Rainbow Health Network

February 5, 2009

The Manitoba Human Rights Commission
7th Flr-175 Hargrave
Winnipeg, MB
R3C 3R8

To Whom It May Concern,

We are writing to express our concern regarding Andrea and Ginette Markowski, the lesbian couple who were refused treatment by a Manitoba physician. We write as members of The Rainbow Health Network, Health Equity Council, and Salaam Queer Muslim Community. The Rainbow Health Network is a catalyst and a resource for activities promoting the health and wellness of people of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. The Health Equity Council is a community based organization engaging in advocacy, research, organizational change, capacity building, community partnerships and collaborations that enhance diversity, equity and inclusion in all facets of health and wellness. Salaam Queer Muslim community is a national organization serving the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Muslims.

We are very concerned about the homophobia experienced by the Markowski’s during their attempt to access health care. Such treatment is unacceptable, unethical and a violation of their human rights. It is but one example of the numerous and frequent barriers to access and good quality care that members of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual and queer (LGBTTQ) communities in Canada confront during their interactions within the health care system.

In this regard, we underscore the critical need for comprehensive equity training for all physicians, and other health care providers, trained both nationally (Canada) and internationally. Equity training should include anti-bias education as well as cultural competency information to improve physicians’ overall knowledge of the specific barriers to accessing good quality care and the unique health care needs of these poorly served communities. We strongly encourage working with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission in providing training.

To be clear, we are not positioning homophobia as a problem of foreign trained professionals only but rather support the full integration of foreign trained professionals into Canada’s health care system. We are concerned that media reports about the Manitoba case unfairly focused on the physician’s response to Andrea and Ginette Markowski in relation to her cultural background and status as a foreign trained professional rather than focusing on the more pressing issue of physicians’ overall lack of training on LGBTTQ health-related issues generally.

We hope that our response assists you to address this most serious issue of discrimination. Our members have much experience with discrimination response and the provision of LGBTTQ sensitivity training within health care service settings. We would be pleased to offer advice, guidance or any other form of assistance in this matter, should you require it.

Sincerely,

Andrea Daley: Rainbow Health Network

Anthony Mohamed:Health Equity Council

Farzana Doctor: Salaam Queer Muslim Community

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