2SLGBTQ+ patients can face unique health challenges and barriers to care.
As nurses, you have a responsibility to ensure every patient feels respected, heard and safe. This accountability is outlined in the Code of Conduct. This Pride, take time to learn about how you can advocate for patients and create safer health care experiences for all.
Every June, Canadians celebrate the courage and diversity of our Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Questioning (2SLGBTQ+) colleagues, family and friends. At CNO, Pride Month is both a celebration and a reminder of our shared responsibility to ensure health care is safe, inclusive and equitable for all.
Why inclusive care matters
In Canada, 1.3 million people aged15 years and older identifies as 2SLGBTQ+. Many face health challenges and barriers to accessing care. For example:
- Nearly 30% of 2SLGBTQ+ people reported their mental health to be fair or poor—three times higher than non-2SLGBTQ+ individuals
- “Minority stress,” a form of chronic stress caused by social stigma, discrimination and negative societal attitude, contributes to poorer health outcomes
- A Trans PULSE Canada study revealed that 45% of trans and non-binary people had an unmet health care need in the previous year, compared to just 4% of the general population. The same study also showed that compared to the general population, transgender and non-binary people were less likely to have a primary health care provider
These disparities highlight the need for culturally safe, respectful and affirming care.
How you can make a difference
Nurses can play a part in reducing stress and contributing to positive health outcomes by ensuring their nursing practice is compassionate, respectful and emphatic. CNO’s Code of Conduct provides a clear framework for delivering inclusive care. Here’s how you can apply it to your practice:
- Address patients by their preferred name, title and pronoun (2.7)
Use the patient’s preferred name and pronouns. This demonstrates respect and helps establish a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. One way to broach the topic is to introduce yourself by including your preferred pronouns, so that the patient feels supported to share their own.
- Actively listen to and seek to understand their lived experiences (2.6, 2.8)
Some 2SLGBTQ+ people will have experienced pain and trauma due to social stigma, lack of acceptance within their families, gender dysphoria, and other complex and layered experiences. Create a safer health care experience by first asking if they are open to sharing lived experiences and listening with a goal of understanding. Then work collaboratively to help them achieve their health goals in a way that respects their autonomy and individuality.
- Be aware of health inequities and take steps to ensure the best patient outcomes (2.9, 3.9)
Transgender people of color and transgender people with disabilities may experience even greater health inequities due to the intersection of multiple marginalized identities.
When needed, take steps to advocate for your patients and support them in accessing timely health care that meets their needs.
- Take action to prevent discrimination (2.11, 2.12)
Nursing practice should always be free of discrimination. Always advocate for your patient and participate and advocate for culturally safe and inclusive practice environments.
- Practice cultural humility (2.1)
You can demonstrate cultural humility through self-reflection and by evaluating your own behaviour. Reflect on how your own privileges, biases, values, belief structures, behaviours and positions of power may impact the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship. Consider how personal attributes and societal contexts, such as disabilities or racism, may intersect to inform a person’s lived experience.
Pride month is both a vibrant celebration, and an important reminder that we all have a role to play in ending discrimination and advocating for more compassionate care for all.