LGBTQ Archives - YFile /yfile/tags-to-show/lgbtq/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:13:20 +0000 en-CA hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.10 CIHR supports 91ÑÇɫ research to improve 2SLGBTQIA+ health equity  /yfile/2026/10/09/cihr-supports-york-research-to-improve-2slgbtqia-health-equity/ Fri, 09 Oct 2026 18:08:17 +0000 /yfile/?p=410619 A 91ÑÇɫ-led study, backed by $700,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), will investigate where gaps in health care emerge for 2SLGBTQIA+ populations across Canada and how the findings can improve programs and services.

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A 91ÑÇɫ-led research team has received $700,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) to examine health care access and long-term health outcomes among 2SLGBTQIA+ populations in Canada. 

The project “Developing LGBTQI+ Health Surveillance Capacity in Canada: Longitudinal Linked-Data Analyses of Primary Care, Prevention, Chronic Disease, Disability, and Unmet Need” aims to generate evidence that can help reduce health inequities and improve health care services, programs and policies for sexually and gender-diverse communities. 

Antony Chum
Antony Chum

The study is led by Antony Chum, associate professor in 91ÑÇɫ's , with co-principal applicant Yihong Bai (University of Manitoba) and co-principal knowledge user Jennifer Rayner (Alliance for Healthier Communities). The team also includes co-investigators from 91ÑÇɫ and partner institutions, including 91ÑÇɫ graduate​​ Alex Abramovich and 91ÑÇɫ postdoctoral research fellow Peiya Cao, as well as Brittany A. Jakubiec, Caley B. Shukalek, David Brennan, Devan Nambiar and June Lam. 

Previous research on 2SLGBTQIA+ care has largely focused on mental health and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections, including HIV. As a result broader health needs remain understudied. Addressing this gap is important because stigma, discrimination and barriers to inclusive care can delay screening and treatment, contributing to poorer outcomes, says Chum. 

The project aims to develop public health surveillance capacity for 2SLGBTQIA+ populations in Canada using census, survey and health administrative data, the team will track the outcomes of millions of Canadians over periods of up to 20 years. The findings will provide a comprehensive picture of their health and examining primary care access, cancer screening and incidence, vaccination, chronic disease, disability, and preventable emergency department visits and hospitalizations. 

The findings will identify when and where gaps in care emerge and who is most affected. Working with community and health system partners, the team will use this evidence to inform improvements in primary care, preventive services and chronic disease management for 2SLGBTQIA+ people across Canada. 

The funding was awarded through CIHR’s Advancing 2S/LGBTQI+ Health Through Research program. 

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Take part in 91ÑÇɫ’s first employment systems review to advance workplace equity /yfile/2026/10/02/take-part-in-yorks-first-employment-systems-review-to-advance-workplace-equity/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 16:16:11 +0000 /yfile/?p=407821 A new survey invites full-time, permanent faculty and staff to help assess how 91ÑÇɫ’s policies and practices shape equity – from hiring and recruitment through career growth and retention.

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91ÑÇɫ invites all full-time, permanent staff and faculty to take part in its first Employment Systems Review (ESR) survey – a key step in strengthening employment equity across the institution.

The ESR is a comprehensive review of 91ÑÇɫ’s policies, practices and workplace culture. It aims to examine how systems across the employee lifecycle – from recruitment and hiring to career advancement and retention – guide equity outcomes. 

“The goal is to better understand where 91ÑÇɫ does well and where there remains room for improvements in our continuous efforts to foster an inclusive working environment,” says Parissa Safai, interim vice-president equity, people and culture. “Input from 91ÑÇɫ’s faculty and staff is essential to advancing equity across the University.” 

The survey provides an opportunity for employees to share experiences, observations and perspectives on how systems are working in practice, and insights will be used to inform recommendations related to employment equity. 

91ÑÇɫ staff and faculty members are invited to complete this survey regardless of whether they identify as a member of an equity-deserving group.  However, those who self-identify as part of five equity-deserving groups – women, racialized persons, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community – will have the opportunity to express interest in follow-up engagement opportunities, such as focus groups or one-on-one conversations.  

“The Employment Systems Review reflects 91ÑÇɫ’s ongoing commitment to employment equity, human rights and continuous improvement, aligned with the University’s DEDI Strategy, the Action Plan on Black Inclusion and the Indigenous Framework,” says Safai. 

The survey opens Oct. 5 and closes Nov. 5 and is available online.Ìý

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Employment equity report maps 91ÑÇɫ U workforce trends /yfile/2026/07/17/employment-equity-report-maps-york-u-workforce-trends/ Fri, 17 Jul 2026 18:05:02 +0000 /yfile/?p=408533 Explore 91ÑÇɫ’s 2025 Employment Equity Statistical Report to see how workforce representation is evolving across the institution, where progress has been made and how new data tools support more transparent, evidence-based decision-making.

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As part of its obligations under the Federal Contractors Program, 91ÑÇɫ is required to conduct a workforce analysis to understand any underrepresentation of equity-deserving groups.

91ÑÇɫ presents the findings from its yearly analysis in the Annual Employment Equity Statistical Report. The report covering Jan.1 to Dec. 31, 2025, is now available.

The report highlights representation at the University for four federally designated groups under the Employment Equity Act – women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons and persons with disabilities, as well as community members who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+. This year’s report also highlights employment equity initiatives undertaken in 2025, such as inclusive recruitment practices, targeted outreach to equity-deserving communities and equitable hiring and adjudication training.

Over the past three years, representation for racialized persons, persons with disabilities and 2SLGBTQIA+ employees has increased steadily, indicating measurable, incremental progress across the institution.

While work to advance equity has shown positive momentum, the University continues to recognize and address gaps in visibility and inclusion for under-represented groups.

The findings of the 2025 report highlight the opportunity to look beyond overall representation rates and better understand how employment systems, practices and workplace conditions support access, progression and retention across the University.

"The 2025 report also considers a period of change across the post-secondary sector, including financial pressures, restructuring and workforce adjustments. At 91ÑÇɫ, this is reflected in increased workforce movement over the reporting period," says Parissa Safai, interim vice-president equity, people and culture.

The Employment Equity Dashboard continues to serve as an important companion to the annual report. The dashboard, housed on 91ÑÇɫ's Data Hub, provides three years of aggregated and disaggregated employment equity data. It was designed to support transparency and enable evidence-based decision-making across the University community.

Increased participation in the Employment Equity Survey – with response rates rising from 62 per cent in 2024 to 70.1 per cent in 2025 – suggests growing confidence in the use of this data to support inclusive practices.

Accurate data is important to ensure the dashboard supports evidence-based decision making. Participation in the Employment Equity Survey helps to ensure the report and dashboard represent the 91ÑÇɫ community.

Those who have not yet completed the employee self-identification survey, or wish to change their responses, can access it through HR Self-Serve in the “Personal Details” tab.

To find out more about employment equity at 91ÑÇɫ and to view past reports, visit the Employment Equity and Diversity w±ð²ú²õ¾±³ٱð.

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Funding expands arts-based HIV prevention program led by 91ÑÇɫ /yfile/2026/06/24/funding-expands-arts-based-hiv-prevention-program-led-by-york/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:09:19 +0000 /yfile/?p=407213 An Ontario HIV Treatment Network award will help 91ÑÇɫ researchers expand a program that uses theatre and performance to improve sexual health knowledge and access to care among high-risk youth populations.

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91ÑÇɫ researchers have received an Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) research award to scale up a youth-led, arts-based HIV prevention program that has already reached more than 12,000 young people across Canada.

Sarah Flicker, professor and 91ÑÇɫ Research Chair in Community-Based Participatory Research in the , is the principal investigator on the project, titled "Theatre Making Impact (TMI): Scaling-Up a Youth-Led HIV Prevention Play Across Ontario." Shira Taylor, adjunct professor at 91ÑÇɫ and director of TMI, is co-applicant and the program's founder. The OHTN funding will support the next phase of the program's expansion across Ontario, extending its reach into urban centres and northern Indigenous communities where HIV rates remain disproportionately high.

Shira Taylor
Shira Taylor
Sarah Flicker
Sarah Flicker

TMI – formerly known as SExT, or Sex Education by Theatre – is a trauma-informed, culturally responsive not-for-profit that uses peer education and theatre, alongside music, dance, rap and poetry, to engage youth in open conversations about sexual health, HIV prevention, mental health and healthy relationships.

Taylor founded the program in 2014 in Toronto's Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park neighbourhoods as part of her doctoral thesis, and later expanded it through a postdoctoral fellowship at 91ÑÇɫ in collaboration with Flicker. To date, it has reached more than 12,000 young people across Canada, with a focus on communities most affected by HIV – including newcomer, Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ youth.

"I really wanted to build an evidence-based program that put the youth voice centre stage on these topics," says Taylor.

What sets TMI apart is how it delivers that education. Instead of pamphlets or classroom lectures, the program uses peer-led performance, humour and storytelling to model difficult conversations and build skills in a lower-stakes environment – one that engages young people both intellectually and emotionally.

“Lack of awareness usually isn’t the reason people don’t use condoms," says Taylor. "There's a peer pressure element, there's an emotional element. Theatre is uniquely positioned to take into account our full humanity."

The program also benefits from an intergenerational model that, over the last decade, has deepened. Many of the original cast members who joined as high schoolers – initially, Taylor jokes, for the free pizza – have stayed on and trained as trauma-informed peer mentors. They now co-facilitate the program alongside a new generation of youth from the same community, sharing similar cultural backgrounds and immigration experiences.

The evidence from a recent Toronto District School Board (TDSB) tour, co-led by Taylor and Flicker and supported by a LaMarsh Centre for Child and Youth Mental Health Catalyst Grant at 91ÑÇɫ, underscores the approach's impact. Across eight performances at five TDSB high schools, 61 per cent of student audience members reported improved sexual health knowledge, 49 per cent felt more confident managing their own sexual health and 46 per cent reported greater awareness of where to access HIV and STI testing.

Mental health outcomes were also significant: 49 per cent reported improved mental health knowledge, 44 per cent indicated feeling more comfortable seeking help and 41 per cent reported using new coping strategies.

While the student audience feedback provides crucial insights, the program’s impact extends beyond statistics. During a tour to an Indigenous community in Saskatchewan, a youth performer's rap about navigating her identity and her family's cultural expectations moved a young audience member to share a poem she had written but never shown anyone.

"She had it stuffed in the back of her locker," Taylor recalls. "She'd been too scared to share it publicly. And we all gathered around as this young Indigenous girl read us this poem. I still remember the words."

With OHTN support, the project will reach youth beyond Toronto by bringing performances to urban centres and northern and Indigenous communities across Ontario over the coming year.

Taylor and Flicker are thrilled that the award allows the program to continue to reach young people across the province.

"It's really validating how much impact arts-based approaches can have in this sector," says Taylor, "and how important it is to empower community-based, culturally responsive, trauma-informed programs around these topics, which has been historically lacking in sex education."

With files from Mzwandile Poncana

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Join 91ÑÇɫ U at Toronto Pride Parade, June 28 /yfile/2026/06/12/join-york-u-at-toronto-pride-parade-june-28/ Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:05:20 +0000 /yfile/?p=407535 91ÑÇɫ community members can show their pride on June 28 by walking in the parade alongside faculty, staff, instructors, students and alumni during the annual celebration of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

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As Pride Month celebrations continue across 91ÑÇɫ, the institution is set to return to the Toronto Pride Parade on June 28, joining one of the city’s largest public celebrations of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

Building on past participation and renewed community engagement, 91ÑÇɫ invites faculty, staff, instructors, students and alumni to join a dedicated 91ÑÇɫ Pride group walking in the parade. Participation is open to those who wish to take part in a shared, visible expression of support and inclusion alongside colleagues and peers from across the University.

The 91ÑÇɫ Pride group will walk together in 91ÑÇɫ-branded t-shirts and will have the opportunity to contribute to a long-running show of support for 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and communities.

Space is limited to 100 participants. Register to participate through

Pride Month at 91ÑÇɫ recognizes the contributions of these communities while underscoring the ongoing work to address systemic barriers and build a more inclusive and equitable environment. Visit 91ÑÇɫ’s Pride Month website for more.

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Making history: 2026 census expands data on 2SLGBTQIA+ communities /yfile/2026/06/05/making-history-2026-census-expands-data-on-2slgbtqia-communities/ Fri, 05 Jun 2026 17:29:27 +0000 /yfile/?p=407304 91ÑÇɫ Professor Nick Mulé says adding sexual orientation data to the 2026 Candian Census could strengthen visibility, policy and services for communities facing ongoing inequities.

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PRIDE Month feature

In a historic first, Canada’s 2026 long-form census asks respondents about their sexual orientation, adding vital demographic evidence to the mandatory survey used to guide public funding and infrastructure planning.

For Nick Mulé, it is a shift that has been decades in the making.

"Many of us feel this is long overdue," says Mulé, professor at 91ÑÇɫ's and Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies. "I was one of many people who have been advocating for this, going back to the 1990s."

Nick Mule
Nick Mulé

The question – which asks respondents to identify as heterosexual; lesbian or gay; bisexual or pansexual; or to write their own answers – appears on the long-form questionnaire sent to roughly 25 per cent of Canadian households. While Statistics Canada has collected sexual orientation data through smaller specialized surveys before, adding it to the census gives the findings a broader national reach and a different level of public visibility.

"The census is much larger. It goes right across Canada, and it's also mandatory," says Mulé. "It lends legitimacy to these populations, raising their visibility."

But Mulé says visibility alone is not the point, and the more consequential argument is about evidence – and what its absence has cost.

When community organizations doing frontline work with 2SLGBTQIA+ populations have approached governments and funders to address the needs of their clients, they have often been told the same thing: without data, resources cannot flow.

"The government acknowledges they believe you, that it probably is true there is a struggle out there, but asks us to give hard evidence," Mulé explains.

That evidence gap is central to Mulé's research. He is project director of 2SLGBTQ+ Poverty in Canada: Improving Livelihood and Social Wellbeing, a 91ÑÇɫ-hosted national study examining poverty among 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Early findings from this project's national survey reflect what frontline workers have long reported: these populations face significant and compounding hardships.

Census data on sexual orientation could deepen that picture considerably. Mulé points to housing, health care, employment, education, income and social services as areas where 2SLGBTQIA+ people face disproportionate challenges due to discrimination, stigma and bias – barriers that differ meaningfully depending on life stage, from youth to seniors.

"Not everyone experiences those things the same way," he says. "It's important that those links are made between one's social location and the kind of challenges they're facing."

The categories included in the census question, Mulé says, are reasonable, and the write-in option is an important safeguard for those whose identity does not fit the options. He acknowledges, however, that open-ended responses create complexity on the research end, as analysts must decide how to group and interpret varied self-descriptions.

More pressing concerns involve privacy, trust and the particular vulnerability of young respondents. Many 2SLGBTQIA+ people have not made their sexual orientation public, and disclosing such information on a government form is considered risky by some.

Those ages 15 and older can fill out the long-form census; however, in most households, an adult completes the form on behalf of all members. This raises concerns that younger individuals may not be accurately represented if adults are not aware of their sexual orientation.

"Those are some of the conundrums," Mulé says. "It's great on the one hand to include it, but Statistics Canada needs to be aware that there is a sensitivity attached to this when it comes to people's comfort level with disclosing this information."

Mulé frames the census change within a longer arc. Sexual orientation has been protected under human rights legislation in every province and territory, and federally, for many years. Yet, legal recognition has not brought an end to discrimination.

For Mulé, having these communities counted in the census – and having that data inform policy, funding and services – is part of closing that gap.

"It really elevates the recognition and legitimacy of these groups in Canada," he says. “By gathering data specific to the realities of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, governments can get a clearer picture of what these communities are facing and what resources, supports and services are needed to equitably meet those needs.”

With files from Mzwandile Poncana

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91ÑÇɫ marks Pride Month across campuses and communities /yfile/2026/05/27/york-university-marks-pride-month-across-campuses-and-communities/ Wed, 27 May 2026 19:26:14 +0000 /yfile/?p=406895 As Pride Month begins, members of 91ÑÇɫ are invited to reflect on ongoing efforts to support 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and address systemic barriers at the University and beyond.

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Voir la version française

91ÑÇɫ recognizes Pride Month as a celebration of 2SLGBTQIA+ identities and contributions, but also as a reminder of the ongoing struggles shaping these experiences locally and globally.

At a time when the rights and freedoms of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and other sexually and gender-diverse communities are increasingly contested, Pride calls for reflection, action and celebration. The rollback of legal protections, policing of gender expression and marginalization of queer and trans voices highlight the fragility of progress and the uneven realities of safety and recognition. These conditions compel us to move beyond symbolic affirmation toward sustained, evidence-informed action.

91ÑÇɫ’s community continues to advance research, teaching and creative work that deepens understanding and supports meaningful change. For example, 91ÑÇɫ nursing faculty are strengthening gender-affirming care practices through global learning initiatives, while other 91ÑÇɫ researchers are examining systemic inequities affecting gender-diverse communities, including new national evidence highlighting housing insecurity among transgender and non-binary Canadians.

Our commitment requires actively challenging structures of exclusion and fostering environments where diverse identities are not only protected but affirmed. This includes recognizing intersectionality and valuing the knowledge produced by queer and trans scholars as essential to academic excellence. 91ÑÇɫ’s leadership in this area is reflected in the work of scholars such as Professor Emeritus Michael Gilbert, whose contributions to gender theory and advocacy were recognized with the 2025 Transgender Pioneer Award.

Throughout Pride Month, flag ceremonies will take place across all three campuses on June 8, 2 to 3 p.m. at Keele (Vari Hall), Glendon (Centre of Excellence) and Markham (first-floor atrium). Flags will be unfurled at Keele and Markham and displayed at Glendon, reaffirming 91ÑÇɫ’s commitment to welcoming and inclusive spaces. Community members are encouraged to explore additional events and resources through 91ÑÇɫ’s Pride programming.

91ÑÇɫ will also participate in Pride celebrations beyond our campuses, including the 91ÑÇɫ Region Pride Parade on June 13 in Newmarket () and the Toronto Pride Parade () on June 28. These opportunities reflect our broader engagement and solidarity with 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.

Pride Month reminds us that building an inclusive university requires ongoing effort. 91ÑÇɫ remains dedicated to advancing policies, programs and practices that support 2SLGBTQIA+ students, staff and faculty, while addressing systemic barriers to equity and belonging.

As we mark Pride Month, we invite all members of the 91ÑÇɫ community to celebrate, learn and reflect on how each of us can help create a more inclusive and affirming environment throughout the year.

Thank you. Merci. Miigwech.

Parissa Safai
Interim Vice-President Equity, People and Culture

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L’Université 91ÑÇɫ souligne le Mois de la fierté dans l’ensemble de ses campus et communautés /yfile/2026/05/27/luniversite-york-souligne-le-mois-de-la-fierte-dans-lensemble-de-ses-campus-et-communautes/ Wed, 27 May 2026 19:25:08 +0000 /yfile/?p=407076 Alors que débute le Mois de la fierté, les membres de la communauté de l’Université 91ÑÇɫ sont invités à réfléchir aux efforts continus déployés pour soutenir les communautés 2ELGBTQIA+ et éliminer les obstacles systémiques, à l’université comme ailleurs.

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L’Université 91ÑÇɫ souligne le Mois de la fierté en célébrant les identités et les contributions des communautés 2ELGBTQIA+ tout en rappelant les luttes continues que ces réalités sous-tendent, tant à l'échelle locale que mondiale.

À l’heure où les droits et les libertés des communautés bispirituelles, lesbiennes, gaies, bisexuelles, transgenres, queer et d’autres communautés de la diversité sexuelle et de genre sont de plus en plus remis en question, le Mois de la fierté invite à la réflexion, à l’action et à la célébration. Le recul des protections juridiques, le contrôle de l’expression de genre ainsi que la marginalisation des voix queer et trans mettent en lumière la fragilité des progrès réalisés et les réalités inégales en matière de sécurité et de reconnaissance. Ces réalités nous obligent à aller au-delà des gestes symboliques pour adopter des mesures concrètes, durables et éclairées par des données.

La communauté de l’Université 91ÑÇɫ continue de faire progresser la recherche, l’enseignement et la création afin d’approfondir la compréhension de ces enjeux et de contribuer à des changements significatifs. Par exemple, des membres du corps professoral en sciences infirmières de l’Université 91ÑÇɫ renforcent les pratiques de soins d’affirmation de genre grâce à des initiatives d’apprentissage à l’échelle mondiale. D’autres chercheur·se·s de l’Université 91ÑÇɫ étudient les inégalités systémiques touchant les communautés de la diversité de genre, notamment à la lumière de nouvelles données nationales mettant en évidence l’insécurité en matière de logement chez les personnes transgenres et non binaires au Canada.

Notre engagement exige de remettre activement en question les structures d’exclusion et de favoriser des milieux où les diverses identités sont non seulement protégées, mais aussi reconnues et valorisées. Cela comprend la reconnaissance de l’intersectionnalité ainsi que la valorisation des savoirs produits par les chercheur·se·s queer et trans comme étant essentiels à l’excellence universitaire. Le leadership de l’Université 91ÑÇɫ dans ce domaine se reflète dans le travail de chercheur·se·s, comme le professeur émérite Michael Gilbert, dont les contributions à la théorie du genre et à la défense des droits des personnes transgenres ont été reconnues par le 2025 Transgender Pioneer Award.

Tout au long du Mois de la fierté, des cérémonies de lever du drapeau auront lieu sur les trois campus le 8 juin : Keele (Vari Hall, de 14 h à 15 h), Glendon (Centre d’excellence) et Markham (atrium du premier étage). Les drapeaux seront hissés aux campus Keele et Markham et déployés au campus Glendon, réaffirmant l’engagement de l’Université 91ÑÇɫ envers des espaces accueillants et inclusifs. Les membres de la communauté sont invités à découvrir les activités et les ressources offertes dans le cadre du Mois de la fierté à 91ÑÇɫ.

L’Université 91ÑÇɫ prendra également part aux célébrations de la fierté au-delà de ses campus. Elle sera notamment au défilé de la fierté de la région de 91ÑÇɫ le 13 juin à Newmarket (), ainsi qu’au défilé de la fierté de Toronto le 28 juin (). Ces occasions témoignent de l’engagement et de la solidarité de l’Université 91ÑÇɫ envers les communautés 2ELGBTQIA+.

Le Mois de la fierté nous rappelle que la création d’une université inclusive exige un engagement continu. L’Université 91ÑÇɫ demeure déterminée à faire progresser des politiques, des programmes et des pratiques qui soutiennent les étudiant·e·s, les membres du personnel et le corps professoral 2ELGBTQIA+, tout en s’attaquant aux obstacles systémiques à l’équité et au sentiment d’appartenance.

Alors que nous soulignons le Mois de la fierté, nous invitons tous les membres de la communauté de l’Université 91ÑÇɫ à célébrer, à apprendre et à réfléchir à la façon dont chacun·e peut contribuer à créer, tout au long de l’année, un milieu plus inclusif et affirmatif.

Merci. Thank you. Miigwech.

Parissa Safai
Vice-présidente par intérim de l’équité, des personnes et de la culture

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Stark housing inequities for transgender, non-binary Canadians, 91ÑÇɫ study shows /yfile/2026/01/21/stark-housing-inequities-for-transgender-non-binary-canadians-york-study-shows/ Wed, 21 Jan 2026 18:41:00 +0000 /yfile/?p=402992 91ÑÇɫ researchers share insights that could transform housing policy and improve equity nationwide for households led by transgender and gender-diverse people.

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Transgender and gender-diverse Canadians are more likely to face housing insecurity than their cisgender peers, according to new research led by 91ÑÇɫ.

Published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, the study provides the first population-level evidence of these disparities using national census data.

Antony Chum
Antony Chum

“Housing is one of those core human rights we often associate with health,” says Antony Chum, associate professor in 91ÑÇɫ’s and Canada Research Chair in Population Health Data Science. “This study really aims to shed light on housing as a key social determinant, alongside mental health, food insecurity and other challenges communities are facing.”

examines housing conditions for households led by cisgender, transgender and non-binary people across the country using data from the 2021 Canadian Long Form Census.

“The Canadian census is actually the first census in the world to include transgender and non-binary people,” says Yihong Bai, co-researcher at 91ÑÇɫ’s Population Health Data Science Lab and assistant professor at the University of Manitoba. “That allowed us, for the first time, to look at housing outcomes for transgender and gender-diverse household heads at a national level.”

The findings show that transgender and gender-diverse households are far more likely to experience “core housing need” – a federal measure that reflects whether housing is unaffordable, in disrepair or overcrowded.

Households led by cisgender men were the least likely to experience this outcome, with an estimated probability of eight per cent. In contrast, cisgender women-led households face a 12.8 per cent risk. Rates were markedly higher for transgender-led households, with probabilities of: 16.5 per cent for transgender men; 21.2 per cent for transgender women; 21.2 per cent for non-binary people assigned female at birth; and 19.4 per cent for non-binary people assigned male at birth.

“About 16.5 to 21 per cent of transgender and non-binary household heads are in core housing need, compared to about eight per cent of cisgender men. That’s one of the biggest findings from the study,” says Gwen Ehi, PhD candidate at 91ÑÇɫ who worked on the study. Most previous research, she says, relied on small or targeted samples, limiting the ability to generalize findings to the broader population.

Bai adds that one limitation of the study is that gender identity is self-reported in the Canadian census data. “We believe the numbers of gender diverse households are likely underreported,” he says.

Researchers analyzed data from primary household maintainers aged 15 and older, using census questions on sex at birth and gender identity to distinguish between cisgender men, cisgender women, transgender men, transgender women and non-binary individuals assigned male or female at birth.

They assessed whether these households met the criteria for core housing need, while accounting for factors such as age, income, education, region and housing tenure.

“The numbers were startling,” says contributor and 91ÑÇɫ PhD student Kristine Ienciu. “The disparities were largest among youth, renters and multi-person households. Those groups consistently showed the highest levels of housing need across gender-diverse populations.”

The implications extend beyond housing alone. When homes are unaffordable or in need of major repairs, residents are more likely to experience poorer physical and mental health which contributes to higher stress, chronic illness and reduced access to care, says Chum.

The study, he urges, calls for a more explicit integration of gender identity into housing policy and planning.

Peiya Cao, postdoctoral researcher in 91ÑÇɫ’s Faculty of Health says affordable and supportive housing units earmarked for the transgender and gender-diverse community are essential, along with stronger enforcement of anti-discrimination protections in the rental market, and better access to supports like income and mental health services – especially for youth.

With files from Karen Martin-Robbins

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Join 91ÑÇɫ’s memorial to honour victims of gender-based violence  /yfile/2025/11/21/join-yorks-memorial-to-honour-victims-of-gender-based-violence/ Fri, 21 Nov 2025 20:51:38 +0000 /yfile/?p=401662 91ÑÇɫ University invites all community members to a memorial ceremony on Dec. 5 in recognition of the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.Ìý

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Voir la version française

Dear 91ÑÇɫ community, 

Every year, 91ÑÇɫ joins communities across Canada in honouring the victims of one of the deadliest shootings in Canadian history, when 14 women were murdered on Dec. 6, 1989 at École Polytechnique in Montreal.

Their names, their aspirations and their lives remain at the centre of the : Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault and Annie Turcotte. 

As we come together for this day of remembrance and action, we also acknowledge all the women and girls who continue to face gender-based violence today, which is compounded by a myriad of intersecting factors: racism, including anti-Indigenous racism and xenophobia; economic injustice; ableism; creed-based discrimination; anti-2SLGBTQIA+ ideologies, and more.

We invite all members of the 91ÑÇɫ community to join us for this year’s memorial ceremony. 

Event details 

Date: Friday, Dec. 5 
Time: 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. 
Event website: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women 

Keele Campus 
Live location: The Eatery (first floor), Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence 

Glendon Campus 
Viewing room: Glendon Ballroom 
Livestream:  

Markham Campus 
Viewing room: MK2050 
Livestream: 

In solidarity with survivors and in honour of those whose lives were taken, we encourage attendees to wear a white ribbon during the ceremony. Ribbons will be available at the .Ìý

91ÑÇɫ is also participating in the international  campaign, which runs from Nov. 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to Dec.Ìý10 (Human Rights Day). During these 16 days, the centre and partners across 91ÑÇɫ will host events, workshops and conversations that encourage reflection, learning and community action.ÌýYou can learn more about these events and register for them .Ìý

We hope you will join us in remembrance and in strengthening our collective commitment to end gender-based violence and to build communities founded on the equal rights and dignity of girls and women.

Sincerely, 

Rhonda Lenton 
President & Vice-Chancellor 

Laina Y. Bay-Cheng 
Professor and Vice-President Equity, People & Culture 

Jane Goodyer 
Dean, Lassonde School of Engineering 

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