2SLGBTQIA+ Health

Quick Facts

  • person talking to a doctorIslanders who are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community experience barriers when it comes to accessing health care on PEI
  • Islanders who are transgender experience the most obstacles in accessing key health services
  • In the spring 2023 sitting of the PEI Legislature, a motion was passed to improve access to gender-affirming care and to reduce out-of-pocket costs related to off-Island travel
  • Gender-affirming care is available via the Gender Affirming Clinic and through many individual primary health care providers
  • Our Landing Place, PEERS Alliance, Gender Affirming Care PEI, and the PEI Transgender Network offer mental and emotional support groups for 2SLGBTQIA+ members and their families/support network
  • Sexual health services are available through Sexual Health, Options & Reproductive Services (SHORS), primary health care providers, on campus clinics, the Student Well-being Team, PEERS Alliance, and hospital ERs

2SLGBTQIA+ stands for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, Asexual. To learn more about each of these terms, visit here.

The Longer Story

Many 2SLGBTQIA+ people experience barriers when it comes to accessing health care on Prince Edward Island.

Whether this is due to anti-2SLGBTQIA+ beliefs, lack of understanding about health needs specific to certain members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, or systemic discrimination inherent in the Canadian health care system, many members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community have expressed concerns about their access to health care. Islanders who are transgender experience the most obstacles in accessing key health services and often have their health needs neglected.

A study published in Frontiers Public Health in July 2023 states that:

“Gender identity and sexual orientation are determinants of health that can contribute to health inequities. In the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, belonging to a sexual and/or gender minority group leads to a higher risk of negative health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and cancer, as well as maladaptive behaviors leading to poorer health outcomes such as substance abuse and risky sexual behavior. Empirical evidence suggests that inequities in terms of accessibility to health care, quality of care, inclusivity, and satisfaction of care, are pervasive and entrenched in the health care system.” 

In the spring 2023 sitting of the PEI Legislature, a motion was passed to improve access to gender-affirming care and reduce out-of-pocket costs related to off-Island travel for specific health procedures. The same motion called for all members of the Legislative Assembly to become allies of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, noting the amount of hate and intolerance this community continues to feel. 

Despite the motion passing unanimously, there remains much work to do to ensure everyone, including those who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, have access to safe and competent health care. 

The above-mentioned study found that:

“A better understanding of the current Canadian health care context for individuals of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is imperative to inform public policy and develop sensitive public health interventions to make meaningful headway in reducing inequity.”

It is crucial, therefore, that Prince Edward Island health care professionals work to reduce and eliminate inequities for 2SLGBTQIA+ people within the Canadian health care system through education and training.

Physical Health Services for 2SLGBTQIA+ People on PEI

Ideally, every physician, nurse practitioner, and other health care professional will be sensitive to the needs specific to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, so that every single person, regardless of gender and sexual orientation, has access to the same standard of care.

In reality, there remains bias and discrimination, both in individual health care practitioners and with the system in general.

Islanders requiring gender-affirming care options can do so via the Gender Affirming Clinic. Some procedures are offered here on PEI; others require off-Island travel. To learn more about gender-affirming care options, both in PEI and off-Island, including funding for these services, visit here. 

Mental Health Services for 2SLGBTQIA+ People on PEI

In addition to physical health care services, there is a need for greater mental health and support groups for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. As part of a minority group that continues to feel excluded, misunderstood, and discriminated against, some 2SLGBTQIA+ people experience trauma, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideations, and other mental health conditions. 

Various community groups do offer mental health and support groups for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals.

Our Landing Place

Through Our Landing Place, 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals, couples, and families can access counselling services with a gender-affirming therapist. Through a current funding initiative, applicants can access up to a maximum of 8 sessions with a qualified therapist, over a 3-month period. Once these sessions have been used up, applicants can re-apply for further funding.

To apply for counselling through Our Landing Place, please visit here. 

Additionally, Our Landing Place offers free group support sessions.

PEERS Alliance

PEERS Alliance offers peer support groups, such as the following:

PEERS Alliance also keeps a list of 2SLGBTQIA+-affirming therapists, which can be found here.

PEI Transgender Network

Additional peer support groups are offered through the PEI Transgender Network      . 

Gender Affirming Care PEI (GACPEI)

Gender Affirming Care is a community-based organization who have previously lobbied government to “improve health access and equity for the transgender, transsexual, and intersex communities in PEI .” They also offer peer support. 

Sexual Health Services for 2SLGBTQIA+ People on PEI

All family doctors and walk-in clinics offer sexually transmitted infection testing. For Islanders without a family doctor or nurse practitioner, or for Islanders who are not comfortable requesting these services from their primary care provider, there are other options.

Option 1: Sexual Health, Options & Reproductive Services (SHORS)

Sexual Health, Options & Reproductive Services offers the following services:

  • Sexual health education and counselling
  • Sexually transmitted infection screening and treatment
  • Birth control counselling and prescriptions
  • PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis)
  • Pregnancy counselling, testing, and support
  • Abortion services

Referrals are not needed to access any of these services. For more information or to set up an appointment, call 1-844-365-8258.

Option 2: Post-secondary Campuses

Post-secondary students can also access some of these services on campus.

  • UPEI: UPEI’s Health Centre offers sexual health testing and pap screens
  • Holland Collage: Holland College has a nurse practitioner who offers weekly walk-in appointments for STI (sexually transmitted infections) testing, pelvic exams, pap screening, and referrals

Option 3: Student Well-Being Teams

Students (K-12) who wish to access STBBI (sexually transmitted and blood-born infections) testing, can consult with a member of their Student Well-being Team for assistance.

Option 4: PEERS Alliance

PEERS Alliance offers and facilitates some testing options, including:

Option 5: Hospital ER

For individuals with no other options, STI testing is available at the QEH (Queen Elizabeth Hospital) in Charlottetown and the PCH (Prince County Hospital) in Summerside; however, do be aware that wait times can be quite lengthy for these places. 

Published date: March 2024

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