May 17, 2008
The PSAC Human Rights Program
Homophobia is bad for your health!
International Day Against Homophobia highlights health care inequity
May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia. The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) stands in solidarity with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities in opposition to homophobia and transphobia.
This year's Day Against Homophobia focuses on the LGBT community and health care. Queer and trans people have spent many years fighting for health care free from discrimination. They have also fought hard to ensure that public health care remain free and accessible to all Canadians – especially those from traditionally marginalized communities.
The PSAC supports the call for health services which are free from discrimination. We also join with the Canadian Labour Congress in asserting that the best way to ensure equity in health care is to support Canada's public medicare system and fight any privatization of Canadian health care.
Here is why we need to keep fighting for public health care, and against privatization of health care services in Canada:
Private health care is unaccountable. LGBT people historically have faced discrimination in access to and in the provision of health care services. Activists from LGBT communities and unionized health care workers have challenged health care institutions to change their policies and practices and to provide care free from prejudice and discrimination. Private institutions are accountable to shareholders and not to the public.
Private health insurance leaves people behind. In the United States, private health insurance companies charge expensive premiums to people with pre-existing health conditions – if they are lucky enough to qualify for coverage. More than 40 million people in the U.S. have no health coverage whatsoever, and those who do must fight private HMOs to access the care they need and deserve. In Canada, the lack of a national pharmacare program means that LGBT people with HIV/AIDS or other serious medical conditions must rely on private insurance to pay for their medications – if their employer provides them with a benefit plan.
Health care is a human right. No one should have to go shopping for health care services to find places where they feel safe. Everyone has the right to respectful care in our community, no matter how ill they are or how much money they make. Public control of health care services helps ensure access to health care for the LGBT community and other equity-seeking groups. Public institutions have an obligation to respect and promote the human rights of patients, and must take positive measures to do so. While private health care must also respect provincial human rights legislation, the onus is on the individual to file a complaint, leaving patients vulnerable to human rights abuses.
Many transsexual and transgender people continue to face discrimination and a lack of access to medically necessary services, including sex reassignment surgery and hormone therapy. People living with HIV/AIDS must access private insurance or pay out-of-pocket for the medications they need to take to stay alive. It shouldn't be this way.
Think public – and fight homophobia
PSAC is building a movement to fight back and defend Canada's valuable public services. We believe that the needs of people come first – that the role of government is to protect and promote the social, economic and safety needs of the public, rather than promote profits at any cost.
On May 17, we encourage PSAC members to mark the International Day Against Homophobia by committing to defend a strong, public health care system for all Canadians. It is time to make the voices and the needs of LGBT communities heard. Let's make sure the LGBT communities get respectful, accessible care through a strong public health care system.
– With information from the Canadian Labour Congress
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Date Modified : 2008/05/15
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