C2 - Black Same Gender Loving Men: Navigating Structural Barriers and Anti-Black Racism in Health Care

2. Health equity at the centre

  • Date: 2022-10-12
  • Concurrent Session: Concurrent Session C
  • Time: 2:45- 3:30 pm
  • Room:
  • Style: Presentation (information provided to audience, with opportunity for audience to ask question)
  • Focus: Balance between both (e.g. Presentation of a best-practice guideline that combines research evidence, policy issues and practical steps for implementation)
  • Target Audience:

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the intersections of identities in Black Same Gender Loving Men communities
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the lived experiences of race, racism, sexual orientation, gender expressions
  • Practice Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in removing barriers to healthcare for Same Gender Loving Men
  • Develop competencies in cultural humility, cultural safety, and clinical care  

Summary/Abstract:

Black same-gender-loving men (BSGLM) represent a population of multiple marginalized identities. BSGLM are often missed when providing optimal and equitable healthcare due to their racial and sexual minority identities. Research in OHESI in Ontario demonstrates HIV rates are increasing in BSGLM while overall, HIV seroconversion rates are declining among white gay, bi men who have sex with men (GBMSM). With the advent of EDI and anti-Black racism, BSGLM has not been fully integrated into EDI conversations of intersectionality. BSGLM has the added burden of minority stress plus the intersection of oppression in navigating the structural barriers in accessing health care in Ontario.  The Gay Men Sexual Health Alliance partnered with Black-CAP and ACCHO. They hosted two facilitated community dialogues with 40 BSGLM from academia, research, arts, culture, and the HIV sector, from which emerged recommendations:  • One was to develop a storytelling narrative to honor and acknowledge BSGLM community wisdom and lived experiences.  • Storytelling narratives were developed to support healthcare providers in better understanding and responding to BSGLM health care needs in a culturally safe and responsive way.  Out of the engagement and consultations, GMSH developed PSA videos from BSGLM and their authentic lived experience navigating healthcare providers in Ontario. To provide care to BSGLM is to treat the whole person, honor their lived experiences to build therapeutic relationships.      Ref: HIV epidemiology update for gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in Ontario. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.ohesi.ca/wp content/uploads/2021/12/GBMSM-Factsheet-ENGLISH-2021OCT12.pd     
 

Presenter:

  • Devan Nambiar, Manager of Capacity Building & Talent Development, Gay Men's Sexual Health  Alliance