The celebration of Pride, observed every June, is crucial for family physicians and the 2SLGBTQ+ community. This vibrant month of awareness and advocacy underscores the importance of understanding the unique health needs and challenges faced by 2SLGBTQ+ individuals.
For family physicians, Pride is a call to advance your knowledge of inclusive and affirming health care practices, ensuring that all patients feel safe, respected, and understood.
Celebrating Pride fosters a commitment to combatting stigma, discrimination, and health disparities within the health care system. It also strengthens the physician-patient relationship by creating a more supportive environment where 2SLGBTQ+ patients can openly discuss their health concerns.
By honouring Pride, family physicians contribute to a more equitable and compassionate health care system, reinforcing the dignity and well-being of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Here are some valuable BC-based resources:
- Trans Care BC: A program by the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) offering resources, training, and support for healthcare providers to improve care for transgender and gender-diverse people in BC.
- Health Initiative for Men (HIM): Offers a variety of health services, including sexual health, mental health, and substance use support, specifically tailored for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) in BC.
- Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC): Focuses on research and interventions to improve the health of 2SLGBTQ+ people, offering resources and training for healthcare providers in BC.
- Qmunity: BC’s queer, trans, and two-spirit resource centre providing programs, services, and training aimed at improving the wellbeing of 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
National and international resources:
- College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) – CFPC Pride: Provides resources to support family physicians in providing safe, equitable health care for all 2SLGBTQ+ patients and communities, and raise awareness of the inequities and barriers that 2SLGBTQ+ patients face in accessing and receiving primary health care.
- University of British Columbia (UBC) Pride events: Provides resources to support family physicians in providing safe, equitable health care for all 2SLGBTQ+ patients and communities, and raise awareness of the inequities and barriers that 2SLGBTQ+ patients face in accessing and receiving primary health care.
- Rainbow Health Ontario: Offers training and resources specifically tailored to improving the health and wellbeing of Ontario’s 2SLGBTQ+ communities.
- National LGBT Health Education Center: Part of the Fenway Institute, it provides webinars, training, and educational materials on LGBT health.
- GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality: An organization dedicated to ensuring equality in healthcare for 2SLGBTQ+ individuals and providing educational resources.
If you have any resources that you recommend adding to this list, please let us know!