We sat down with Jared Star, a researcher and community organizer in Winnipeg, Manitoba about the latest and greatest in queer and trans health in his area.
About Jared:
Jared is a queer researcher, consultant, and rebel rouser based out of Treaty 1 Territory in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He works as both a Research Associate at the University of Manitoba where he is a current doctoral candidate in the Department of Community Health Sciences and is also the Director of Research for Nine Circles Community Health Centre. His research and professional interests span a wide range, but for the most part revolve around queer and trans health, including sexual health. Outside of work, Jared can often be found DJing local events or traveling.
Photo: Jared Star
What’s new with queer and trans health in Manitoba?
2025 feels like a whole new ball game here in Winnipeg and throughout the province. We are currently still adjusting to a relatively new NDP government that has demonstrated a strong commitment to equity-focused values across a range of files, including the environment, families and social services, and of course health. Led by Uzoma Asagwara—who in 2019 was elected the first non-binary MLA in Manitoba—the Ministry of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care has implemented important policy measures for our communities. These include universal access to birth control coverage, free pre-exposure prophylaxis and HIV treatment (extending access to all non-insured Manitobans), and ongoing advocacy for systemic and structural change throughout Manitoba’s health care system to address health equity needs. While I am incredibly grateful for these measures, I look forward to policy change, including the development of a province-wide suicide prevention strategy with a focus on 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth, as outlined by our Premier, Wab Kinew, in their initial mandate letter.[1] All this to say, there is a sense of hope that the government is paying attention and moving on key issues related to queer and trans health in this province.
How has access to queer and trans health programming changed? What’s new and exciting?
Flowing from these new investments in health on the part of our provincial government, there have been targeted investments to key services that benefit our community. Just last year the province took steps to reduce wait times for trans folks seeking care, including by establishing a working group to explore removing barriers within the process and working to bring nurse practitioners into provider roles for gender-affirming care.[2] The federal government also announced funding for 2Spirit Manitoba Inc. to expand much needed programming with a project investment from Women and Gender Equality Canada in the amount of $845,458.[3] Other services have also seen expansions, including Sunshine House’s new project “Friends of Philis” focused on developing peer-led strategies and frameworks for syphilis self-testing,[4] and Our Own Health Centre’s Rainbow Outpatient Addictions Recovery program designed specifically for 2S/LGBTQIA+ people struggling with substance use.[5] And, we are all excited that the Rainbow Resource Centre has launched an ambitious capital campaign to establish a Place of Pride, which will be the first 2S/LGBTQIA+ campus in Canada that includes new spaces for counseling, programming, community, and 55+ housing in central Winnipeg.[6] Throughout Manitoba, including in rural locations, there are also new queer and trans initiatives worth noting, including the establishment of the Manitoba Pride Alliance,[7] an umbrella organization providing network support to various pride events that take place throughout the year, and pop up MPOX vaccine clinics and services accessible to those in need. These are just a few of the fantastic new programs, services, and initiatives that will advance queer and trans health in Manitoba over the next year!
What’s going on in the research world in Manitoba as it relates to queer and trans health?
There are many exciting projects taking place; some are wrapping up and some are just getting started. One key project that CBRC partnered on recently was the Digital Platforms Study led by me, Dr. Rob Lorway (Institute for Global Public Health / University of Manitoba), and Dr. Rusty Souleymanov (Village Lab, Faculty of Social Work, University of Manitoba). The study focused on exploring the use of digital health platforms to access health services while also gaining new insight on the impacts of technology on various dimensions of health for cis and trans Two-Spirit, gay, bi, and queer men. Preliminary findings from over 35 interviews are being prepared, but interestingly there are themes and trends in participants expressing a “love/hate” relationship to technology! This includes feeling concerned about social and sexual media apps being some of the only “spaces” to meet and connect while also feeling liberated by the ability to express identity in self-determined and creative ways. Results from the Digital Platforms Study will be ready later in 2025. The Village Lab also continues to support research by and for queer communities through another round of the Investigaytors program, which provides capacity strengthening opportunities for 2S/LGBTQIA+ folks interested in health and community research.[8] Also from the Village Lab, in partnership with Nine Circles and led by Dr. Souleymanov and myself, is a new study starting later in 2025 looking at substance use and sexual health among cis and trans Two-Spirit, gay, bi, and queer men. While these are just a few of the projects I am aware of, I continue to see fascinating work from graduate students throughout Manitoba, including one example from Mikayla Hunter in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba looking at “queering primary care” by including a wide range of gender identities and sexual and romantic orientations in their research. 2025 will be a stellar year for queer and trans health care in Manitoba!
What work still needs to happen?
While we have seen new investments in programs, policy, and research, we still see persistent health equity issues in our community. Across the board, programs supporting queer and trans youth remain at capacity, those that serve adults are still burdened with waitlists, and the need among older 2S/LGBTQIA+ folks continues to rise as the baby boomer generation eases into their golden years. It is my opinion that there is a communal sense of ‘relief’ in this time, particularly as the world around us becomes darker, scarier, and more dangerous for queer and trans folks. Though, simultaneously, this period of calm is also a period of organizing around solidarity, and I have seen this time be one of developing stronger coalitions, networks, and bonds to buffer against the complexity of threats to our rights and progress over the last several decades. All this to say, QUEER JOY remains constant, static, and present in our lives here in Manitoba despite the storm we may be in, and this is one of our greatest strengths in this province.
Any final words?
As a researcher and community member passionate about advancing queer and trans health in this province, I would like to take the opportunity to reflect back the power of voice and the need to SPEAK UP in these times. We all have a part to play; this can be as simple as sharing a post, or tapping “like,” or as involved as showing up and volunteering or giving back. And in many cases, doing nothing is also an act of resistance. Whatever you do, do it in YOUR WAY, for yourself and for your community, because that is what will help keep up this incredible momentum we’ve seen over the last few years.
[1] https://www.gov.mb.ca/asset_library/en/proactive/20232024/health-senior-and-long-term-care-mandate-letter.pdf
[2] https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=64237
[3] https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2024/10/backgrounder--strengthening-2slgbtqi-communities-to-advance-equality-in-alberta-and-manitoba.html
[4] https://www.sunshinehousewpg.org/_files/ugd/d8ced8_c3db06469d664c6281b69311b3159117.pdf
[5] https://www.ourownhealth.ca/roar
[6] https://rainbowresourcecentre.org/place-of-pride
[7] https://pridewinnipeg.com/mbpridealliance/
