Racialized 2S/LGBTQQIA+ individuals in Canada experience unique challenges due to social inequalities and intersecting forms of oppression, such as anti-2S/LGBTQQIA+ stigma and racism. Studies on 2S/LGBTQQIA+ and racialized communities have demonstrated that pre-existing social inequalities and oppression have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which have had negative health impacts on these communities. For example, from the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself, racialized communities experienced disproportionate impacts with higher rates of infection and mortality due to COVID-19. Exacerbated discrimination and racism, particularly against Asian individuals, negatively affected the mental health of these communities. Additionally, racialized people faced systemic barriers to health care and lower quality health care, which had additional negative impacts on their health during the pandemic. Furthermore, 2S/LGBTQQIA+ individuals, compared with cisgender straight people, experienced a higher rate of mental health challenges during the pandemic. Losing access to in-person 2S/LGBTQQIA+ community spaces and connections—which help protect against anti-2S/LGBTQQIA+ stigma—was also challenging. Studies that explored experiences of racialized 2S/LGBTQQIA+ people in Canada during the pandemic are limited. However, a study showed that racialized gay, bisexual, queer, and other men who have sex with men (GBQM) in Canada experienced heightened racism during the pandemic. Intersecting forms of oppression are not limited to sexuality and race—gender is included. Racialized women were more likely to have “essential” jobs with high risk of COVID-19 infection, work in precarious, underpaid jobs, and get laid off during the pandemic. During the pandemic, many racialized people drew support not from government systems and institutions, but from their own communities and local organizations. Although emerging studies demonstrated health inequalities experienced by 2S/LGBTQQIA+ and racialized communities during the pandemic, how COVID-19 impacted racialized 2S/LGBTQQIA+ people in Canada is still not well-understood. This report focuses on key COVID-19 related findings for racialized 2S/LGBTQQIA+ communities.
url="https://assets.nationbuilder.com/cbrc/pages/5006/attachments/original/1744214458/PeopleofColour_OurHealth_EN.pdf?1744214458
