Supporting the health care needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
Gender and sexual identity are integral parts of everyone’s health and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) provides programs and services to support the unique health needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Specialized care for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in the region
This specialized care starts with comprehensive sexual health services for youth and people who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, as well as people living with and at risk for HIV and Hepatitis C, people who use drugs and people with lived experience of sex work. These services include sexual health, youth and HIV clinics and a sexual health program.
In addition to sexual health programs and services, VCH also provides gender-affirming health and wellness services for people living in the region.
“Our goal is to promote a sense of belonging where we can all bring our whole selves to VCH, and we are striving to advance equity, diversity and inclusion across our organization in partnership with staff and medical staff. Being an inclusive organization helps enable our staff and medical staff to focus on delivering care, which includes dedicated programs and services to support the health needs of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.” - Dr. Joy Masuhara, Regional Medical Director, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at VCH
VCH participates in Vancouver and Richmond Pride events
At the 2023 Vancouver Pride Parade and Festival, along with the 150 staff and medical staff who participated in the parade, residents and staff from 52 VCH long-term care and assisted living facilities participated virtually for the first time, creating an environment that embraces and fosters diversity and inclusion, while supporting staff, medical staff, patients and clients who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+.
VCH’s Richmond community health teams and Foundry Richmond also participated in the Richmond Pride and Inclusion Walk.
Josephine Agudo, a nurse educator with VCH’s Long-term Care and Assisted Living Professional Practice Team, shared one of her favourite moments. It was when a group of residents from Renfrew Care Centre were shown on the TV screens holding rainbow flags and waving back to people in the crowd.
Flags and signs reading “Trans-affirming health care saves lives" and “Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to offer gender-affirming care."
Staff, medical staff, family and friends participate in Vancouver Pride Parade.
Staff and medical staff wore hats celebrating the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Prism
Prism Services is VCH’s education, information and referral service for the Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer communities.
Prism provides workshops and training for health-care and social service providers, students and service users on inclusion, diversity and promoting health and wellness for the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.
Prism refers individuals to 2SLGBTQIA+ groups, counselling, resource information and services in the community.
Sexual health services
VCH operates comprehensive sexual health services with programming for youth, 2SLGBTQIA+, people living with and at risk for HIV and Hepatitis C, people who use drugs and people with lived experience of sex work.
Transgender care at VCH
Learn more about the acronym 2SLGBTQIA+ and other terminology
2SLGBTQIA+ is an acronym currently used in Canada and by the Government of Canada. Language continues to evolve and this acronym has changed over time.
- 2S: means Two-Spirit people
- L: Lesbian
- G: Gay
- B: Bisexual
- T: Transgender
- Q: Queer
- I: Intersex, considers sex characteristics beyond sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression
- A: Asexual
- +: is for sexual and gender diverse communities
- Non-Binary: Non-binary is a term that refers to diverse people whose gender identity is neither female nor male. Some individuals self-identify as non-binary, whereas, other may use terms such as gender non-conforming, genderqueer or agender. Non-binary people may or may not conform to societal expectations for their gender expression and gender role, and they may or may not seek gender-affirming medical or surgical care.