The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) proudly supports diversity, inclusion, and equity as foundational principles of our organization. People of any sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression or diversity in sexual characteristics have an equal right to live free from violence, persecution, discrimination, and stigma as any other member of our society.

As an organization we condemn transphobic and queerphobic ideologies. We call on emergency medicine leaders and practitioners across Canada to advocate for the equitable treatment of their Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and more (2SLGBTQIA+) colleagues and patients.

At baseline 2SLGBTQIA+ patients face barriers in access to emergency department (ED) care and inequitable health outcomes in Canada. We cannot pretend that we regard health care as a fundamental right and consider our EDs as inclusive environments that are open to all people without acknowledging and dismantling inequitable structural barriers inherent in our systems. Unconscious biases and systemic transphobic and queerphobic discrimination exist in our country and our healthcare system. They contribute to higher incidences of disease in 2SLGBTQIA+ populations and inequitable care.

In response to increasing queerphobic and transphobic rhetoric and legislation across Canada, the United States, and the world CAEP is taking the following actions to support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community:

1. Ongoing support of the CAEP Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee,

2. Creation and publication of a CAEP Position Statement on Emergency Medicine Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Advocacy (forthcoming from the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine)

3. The offering of a national curriculum in Emergency Medicine health and cultural humility for 2SLGBTQIA+ populations (currently in development by the CAEP Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee in partnership with the Community-Based Research Centre), to be available in 2024)

CAEP commits to promoting education and training opportunities to enhance awareness of inequities in health care, research into disparities in the treatment of 2SLGBTQIA+ patients, and organizational change that listens and learns from 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. CAEP will hold itself accountable to its members, patients, trainees and the public as we work towards these goals, and continue to advocate for a more just society, where every member of our 2SLGBTQIA+ communities can expect timely and optimal care in the event of unexpected illness or injury and can live a physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy life.

Should you have any questions please contact:

Christina Bova

Director, Member Engagement and Advocacy

cbova@caep.ca