June is Pride Month — a time to celebrate, support, and breathe in solidarity with Canada’s 1.3 million community members.
As national leaders in lung health, Pride Month is a chance for the Lung Health Foundation to highlight persistent lung health inequities that the 2SLGBTQI+ community faces, while re-affirming our commitment to finding empowering solutions.
But that’s not all.
Pride Month is also a chance for the Lung Health Foundation to send an unambiguous message to our 2SLGBTQI+ friends:
If you breathe, you belong at the Lung Health Foundation.
Not only do you belong, but you deserve to breathe as your authentic self while connecting with us – whether you’re improving your lung health through our programs, collaborating with your peers, or seeking answers for yourself or a loved one.
Our year-round values
While we highlight this work during Pride Month, supporting the needs of our 2SLGBTQI+ friends is a year-round commitment.
- Inclusion and Belonging: We affirm that everyone deserves equitable access to lung health resources and support.
- Health Equity: We will continue to highlight disparities in lung health among 2SLGBTQI+ communities – like the fact that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are 5 times more likely to vape than their heterosexual peers, and may benefit from extra support to quit.
- Person-Centred Care: When delivering our programming, our goal is to treat our clients as individuals and as equal partners in the business of healing. Part of this includes respecting what makes you you, including using your preferred pronouns.
Celebrating a healthy Pride across Canada
Let’s educate while we celebrate! Throughout Pride Month 2024, we’ll be tuning in to these health-focused events to better our understanding and build community connections:
Pride Panel: 2SLGBTQIA+ Intersectionality in Healthcare
June 18 at 11:30 a.m. EST
Who it’s by: Women’s College Hospital in Toronto
Who it’s for: Anyone with a passion for 2SLGBTQIA+ health equity
What you’ll learn: 2SLGBTQIA+ panelists will share their healthcare experiences, insights and triumphs as people who live on intersections of Queerness.
Caring for 2SLGBTQ+ patients in your practice
Jun 26, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. EST
Who it’s by: The 2SLGBTQ+ Health Member Interest Group at the College of Family Physicians of Canada
Who it’s for: Family physicians from coast-to-coast
What you’ll learn: How to create an inclusive practice environment
Programs we recommend
Canada-wide
- Expand Project is an initiative to start a dialog within queer and trans communities about smoking.
- It Gets Better Canada is a resource database for 2SLGBTQIA+ resources across Canada, by province.
Alberta
- ConnecTeen is a confidential peer support service for youth in Calgary and area. We are a program of Distress Centre. Being a teen can be tough. You have more independence, responsibility, and stress as a teenager, and you probably have more questions too.
- LGBTQ Support Help Line is toll free, 24-hour support/crisis line operated by Distress Centre Calgary to support LGBT/sexual minority and questioning youth. 1-877-688-4765 (1-877- OUT IS OK)
- Rainbow Alliance for Youth of Edmonton is an inter-agency committee serving LGBTQ2S+ youth & promoting increased understanding, empathy, and knowledge.
- Inside Out Youth Group is a fun, casual, and simultaneously supportive group for 2SLGBTQ+ identified or questioning youth ages 13-18 along with their friends, family, and allies.
- Skipping Stone is a welcoming, positive, and judgement-free space that offers resources, programs, and supports for anyone who identifies as trans, transgender, non-binary, or gender diverse, as well as those questioning, exploring, or looking to affirming their gender identity or expression.
British Columbia
- QMUNITY is a non-profit organization based in Vancouver, BC that works to improve queer, trans, and Two-Spirit lives. We provide a safer space for 2SLGBTQIA+ people and their allies to fully self-express while feeling welcome and included. Our building serves as a catalyst for community initiatives and collective strength.
Qchat is an LGBTQIA2S+ peer support association made up of peer volunteers across British Columbia, and our organization exists to provide peer support and referral services to youth residing within the province.
Manitoba
- Our Own Health Centre is a Winnipeg medical clinic which specializes in care for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
- Rainbow Resource Centre maintains an extensive list of 2SLGBTQ+ organizations in Manitoba.
- 2STLGBQ+ Program: SERC offers affirming and supportive programming for Two-Spirit, Transgender, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Queer, Questioning (2STLGBQ+) individuals, families and friends in Brandon and Western Manitoba.
- Two Spirited People of Manitoba (2Spirit Manitoba) is an organization that seeks to improve the quality of life of 2Spirit (Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ People).
New Brunswick
- Specialized Care for 2SLGBTQIA+ in NB offers care for people who identify as a sexual or gender minority (2SLGBTQIA+).
- eVisitNB offers primary healthcare services to lesbian gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirited, intersex, queer or questioning individuals. Our goal is to provide dignified, non-judgmental services to help clients feel better, cope better with day-to-day challenges and address specific LGBTQ+ health issues.
- LBGT Outreach – Moncton is a non-profit for people who identify as LGBTQ+. It is focused on enhancing and bringing together the LGBTQ+ community within Moncton, Dieppe, and Riverview.
Newfoundland and Labrador
- List of Resources for 2SLGBTQIA+ in Newfoundland contains a list of 2SLGBTQIA+ community groups across Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Quadrangle is a physical space welcoming to all members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in Newfoundland and Labrador, which will house and offer services and programs designed to create social connections, provide resources, and advance all aspects of health and the quality of life for our community through inclusion and diversity, community development, collaboration, and recognition.
- YMCA St John’s 2SLGBTQIA+ Services work to ensure that programs, events, and services are accessible to those with diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, varying cultural identities, and to people of all abilities.
Northwest Territories
- Northern Mosaic Network (Formerly Rainbow Coalition of Yellowknife): As an organization, the Northern Mosaic Network strives to make communities in the Northwest Territories a safer, more open, more knowledgeable place for all 2SLGBTQIPA+ people and their allies.
- Rainbow Youth Centre is a space for 2SLGBTQIPA+ and questioning children and youth and allies to come together for recreation, support and arts-based programs.
Nova Scotia
- Pride Health works to improve access to safe, coordinated, comprehensive primary health care for people who are part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Ontario
- LGBT Youth Line offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through our telephone, text and chat services. Get in touch with a peer support volunteer from Sunday to Friday, 4:00PM to 9:30 PM.
- 2SLGBTQ+ & Trans Health Program supports trans and gender diverse folks ages 17 and up who are residents of Ottawa and the Champlain Region.
Prince Edward Island
- PEI Transgender Network is a network of community members comprised of transgender and gender non-conforming people, as well as parents of trans and GNC youth.
- E.E.R.S Alliance is a not-for-profit organization which focuses on sexual health wellbeing and harm reduction for all Islanders. They provide community supports to folks living with HIV/AIDS as well as 2SLGBTQ+ communities of all ages.
- PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) educates and provides resources to all individuals with questions or concerns, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Out Saskatoon is a 2SLGBTQ+ Community centre and service provider
Yukon
Queer Yukon Society supports, promotes, and organizes events for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies in Whitehorse, Yukon.