Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Sexual Minority (SM) groups include individuals whose sexual orientation, identity, or practices differ from the majority of the surrounding society. Despite their diversity, SM groups share similarities in their experiences of stress, stigma, prejudice, and discrimination, which are associated with increased rates of adverse physical and mental health outcomes, in comparison to the general population. Despite the health inequalities observed in SM populations, public health guidelines and procedures in Canada address very little of their needs. SM researchers highlight the need for distinct considerations related to SM status in the provision of healthcare services. Based on the previous, this study hypothesizes that in comparison to heterosexual and/or cisgender populations, SM in Canada are at increased risk of disadvantageous health outcomes, represented by increased rates of all-cause mortality, due to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This project utilizes data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), in conjunction with the Canadian Vital Statistics Database (CVSD), to analyze all-cause mortality in Canada by sexual orientation and conceptualize its findings through the lenses of minority stress and intersectionality theories. Intersectional categories that encompass ethnoracial identity and sexual orientation will be created to investigate the heterogeneity in the experiences of different groups within SM populations. This project's end goal is to publish its results in a peer-reviewed journal and share them with national LGBT organizations to influence health service provision relevant to SM populations. By gaining a better understanding of the predictors of disease and mortality in SM populations, future intervention programs can be tailored to the specific needs of these minority groups.