- Maintaining a comprehensive website featuring searchable databases of LGBT health information, news and events.
- Consulting with health and social service providers and community groups on program development, organizational change, clinical standards and protocols.
- Supporting the development of local community-based health promotion strategies, e.g. surveys, program partnerships, advocacy work.
- Creating health education and health communications materials that address LGBT health issues.
- Developing partnerships with universities, colleges and licensing bodies to create appropriate curriculum materials, and ensure competence among health care and social service providers.
- Providing a database of trainers across Ontario and developing special training initiatives and curricula.
- Hosting a provincial conference offering skills development, networking and partnership opportunities.
- Developing partnerships with researchers, funders and policy makers to gather LGBT health data and to encourage more LGBT health research in Ontario.
- Promoting the use of existing LGBT health research to promote evidence-based practice and informed public policy.
Current Projects
Here is a list of some of the projects that we are currently working on:
Information and Consultation
• We have partnered with Planned Parenthood Toronto, Women’s College Hospital and the LGBT Program at Sherbourne Health Centre to develop an awareness campaign that seeks to educate women who have sex with women and their health care providers about the importance of regular pap tests to prevent cervical cancer.
Education and Training
• We are working with the Rainbow Health Network on the development of a resource guide for trainers and educators, a project that has been funded by a grant from the City of Toronto's Access, Equity and Human Rights Community Partnership and Investment Program.
Research and Policy
We are currently collaborating on the following research projects:
• The Trans PULSE Project - A community-based research project that responds to problems identified within Ontario trans communities regarding access to health and social services.
• Disordered Eating - A study to estimate the prevalence of eating disorders and level of body image dissatisfaction among gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men in Toronto.
• Bisexual Mental Health - A pilot study aimed at beginning to fill the gap in our understanding regarding the factors affecting mental health and emotional well-being for bisexual people.
• LGBT Mental Health Services Satisfaction Survey - A research study to learn about the experiences of LGBT people in mental health services settings in Ontario in order to identify areas needing improvement to better meet the needs of LGBT people.
• The Toronto Teen Survey LGBT Dissemination Project – A project to share and promote the Toronto Teen Survey results that are relevant for LGBT youth.
We are also working on the following policy issues:
• Funding for sex reassignment surgery in Ontario
RHO is working with Trans community activists, the LGBT Program at Sherbourne Health Centre, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, as well as CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) to review current policies and procedures for approving OHIP-funded SRS in the province.
• Assisted Human Reproduction Act and LGBTQ Communities
We are a member of the AHRA/LGBTQ Working Group which is advocating on behalf of LGBTQ communities with regards to the Assisted Human Reproduction Act, an Act that became law in 2004 and which regulates the activities of fertility clinics and sperm banks.
• Changes to Questions on Statistics Canada Surveys
We are working in partnership with a network of Ontario-based LGBT researchers to advocate for the inclusion of questions addressing same-sex behaviour, same-sex attraction, and gender identity on the Canadian Community Health Survey.
For more information about any of our services or any of our current projects, please contact us.
