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TORONTO — Pink Triangle Press today released a new Pink Paper on Health, a national research study and report revealing significant health disparities faced by 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada, and announced the launch of Script, a new digital platform designed to close critical gaps in queer and trans health information.
Based on a cross-sectional survey of more than 2,100 respondents nationwide, half of whom identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, the study found that 2SLGBTQIA+ communities experience poorer health outcomes, reduced access to care, and higher levels of discrimination than non-2SLGBTQIA+ Canadians. Funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) with research conducted by Environics Research, the Pink Triangle Press Pink Paper examines disparities across health outcomes, access to services, quality of care, and experiences of stigma within Canada’s healthcare system.
“Universal healthcare is central to what defines Canada,” said David Walberg, CEO and executive director of Pink Triangle Press.“The Pink Paper on health is a wake-up call, as our people are suffering and our healthcare system is offside with one of its foundational principles: ‘First, do no harm.’”
Key findings from the 2025 Pink Paper on Health include:
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Health disparities: 40% of 2SLGBTQIA+ respondents reported significantly higher rates of cancer, mental health conditions, anxiety, depression, and other chronic illnesses - nearly double the rate reported by non-2SLGBTQIA+ respondents (20%).
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Quality of life: 2SLGBTQIA+ populations report lower Quality of Life scores, with the widest gap in psychological well-being (61% vs. 69% for non-2SLGBTQIA+).
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Access to care: Mental health care and gender-affirming services were identified as the most important yet least accessible and least satisfactory services, with satisfaction below 30% for 2SLGBTQIA+ respondents.
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Discrimination: Many respondents, most acutely Two-Spirit (77%), reported experiencing discrimination in healthcare settings, leading some to conceal their identity or delay care.
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Barriers and mistrust: Inconsistent service and limited access to affirming care led to delayed treatment and greater reliance on online health resources, with 56% of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals turning to online platforms compared to 40% of cisgender and heterosexual respondents.
The report identifies gaps in healthcare provider training, access to inclusive services and culturally safe care as contributing factors to these disparities. It includes recommendations intended to support policymakers, healthcare providers and educators in improving health equity for 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada.
As part of its long-standing mission to serve the 2SLGBTQIA+ community with trusted, independent journalism for more than 50 years, Pink Triangle Press launched Script, a one-stop editorial destination for credible, community-informed 2SLGBTQIA+ health reporting. The platform is supported by three tailored health newsletters: Dose, which delivers targeted health information for queer men; Vital, focused on essential health information for queer women; and Signal, providing credible, affirming health coverage created by and for trans and gender-diverse communities. Script and its newsletters are published in both English and French. More information is available at www.script.health.
The full 2025 Pink Paper on Health is available at www.pinkpaper.ca.
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