Systems Failure
Sexual minorities face barriers and prejudice
Systems Failure; A Report on the Experiences of Sexual Minorities in Ontario’s Health-care and Social-service Systems, was published recently by the Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights in Ontario (CLGRO). It is the final report of CLGRO’s Project Affirmation.
The report, funded through Health Canada’s Health Promotion and Programs Branch, documents the systemic barriers and individual prejudice experienced by lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered people in Ontario’s health care and social service systems. Along with the more pervasive sexism, racism, anti-semitism, ageism, and discriminatory attitudes toward Francophones and people with disabilities faced by many in society, this group also runs up against homophobia, biphobia, trans-phobia, and heterosexism.
During their investigations, Project Affirmation members gleaned information through surveys and focus groups. The stories they uncovered ranged from unbelievable ignorance, insensitivity, and hostility to stonewalling and downright incompetence. They found that people in sexual minority groups are well aware of the situation and are clearly critical of the health care and social services they receive. Things are worst for transsexual and transgendered people who are not only unwanted and invisible but are incomprehensible to health-care and social-service systems. buy levitra professional
Discrimination comes in two main forms, according to the report: systemic and individual prejudice. Next-of-kin policies that do not recognize same-sex partners; health-care and social-service worker training that routinely fails to include gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered situations; and intake forms that assume heterosexuality are examples of systemic discrimination. Hostile comments and a lowered standard of service to sexual minority patients indicate indi vidual prejudice. The report states that sexual minorities do not receive adequate care from the services they, like everyone else, fund with their tax dollars nor from the health care professionals who are paid with them.
The report emphasizes that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people are human beings who contribute to society and should be treated with dignity and respect. They are guaranteed equitable treatment by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Canadian Human Rights Act, and the Ontario Human Rights Code. Legislation is already in place to support those in authority in implementing and enforcing non-discriminatory policies. Appropriate education for service providers will help bring about change. Those who use the services should not be expected to bear the brunt of reforming systems from the bottom up. canadian pharmacy levitra
Statistics, charts, personal stories, and 78 recommendations for institutional change are presented in Systems Failure. The report’s findings should serve as a wake-up call to all levels of government, professional associations, employers, educational institutions, and health and social-service organizations, as well as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered groups.
