Canadian 2SLGBTQI+ Health
-
Researching for LGBTQ2S+ HealthWe are a team of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, Two-Spirit, and queer (LGBTQ2S+) and ally researchers who focus on understanding how LGBTQ2S+ people experience physical and emotional (mental) health, and how they access health services. Our office is at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, but our work examines LGBTQ2S+ lives and experiences all over the province, and beyond.
-
Rainbow Health OntarioRHO offers training for healthcare providers across the province to feel more clinically and culturally competent in caring for their 2SLGBTQ service users. RHO also supports system change by producing evidence-based print and web resources, contributing an 2SLGBTQ health perspective to public policy processes, acting as a research catalyst and hosting Canada’s largest 2SLGBTQ health conference.
-
Statistics Canada Canadian Community Health Survey (February to December 2022)Table 3
Last dental visit and avoidance due to cost, Canadians aged 12 years and older, by population group, Canada, excluding the territories -
Canadian Cannabis Survey 2024The Cannabis Act came into force on October 17, 2018, and provides legal access to cannabis and controls and regulates its production, distribution and sale. To evaluate the impact of the Cannabis Act, Health Canada collects data to better understand how people in Canada view and use cannabis. These data also support development of policy and program initiatives, including public education and awareness activities.
-
Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan 2022The 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan will advance rights and equality for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and additional sexually and gender diverse people in Canada. The Action Plan takes a holistic approach to addressing the substantial and persisting inequities faced by 2SLGBTQI+ individuals and communities. It was developed based on the experiences, evidence and voices of 2SLGBTQI+ communities and stakeholders through an extensive engagement process. The Government of Canada received input from 25,636 survey respondents, 102 written submissions, and over 100 participants across seven roundtable discussions, who generously shared their lived experiences, knowledge and expertise.
Articles on 2SLGBTQI+ Oral Health
For those who are interested in 2SLGBTQI+ Dentistry and Oral Health research, below are a few articles of interest:
Akhavan, A. A., Pang, J. H., Morrison, S. D., & Satterwhite, T. (2024). Gender Affirming Facial Surgery-Anatomy and Procedures for Facial Masculinization. Oral Maxillofac Surg Clin North Am, 36(2), 221-236. doi:10.1016/j.coms.2024.01.001
Almeida, L. E., de Oliveira, V., & Mialhe, F. L. (2024). LGBTQ+ related curricular activities in Brazilian Dental Schools: Do institutional and/or deans' profiles matter? J Dent Educ, 88(4), 434-444. doi:10.1002/jdd.13450
Deschamps-Braly, J. (2019). Feminization of the Chin: Genioplasty Using Osteotomies. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am, 27(2), 243-250. doi:10.1016/j.fsc.2019.01.002
Discepolo, K., & Aquino, N. (2022). Considerations for Transgender Patients Requiring Dental Rehabilitation. J Dent Child (Chic), 89(1), 46-51.
Fakhrjahani, I., Tiwari, T., & Jessani, A. (2023). A Scoping Review of Oral Health Outcomes and Oral Health Service Utilization of 2SLGBTQ+ People. JDR Clin Trans Res, 23800844231206359. doi:10.1177/23800844231206359
Gibbons, A. J., Turner, M. J., Cousley, R. R., & Shah, R. (2023). National Health Service guidelines for transgender orthognathic surgery patients. Br J Oral Maxillofac Surg, 61(8), 585-586. doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2023.08.210
Haley, C. M., Macri, D., Perez, H. L., & Schwartz, S. B. (2022). LGBTQ+ and dental education: Analyzing the present and recommendations for the future. J Dent Educ, 86(9), 1191-1197. doi:10.1002/jdd.13100
Jessani, A., Arriola-Pacheco, F., Athanasakos, A. et al. The intersection of cannabis use and oral health among 2SLGBTQI+ youth: a qualitative study protocol. BMC Oral Health 25, 653 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-05906-6
Juarez, P. D., Ramesh, A., Reuben, J. S., Radix, A. E., Holder, C. L., Brown, K. Y., . . . Matthews-Juarez, P. (2023). Transforming Medical Education to Provide Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Patients: A Policy Brief. Ann Fam Med, 21(Suppl 2), S92-s94. doi:10.1370/afm.2926
Kumar, V., Jain, R., & Singh, S. (2021). Kartavya: An innovative model to deliver oral health services to transgender community in India. Spec Care Dentist, 41(4), 439-441. doi:10.1111/scd.12584
Madhan, B., Krishnan, B., & Arunprasad, G. (2015). Dental patients: Transgender issues. Br Dent J, 218(2), 45. doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.2015.6
Manpreet, K., Ajmal, M. B., Raheel, S. A., Saleem, M. C., Mubeen, K., Gaballah, K., . . . Kujan, O. (2021). Oral health status among transgender young adults: a cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health, 21(1), 575. doi:10.1186/s12903-021-01945-x
Mehringer, J. E., & Ford, C. A. (2021). Clinicians' Roles in Supporting Caregivers of Transgender and Gender-Expansive Youth. J Adolesc Health, 68(6), 1031-1033. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.03.006
Mercer, J., Mabry, J., Donly, K., Michalek, J., & Jayaraman, J. (2023). A Survey of Attitudes and Training of Pediatric Dentistry Residents and Faculty in the United States Regarding the LGBTQ Patient Population. Pediatr Dent, 45(4), 307-315.
Raisin, J. A., Adkins, D., & Schwartz, S. B. (2021). Understanding and Caring for LGBTQ+ Youth by the Oral Health Care Provider. Dent Clin North Am, 65(4), 705-717. doi:10.1016/j.cden.2021.06.007
Russell, S., & More, F. (2016). Addressing Health Disparities via Coordination of Care and Interprofessional Education: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health and Oral Health Care. Dent Clin North Am, 60(4), 891-906. doi:10.1016/j.cden.2016.05.006
Salter, R. O., Barham, L., Young, D. L., McIntosh, C., & Butler, C. J. (2024). Integrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) competency into the dental school curriculum. J Dent Educ. doi:10.1002/jdd.13476
Silva, E., Félix, T. R., Bönecker, M., Zina, L. G., Drummond, A. M. A., & Mattos, F. F. (2023). A scoping review about LGBTQIAP+ people in oral health research. Braz Oral Res, 37, e125. doi:10.1590/1807-3107bor-2023.vol37.0125
Soares, G. H., Sethi, S., Jessani, A., & Jamieson, L. (2025). Discrimination and oral health impact: moderating role of sex and sexuality. Journal of Dental Research, 104(5), 495–502
Tamrat, J. (2022). "Trans-forming" dental practice norms: Exploring transgender identity and oral health implications. Can J Dent Hyg, 56(3), 131-139.
Tharp, G., Wohlford, M., & Shukla, A. (2022). Reviewing challenges in access to oral health services among the LGBTQ+ community in Indiana and Michigan: A cross-sectional, exploratory study. PLoS One, 17(2), e0264271. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0264271
Zoschke, I. N., Bennis, S. L., Tang, Y., Wilkerson, J. M., Stull, C. L., Nyitray, A. G., Khariwala, S. S., Nichols, C. M., Rosser, B. R. S., Flash, C. A., & Ross, M. W. (2025). The influence of tobacco use, hazardous drinking, and other risk factors on HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer risk and screening perceptions among gay and bisexual men: a cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health, 25(1), 462–11
Health + 2SLGBTQI Books
-
Heart, Brain and Mental Health Disparities for LGBTQ People of Color
by
ISBN: 3030700607Publication Date: 2021This timely edited collection presents a holistic and biopsychosocial analysis of LGBTQ People of Color well-being, focused on heart, brain, and mental health, and employs a unique incorporation of minority stress, intersectionality, and allostatic load frameworks. Bringing together established and emerging academics, its authors present a critical analysis of the latest research that encompasses the study of both risk and resilience factors in LGBTQ People of Color health. Across the book, they highlight the precise nature of the behavioral health disparities experienced by these communities, but further, they reveal the unique roles of intersectional discrimination and structural stigma as mechanisms for these disparities.
