Black 2S/LGBTQQIA+ communities in Canada continue to experience harsh impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic that build upon existing differences in access to health and well-being caused by oppressive systems such as anti-Black racism. While few COVID-19 reports focus specifically on Black 2S/LGBTQQQIA+ people in Canada, we can draw parallels from the United States and the experiences of Black and 2S/LGTBQQIA+ communities separately to complement what exists.
Government data show the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths among Black people was 1.25 to 3 times higher than expected for their population size. Similarly, 2S/LGBTQQIA+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour are more likely to report themselves or someone they know being hospitalized due to COVID-19 compared to other 2S/LGBTQQIA+ people and the general Canadian population. Research has also found neighborhoods in Toronto and Montreal with higher numbers of Black people have more COVID-19 cases compared to neighbourhoods with less Black people, similar to trends seen in the US. This is likely related to the large number of people working in essential jobs with high likelihood of exposure to COVID-19, shared homes, and less availability of resources and healthcare in these neighborhoods.
Looking beyond direct impacts on physical health, the ongoing pandemic has created opportunities and challenges across different components of well-being. Many Black 2S/LGBTQQIA+ people reported their mental health became worse during the pandemic, building on existing differences such as higher rates of depression compared to non-2S/LGBTQQIA+ Black people. Additionally, loss of LGBT specific spaces and continued experiences of racism negatively impacted the number of places community members felt safe and their ability to seek out healthcare. On the other hand, opportunities to work from home helped provide protection from discrimination and toxic workplaces. Further opportunities for improved social conditions may come from a rise in the general publics’ awareness of anti-Black racism and Black queer voices being spotlighted in activism throughout the pandemic.
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