Improving access to care for LGBTQI+ migrants and racialized individuals

Tearing down barriers to equity

Canada actively promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. Yet, despite progress toward equal rights regardless of sexual orientation, identity and gender expression, some groups continue to face barriers to inclusion, and to endure multiple forms of structural and interpersonal marginalization. Discrimination affects LGBTQI+ migrants and racialized individuals just as it does those facing discrimination on the bases of ethnicity, religion, disability or age.

There is still a long way to go before these minority groups achieve full social, economic, cultural and civic inclusion. Such is the work being done by Edward Ou Jin Lee, Canada Research Chair in Sexualities, Genders and Migrations, and an assistant professor with the school of social work at the Université de Montréal.

The intersectionality of sexuality, gender and migration

Gaining rights does not automatically mean social inclusion or acceptance. For all the progress made in securing rights for LGBTQI+ communities, prejudices remain. On top of this, LGBTQI+ individuals who are vulnerable in other ways, such as because of ethnicity or racial or religious minority status, are at greater risk of stigmatization, discrimination or injustice. For example, an elderly Black LGBTQI+ individual may face not only homophobia or transphobia, but also racism and agism.

“In general, social work strives for greater social and racial justice,” explains Edward Lee. “As a sociologist, I’m especially interested in the connections between racialization, migrant journeys, genders and sexualities, particularly the lived experiences of LGBTQI+ migrants and racialized individuals. And, since I’m part of that community, these are also issues that directly affect me.”

Research methodologies by and for people

With an eye to concretely improving people’s daily lives, Edward Lee applies critical, community, intervention-based and participatory research methodologies. For example, says Edward Lee, the goal of institutional ethnographic methodology is to “produce positive changes in the lives of people dealing with a social phenomenon that is troubling or harming them.”

One of the things this methodology focuses on is people’s lived experiences of contact with social institutions. Consider, for example, users of health and social service facilities and the professionals who work there (doctors, nurses, social workers).

“My work in the field and in the community has shown me that it is much more difficult for LGBTQI+ migrants and racialized individuals to access care and social services. We founded the Clinique Mauve (French only) in an effort to improve integrated care and address the unique challenges these groups face.”

A counsellor leading a teen discussion group.

Photo: SeventyFour

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Clinique Mauve: an innovative model ready to grow

LGBTQI+ migrant and racialized populations face many structural and intersectional obstacles to accessing and receiving health care. These include language barriers and transphobia, among others, and have direct health consequences.

Clinique Mauve, which opened its doors in spring 2020, provides cross-sector, community, integrated care, with teams in social work, mental health services, community work and peer navigation, a type of peer intervention. They use anti-oppressive, intersectional and trauma-informed approaches.

Co-led by Edward Lee at the Université de Montréal, Clinique Mauve works closely with community organization AGIR. In its next phase of interdisciplinary development, Clinique Mauve will offer internships in medicine, pharmacy and nursing in addition to its existing ones in social work and psychology.

“Clinique Mauve represents a highly promising model for integrated care. We’re studying how we could scale the model up and share strategies with other communities and practice settings elsewhere in Canada,” says Edward Lee. Indeed, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research recently awarded Clinique Mauve $750,000 for capacity-building and collaboration with allied research teams and key stakeholders both within Canada and abroad.

For healthy social change

Studies show that inclusive societies that make full use of their diversity are more resilient, dynamic and prosperous. However, a great deal of education is still needed before all individuals are equally accepted in society and receive equal treatment and care.

“As our population becomes more diverse, our society will naturally have more LGBTQI+ migrants and racialized individuals,” Edward Lee says. “You may be one of these people, or may have loved ones, coworkers or neighbours who are. So, it’s important for everyone to have a better understanding of what the LGBTQI+ migrant and racialized community’s experience is like, because we’re all affected by challenges around sexuality, gender and immigration.”