Public Health Alliance for LGBTTTIQQ Equity
In 1997 a group of public health professionals began to meet to discuss issues related to advocating for accessible and equitable public health services for the lesbian and gay communities. This resulted in the submission of a Position paper entitled, “Improving Access and Equity to Public Health Services for Lesbians and Gay Men.” In 2000 OPHA adopted this position paper and the PHA (Public Health Alliance for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender, Two-Spirit, Intersex, Queer and Questioning Equity) became an official workgroup in 2001. We envision a province where a variety of sexual orientations and gender identities are not merely tolerated but appreciated and celebrated. The PHA’s objective is to reduce heterosexism, homophobia, biphobia, monosexism and transphobia in Ontario health units, community health centres and the communities we serve.
PHA in Action
- Provides “Positive Space” training and education to Public Health Units, Community Health Centres and other organizations on request.
- Provides information and resources around campaigns/awareness days such as the International Day to End Homophobia and Celebrate Bisexuality Day.
- Developed a “Positive Space” manual, A Positive Space is a Healthy Place: Making your Community Health Centre or Public Health Unit Inclusive to Those of All Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities [PDF, 1.1MB], and distributed it to Public Health Units and Community Health Centres in Ontario.
- Supported development of Rainbow Nurses Interest Group of the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario.
Impact
- PHA members have presented Positive Space training at regional, national and international conferences and venues. In 2007, this included the OPHA conference, the Guelph Sexuality Conference, the International Union of Health Promotion and Education conference, the University of Toronto Health Promotion Summer School, and the Thunder Bay Health Unit.
- PHA Research on access and equity to public health services for bisexuals and transsexuals was among the first health research done in Canada on these two communities. Four position papers / policy statements have been published in journals and referenced in many subsequent research articles. Dissemination of the trans research resulted in a national trans caucus.
Links
- Chair:
Leanne Powell
Phone: 519-663-5317 ext. 2352