A RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP AMONG: MAPPING THE VOID: McMaster University, The AIDS Network and Hamilton community researchers who TWO-SPIRIT AND LGBTIQ+ identify as Two-Spirit and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer EXPERIENCES IN HAMILTON JUNE 11, 2019 Hamilton, Halton, Haldimand, Norfolk and Brant This research was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Report production in partnership with mps. Report Authors: Editor: Suzanne Mills, McMaster University* Cole Gately Michelle Dion, McMaster University Daniel Thompson-Blum, McMaster University Chris Borst, City of Hamilton* James Diemert, AIDS Network* Community Researchers Research Assistants and Staff: Chris Todd-Kane Klara Longfellow Richards Marina Fensham Sophie Geffros Mariko Brown-Kai Leah Klein Danielle Walton Janice Lee* Mela Pothier Angela Di Nello Namita Chhabra *= also a member of community research advisory committee Other advisors/contributors Natalie Lazier, community member CA Klassen, community member Marlon Picken, community member Aditya Harchand, McMaster Queer Students Community Centre Padmaja Sreeram, McMaster Women and Gender Equity Network Joel Guillemette, Equity Officer with CUPE 3906 Autumn Getty, Facilitator of Hamilton Trans Peer Support Group Tim McClemont, Executive Director of The AIDS Network Ty Laframboise, Facilitator of Support Around the Gender Experience (SAGE) Aric Bales, Youth Council member at St. Joseph’s Youth Wellness Centre Ian Jarvis, community member Morgan Turnbull, community member Lynn Turnbull, community member Luisa Caruso, community member Vanessa Parlette, Health Strategy Specialist with Hamilton Public Health Services Mela Pothier, LGBT Client Advocate, North Hamilton Community Health Centre Lyndon George, Coordinator of Yen:Tene, Aboriginal Justice Program, Hamilton Community Legal Clinic Samuel Mason, Staff Lawyer, Queer Justice Program, Hamilton Community Legal Clinic Dr. Carys Massarella, Physician, St. Joseph’s Healthcare and Quest CHC Simon Lebrun, community member Marco Felvus, Mohawk Positive Space, Social Inc. Ash Couillard, Human Rights and Inclusion, Hamilton Health Sciences Rebecca Hicks, Bachelor of Health Sciences Student Dawson Lucier, Bachelor of Health Sciences Student Note: not all contributors are listed since some chose to remain anonymous. 1 Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................................................................................... 4 LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................................................. 6 1.0 INTRODUCTION/ SETTING THE STAGE: OUR CHANGING NEEDS........................................................ 8 1.1 A note about terminology ................................................................................................................. 10 1.2 Limitations of the study ..................................................................................................................... 10 2.0 A GRASSROOTS APPROACH: METHODOLOGY ................................................................................. 12 3.0 WHO WE ARE ................................................................................................................................... 15 3.1 Gender Identity .................................................................................................................................. 15 3.2 Sexual Orientation ............................................................................................................................. 17 3.3 Age ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 3.4 Race/Ethnicity and Indigeneity .......................................................................................................... 19 3.5 Immigration ....................................................................................................................................... 20 3.6 Disability............................................................................................................................................. 21 3.7 Education ........................................................................................................................................... 22 3.8 Relationships ...................................................................................................................................... 22 4.0 OUR EXPERIENCES ............................................................................................................................ 23 4.1 Education ........................................................................................................................................... 24 4.2 Housing .............................................................................................................................................. 26 4.3 Income, Economic Well-being and Employment .............................................................................. 27 4.3.1 Income ........................................................................................................................................ 28 4.3.2 Economic Wellbeing ................................................................................................................... 30 4.3.3 Employment ................................................................................................................................ 31 4.4 Safety in public spaces and relationship with police ......................................................................... 33 4.5 Religion, Spirituality, and Faith .......................................................................................................... 36 4.6 Health ................................................................................................................................................. 38 4.6.1 Physical Health Experiences and Access ..................................................................................... 38 4.6.2 Mental Health ............................................................................................................................. 44 4.6.3 Sexual Health and HIV................................................................................................................. 48 4.6.4 Trans Experiences and Gender-Affirming Care .......................................................................... 51 5.0 COMMUNITY CONNECTION & DESIRES ........................................................................................... 54 5.1 Connection to Hamilton and Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ community ................................................. 54 5.2 Needs and desires for spaces and services........................................................................................ 56 2 6.0 CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................................... 61 Appendix A: Hamilton survey .................................................................................................................. 63 Section 1 – General Survey (mandatory) ............................................................................................... 63 Your experiences in Hamilton ....................................................................................................... 67 Section 2 – Health (optional) .................................................................................................................. 70 Section 3 – Trans Experiences (optional) ............................................................................................... 75 Section 4 – Work, Employment & Income (optional) ............................................................................ 77 Section 5 – Recent Education (optional) ................................................................................................ 80 Section 6 – Housing (optional) ................................................................................................................ 83 Section 7- Religion, Spirituality & Faith (optional) ................................................................................ 84 Section 8 – Body Image, Sex, Relationships (optional).......................................................................... 85 Section 9 – General HIV-related question (optional) ............................................................................ 88 Section 10 – Justice & Violence (optional) ............................................................................................. 89 Section 11 – Parent / Guardian / Caregiver of child(ren) (optional)..................................................... 90 Appendix B: Coding for Gender Identity.................................................................................................. 94 Appendix C: Coding Sexual Orientation ................................................................................................... 97 3 LIST OF TABLES 3.0.1 Percent of all respondents who completed each optional survey module ………………….......................15 3.1.1 Gender identity with female-identified, male-identified, and gender non-conforming categories…...16 3.1.2 Gender identity resorted into three categories………...................................................................……….16