Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

Many Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) people have had experienced discrimination from friends, family and society at large. Our communities are often labelled 'sick' or 'perverted.' Historically Western medical research has contributed to the stigmatization of our people and supported public policies that institutionalized discrimination against us. For instance, in Canada homosexuality was illegal until 1969. Gay marriage has only been possible for five years. And people who identify as trans are still labelled as 'mentally ill' according to the guidelines for psychiatric diagnoses. Most current research into LGBT health no longer views our sexual orientation or gender identity as something to be cured; rather progressive research sees LGBT people as a subculture of diverse people with our own unique values, mores and cultural practices. However current research has clearly demonstrated that our communities suffer from higher rates of mental illness than the heterosexual majority. For instance, in Canada, we know that LGB people report higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders, poorer mental health status, and higher rates of lifetime suicidality compared to heterosexuals. Much of the current research on mental health suggests that our higher rates of mental illness stem from the level of discrimination and social marginalization that we face due to our sexual orientation and gender identity. Our Cafe Scientifique will explore what current research says about the mental health of our communities, and how this has an impact on the mental health care we receive, mental health policy in Ontario, and societal perceptions of our communities. We will explore how we can create an ethical LGBT mental health research agenda, without contributing to the further stigmatization of our communities.