocacy and the OHRC’s work in advancing human
rights relating to gender identity, sexual orientation,
and gender expression.
2. Current Human Rights Code protections relating to
trans and LBG identities.
3. OHRC policies on sexual orientation, gender identity
and expression, including best practices for inclusion;
confidentiality, information and privacy; coming
out or transitioning; preventing and dealing with
discrimination and harassment; and competing rights
issues.
4. Legal developments of the past few years: decisions
and settlements; the role of policy; how individual
complaints can have a broader public impact.
1. Understand the Code protections for LGBT people,
and how OHRC policies progressively interpret those
rights.
2. Learn how the human rights system, including
different aspects of the OHRC’s mandate, can support
LGBT individuals and community organizations
in advancing and realizing their rights, and the
importance of community engagement to the work of
the OHRC.
3. Hear about recent legal successes relating to sexual
orientation and gender identity and expression, and
how they can be leveraged for broader impact.
69
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
F6: AM
F7: AM
What Needs to be Done to Advance
the Sexual Health of Gay, Bisexual &
Other Men Who Have Sex With Men?
Improving Support for Trans People
Undergoing Surgery: Care and
Services During the Perioperative
Period
Format: Panel
Panelists:
Barry D. Adam, Distinguished University Professor of
Sociology, University of Windsor, Senior Scientist and
Director of Prevention Research, Ontario HIV Treatment
Network, Windsor, Ontario;
David Brennan, Associate Professor of Social Work,
University of Toronto, OHTN Applied HIV Research
Chair, Toronto, Ontario;
John Maxwell, Executive Director, AIDS Committee of
Toronto, Toronto, Ontario;
Owen McEwen, Director, Ontario Gay Men’s Sexual
Health Alliance (GMSH), Toronto, Ontario
Thirty years of HIV research show that persistently
high rates of HIV require a multi-pronged approach to
the biomedical, social, and psychological syndemics
affecting gay men. This panel reports on a year of efforts
by researchers and ASOs to confront institutional and
structural barriers in advancing gay men’s health to
secure better access to new prevention technologies,
mental health services, community support, and HPV
vaccine. Session participants will be invited to help
strategize ways to make health systems more responsive
to gay men and to allocate resources where they are
most likely to make a difference.
Format: Seminar
Presenters:
Maud Bélanger, MD, FRCS(C), Centre Métropolitain de
Chirurgie, Montreal, Quebec;
Anne Dubé, Clinical Nurse, Centre Métropolitain de
Chirurgie, Montreal, Quebec
During this presentation, Dr. Maud Bélanger and Anne
Dubé, clinical nurse, will address the following topics:
• Preparing the patient during the preoperative period;
• Presentation on the different transsexual surgeries
offered by Gender Reassignment Surgery Montréal;
• Postoperative care and the role of stakeholders.
The Montreal Surgical Clinic where Dr. Maud Bélanger
and Clinical Nurse Anne Dubé practice currently
provides the majority of transition-related surgeries in
Canada. This session will provide information on the
surgeries themselves. It will also engage communitybased providers in discussion about how to support
and prepare patients during the pre- and postoperative
period.
1. Understand cutting edge issues in the advancement
of gay men’s sexual health.
2. Better understand the institutional and structural
barriers to improving gay men’s health and bringing
down HIV numbers.
3. Learn about recent initiatives in gay men’s health
promotion and how to become a part of overcoming
barriers.
70
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
CLOSING PLENARY & LUNCH/ SÉANCE PLÉNIÈRE DE CLÔTURE ET DÎNER 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Queer, Non-binary and Trans Youth:
Contemporary Canadian Issues and Perspectives
LGBTQ youth are coming out as queer,
non-binary and trans at younger ages and
experiencing challenges and opportunities that
are different from those of previous generations. In this panel presentation, four dynamic speakers will discuss the issues, resilience and activism of diverse and
marginalized LGBTQ youth. Two researchers and two youth leaders will highlight knowledge and perspectives
focused on LGBTQ youth who experience greater social exclusion. We will learn about key gaps and barriers to
health, policies and programs that are making a difference, and how to engage the energy and ideas of youth
themselves.
Moderator:
Donna Turner coordinates the development and
implementation of communications strategies and
materials for Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO). She is
responsible for the website, social media, and newsletter.
She coordinates the creation of print materials such as
brochures, posters, and postcards and delivers training.
Donna is the RHO lead on youth, tobacco, and cancer
projects. She supports the development of local networks,
events and partnerships in the following Regions: North
Simcoe Muskoka, Central East, and South East.
Panelists:
Alex Abramovich, PhD, has worked in the area of
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning,
and 2-Spirit (LGBTQ2S) youth homelessness for 10
years. Alex is an internationally recognized leader in the
area of LGBTQ2S youth homelessness and is one of
few Canadian researchers studying the phenomenon of
queer and trans youth homelessness. Alex completed his
Doctorate at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
(OISE), University of Toronto. Alex currently works at the
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in the
Social and Epidemiological Research Department, where
he is researching LGBTQ2S youth homelessness and
access to mental health services. Alex’s research focuses
on issues regarding homophobia and transphobia in
shelters and youth serving organizations, the experiences
that LGBTQ2S young people have in the shelter system,
and how broader policy issues serve to create oppressive
contexts for LGBTQ2S youth.
71
Elizabeth M. Saewyc, PhD, RN, FSAHM, FCAHS,
is Professor of Nursing and Adolescent Medicine at the
University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Dr. Saewyc
heads the Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable
Youth Centre there. She is a Fellow in both the Society for
Adolescent Health and Medicine, and the Canadian
Academy of Health Sciences. For 20 years, Dr. Saewyc’s
research and clinical practice has focused on how stigma,
violence, and trauma influence adolescents’ health,
coping and risk behaviours, and what protective factors
in relationships and environments can foster resilience
among: runaway and street-involved youth, sexually
abused/sexually exploited teens, LGBT adolescents,
immigrants and refugees, and indigenous youth.
Bridget Liang is a mixed race, queer, transfeminine,
neurodiverse, disabled, fat fangirl. They came into their
queerness in Hamilton Ontario and co-founded RADAR
Youth Group at the LGBTQ Wellness Centre (the Well),
the first queer group in a high school in Hamilton, and
were instrumental in the passing of an equity policy in the
HWDSB. They have worked for a number of queer/trans
organizations and groups over the years both in Hamilton
and Toronto. They have been involved with community
research, workshop and group facilitation, and doing
performance art.
Sonali Patel is a second year student at the University
of Toronto with a passion for equity and inclusivity.
Recognized by Harmony Canada, Sonali consistently
strives to foster a safe and inclusive environment for the
LGBTQ+ community. She successfully spearheaded
campaigns for gender-neutral washrooms, sexual health
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
youth to meet each other, thus she has been involved
in planning events such as Halton Pride and the Halton
Pride Semi Formal. Sonali is constantly involving herself
in projects that will create a more inclusive environment.
education lessons to be more inclusive to the LGBTQ+
population, and for school guidelines to accommodate
transgender and gender non-conforming students in
her high school. Sonali believes it is crucial for LGBTQ+
Adolescents queer, non binaires et trans :
perspectives et enjeux contemporains au Canada
Les jeunes LGBTQ affirment leur identité queer,
non-binaire et trans à un plus jeune âge. Ils sont
confrontés à des défis bien différents de ceux des
générations précédentes. Pour cette table ronde
formée de spécialistes, quatre conférenciers dynamiques discuteront des enjeux, de la résilience et de l’activisme
de divers jeunes LGBTQ marginalisés. Deux chercheurs et deux jeunes leaders d’opinion mettront en lumière
les connaissances et les points de vue de jeunes LGBTQ qui vivent une plus grande exclusion sociale. Nous en
apprendrons plus sur les principaux obstacles et sur les lacunes en matière de santé, de politiques et de programmes
qui font une différence, et sur la façon de mettre à contribution l’énergie et les idées des jeunes eux-mêmes.
Animation :
Donna Turner coordonne la conception et la
mise en œuvre de stratégies et de documents de
communication pour Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario (SAO).
Elle est responsable de noter site Web et de notre
présence dans les medias sociaux et de la préparation
de noter infolettre mensuelle. Elle coordonne également
la production d’imprimes tels que des brochures, des
affiches, des cartes postales et des rapports. Elle dirige
les projets SAO à propos de la jeunesse, le tabagisme
et le cancer. Donna aide à la mise sur pied de réseaux
locaux, d’évènements et de partenariats dans les régions
suivantes : North Simcoe-Muskoka, Centre-Est et Sud-Est.
Nos experts :
Alex Abramovich, PhD, a travaillé pendant 10 ans
auprès des jeunes itinérants, qu’il s’agisse de personnes
lesbiennes, gaies, bisexuelles, transgenres, queers, en
questionnement ou bispirituelles (LGBTQ2S). Reconnu
à l’échelle internationale comme spécialiste de cette
clientèle, Alex est l’un des seuls chercheurs canadiens
à s’être penché sur le phénomène de l’itinérance chez
les jeunes queers et trans. Alex Abramovich a obtenu
son doctorat à l’Institut d’études pédagogiques de
l’Ontario (IEPO) de l’Université de Toronto. Alex travaille
présentement au Social and Epidemiological Research
Department du Centre de toxicomanie et de santé mentale (CAMH), où il poursuit ses travaux sur les jeunes
LGBTQ2S sans domicile fixe
72
et l’accès aux services de santé mentale. Ses travaux
portent sur les enjeux entourant l’homophobie et la transphobie dans les refuges et dans les organismes voués
à la jeunesse, sur l’expérience vécue par les jeunes
LGBTQ2S dans les réseaux de refuges et sur la façon
dont les enjeux politiques plus larges créent des contextes d’oppression pour les jeunes LGBTQ2S. Elizabeth M. Saewyc PhD, IA, FSAHM, FACSS,
est professeure en soins infirmiers et médecine pour
adolescents à l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique,
à Vancouver. La Dre Saewyc dirige le Stigma and
Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre, un centre
pour jeunes qui se trouve dans cet établissement
d’enseignement. Elizabeth est fellow de la Society for
Adolescent Health and Medicine et de l’Académie
canadienne des sciences de la santé. Depuis 20 ans,
elle concentre ses travaux et sa pratique sur les effets
de l’ostracisme, de la violence et des traumatismes
sur la santé des adolescents, sur les comportements
adaptatifs ou à risque et sur les facteurs de protection
dans les relations et les environnements susceptibles de
favoriser la résilience chez les jeunes en fugue ou vivant
dans la rue, sur les adolescents agressés ou exploités
sexuellement, de même que sur les adolescents,
les immigrants, les réfugiés LGBT, et sur les jeunes
autochtones.
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
Bridget Liang est métisse, handicapée, queer,
O N T A R I O
transféminine, neurodiverse et fat fangirl [fanatique
enthousiaste grosse]. Bridget s’est d’abord affirmée
queer à Hamilton, en Ontario, où elle a cofondé le
groupe jeunesse RADAR (RADAR Youth Group) du
LGBTQ Wellness Centre (« The Well »). RADAR est le
premier groupe queer dans une école secondaire à
Hamilton. Bridget a joué un rôle essentiel dans l’adoption
d’une politique d’équité au district scolaire de HamiltonWentworth. Au fil des années, Bridget a travaillé auprès
d’un grand nombre d’organismes et de groupements queer
et trans, à Hamilton et à Toronto. Bridget a aussi participé
à de la recherche communautaire et à des ateliers, animé
des groupes et évolué dans les arts de la scène.
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
Sonali Patel est étudiante de 2e année à l’Université
de Toronto. Passionnée par tout ce qui touche l’égalité
et l’inclusion, elle a été reconnue par Harmony Canada
et travaille sans relâche à favoriser un environnement
sûr et inclusif pour tous les membres de la communauté
LGBTQ+. Sonali a entre autres mis sur pied des
campagnes visant l’aménagement de salles de toilettes
neutres et de cours d’éducation sexuelle plus inclusifs
aptes à accommoder les étudiants transgenres ou de
genre non conforme. Sonali estime qu’il est essentiel pour
les jeunes LGBTQ+ de fraterniser. Dans cette optique,
elle a participé à l’organisation de Halton Pride et de
Halton Pride Semi Formal, deux événements liés à la
fierté gaie dans la région de Halton. Sonali Patel s’engage
régulièrement dans des projets visant à favoriser un
environnement plus inclusif.
73
Speaker Biographies
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
Jacques Abourbih received his medical
doctorate from McGill in 1973. After a year of
internship at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal,
Jacques continued training in surgery at University
of Toronto. Jacques specialized in Urology, where
he practiced surgery urology for 27 years. In the
past 10 years, he taught at the Northern Ontario
School of Medicine where he is currently associate
professor of surgery and recipient of Professor
Honorarius at his retirement on May 2nd, 2014.
Alex Abramovich, PhD, has worked in
the area of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender,
queer, questioning, and 2-Spirit (LGBTQ2S)
youth homelessness for 10 years. Alex is an
internationally recognized leader in the area of
LGBTQ2S youth homelessness and is one of few
Canadian researchers studying the phenomenon
of queer and trans youth homelessness. Alex
completed his Doctorate at the Ontario Institute
for Studies in Education (OISE), University of
Toronto. Alex currently works at the Centre for
Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in the Social
and Epidemiological Research Department, where
he is researching LGBTQ2S youth homelessness
and access to mental health services. Alex’s
research focuses on issues regarding
homophobia and transphobia in shelters and
youth serving organizations, the experiences that
LGBTQ2S young people have in the shelter system,
and how broader policy issues serve to create
oppressive contexts for LGBTQ2S youth.
Alex Abramovich, PhD, concentre ses
travaux sur l’itinérance chez les ja travaillé pendant
10 ans auprès des jeunes itinérants, qu’il s’agisse
de personnes lesbiennes, gaies, bisexuelles,
transgenres, queers, en questionnement ou
bispirituelles (LGBTQ2S). Reconnu à l’échelle
internationale comme spécialiste de cette clientèle,
Alex est l’un des seuls chercheurs canadiens à
s’être penché sur le phénomène de l’itinérance
chez les jeunes queers et trans. Alex Abramovich
a obtenu son doctorat à l’Institut d’études
pédagogiques de l’Ontario (IEPO) de l’Université de
Toronto. Alex travaille présentement au Social and
Epidemiological Research Department du Centre
de toxicomanie et de santé mentale (CAMH), où
il poursuit ses travaux sur les jeunes LGBTQ2S
sans domicile fixe et l’accès aux services de
santé mentale. Ses travaux portent sur les enjeux
74
M A T T E R S
entourant l’homophobie et la transphobie dans les
refuges et dans les organismes voués à la jeunesse,
sur l’expérience vécue par les jeunes LGBTQ2S
dans les réseaux de refuges et sur la façon dont les
enjeux politiques plus larges créent des contextes
d’oppression pour les jeunes LGBTQ2S. Barry D. Adam is Distinguished University
Professor of Sociology at the University of Windsor,
and Senior Scientist and Director of Prevention
Research at the Ontario HIV Treatment Network.
He collaborates with community groups to work on
research solutions to the health needs of the diverse
populations of gay and other men who have sex with
men including Resonance, Gay Strengths and the
Trans MSM studies.
Ronnie Ali (they/them) is a Counsellor at
Egale Youth Outreach, providing mental health
counselling, case management and advocacy
support to LGBTQ2S youth, ages 29 and under,
experiencing homelessness and/or suicide
crisis, or if they are not sure where else they
can go for help. They have a Master of Arts in
Counselling Psychology, 3 years of experience
providing psychological services to young adults,
with a specific focus on providing trans-positive
approaches to therapy.
Dawn Atwell, Practice Manager, Hamilton
Family Health Team and Ken Burgess, Family
Physician, Hamilton Family Health Team. These
participants will share the story of the steps their
primary care practice team took to increase positive
space and what the outcomes have been.
Inali Barger is a longstanding member of the
London Poetry Slam community. Having made the
local finals stage multiple years, performed on the
2012 Nationals team, hit a nationals stage at the
Canadian Individual Poetry Slam in 2014, and made
the national team again in 2015, Inali has had a wide
variety of performance opportunities. In the 8 years
performing in London as a spoken word artist, Inali
has also featured at AGMs for organizations such
as Family Services Thames Valley, written work
specifically for events such as the London History
Symposium at Aeolian Hall, and facilitated spoken
word writing and performance workshops for all
ages. Some of their performance themes include
Stigma and Oppression, Youth Empowerment/Power
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
C O N F E R E N C E
Joan Beecroft is a retired teacher and recipient of
of Voice, Strength/Hope/Experience, & General Showcase.
Their workshop themes include Speak Your Truth/Show
the Love, Tarzan Ropes/Original Metaphors, Poet Activism,
Community building through the arts.
Betty Jo Barrett is the Assistant Dean of Academic
and Student Success for the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and
Social Sciences and an Associate Professor of Social Work
and Women’s Studies at the University of Windsor. For over
ten years, she has conducted research on intimate partner
violence. Prior to her current position, she contributed to antiviolence efforts as a feminist social worker serving survivors
of sexual violence and families involved with the child
welfare system.
Bruce Baskerville is a Senior Scientist with the
University of Waterloo, Propel Centre for Population Health
Impact and an Adjunct Professor with the University of
Waterloo, School of Public Health and Health Systems. He
is a mixed-methods researcher with over 20 years of public
and private sector experience in applied research and
program evaluation in the behavioural and management
sciences putting research into action to create change. At
Propel, Bruce conducts tobacco control research with a
focus on reducing health disparities.
the YMCA Peace Medallion. She was the facilitator of the
youth group Pride and Prejudice Grey Bruce through ARCH,
compiled the book “Growing Up Gay in Grey and Bruce”,
and organized Owen Sound pride celebrations, collaborated
on compiling a Rainbow resource box and wrote an
educational guide available for youth workers and teachers.
She is also the educational consultant and key support
person to youth involved in Sheatre’s “Be Our Ally”.
Maud Bélanger, MD, FRCS(C), obtained her
medical degree in 2005 from Laval University in Quebec
City. In 2010, she completed her residency in plastic
surgery at the University of Montreal and went on to do her
fellowship in microsurgery and breast reconstructive surgery
at the renowned University of UZ Ghent in Belgium. Prior
to dedicating her medical practice to a purely private one,
Dr. Bélanger was an attending doctor at Hôtel Dieu de StJérôme. She receives patients in Montréal and also at her
office at St-Jérôme.
Dr. Bélanger is a member of:
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
• Quebec Association of Specialists in Plastic and
Aesthetic Surgery
• Collège des Médecins du Québec
Bruce Baskerville est préposé principal à la
recherche, Université de Waterloo, Propel Centre for
Population Health Impact, professeur adjoint, Université
de Waterloo, École de santé publique et des systèmes
de santé, Waterloo (Ontario). Chercheur utilisant une
méthodologie de recherche mixte, il compte plus de 20 ans
d’expérience dans les secteurs public et privé en recherche
appliquée et évaluation de programmes dans le domaine
des sciences du comportement et de la gestion, et travaille à
transposer la recherche en action concrète afin d’amorcer le
changement. Chez Propel, Bruce travaille en recherche sur
le contrôle du tabagisme, particulièrement en réduction des
disparités en matière de santé.
Greta Bauer, PhD, is an Associate Professor
and Graduate Chair in Epidemiology & Biostatistics, in
the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at Western
University. She has almost two decades of training and
experience in quantitative health research methodology
specific to LGBT communities. She has published 36
academic papers or chapters on lesbian, gay, bisexual and/
or trans health topics, including 8 on research methodology.
2 0 1 6
• American Society of Plastic Surgeons
• Société Canadienne de Chirurgie Esthétique Plastique
• World Professional Association for Transgender Health
Conseil Médical Canadien (LMCC)
Monica Bennett has over 25 years of experience
in the not-for-profit sector creating successful partnerships,
developing and implementing programming, and
developing policies and practices that improve personal and
organizational health. She has a specialized background
in commercial tobacco control, sexual health and sexual
and gender diversity. Monica currently work’s for Smokers’
Helpline as a regional coordinator dedicated to increasing
the capacity of health care providers, community service
organizations and others to integrate tobacco cessation
into their practice and programming and the knowledge
of cessation support services that are available both to
practitioners and to quitters.
75
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
Sonny Berenson is a trans-identified community
facilitator and artist. As a coordinator and facilitator, they are
dedicated to continually creating safer, accessible spaces
for individuals and the complex intersectional identities they
hold. As a community based artist, they have organized and
participated in numerous events across Canada and value
the power of art in asking questions, challenging assumptions
and building community. They use a variety of art mediums
throughout these programs, in ways that promote self-care,
and access to community and relationship building.
Vincent Bolt is a Laurentian University Alumnus with an
Honours Degree in English Literature. He is currently enrolled
in the School of Indigenous Relations Honours Bachelor of
Indigenous Social Work Program at Laurentian University. He
has been active in the transgender community since 2007. He
is passionate about his work as the Project Coordinator for TG
Innerselves. When he has spare time he likes to spend it curled
up with a good book and his adopted bunny Winter.
Jackie Bootsma MSW, RSW, Mental Health
Counsellor, is an active member of the Hamilton Family Health
Team’s Positive Working Group and active in community
advocacy.
Dale Boyle is the Community Development Coordinator
M A T T E R S
Jay Bruneau is a youth from Sudbury who has been
advocating for 4 years now. Jay is a youth from the foster
care system who believe that the voice of young people are
important and believes that everyone voice should be elevated.
Ken Burgess, Family Physician, Hamilton Family Health
Team and Dawn Atwell, Practice Manager, Hamilton Family
Health Team. These participants will share the story of the
steps their primary care practice team took to increase positive
space and what the outcomes have been.
Sarah Burtch has been working in the HIV sector for
15 years. In her role as the Women’s Community Development
Coordinator at Positive Living Niagara she has been working to
enhance local community capacity to serve women living with
or at risk of HIV. Sarah is also one of the co-investigators on
the What’s Up With Older LGBTQ Folks in Niagara? project.
Joan Chandler is a producer, director, writer, arts
educator and workshop facilitator. Her work focuses on
interactive productions about social issues, and on plays that
celebrate community and the creative spirit. Joan has a keen
ability to work with groups, collaboratively spinning new plays
with, by and about their own stories and concerns. She is also
an award-winning script writer. She is the founding Artistic
Director of the professional community arts company Sheatre.
Joan lives near Wiarton, Ontario.
at the Gilbert Centre. Dale has over four years and 100 guest
speaking roles supporting LGBT work in rural and suburban
communities. Previously, he worked as the Gilbert Centre’s
Youth Programs Coordinator, facilitating youth groups
throughout the county. Dale also started the Ally Campaign,
which focuses around providing LGBT awareness and
education workshops to not for profits, educational institutions,
community groups, and more.
Tamara Chipperfield is the Director of Mental
Health and Addictions at Centretown Community Health Centre
in Ottawa. Tamara has worked in the field of Mental Health and
Addictions for over ten years in the Ottawa area. Over the last
year Tamara has had the pleasure of supporting, along with
her CCHC colleagues, capacity building within the community
health sector.
David J. Brennan, PhD, is an Associate Professor
Victoria Corbett is a youth from Sault Ste Marie who
of Social Work at the University of Toronto and Ontario HIV
Treatment Network Applied HIV Research Chair in Gay and
Bisexual Men’s Health. Dr. Brennan’s community-based
research program focuses on marginalized gay, bisexual, twospirit and other men who have sex with men. He has examined
resilience among two-spirit HIV-positive men, body image
among gay men of color, and online outreach and health
promotion via mobile apps. His research is also supported by
the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research, and focuses on
the health and well-being of gay, bisexual, two-spirit and other
MSM.
76
has been advocating for two and a half years. Victoria uses her
own lived experiences to create change in her community.
Kusha Dadui is the Tran Program Coordinator at
Sherbourne Health Centre in Toronto. He came here as a
refugee from Iran about 20 years ago and has worked with
The 519 Community Centre, Iranian Queer Organization and
a Chelteke, a queer collective to improve the lives of Queer
and Trans refugees. He currently works with trans* youth and
mostly trans* newcomers.
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
Andrea Daley is Associate Professor in the School of
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
aînés lors de cérémonies et aime partager sa passion pour
le tambour. Sharp est titulaire d’une maîtrise en études
canadiennes et d’un baccalauréat spécialisé en assistance
sociale. Sharp est également ceinture noire 2e Dan en
taekwondo.
Social Work at York University. She has published on social
justice issues including those impacting sexual and gender
minority communities with a particular focus on access
to equitable and good quality health care; lesbian/queer
women’s experiences of psychiatric services; and gender,
sexuality, race, and class and the interpretative nature of
psychiatric chart documentation as it relates to psychiatric
narratives of women’s mental distress.
Ilana David is a social worker with the Gender-Based
Violence Prevention Office in the Toronto District School
Board, providing a range of support and consultation services
to schools and families. Ilana facilitates groups for parents/
caregivers of trans* and gender independent students; provides
counselling services to students in the Triangle Program,
Canada’s only LGBTQ alternative school; and advocates for
safe and inclusive school climates across the TDSB. Lara Descartes has a PhD in Anthropology from the
University of Michigan. She is faculty in Family Studies at
Brescia University College. She has published on the topics
of LGBT health and aging, qualitative research, support
exchange, work and family, and media and family. Her current
work is with sexual minority single parents.
Christoffer Dharma is an MSc Candidate in
Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Western University. He earned
his BSc at Simon Fraser University in statistics and psychology.
His master’s project evaluates different measures of sexual
orientation commonly used in population health surveys.
Sharp Dopler is of Sauk/Fox, Cherokee and Irish
descent and has worked on LGBTT2SQA issues professionally
and personally since coming out around 1983. Sharp has
extensive experience as a presenter including presentations
at National and International gatherings. Sharp serves the
Indigenous community as a traditional Helper to the Elders in
ceremony and enjoys sharing the gift of the drum. Sharp has a
Master’s Degree in Canadian Studies and an honours diploma
in Social Service Work. Sharp also holds a second Dan (or 2nd
degree) Black Belt in Taekwon Do.
Sharp Dopler
dont l’origine autochtone descendante
des Sauk-Fox et des Cherokees se mêle à du sang irlandais,
porte un intérêt professionnel et personnel aux questions
LGBBTTQA depuis l’affirmation de son identité, vers 1983.
Sharp possède une vaste expérience de présentateur et
est monté en tribune à maintes reprises lors d’événements
nationaux et internationaux. Sharp travaille auprès des
communautés autochtones en tant qu’aide traditionnel aux
77
Sabrena Dorris, BSc, MA - Sabrena is currently
the Communications/Operations Manager at the Hamilton
Family Health Team (HFHT). She has been with the HFHT
for 10 years and recently completed her MA in Professional
Communication. Prior to joining the HFHT Sabrena worked
for the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University
and began her professional career working for Franklin Covey,
a global company specializing in leadership, productivity
and performance improvement. As a member of the HFHT
Positive Working group, Sabrena brings a passion for raising
awareness and educating interprofessional teams in family
practice settings on how they can create positive spaces for
the LGBTQ community.
Anne Dubé is a clinical nurse and a member of the
Ordre des infirmiers et infirmières du Québec who joined the
GRS Montréal team in 2012. She works mainly as a pivot and
liaison nurse for the trans clientele and works closely with
the various stakeholders involved in the surgical process.
Anne plays a vital role for the trans clientele by carrying out
personalized follow-ups and ensuring the most beneficial
experience possible, all in an environment that emphasizes
the quality and safety of care and services.
Max Ducsharm is a harm reduction worker at Queen
West Community Health Centre. He has been involved in
initiatives to improve health and social services for trans folks
for over 4 years. He continues to work from a communitydriven, harm reduction perspective to try to break down some
of the barriers experienced by trans folks who are living in
poverty.
Karly Dudar is a recent graduate of the Master of
Public Health at Queen’s University, and a member of the
OPHA. Karly is a former committee member of the Sexuality
and Gender Diversity at Laurentian University where she
participated in knowledge translation around their Climate
Survey, which assessed the LGBTQ2-S climate across
campus including faculty, staff, and students. Karly has
equally been involved with the Clinical Sciences department
at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in developing
LGBTQ2-S curriculum for undergraduate medical learners,
alongside Dr. Jacques Abourbih.
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
Sarah Eckler is a family doctor who works at Queen
West Community Health Centre. She has worked in the
Community Health Centre (CHC) sector for the past 9 years.
She has been providing health care to transgender and
gender non conforming clients for the past 5 years and has
a keen interest in this area of medicine.
Lindsay Elin, MSW, RSW is an individual and
family therapist with an interest in attachment and healthy
relationships in LGBTQ communities. She has done
counselling and community work within feminist and LGBTQ
communities for the past 14 years. She currently works in
the Pride and Prejudice Program at Central Toronto Youth
Services, where she specializes in working with trans* youth
and their families, and facilitates groups for parents of trans*
youth. She also has a small private practice in Toronto.
Insiya Essajee is currently counsel at the Ontario
Human Rights Commission. She has a BSc. (2007) from
McMaster University and a JD (2011) from the University of
Toronto, where she received the John Yaremko Award in
Human Rights and Judy LaMarsh Prize for Feminist Analysis
of Law. Ms. Essajee has been at the Commission since
2011, and appeared before the Human Rights Tribunal of
Ontario, Ontario Superior Court of Justice, and Court of
Appeal for Ontario.
Stephen Feder, MD, graduated from McGill medical
school in 1976 and became a member of the Canadian
College of Family Physicians in 1979. He obtained his
MPH and clinical fellowship in Adolescent Health from the
University of Minnesota 1991. Dr. Feder is currently Head,
Division of Adolescent Medicine, at the Children’s Hospital of
Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and he has been the Co-director of
the Diversity Clinic at CHEO since 2011
Stephen Feder, MD, a obtenu son diplôme de
la faculté de médecine de l’Université McGill en 1976 et
est devenu membre du Collège des médecins de famille
du Canada en 1979. Il a obtenu sa maîtrise en santé
publique et effectué son stage postdoctoral en santé des
adolescents à l’Université du Minnesota en 1991. Le Dr
Feder est présentement chef de la division de médecine
des adolescents du Centre hospitalier pour enfants de l’est
de l’Ontario (CHEO). Il est codirecteur de la Clinique de
diversité de cet établissement depuis 2011.
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
Corey E. Flanders, PhD, is a Postdoctoral
Research Fellow with the Re:searching for LGBTQ Health
Team, affiliated with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health
at the University of Toronto. Her research interests include
understanding the positive and negative experiences of
mental, sexual, and reproductive health among sexual and
gender minority people, as well as the factors that influence
those experiences.
Agnieszka Forfa is a queer-identified cis femme,
community facilitator, artist and counsellor. Coming out as
crazy several years ago, Agnieszka became politicized
about mental health and healing, and found direction,
strength and care in the disability justice movement.
Located in Toronto, with childhood roots on the Baltic Shore,
Agnieszka spends most of her time thinking, dreaming,
talking and creating around madness, healing and justice.
Most recently, she has been published in Make/Shift
magazine, facilitated the Our Mad Selves group at SOY, and
continues to work in her counseling practice.
Anna Gaby-Trotz, printmaker and photographer,
believes in the transformative power of art. She has a BA (Fine
Arts) from the University of Guelph and MFA (printmaking)
from the University of Alberta. She has built inner city arts
programs in Edmonton, worked for the Haliburton School of
the Arts and Georgian College, and founded a printmaking
studio in Huntsville. Anna also travels to the most remote
places in Canada to explore our relationship to the land. She
is the technical lead of Open Studio, Toronto and Associate
Artist with Sheatre, based in Kemble, Ontario.
Lorraine Gale, MSW, has built CAS-Toronto’s
capacity to provide affirming and equitable services for
LGBTQ children, youth and families for 18 years, through
education, consultation, policy and celebration. She authored
CAS-Toronto’s Out and Proud Affirmation Guidelines: Practice
Guidelines for Equity in Gender and Sexual Diversity, using a
strength-based, anti-oppressive approach. She also designed
and facilitated workshops for parents of LGBTQ youth through
Delisle Youth Services in Toronto.
Kathleen Gamble is a PhD candidate at York
University in the Gender, Feminist and Women’s Studies
Program and is the CRT’s research assistant Her research
focuses on historical and legal representations of HIV/AIDS,
histories of sexualities, Canadian health policy, and the social
determinants of health. As well, Kathleen has held sessional
teaching positions at Queen’s University, Western University,
Trent University and the University of Toronto where she has
taught on a variety of topics related to her research interests.
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R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
Elys Gardiner is an 18 year old activist, musician,
C O N F E R E N C E
Margaret F. Gibson, MSW, PhD, is a researcher,
writer, and political science student at the University of
Ottawa. They identify with the labels: agender, bisexual
and mentally ill, using lived experience from these
communities and the stories of others as sources for their
activism. Originally from Brockville, Ontario, Elys began their
advocacy work through founding the Equity Group at their
high school. From there, they went on to give presentations,
teach workshops, and do consultations with the Upper
Canada School Board, and Ministry of Education for Ontario.
Since joining the “You Are Not Alone” project and “Be Our
Ally” subcommittee through the Office of the Provincial
Advocate for Children and Youth in 2013, they have
journeyed with the group through organizing submissions,
creating recommendations, writing videos and giving
presentations to diverse audiences. Apart from advocacy
work, Elys spends their time studying, writing music, and
debating at Ontario Youth Parliament. They continue to learn
and grow as a person, seeking to advocate for the rights of
marginalized groups politically and in daily life. social worker, and LGBTQ parent. She is the editor of a
recent book collection, “Queering Motherhood: Narrative
and Theoretical Perspectives” (Demeter Press, 2014) as
well as the author of articles appearing in journals including
Signs: A Journal of Women and Culture; the British Journal of
Social Work; The Canadian Social Work Review; and Culture,
Health, and Sexuality.
Loralee Gillis, Research and Policy Coordinator,
Rainbow Health Ontario, is responsible for promoting the
development of LGBTQ health research in Ontario and for
encouraging public policy that supports LGBT health. She
coordinates a network of 40 researchers across Ontario
whose work focuses on LGBTQ health. Loralee is a coinvestigator on several large team grants. She also works
with a team of research assistants and community partners
to produce fact sheets about particular areas of LGBTQ
health research. Loralee leads RHO’s policy initiatives,
and writes policy briefs about issues that affect LGBTQ
communities in Ontario. Loralee supports the development
of local networks, events and partnerships in the following
Regions: Erie St. Clair, South West, Waterloo Wellington, and
Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant.
Golnaz Ghaderi
is a master’s student in the
Applied Psychology program at Laurentian University.
Golnaz obtained her BA (Honours) in psychology from
York University, and Master of Education in Developmental
Psychology and Education from OISE, the faculty of
education at University of Toronto. Golnaz is a committee
member of the RSIG at OADD conference, where she
participates in planning and organization of annual
conferences in developmental disabilities. Golnaz is also a
member of Canadian Psychological Association (CPA).
anya gwynne is a performance artist and
professional queer living in Peterborough, Ontario. They
facilitate the Rainbow Youth Program at Peterborough
AIDS Resource Network and are passionate about creative
approaches to education.
Laura Gibbon is an Education and Training
Specialist and Facilitator at The 519. She works specifically
on anti-homophobia and anti-transphobia campaigns and
delivering queer and trans inclusion training to a wide range
of organizations across the GTA. She has primarily focused
her efforts on working with folks who provide services to
older LGBTQ adults, ensuring that care environments are
safe and welcoming for aging members of the community.
Rachel Giblon completed her undergraduate
2 0 1 6
degree in biophysics at York University, with a focus on
electrophysiology and neural response patterns. More
recently, she has become interested in working in community
research, addressing the social and economic barriers
faced by gender minorities, in particular those face by trans
people. She is currently finishing her MSc. in Epidemiology
& Biostatistics at Western University, investigating health
inequalities for trans people living in Ontario.
Sharon Hagan-Vetzal has been involved with
the trans community for many years, attending conferences
in Ontario and the U.S. She has volunteered with PFLAG
Canada, Durham Region since 2010, during which time she
assisted with LGBTQ educational presentations, facilitated
monthly group drop-in meetings for LGBTQ people, allies
and family members looking for support and information, as
well as being on the Board of Directors for a year. She has
also assisted with a Gender Journeys group for Parents of
Transgender children in Oshawa with the Oshawa Community
Health Centre before joining the Gender Journeys CMHA
HKPR.
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B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
Roya Haghiri-Vijeh obtained her Bachelor of
Nursing in 2007 from University of New Brunswick in
Collaboration with Humber College. She completed her
Masters of Nursing (Honours) with stream in Health policy and
Education from Ryerson University. Roya has been involved as
co-investigator in several research projects on topics of policy,
online education, simulation, and peer mentorship for nursing
students and sole author of the article “The Importance of
Including Needs of the LGBTIQ community in Millennium
Development Goals and the Education of Healthcare
Professionals” for the Journal of Global Citizenship & Equity
Education. Roya has been a faculty of nursing program at
Centennial College since 2010.
Peter Hall is a Registered Psychotherapist, Canadian
Certified Counsellor, and Canadian Certified Counsellor—
Supervisor working on the LGBT Team at the Sherbourne
Health Centre (an established community-based primary
healthcare centre in downtown Toronto). He is also an
Associate Faculty member at Yorkville University, and an
Adjunct Instructor in the University of Toronto’s FactorInwentash Faculty of Social Work. His clinical, educational,
and research interests include LGBT issues, psychotherapist/
counsellor education and supervision, education in the
health professions, and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
He is currently involved in post-doctoral studies in the field
of education in the health professions in the Faculties of
Education and Medicine at The Johns Hopkins University.
Darlyn Hansen is 75 years old and came out in 2006.
She is one of the founding members of TG Innerselves, and her
role is Community Relation and Education to the general public
and making aviaries of who we are.
Eric Hargreaves has been supporting queer youth
in the Quinte Region for many years and has been a loved
fixture in the LGBTTQQ community for many more. He is a
talented and experienced workshop facilitator. He brings his
sense of humour, joy, and gentle compassion to each project
he tackles. Don’t let his playfulness fool you – there is no
stronger advocate for queer youth in the Quinte community.
With a background in mental health and theology, Eric has
shown himself to be consistently and reliably available to his
community.
M A T T E R S
Kate Hazell identifies as queer and femme. She works
as a Facilitator of Education and Training at The 519 and she
is a certified Activation Coordinator with a specialization in
gerontology. Kate has been a front-line worker in long-term
care, adult day program and drop-in settings. She volunteers
as a pen pal for the LGBTQ Prisoner Correspondence Project
and as the editor of a collaborative (maga)zine called Femmes
in Space.
Beck Hood is a trans identified Trainer and Public
Educator at Family Services Ottawa. He provides community
development, education, advocacy and workshops regarding
gender identity and gender expression. Beck works closely
with families, school boards, resource and health centres to
provide education and support around social transitioning.
Sue Hranilovic, MN, NP-PHC, ACRN, considers
herself an “old nurse” and a “newer nurse practitioner”. As
a Masters-prepared Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner
and an AIDS Certified Nurse, Sue has provided hospital,
community and primary health care in Toronto’s inner city
for over 25 years. Her practice has included patients living
with HIV, those injecting drugs and those on methadone
maintenance, transgender patients, patients with mental
health issues and those infected with hepatitis C. She has
a commitment to continuing involvement in professional
development and community-based volunteer activities
which have included Board of Directors positions for the
Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, the Ontario HIV
Treatment Network and Fife House Foundation. Sue is proud
to have been one of the founding members of the Committee
for Accessible AIDS Treatment and to have participated
in volunteer nursing in Zimbabwe. She has done over 60
presentations to colleagues, patients and community and has
received ten awards related to excellence in academia and
clinical care. Sue’s high level of expertise and commitment
to working with diverse, marginalized, stigmatized, at-risk
and vulnerable populations has served her both locally and
internationally, and she hopes to continue nurturing the
resilience of the clients she walks with, learns from and
serves.
Sue Hranilovic,
MSc, inf., IP – soins primaires, IP –
soins du SIDA, se considère comme une « vieille » infirmière
et comme une « nouvelle infirmière praticienne ». En tant
qu’infirmière praticienne spécialisée en soins primaires titulaire
d’une maîtrise, elle offre des soins en milieu hospitalier et
communautaire et des soins primaires à Toronto depuis plus
de 25 ans. Dans le cadre de sa pratique, elle a pris en charge
des personnes vivant avec le VIH, des personnes utilisatrices
de drogues injectables ou en traitement d’entretien à la
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R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
méthadone, des patients transgenres, aux prises avec
des problèmes de santé mentale ou atteintes de l’hépatite
C. Mme Hranilovic travaille en continu en développement
professionnel et à des activités communautaires bénévoles.
Elle a notamment siégé aux conseils d’administration de la
Canadian Association of Nurses in AIDS Care, de l’Ontario
HIV Treatment Network et de la Fife House Foundation. Sue
Hranilovic est fière de faire partie des membres fondateurs
du Committee for Accessible AIDS Treatment, et d’avoir
travaillé comme infirmière bénévole au Zimbabwe. Elle a
effectué plus de 60 présentations à des collègues, des
patients et dans des communautés, et elle a reçu 10 prix
d’excellence dans le domaine universitaire et des soins
cliniques. Son degré d’expertise élevé et son engagement à
travailler auprès des personnes marginalisées, stigmatisées,
vulnérables et à risque l’ont motivée tant à l’échelle locale
qu’à l’échelle internationale, et elle espère continuer à
favoriser la résilience des personnes qu’elle sert, auprès
de qui elle chemine et qui lui permettent de poursuivre son
apprentissage.
Jaden Hsin-Yun Peng graduated from Gender
Studies and Mental Rehabilitation (Clinical Psychology), as a
vocational case manager who worked on the issue of gender
and work quality. She is a person with strong passion and
positive attitude. Her work experience equipped her with
advanced empathy and counseling skills to work with clients
in radical acceptance. To serve underprivileged people in
non-government organization and city welfare department
inspires her to be an open-minded person who is motivated
and willing to give.
Stephan Imbeau is a third year medical student
from rural Northern Ontario. Born and raised in Elliot Lake
he attended Laurentian University in Sudbury where he
received his Honors Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing.
He then worked in the emergency care setting at Health
Sciences North while participating in research on Aboriginal
adolescent diabetes management. Now in his third year of
medical school at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine
he has participated in the formulation of an epidemiological/
educational tool for the betterment of LGBT2-SQ health care.
He is the co-editor in chief of the OnExam App and is the 3rd
year representative for family medicine on the East campus.
His interests include family medicine, anesthesia, emergent
care and the insurance that all demographics receive
exceptional and equal health care.
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
Andy Inkster, MA is the Health Promoter for the
LGBTQ Parenting Network. Andy has been involved in queer
and trans family planning work since 2005 as a member of
the Trans Fathers 2B working group. He co-facilitates Queer
& Trans Family Planning, a course developed in partnership
between The 519 and the LGBTQ Parenting Network.
Randy Jackson is a PhD candidate in the School
of Social Work at McMaster University. Originally from
Kettle and Stony Point First Nation (Anishinaabe), Jackson’s
research has been supported by CIHR and by the OHTN.
Jackson explores lived experience among Aboriginal
peoples living with HIV and AIDS (APHAs). Working
alongside community organizations, his thesis focuses on
experiences of depression among APHAs in ways that adapt
life course in narrative inquiry using Indigenous knowledge.
Sarah James-Abra, MSW, RSW, is a Social
Worker in the Child, Youth, and Family Program at Lakeridge
Health in Oshawa, Ontario. She received an Honours
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sexuality Studies from
York University and went on to complete her Master of Social
Work at the University of Toronto. For her Master’s thesis,
Sarah explored trans people’s experiences with assisted
reproduction (AR) services, under the supervision of Dr. Lori
E. Ross.
Rob Kerr, MD, CCF(EM), FRCP, is a family physician
from Hamilton and a member of the Hamilton Family Health
Team (HFHT). Chair of the HFHT’s Positive Space Committee
(HFHT Positive), he was recently honoured by the College
of Family Physicians for his work in furthering LGBT health in
the Hamilton region.
Ed Kucharski is a Regional Primary Care Lead
(Toronto Central LHIN South) for Cancer Care Ontario. He
is also a practicing Family Physician at Sherbourne Health
Centre where he was Medical Director from 2009-2012. Ed
focuses on health inequities of marginalized populations,
Quality Improvement and teaching LGBT Primary Care. Dr.
Kucharski holds his Doctorate in Medicine from the University
of Ottawa and completed his residency in Family Medicine at
the University of Toronto.
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B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
Maaya Kuri Hitomi is a Master’s student in Applied
Social Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan and a vocal
advocate for transgender rights in Saskatoon. Her research
addresses the issues of transgender identities and the prejudice
and discrimination faced by transgender communities, and is
written to highlight explicitly the oppression and marginalization
faced by these communities in the healthcare fields.
Tara La Rose, PhD, is Assistant Professor in the Trent
University BSW Program. Her research focuses on digital
media as a tool for professional critique and community
education.
M A T T E R S
Marjolaine Landry a effectué son stage au Centre
de solidarité lesbienne et par la suite, elle a été embauchée à
titre d’intervenante. Elle se spécialise en violence conjugale,
orientation sexuelle et sexologique. Outre l’intervention, Mme
Landry anime le groupe de discussion pour lesbiennes,
conférence, cinéma, etc. De plus, elle prépare et présente
des ateliers sur la sexualité qui sont très courus et appréciés
par les lesbiennes du CSL. Depuis peu, elle a une chronique
sexologique pour Lez spread the word (LSTW), référence
lesbienne dans les médias sociaux.
Julie Lassonde est une avocate bilingue, membre
Ashley Lacombe-Duncan is a second year PhD
student at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the
University of Toronto. Over the past few years, Ashley has had
the opportunity to work in a research and evaluation capacity in
diverse settings including: community-based mental health and
health organizations, a research institution, a private charitable
foundation, a policy/advocacy group, and hospitals. Ashley’s
work focuses on hard-to-reach women living with HIV who were
experiencing homelessness, mental health and substance use
issues and/or were involved in sex work.
Lu Lam, MEd, CCC, is a Chinese-Taiwanese trans-
identified Counsellor for David Kelley LGBTTQQI2SA+ & HIV/
AIDS Counselling, Family Service Toronto. Lu is a trained adult
educator who is skilled in facilitating processes that bridge
complex theories into simple practices. He has provided gender
identity awareness and mindfulness based trainings on burn
out and compassionate listening/communication for the Toronto
community health, social service and post-secondary sectors.
His graduate research focused on developing conceptual
counselling frameworks for diverse trans and gender diverse
clients by integrating decolonizing and trauma informed
approaches. Lu has over 17 years of frontline counselling and
group facilitation serving communities who are marginalized. He
is passionate about framing mindfulness as pedagogy for social
justice in the mental health field. To find a wakeful balance in his
work, Lu has a daily meditation practice of 7 years, and attends
yearly meditation retreats.
Marjolaine Landry completed her internship at the
Centre de solidarité lesbienne and was later hired as a case
worker. She specializes in spousal abuse, and sexual and
sexological orientation. In addition to being a case worker,
Ms. Landry facilitates the lesbian discussion group. She also
prepares and delivers workshops on sexuality, which are very
popular among lesbians at the CSL. She has recently started
a sex column for Lez spread the word (LSTW), a go-to social
media site for lesbians.
82
du Barreau du Haut-Canada et du Barreau du Québec. Au
cours des dernières années, elle a développé une entreprise
de consultation, de recherche et de traduction se spécialisant
dans les domaines du genre, de la sexualité et de la justice
sociale. De 2010 à 2012, l’un de ses projets principaux a
été la construction de la première maison d’hébergement
francophone à Toronto. Pour plus d’information, voir www.
jlassonde.com.
Julie Lassonde is a bilingual lawyer and member of
the Law Society of Upper Canada and the Barreau du Québec.
Over the past few years, she has developed a consulting,
research and translation business specializing in gender,
sexuality and social justice. From 2010 to 2012, one of her
main projects was to build the first Francophone safe house in
Toronto. For more information, go to www.jlassonde.com.
Mari LeBlanc is a researcher and student in the Ryerson
University Bachelor of Social Work program. She is interested in
research on the social determinants of health as they relate to
LGBTQ communities and creating spaces that are inclusive of
LGBTQ health needs. In 2015, she did a social work placement at
the Canadian Cancer Society. Her research poster summarizes
research she did during her placement.
Lezlie Lee Kam identifies as a brown, carib, trini,
callaloo dyke. Lezlie advocates for lesbians of colour and is a
co-founder of Lesbian Organization of Toronto, the proud and
visible coalition and world majority lesbians. Lezlie currently
volunteers at Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, as a health
ambassador with the Canadian Cancer Society “Get Screened”
program and with The 519. Lezlie co-chairs the Senior Pride
Network. Lezlie lives their life from an AOP and it ‘colours’ their
view of the world.
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
Laura Legere completed her Master’s of Science in
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
Stacey Love-Jolicoeur, in addition to her work
Nursing at York University, was the recipient of York’s 2015
Nursing Thesis Award, and was also awarded an Ontario
Graduate Scholarship for her qualitative thesis on lesbian and
bisexual reproductive cancer survivors and their interactions
with health care providers. She currently works as a Nursing
Research Associate with the Registered Nurses’ Association
of Ontario and is an active member of the Rainbow Nursing
Interest Group.
Melissa L. Legge, MSW, is a PhD student at
the School of Social Work at McMaster University and a
member of the Re:searching for LGBTQ Health Team. Her
doctoral research focuses on the well-being of humans,
including LGBTQ people, and other animals in shared social
environments through an analysis of the involvement of otherthan-human animals in social work practice in Ontario.
Bridget Liang is a mixed race, queer, transfeminine,
neurodiverse, disabled, fat fangirl. They came into their
queerness in Hamilton Ontario and co-founded RADAR Youth
Group at the LGBTQ Wellness Centre (the Well), the first queer
group in a high school in Hamilton, and were instrumental in the
passing of an equity policy in the HWDSB. They have worked
for a number of queer/trans organizations and groups over the
years both in Hamilton and Toronto. They have been involved
with community research, workshop and group facilitation, and
doing performance art.
Bridget Liang est métisse, handicapée, queer,
transféminine, neurodiverse et fat fangirl [fanatique
enthousiaste grosse]. Bridget s’est d’abord affirmée queer à
Hamilton, en Ontario, où elle a cofondé le groupe jeunesse
RADAR (RADAR Youth Group) du LGBTQ Wellness Centre
(« The Well »). RADAR est le premier groupe queer dans une
école secondaire à Hamilton. Bridget a joué un rôle essentiel
dans l’adoption d’une politique d’équité au district scolaire
de Hamilton-Wentworth. Au fil des années, Bridget a travaillé
auprès d’un grand nombre d’organismes et de groupements
queer et trans, à Hamilton et à Toronto. Bridget a aussi
participé à de la recherche communautaire et à des ateliers,
animé des groupes et évolué dans les arts de la scène.
Carmen Logie is an Assistant Professor at the Factor-
Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto and
an Adjunct Scientist at Women’s College Research Institute.
Dr. Logie’s research focus is health equity, with particular
attention to the associations between intersectional forms of
stigma, access to care, and health outcomes. She has active
programs of research in collaboration with LGBTQ populations,
and people living with HIV in Canada, Jamaica, Swaziland and
Lesotho.
83
with Gender Journeys, volunteers as the coordinator with
the TRANSforum group in Belleville Ontario. She is an active
member for the RYO (Rainbow Youth Organizing
Committee) and the organizing committee for Belleville
Pride. Stacey is a two-spirited Métis Trans woman with a
strong passion for the betterment of the LGBTQ2S
community. Her work involves coordination, group
facilitation and presentations on diversity that supports
the LGBTQ2S community. Her passion and insight into
Tran’s issues is a welcomed resource to the many groups
with whom she works.
Judith MacDonnell is Associate Professor in the
School of Nursing at York University and studies LGBTQ access
and equity issues in health and education. She completed
graduate work in Sociology and Equity Studies in Education.
and was a founding member of the Rainbow Nursing Interest
Group of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO).
Yaz Martens is a Toronto youth artist and advocate.
She is dedicated to bettering the lives of youth with a personal
focus on mental health and queer advocacy.
Betsy Martin is a queer mother, grandmother,
and great grandmother who lives in Kaministiquia – a rural
community north of Thunder Bay. Betsy was raised in the
Mennonite community where she did not have any exposure
to “gay people”. She quit school and left home at a young
age, and aside from parenting she spent the first half of her
life as a physical labourer. Betsy later completed her HBSW at
Lakehead University, and has been a social worker in the north
for the past 25 years. During the 90’s she worked in a women’s
shelter providing groups and services for adult survivor’s of
child sexual abuse. She spent several years in another small
program that worked with First Nations residential school
survivors. She has been working with Children’s Centre
Thunder Bay, a local children’s mental health agency for the
past 15 years. The bulk of Betsy’s work has been assisting
children and families who have been affected by violence,
bereavement, and trauma. Betsy is also a co-facilitator for The
Other 10% - a youth group for kids who identify as LGBTTQ,
and are often struggling with identity, isolation, and minority
stress. She had her first opportunity to work with Rainbow
Health Ontario several years ago as a member of the advisory
committee for the gender independent children’s project. Two
beliefs that guide my own work are an understanding of
the capacity of the human spirit to “become whole” under
adverse circumstances, and an understanding of the role that
community plays in nurturing and advocating for each other,
resisting violence together, and creating healthy spaces. B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
Betsy Martin est queer, mère et grand-mère.
Elle vit à Kaministiquia, une petite communauté rurale
au nord de Thunder Bay. Betsy Martin a grandi dans
une communauté mennonite, où elle n’a jamais eu de
contact avec des « personnes gaies ». Elle a cessé de
fréquenter l’école et quitté le foyer familial très jeune.
En plus d’être parent, elle a passé la première partie
de sa vie comme travailleuse manuelle. Plus tard, elle
a obtenu un baccalauréat spécialisé en travail social à
l’Université Lakehead, puis elle a œuvré en travail social
dans le Nord au cours des 25 dernières années. Au
cours des années 1990, elle a travaillé dans une maison
d’hébergement pour femmes, où elle offrait des services
individuels et de groupe aux adultes ayant subi des
agressions sexuelles dans leur enfance. Betsy Martin a
passé plusieurs années comme travailleuse au sein d’un
programme de plus petite envergure visant à aider les
membres des Premières Nations qui ont vécu dans les
pensionnats autochtones. Au cours des 15 dernières
années, elle a travaillé au Children’s Centre Thunder
Bay, un organisme local de santé mentale pour enfants.
La majeure partie de son travail consiste à aider les
familles et les enfants touchés par la violence, un deuil
ou un traumatisme. Mme Martin est aussi coanimatrice
du groupement The Other 10 %, un groupe destiné
aux jeunes qui se désignent comme LGBTTQ et qui
sont souvent confrontés à des problèmes d’identité,
d’isolement et de stress associés à leur statut de
minorité. Elle a travaillé pour la première fois avec Santé
arc-en-ciel Ontario il y a plusieurs années, en tant que
membre de son comité consultatif pour le projet pour
les enfants de genre indépendant. Son travail s’appuie
sur deux croyances : comprendre la capacité de
l’esprit humain à « ne faire qu’un » dans l’adversité et
comprendre le rôle de la communauté pour permettre
à ses membres de se nourrir les uns les autres et de
défendre leurs droits, de résister à la violence et de
créer des espaces de vie plus sains.
Carys Massarella, MD, FRCPC, is an attending
emergency physician at St.Joseph’s Health care in
Hamilton and is also the lead physician for the Transgender
Care Program at Quest Community Health Centre in St.
Catharines. Dr. Massarella sees and treats transgender
identified clients of all ages and is a leading expert in
transgender care in Ontario. She teaches at the Degroote
School of Medicine and is an Assistant Clinical Professor
there. Dr. Massarella lectures widely on transgender
health care and has also done a TEDx talk on “The
Depathologization of Trans Identity”. She recently appeared
at TEDx Hamilton where she presented “The False Narrative
of Deception”. Dr. Massarella also appeared in the CBC doc
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zone documentary “Transforming Gender”. She was the first
transgendered person to be a President of a large teaching
hospital medical staff anywhere in the world and was named
one of the World’s 50 Transgender icons by the Huffington
Post. She also sits on the gender advisory committee for
gender independent children for Rainbow Health Ontario, is
a member of WPATH.
Carys Massarella, ussi médecin-chef du
Transgender Care Program (programme de soins aux
personnes transgenres) du Centre de santé communautaire
Quest de St. Catharines. La Dre Massarella rencontre et traite
la clientèle qui s’identifie comme transgenre de tous âges; elle
est aussi une experte de premier plan en soins aux personnes
transgenres en Ontario. Elle enseigne à la Degroote School
of Medicine, où elle est professeure adjointe en clinique. La
Dre Massarella prononce régulièrement des conférences
sur les soins de santé aux personnes transgenres et elle a
aussi livré une conférence TED sur la « dépathologisation »
de l’identité trans. Récemment, elle est montée en tribune
lors des conférences TEDx, pour une présentation intitulée
The False Narrative of Deception (La représentation faussée
de la déception). La Dre Massarella a aussi participé au
documentaire Transforming Gender, diffusé dans le cadre de
l’émission Doc Zone du réseau CBC. Mme Massarella est la
première personne transgenre au monde à occuper un poste
de présidence au sein d’un grand établissement hospitalier
universitaire. Elle a été choisie parmi les 50 personnalités
transgenres les plus influentes au monde par le Huffington
Post. Elle siège au comité consultatif sur les enfants de
genre indépendant de Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario, est membre
de la WPATH et a été récemment nommée au conseil
d’administration de la CPATH.
John Maxwell, Executive Director of the AIDS
Committee of Toronto, is a leader in the HIV/AIDS movement
for over 20 years and has extensive experience in the area
of HIV prevention and sexual health promotion. He has been
an active participant in many community-based research
projects and is a member of numerous local, provincial,
national and international HIV/AIDS working groups.
Owen McEwen is the Director of the Ontario
Gay Men’s Sexual Health Alliance (GMSH). Prior to this,
Owen was the Prevention Services Coordinator for the
Peterborough AIDS Resource Network (PARN) where he
managed the agency’s harm reduction and gay men’s
outreach programs.
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Lauren B. McInroy is a doctoral student in the
Kate Miller is the current Director at YMCA Sprott
Robbie McLaughlin is a Registered Nurse with
experience in community health services, specifically home
and primary care. He has been working with the London
InterCommunity Health Centre since May 2014, and has an
innate interest in LGBTQ2+ issues and concerns. Robbie
provides ongoing support and clinical care to transgender
clients, and participates in the development of the Health
Centre’s trans positive services.
LeeAndra Miller has more than 20 years’ experience
as a psychotherapist specializing in arts based therapy.
LeeAndra works at Central Toronto Youth Services in the
Pride & Prejudice Program since 2001, providing individual
counselling and facilitating groups for Transgender youth.
LeeAndra’s expertise is in providing positive and affirming
psychotherapy for Transgender youth, adults and their
families. LeeAndra has a Master’s degree and is a Registered
Psychotherapist.
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of
Toronto. Her work investigates the impact of engagement in
the contemporary media environment on LGBTQ youth and
young adults, and the implications of this participation for
multi-level social work practice. A particular focus is the role
of online community participation and resource consumption
on identity development and negotiation, and health and
mental health.
House, a transitional housing program for LGBTQ2S youth
in Toronto. She has written about inclusive environments for
youth and Child and Youth Workers, and works as a youth
content editor at Shameless Magazine. Kate also works at
the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in the
Concurrent Youth Unit as a frontline case worker. She has
worked in multiple roles in arts organizations in Toronto
supporting young artists and arts projects.
Lesley McMillan is a community worker who focuses
on knowledge mobilization to prevent, reduce and end youth
homelessness. As the Program Officer with Eva’s Initiatives,
Lesley works with other youth serving organizations to
disseminate emerging and promising practices. Utilising
a collaborative approach, Lesley develops tools for
organizations working to end youth homelessness; most
recent is the national toolkit for youth organizations to better
support LGBTQ2S youth experiencing homelessness.
Colleen McTigue has been an active leader
and activist in the Niagara and Southern Ontario LGBT
community since 2012. Since 2014 she has been facilitator
of Transgender Niagara, the Trans peer support group in St.
Catharines. She has had several op-ed columns on Trans
issues published in the Hamilton Spectator, and has done
radio and TV interviews in Hamilton, St. Catharines and Sarnia.
In September 2015 Colleen was invited to Washington D.C.
for a White House Policy Briefing for Bisexuality Awareness
Week, and she is also active on the steering committee of the
Rainbow (LGBT) Employee Resource Group where she works,
in which capacity she has attended the Out & Equal Workplace
Summit in 2013 and 2014. She is an alumnus of the Fall 2010
Gender Journeys workshop in Toronto, and is a staunch
advocate of Trans Rights and Bisexual Visibility. In 2015 she
launched a social media campaign against changes to Bill
C-279 which would have enshrined transgender oppression in
Canadian law. Colleen lives in St. Catharines, Ontario.
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Steven Mock is Associate Professor (at the
University of Waterloo) and an adult developmental
psychologist with research interests in the areas of aging and
retirement, coping with stigmatization, sexual minority adult
development, and leisure as a coping resource. His research
has been funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities
Research Council of Canada and the RBC Retirement
Research Centre. Dr. Mock is also the recipient of an Early
Researcher Award from the Ontario Ministry of Research and
Innovation to support research on retirement planning among
diverse family forms.
Paul Morneau, BSc, ACP, is Acting Commander
(Professional Standards) at the Ottawa Paramedic Service.
He is in his 25th year as a practitioner and leader within the
profession. He is also a past-president of the Paramedic
Association of Canada where he advocated for both patients
and paramedics. Paul is also a very active member in the
Service’s Diversity Champion Program and, as an openly gay
man; he has been a key advocate for both LGBT patients and
staff.
Andrew Morrison-Gurza is a Disability
Awareness Consultant with an MA of Legal Studies
specializing in Persons with Disabilities. Andrew also has
the experience of living as a Person with a Disability. He
understands that the concept of disability is one that many
individuals are very new to, and may not feel comfortable
discussing. Through his work, Andrew aims to give everyone
the opportunity and most importantly, the permission to
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start the conversation by discussing his day to day lived
experience and making disability accessible to everyone.
Andrew works within a number of different communities
educating through his lived experience. These include:
LGBTQ communities, educational institutions, business
organizations, etc.
Nick Mulé is an associate professor in the School of
Social Work at York University. His research interests include
the social inclusion/exclusion of LGBTQ populations in
social policy and service provision and the degree of their
recognition as distinct communities in cultural, systemic,
and structural contexts. He also engages in critical analysis
of the LGBTQ movement and the development of queer
liberation theory. A queer activist for many years, Nick is the
founder, past chairperson and currently member at large of
Queer Ontario. In addition, he is a psychotherapist in private
practice serving LGBTQ populations in Toronto.
Ashley Murfin, MA, ACP(f), is Commander
(Operations) at the Ottawa Paramedic Service. Ashley is a
founding member of the Diversity Champion Program. His
passion for celebrating diversity comes from his extended
family. His family is represented with links to Ireland, France,
Argentina, Portugal, Jamaica, Japan, Lebanon, Métis, as
well as, Gay & Trans people. Ashley enjoys discussing the
social & biological aspects of gender & believes we are all
far more similar, than society allows us to believe.
Damien Murtha is a peer leader and fashion force,
as his drag persona Visa DeKline. He enjoys morphing into
characters through make up and bringing his own small
town charm to presentations on making services better for
LGBTQ folks.
Kate Murzin, MPH, works as the Health Programs
Specialist at the Canadian Working Group on HIV
and Rehabilitation, which strives to build and nurture
relationships between the HIV, aging and chronic illness
sectors and to foster collaborative initiatives which improve
the health and quality of life of older adults living with and
vulnerable to HIV in Canada. She facilitates workshops,
engages in community-based research, and supports the
development of tools and policies that address the needs of
older adults.
H E A L T H
M A T T E R S
Devan Nambiar has a Masters of Science in
Integrated Health care and coordinates Rainbow Health
Ontario’s training and education initiatives. He has been
working in the gay/ethno-racial MSM/HIV sector for 22 years.
In his previous position at CATIE, he worked as treatment
educator and co-authored/co-edited four publications;
Managing Your Health (CATIE, 2009), contributing editor
to the Practical Guide to Nutrition for PHAS (CATIE 2007)
and A Practical Guide to Complementary Medicine and A
Practical Guide to Herbal Therapies for PHAS (CATIE, 2004).
He was Co-principal Investigator of Improving the Capacity
of the HIV Sector to respond to the Ethno-Racial MSM:
Tapping Front-Line Expertise and Wisdom, OHTN (2006)
and Co-investigator of Canadian Transgender Research,
Canadian AIDS Society (2014). Devan has been practicing
and teaching Kriya and Hatha yoga for close to thirty years.
In his professional capacity, he lectures on complementary
medicine, provides input on community based research
and has served on numerous boards and ethics review
committees. He is currently completing his doctoral study.
Pina Michelle Newman is a 4th year nursing
student. She has worked facilitating various support groups
and facilitating discussions surrounding gender and
health care. Pina is particularly interested in applying antioppressive and phenomenology frameworks in the context of
emergency medicine.
Nancy Nicol (Producer, Director, Editor), is a
professor in the Visual Arts and Art History Department,
York University, a documentary filmmaker and the principal
investigator for Envisioning Global LGBT Human Rights,
an international research project that brings together 31
partners in 12 countries to research and document LGBT
rights and social movement histories. Nicol’s award-winning
documentaries have screened widely in international
film festivals and are used in universities and colleges
internationally. Her films include the four-part documentary
series From Criminality to Equality (2002-2009) on the
history of lesbian and gay rights organizing in Canada; One
Summer in New Paltz, A Cautionary Tale (2008) on the civil
disobedience same-sex marriage movement in the USA;
and Dykes Planning Tykes: Queering the Family Tree (2011).
www.envisioninglgbt.com
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Tony Nobis is Ojibway from Rocky Bay First Nation in
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un participant actif dans la recherche, mettant l’accent sur
les groupes de soutien pour adolescents de diverse genre et
leurs frères et sœurs.
northwestern Ontario. Working in the field of Aboriginal HIV/
AIDS since 1996, Tony was the first male Aboriginal Person
living with HIV/AIDS representative on the Board of Directors
of the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network. Tony currently
serves as Executive Director of the Ontario Aboriginal HIV/
AIDS Strategy, a non-profit social service agency serving to
address the needs of Aboriginal people infected/affected
with HIV/AIDS.
Sonali Patel is a second year student at the
University of Toronto with a passion for equity and inclusivity.
Recognized by Harmony Canada, Sonali consistently strives
to foster a safe and inclusive environment for the LGBTQ+
community. She successfully spearheaded campaigns for
gender-neutral washrooms, sexual health education lessons
to be more inclusive to the LGBTQ+ population, and for
school guidelines to accommodate transgender and gender
non-conforming students in her high school. Sonali believes
it is crucial for LGBTQ+ youth to meet each other, thus
she has been involved in planning events such as Halton
Pride and the Halton Pride Semi Formal. Sonali is constantly
involving herself in projects that will create a more inclusive
environment.
Rita Olink is a Community Relations Representative for
TG Innerselves, the Sudbury based transgender support
group. Rita has had a lifelong struggle with dealing with
being transgender and has now successfully resolved
the issue in a wonderful way and enjoys living here in our
community. Rita is a lifelong northerner and a proud Sudbury
citizen. Rita also volunteers with the Canadian Cancer
Society and helps as a Lay Health Educator.
Sonali Patel
est étudiante de 2e année à l’Université
de Toronto. Passionnée par tout ce qui touche l’égalité et
l’inclusion, elle a été reconnue par Harmony Canada et
travaille sans relâche à favoriser un environnement sûr et
inclusif pour tous les membres de la communauté LGBTQ+.
Sonali a entre autres mis sur pied des campagnes visant
l’aménagement de salles de toilettes neutres et de cours
d’éducation sexuelle plus inclusifs aptes à accommoder
les étudiants transgenres ou de genre non conforme.
Sonali estime qu’il est essentiel pour les jeunes LGBTQ+
de fraterniser. Dans cette optique, elle a participé à
l’organisation de Halton Pride et de Halton Pride Semi
Formal, deux événements liés à la fierté gaie dans la région
de Halton. Sonali Patel s’engage régulièrement dans des
projets visant à favoriser un environnement plus inclusif.
Celeste Pang is a PhD student in Anthropology at
the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on the formal
and informal economies surrounding later life care for older
LGBTQ persons in Ontario. It explores the structural forces
shaping the options people have, and how care is obtained
from various sources. Celeste is committed to research
that can feed back to the community, and is interested in
how ethnographic research can effectively draw from and
helpfully inform broader public discussions.
Sebastien Pangallo, RSW, MSW, is currently a
registered Social Worker with the Adolescent Medicine and
Rheumatology teams at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern
Ontario in Ottawa, ON. He completed his Bachelor of Social
Work from the University of Ottawa, and afterwards went on
to complete a Masters of Social Work. His clinical interests
include adolescents with chronic illnesses, as well as
children and adolescents who are gender nonconforming..
Sebastien is an active participant in research, focusing
on support groups for gender diverse teenagers and their
siblings.
Jacquelin Pegg delivers human rights education
Sebastien Pangallo, MSW, RSW, est
présentement un travailleur social inscrit partie des équipes de la médecine de l’adolescence et de rhumatologie au
Centre hospitalier pour enfants de l’est de l’Ontario à Ottawa,
en Ontario. Il a complété son baccalauréat en travail Social à
l’Université d’Ottawa et puis complété une maîtrise en travail
Social. Ses intérêts cliniques comprennent les adolescents
atteints de maladies chroniques, ainsi que les enfants et les
adolescents qui sont de genre non conforme. Sebastien est
and leads sectoral change projects and inquiries into
systemic discrimination, in areas such as transit, housing,
sexual orientation and gender identity issues. She
contributed to OHRC policies on family status, housing,
gender identity and expression and sexual orientation,
and provides LGBTQ human rights training for staff, OPS
employees and the LGBTQ community. She volunteers with
OPS Pride, Out and Out Toronto, and Dharma Friends.
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B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
Shoshana Pellman, a mature Orthodox Jew
became a TransLesbian activist in 2005. Over the years she
has spoken at TransPride and Trans Day of Remembrance.
In addition she has presented or co-presented at various
workshops and conferences in places in Ontario including
Oakville, Guelph and GTA. She featured in The Current CBC
special “Back in The Closet” that was aired June 20, 2011
and in summer of 2011. She is a SPN member and sings in
Singing Out a LGBTQ choir in Toronto.
Karleen Pendleton Jiménez, PhD, is a writer
and associate professor in education at Trent University. She is part of the research team for “Through Thick and
Thin: Investigating Body Image and Body Management
Among Queer Women,” through which she also produced
her short film Butch Coyolxauhqui. She has recently
completed research with approximately 600 students (ages
8-18) documenting experiences of gender and gender
transgression in rural and urban communities (see “Tomboys
and Other Gender Heroes” on facebook). She publishes
both academic and creative works, including journal articles
such as “Latina Landscape: Queer Toronto,” and “I love
Barbies…I am a Boy”: Gender Happiness for Social Justice
Education”. Her books Are You a Boy or a Girl? and How to
Get a Girl Pregnant were both Lambda Literary finalists. She
also wrote the screenplay for the award winning animated
short Tomboy.
Leanne Powell is a public health nurse, working
at the Middlesex-London Health Unit in the area of Sexual
Health Promotion. Her passion is LGBTQ health issues
and is actively involved with community to help improve
access and equity. Over the last 14 years she has been
involved with developing resources for the community and
for care providers, participating in research and listening
to community needs. Leanne has partnered with local
agencies and Rainbow Health Ontario to provide training to
health care providers in the Middlesex-London area. Her
most recent work with community partners is developing
a web listing of LGBT2Q positive resources. Leanne is
committed to working with others to make positive changes
for the LGBT2Q community.
Shannon Pringle, BA, MA, is a multidisciplinary
sexuality and gender researcher and educator, whose
work bridges the humanities, social sciences and health
sciences. She frequently lectures in the human sexuality,
gender studies, nursing, contemporary studies and research
methods classes at four Halifax universities, and is a long
term sexuality educator at the award winning Venus Envy,
an educationally based sex shop and bookstore in Halifax,
Nova Scotia.
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M A T T E R S
Daniel Pugh, BSW, MSW, RSW is a clinical social
worker and mental health counsellor on the LGBT Team at
the Sherbourne Health Centre. Daniel is also the student
director on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Association
of Social Workers. Prior to shifting into clinical social work,
Daniel spent the last ten years actively working in gay men’s
health and HIV, including with Ontario’s Gay Men’s Sexual
Health Alliance.
Jennifer Purkiss is a Registered Nurse with
Centretown Community Health Centre since 2012. She
graduated from the University of Ottawa and began nursing
7 years ago on the neuroscience unit of The Ottawa Hospital
- Civic campus. She taught the Medical-Surgical clinical
rotation of the Practical Nursing Program at Algonquin College
for 3 years. Jennifer is a member of the Canadian Association
Neuroscience Nurses and is their marketing and subscriptions
chairperson, as well she holds certification from the Canadian
Nurses Association in this specialty. At Centretown CHC
Jennifer is an Urban Outreach Nurse who visits the family
shelter floors at the YMCA every Thursday and the Trans*
Health Nurse Navigator for the Champlain Region.
Polina Rakina has been working with LGBT
Newcomers for over 5 years. Coming from International
Relations educational background, she is also deeply
interested in counselling, mental health and social justice. As a first generation Ukrainian Canadian, Polina has a
firsthand settlement experience. She works as an LGBT
Refugee Programs Coordinator at The 519, located
downtown Toronto.
Margaret Robinson, PhD, is a Researcher in
Residence at the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN), an
Associate Research Scientist at the Centre for Addiction &
Mental Health, and a member of the Re:searching for LGBTQ
Health Team. She is a feminist researcher and bisexual
activist interested in LGBTQ health and substance use,
bisexual and trans liberation, and the negative health impact
of oppression. A Mi’kmaw who gained Indian status under Bill
C-31, she is committed to Aboriginal cultural continuity, food
justice, and self-government, and has published on Aboriginal
sexuality, cultural values, and education.
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H E A L T H
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Ron Rosenes, MA, LLD (hon), CM, has been living
with HIV for over 30 years and has worked as a volunteer at
the local, national and international levels. He has chaired
ACT, was a founding Board Member of the Sherbourne Health
Centre, and worked on the Canada AIDS Russia Project. He
is a member of several research teams working on Aging as a
Community Scholar. Ron chairs the Research Working Group
on HIV and Aging housed at CWGHR and in May of 2014 was
awarded the Order of Canada for his volunteer work. Ron is
currently a consultant with OODP, the Ontario Organizational
Development Program that works with ASOs throughout the
province.
Lori Ross, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Division
of Social and Behavioural Health Sciences at the Dalla Lana
School of Public Health, University of Toronto. She is also an
Affiliate Scientist with the Centre for Addiction and Mental
Health. Lori’s work is mostly focused on community-based
research studies on topics related to LGBTQ health.
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Lynx Sainte-Marie is a (dis)Abled/chronically ill,
Jamaican-Canadian, Non-Binary Gender, Afro+Goth Poet
and student who breathes art, social justice, anti-oppression,
critical social work and feminism/s that decentralize whiteness
& cisheteronormativity. Lynx is the creator of QueerofGender,
a grassroots organization and transnational visibility project,
celebrating the various experiences of gender within Black,
Indigenous and People of Colour communities. Lynx serves on
various committees dedicated to disability justice and art as
a tool for social change & collective healing. As a writer and
performance artist, Lynx tackle issues around identity, isolation
and love. As an activist and workshop facilitator, Lynx stresses
the importance of spaces where marginalized communities
can share their stories – stories often erased from mainstream
narratives.
Ayden Scheim is a PhD Candidate, Trudeau Scholar,
Elizabeth M. Saewyc, PhD, RN, FSAHM,
FCAHS, is Professor of Nursing and Adolescent Medicine at
the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Dr. Saewyc
heads the Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth
Centre there. She is a Fellow in both the Society for Adolescent
Health and Medicine, and the Canadian Academy of Health
Sciences. For 20 years, Dr. Saewyc’s research and clinical
practice has focused on how stigma, violence, and trauma
influence adolescents’ health, coping and risk behaviours, and
what protective factors in relationships and environments can
foster resilience among: runaway and street-involved youth,
sexually abused/sexually exploited teens, LGBT adolescents,
immigrants and refugees, and indigenous youth.
Elizabeth M. Saewyc, PhD, IA, FSAHM,
FACSS, est professeure en soins infirmiers et médecine
pour adolescents à l’Université de la Colombie-Britannique,
à Vancouver. La Dre Saewyc dirige le Stigma and Resilience
Among Vulnerable Youth Centre, un centre pour jeunes qui
se trouve dans cet établissement d’enseignement. Elizabeth
est fellow de la Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine et
de l’Académie canadienne des sciences de la santé. Depuis
20 ans, elle concentre ses travaux et sa pratique sur les effets
de l’ostracisme, de la violence et des traumatismes sur la
santé des adolescents, sur les comportements adaptatifs ou
à risque et sur les facteurs de protection dans les relations
et les environnements susceptibles de favoriser la résilience
chez les jeunes en fugue ou vivant dans la rue, sur les
adolescents agressés ou exploités sexuellement, de même
que sur les adolescents, les immigrants, les réfugiés LGBT, et
sur les jeunes autochtones.
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and Vanier Scholar in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at
Western University in London. His research includes a focus
on social determinants of health and health care access in
trans communities. He was a member of the London, Ontario
Trans Health Working Group.
Deanna Schofield, BSc, ACP, is Acting
Superintendent (Operations) at the Ottawa Paramedic
Service. Deanna has been a paramedic for 16 years and has
worked as an EMS Coordinator responsible for developing
& delivering continuing education for paramedics. Promoted
to Acting Superintendent, she took on a mentoring role for all
new Ottawa paramedics & teaches cultural safety. She has
worked for positive change through as a Diversity Champion
& advocates for cultural competency for staff & the patients/
families we serve.
Jennifer Searle, BSc, is currently finishing her
undergraduate degree in Nursing at Dalhousie University. As
a queer identified intersectional feminist, who holds a double
major Science Degree in Biology and Social Anthropology,
her unique critical analysis promises to flourish in her future
profession of Nursing.
david sereda has over 30 years of experience and
a national reputation as theatre artist, singer/songwriter,
composer and producer. He began to write songs because
the ones he was hearing didn’t express his reality as a gay
man in the 1970’s. He has performed across Canada, has
sung with notable choirs and is a seasoned collaborator
on new music theatre productions, and has released three
albums. Author Michael Ondaatje said: “david sereda sings
like an angel and writes like a sinner.”
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L G B T Q
H E A L T H
Andrew Sharpe is a Nurse Practitioner working at
London InterCommunity Health Centre. His clinical work
focuses on people who are facing barriers related to the
social determinants of health. Andrew has an interest in
LGBTQ health and is thrilled to be a member of the Trans
health team at LIHC.
Ramraajh Sharvendiran is a Communications
Studies graduate of York University and has been the Men’s
Sexual Health Coordinator with the Alliance for South Asian
AIDS Prevention (ASAAP), working with South Asian Queer
men in the GTA for the last four (4) years. He has been
working with queer and trans communities in the Greater
Toronto Area for over 8 years in various capacities including:
health promotion, community radio, and GSA’s. Most
recently Ramraajh has completed the Access, Identity, and
Men (AIM) Study funded by the OHTN as the Nominated PI,
where he and his team studied the sexual and overall health
of South Asian MSM populations in the Greater Toronto Area.
Bailey Smith is a spoken word artist, math major
turned roller derby girl. She has been with Rainbow Youth for
6 years and is enjoying speaking to youth as a peer leader
with the QueeRAdicals.
Rusty Souleymanov is a PhD student at the
Factor‐Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of
Toronto. His doctoral work focuses on the health promotion
of substance-using gay and bisexual men in Ontario.
Kelly Speck is a MSc Candidate in Biomedical
Communications at the University of Toronto. Her current
research explores to what extent a web-based, visual
communication tool will improve primary care providers’
knowledge and comfort in caring for trans* clients.
Her interdisciplinary background in both the arts and
the sciences allows her to explore visual solutions to
communicate scientific/medical concepts to a wide range
of audiences including medical, allied health, and
non-medical audiences. See examples of her work here:
uoft.me/kellyspeck
Melissa St. Pierre is a Post-Doctoral Visitor on the
LGBTTQI Home Care Access Project at York University.
She has been conducting LGBT health research for the
past 10+ years. She also enjoys teaching courses in Health
Psychology at York University.
M A T T E R S
Bonnie Stephanson has been a counsellor at
Somerset West Community Health Centre in Ottawa for more
than 17 years. She has extensive experience in the field of
intimate partner violence and gender-based violence. Bonnie
has been involved with the Trans Health initiative in Ottawa for
3 years, and doing hormone assessments for trans* people
with the counselling team at Centretown Community Health
Centre for the past two years. When she is not working she
likes mobile photography and making things out of clay.
Theodore Syrette is a 2-Spirited/Queer-Indigenous
artists and advocate, living in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Their
experience in theatre and passion for advocacy for queer/
indigenous peoples, provide them with a unique perspective
and lecture style for any audience. Theodore has worked
with many LGBT2QIA+ focused equity groups such as
EGALE Canada, Jer’s Vision/Canadian Centre for Gender
and Sexuality Diversity, and the Ontario Advocates Office
for Children and Youth - You Are Not Alone Committee and
Be Our Ally subcommittee. They have also provide regular
lectures on diversity and equity for classes at Sault College
and Algoma University.
Theodore Syrette est bispirituel, queer et
autochtone, artiste et militant pour la défense des droits de
la personne. Il vit à Sault Ste-Marie, en Ontario. Personne
de théâtre, passionné par la défense des droits des
Autochtones queer, Theodore se distingue par son point
de vue unique et ses conférences qui rejoignent tous les
auditoires. Il a travaillé avec de nombreux groupes militant
pour l’égalité LGBT2QIA+, notamment EGALE Canada, Jer’s
Vision/Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexuality Diversity
et avec le Bureau de l’intervenant provincial pour les enfants
et les jeunes – comité Tu n’es pas seul-e et sous-comité Sois
notre allié. Theodore donne régulièrement des conférences
sur la diversité et sur l’égalité à l’intention des étudiants du
Sault College et de l’Université Algoma.
Zachary Templeman is a Health Worker for
Transgender Communities at London InterCommunity Health
Centre, and provides one-to-one support to trans clients;
they run Gender Journeys (a group for folks considering or
early in transition). They identify trans positive services in the
community and build organizational capacity to better serve
trans folks. Zach’s passion for LGBTQ2+ work also shines
through their work facilitating Open Closet (an LGBTQ2+
youth group) and working at Camp Ten Oaks (a camp for
youth with LGBTQ2+ identities, families and communities).
90
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
Lori Thompson is a bi-sexual ciswoman living and
working in Peterborough. In addition to her work with Gender
Journeys, Lori helped to organize and implement the CMHAHKPR Diversity Committee and was its chairperson for 5
years. Last year, she stepped down as Chair person, but
continues to sit on the Committee helping to organize trainings,
seminars and workshops related to supporting LGBTQ2S, AntiOppression, Newcomers and Indigenous communities for staff
and community partners of CMHA-HKPR.
Brandon Timmerman is a Two-Spirited Queer
person. Brandon loves cooking, traveling and absolutely
adores cats. Since the death of his close friends back in
2011, Brandon started to get more and more in depth with
LGBTQ Activism, hoping to get supports for LGBTQ people
experiencing fear, loneliness and/or discrimination in the
Brockville area and beyond. Now 21 years old and currently
working towards an acting and performance career, Brandon
had the chance to work with Brockville Pride, Fierté Canada
Pride and to continue to work with the Office of the Provincial
Advocate. He’s had many opportunities to work on many
other initiatives close to his heart as well, from Canadian First
Nations Supports, addictions to sexual health and beyond.
Brandon’s constant hope is to thrive to inspire youth to make
meaningful and lasting changes in their communities.
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
Audrey Trilène has been a Community worker at the
Centre de solidarité lesbienne [Centre for Lesbian Solidarity]
since 2014. Her area of expertise is working with newcomer
lesbians who come from countries where homosexuality
continues to be criminalized. She facilitates a support group to
help lesbians come out in various spheres of their lives.
Donna Turner coordinates the development and
implementation of communications strategies and materials
for Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO). She is responsible for the
RHO website, social media, and newsletter. She coordinates
the creation of print materials such as brochures, posters,
and postcards and delivers training. Donna is the RHO lead
on youth, tobacco, and cancer projects. She supports the
development of local networks, events and partnerships in the
following Regions: North Simcoe Muskoka, Central East, and
South East.
Donna Turner coordonne la conception et la mise en
Jan Tkachuk, MA, RP, (a psychotherapist and clinical
consultant for 2 years), provides psychotherapy for individuals,
couples and families and provides clinical supervision for
counsellors and not for profit organizations. Focusing on
LGBTQ2S communities, Jan develops and implements
programs for agency programs. Working in Peterborough,
the 4 Counties and Toronto, Jan continues to focus on service
delivery for trans and gender diverse communities, their
families and allies. Jan’s current priorities: finding sustainable
funding for CMHA HKPR’s Gender Journeys project and
expanding and improving services through collaborative
endeavors to support those who are isolated, marginalized and
stigmatized for how they identify and who they love.
Audrey Trilène est intervenante au Centre de
solidarité lesbienne depuis 2014. Elle se spécialise dans les
suivis de lesbiennes nouvellement arrivées au Canada qui
proviennent de pays où l’homosexualité est encore paisible
d’emprisonnement. Elle anime le groupe de soutien pour
aider des lesbiennes à faire leur coming out dans différentes
sphères de leur vie.
œuvre de stratégies et de documents de communication pour
Santé arc-en-ciel Ontario (SAO). Elle est responsable de noter
site Web et de notre présence dans les medias sociaux et de
la préparation de noter infolettre mensuelle. Elle coordonne
également la production d’imprimes tels que des brochures,
des affiches, des cartes postales et des rapports. Elle dirige les
projets SAO à propos de la jeunesse, le tabagisme et le cancer.
Donna aide à la mise sur pied de réseaux locaux, d’évènements
et de partenariats dans les régions suivantes : North SimcoeMuskoka, Centre-Est et Sud-Est.
Alexandra Vamos, MA, is a Policy Development
Officer with the Shelter, Support and Housing Administration
Division, Homelessness Partnership Initiative at the City of
Toronto. In her current role, Alex provides policy and program
support to the Housing Stability Policy and Strategic Investments
Unit, which is responsible for developing policies, strategies and
program evaluations that enhance services in the housing and
homelessness service delivery system. Alex has been involved
with the division’s LGBTQ2S initiatives since 2012, including
supporting the youth transition-to-housing projects.
Carla Vander Voort grew up in Windsor, Ontario,
where she completed her Bachelors and Masters degrees in
Social Work. Since 2010, Carla has worked as a Social Worker
at the Belleville & Quinte West Community Health Centre.
Within this role, she has and continues to work in partnership
with community members and agencies to establish/
expand services for GLTBI2Q+ persons in the region. She is
passionate about grassroots community development work,
and enjoys knitting and reading.
91
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
Hector Vargas,
JD, is Executive Director of
GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality, a
multidisciplinary membership organization of LGBTQ health
professionals and their allies whose mission is to ensure
equality in health care for LGBTQ individuals and health care
professionals. GLMA (formerly known as the Gay & Lesbian
Medical Association) is a leading voice on LGBT health and
employs the expertise of its health professional members in
policy, advocacy and education to advance the health and
well-being of the LGBTQ community. Vargas serves on the
Health Disparities Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee
to the Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and served for four years on President
Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders. He has more than 20 years of LGBTQ and
civil rights advocacy experience, including with organizations
such as Lambda Legal, the National LGBTQ Task Force and
the American Bar Association’s Section of Individual Rights
and Responsibilities.
Hector Vargas,
JD, est directeur général de
Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality (GLMA), un
organisme multidisciplinaire regroupant des professionnels
de la santé LGBTQ et leurs alliés et dont la mission consiste
à assurer l’égalité dans les soins de santé pour les personnes
et les professionnels de la santé LGBTQ. GLMA, connue
autre fois sous le nom de Gay & Lesbian Medical Association,
est une voix forte en matière de santé LGBTQ et a recours
à l’expertise de ses membres professionnels de la santé en
matière de politique, de défense des droits et d’éducation
pour l’avancement de la santé et du bien-être de la
communauté LGBTQ. M. Vargas est membre du sous-comité
sur les disparités en matière de santé (Health Disparities
Subcommittee) du comité consultatif du directeur du Center
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) américain et a fait
partie pendant quatre ans de la commission consultative du
président Obama sur les Asiatiques américains et sur les
citoyens des îles du Pacifique. Il possède plus de 20 ans
d’expérience en défense des droits des personnes LGBTQ
et des droits civils, notamment auprès d’organismes tels
que Lambda Legal, la National LGBTQ Task Force et la
section du Barreau américain sur les responsabilités et droits
individuels.
Stacey Vetzal is a social activist and entrepreneur.
She launched the Gender Journeys program in the Durham
region and is the founder of the Open Gender Journeys
Toolkit - an early stage effort to expand and organize freely
available educational and reference materials for trans and
gender diverse individuals and their allies, specifically to
support the variety of challenges faced by rural and ethnic
communities.
M A T T E R S
Albina Veltman, MD, FRCPC, is an Associate
Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural
Neurosciences at McMaster University. She is also the
Diversity & Engagement Chair for the Undergraduate MD
Program at McMaster. Dr. Veltman has been the recipient of
numerous awards and grants, including a 2014 AMS Phoenix
Project Call to Caring Grant and the 2015 Distinguished
Service Award from the Association of Gay and Lesbian
Psychiatrists.
Phyllis Waugh is an activist and community based
researcher on issues of sexual orientation and gender
identity. She is the Knowledge Mobilization Coordinator with
the international research project Envisioning Global LGBT
Human Rights (2011-2016). She is a former outreach worker
with Rainbow Health Ontario, a member of Senior Pride
Network and former Chair of Rainbow Health Network. Phyllis
has conducted workshops and promoted awareness of
LGBT issues in service agencies, hospitals, colleges and the
labour movement. She worked for 8 years at Toronto’s largest
hospital, University Health Network, where she received a
Champion of Diversity award.
Jenna Webber is entering her third year of medical
school at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Her
interests in LGBT2-SQ health and advocacy were sparked
during her undergraduate education at McMaster University,
during which time she volunteered at a downtown centre for
at-risk and homeless youth. She took the lessons learned
through this experience back to Northern Ontario and
immediately began her collaborations with local LGBT2-SQ
advocacy groups and individuals.
Kate Welsh is a queer crip community activist, artist
and workshop presenter who resides in the Toronto where
she is working on a Masters in Social Justice Education
focusing on critical crip identity. She is passionate about
building communities of care and striving to create safer,
anti-oppressive spaces. Living with both visible and nonvisible disabilities, Kate navigates through complex realities
and experiences through art, activism and community care.
Kate’s interests include community building, intersectionality,
disabilities, queer identities and knowledge sharing.
Kate Whitehead is a Palliative Care Physician at
Toronto Grace Hospital. She has diverse clinical experience
in hospital, home, and hospice settings. Dr. Whitehead is an
expert in Conflict Resolution and is a Qualified Mediator. She
is a facilitator with the Centre for Inter-Professional Education
at University of Toronto.
92
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
Drew Whatman is a queer trans man actively
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
Kathy Witterick is a rebel parent, writer and violence
working in Peterborough and the surrounding area to
provide education and support for transgender, gender
diverse, and questioning folks, as well as their families and
allies. In addition to working with Gender Journeys CHMA
HKPR, he is a Research Assistant with the Queer, Queering
and Questioning Project and a board member of the
Rainbow Service Organization in Peterborough, Ontario. He
also works with his spouse, Ronnie Ritchie, at Birds N’ Bees
Design and Illustration.
prevention consultant, and a Facilitator at the 519 in Toronto.
Two decades of anti-oppression facilitation has led Kathy to
work fostering transformative discussions about gender and
sexual diversity, including working with hospitals to build
capacity for LGBTQ inclusion. Find Kathy’s published work
in GUTS or in Chasing Rainbows: Exploring Gender Fluid
Parenting Practices. Kathy hatches projects at a remote
community-built straw bale cabin.
Sandy Wynia Katz (she/her) is a Child and Youth
Devon Williams came to the Quinte area in 2010
where he started his journey transitioning from female to
male. He currently works for Peer Support South East Ontario
doing Community Peer Support. Through this he works with
members of the LGBTTQQ community. Devon is patient, calm
and caring. He has interests in music and photography. He
loves meeting new people and hearing their stories.
Geoffrey Wilson is a mixed race gender queer of
filipinx descent. They are an activist, grassroots community
organizer and writer. They identify as a sober addict in
recovery. geoff is a graduate of the social service worker
program at George Brown college. Recently, they completed
their undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto,
majoring in equity and sexual diversity studies. They wish to
politicize their experiences with substance use and sobriety
while unravelling the limited representation of the addicted
body. More of their work can be found at < livingnotexisting.
org >.
Geoffrey Wilson est queer et biracial, de
descendance philippine de genre neutre. Activiste,
organisateur d’activités populaires communautaires et
écrivain, Geoff Wilson se définit comme un dépendant
sobre, actuellement en rémission. Diplômé en travail social
du George Brown College, il vient d’obtenir un diplôme de
premier cycle de l’Université de Toronto, avec spécialisation
en égalité et diversité sexuelle. Geoff Wilson souhaite
politiser son expérience des drogues et de la sobriété,
tout en favorisant une représentation simplifiée du corps
toxicomane. On peut avoir un aperçu plus large de son
travail à www.livingnotexisting.org.
93
Advocate with the Provincial Advocate for Children and
Youth and the Lead Advocate on the You Are Not Alone
Project. She is passionate about human rights and the rights
of children and youth in particular; working to elevate the
voices of those who are seldom heard. Sandy is honoured to
work alongside and support the voices of queer youth in and
from Ontario’s care systems. Sandy has been working with
youth for many years and values their energy, knowledge
and willingness to challenge systems that are not working for
them. Thank you to the YANA team for being great teachers
and leaders.
Jordan Zaitzow coordinates Trans Health
Connection. The program is increasing the capacity of
primary health care systems across the province to provide
high-quality, comprehensive care to trans communities
through training, education, mentorship, resources, and
networking. Previous to joining RHO, Jordan has also done
years of front line shelter work, and has volunteered for and
facilitated various drop-in programs for trans folks in Toronto.
He also spent years as an independent trainer about trans
access and issues.
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
O N T A R I O
Notes:
94
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
B E C A U S E
L G B T Q
H E A L T H
Notes:
95
M A T T E R S
Car la santé
LGBTQ,
compte
Because
LGBTQ ça
Health
Matters
R A I N B O W
H E A L T H
Main Floor
O N T A R I O
2 0 1 6
C O N F E R E N C E
8–11 MA RCH / MA R S , 2 0 1 6 LO N D O N , O N TA R I O
8 –1 1 MAR CH / MAR S, 2016 L O NDO N, O NTAR IO
SALON E
SALON E
SALON C
MAIN FOYER
SALON FOYER
SALON D
UNDERGROUND
PARKING
SALON C
SALON FOYER
SALON D
Main Floor
UNDERGROUND
PARKING
MAIN ENTRANCE
MAIN FOYER
MAIN ENTRANCE
Main
Floor
Second
Floor
BALLROOM
6
BALLROOM
5
BALLROOM
3
BALLROOM
4
BALLROOM
1/8
BALLROOM
2
BALLROOM FOYER
REGISTRATION
96
BALLROOM FOYER
8– 11 MA RC H / MA R S, 2 0 1 6 LO NDO N, O NTARIO
RHO 2016 CONFERENCE
Exhibitor Floorplan
www.rainbowhealthontario.ca
Front Cover - Conference Participant Photos (5): Pam Sayne, Minden, Ontario
These resources and many more
are available on the
Rainbow Health Ontario website

Program - Rainbow Health Ontario

Transcription

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