About 2SLGBTQ+: Proud, Prepared, Protected
People who identify as Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ (2SLGBTQ+) are underserved by the healthcare system and often experience discrimination and other difficulties when accessing health services. Previously, there was a lack of accessible tools specifically tailored to the unique needs of 2SLGBTQ+ Canadians facing advanced illness, frailty, caregiving, and grief. With funding from Health Canada, the Canadian Virtual Hospice engaged with the 2SLGBTQ+ community to address this gap with online tools developed by 2SLGBTQ+ for 2SLGBTQ+.
More than 40 Two-Spirit, LGBTQ+, and related organizations actively engaged in this work despite the significant challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, 75 individuals who identify as 2SLGBTQ+ contributed, many of them in multiple roles — as team members, writers, reviewers, interviewees — to inform this work. A number of people chose to remain anonymous.
An additional 65 community members participated in "Die-alogue" focus groups hosted by the Rainbow Resource Centre in Winnipeg; Fondation Émergence in Montreal; Caregivers Nova Scotia in Halifax; and the West End Seniors’ Network in Vancouver. These products were inspired by the research of Drs. Katherine Kortes-Miller, Arne Stinchcombe, and Kim Wilson; and by Dr. Kimberly Acquaviva and her book LGBTQ-Inclusive Hospice and Palliative Care: A Practical Guide to Transforming Professional Practice. The 2SLGBTQ+ Canadian Healthcare Bill of Rights for Advanced Illness, Frailty and End of Life (2SLBGTQ+ Bill of Rights) was informed by the work of CenterLink and Dr. Corey Prachniak-Rincón. We are grateful for their support.
Development team
Kathy Kortes-Miller, PhD - Team Lead
ON
Austin Bernier, BA (Hons)
MB
Roberta Bishop
MB
Angus Campbell
NS
Susan Cadell, PhD
ON
Ellie Caslake
NS
Marg Cooke
BC
Keri-Lyn Durant
ON
Clare Freeman, CYW, BA, MSW, RSW
ON
Christopher Little-Gagne
ON
Elder Albert McLeod
MB
Ashley Smith
MB
Arne Stinchcombe, PhD, MSW
ON
Aimee Taylor
BC
Kim Wilson, PhD
ON
Contributors
Alana Armstrong
BC
Richard Beringer, DSocSci.
BC
Jazzlyn Braddock
BC
Heather Brenneman
SK
Linda Burgess
ON
Robert Butler
MB
Tracy Cunningham
ON
Jessy Dame, RN (c), MSN (in progress), BScN
Melissa Gray
ON
Richard Jenkins
Two-Spirit In Motion, AB
Kathy Jones
ON
Anthony Kupferschmidt, MA, CPG, CDP
West End Seniors' Network, BC
Emmet Lamache
Enchante, AB
Karen LeHay
AB
Allan Morrison
Club 200, MB
Glen Murray
MB
Michael Payne
9 Circles Community Health Centre, MB
Corey Prachniak-Ricón, JD, MPH
Larry Retzlaff
SK
Julien Rougerie
Foundation Emergence, QC
Leanna Seetahal, LLB
Dr. J. R. (Dick) M. Smith, MD, DS FCFP
MB
Jade Sol
BC
Morgan Stirling
MB
Mike Tutthill, BA, MEd
MB
* 3 people who participated in telephone interviews and who preferred to remain anonymous
Video interviewees
Kimberley Acquaviva
Alana Armstrong
Mono Brown
Ellie Caslake
Katherine Kortes-Miller, PhD
Nathalie Légaré
Christopher Little-Gagné
Heather McCain
Albert McLeod
Julien Rougerie
Jade Sol
Aimee Taylor
Sharing
We encourage organizations to share these documents widely by adding a link on their websites, and printing and distributing materials, including in their newsletters and presentations. Please ensure that you acknowledge Canadian Virtual Hospice and Health Canada. To organize a webinar on 2SLGBTQ+–inclusive care or related topics, email info@virtualhospice.ca.
Cobranding
Organizations wishing to customize the Proud, Prepared, and Protected tools by adding their logo to the front can contact info@virtualhospice.ca.