HIV Prevention Lab and the HOPE Centre Stand in Solidarity with Trans and 2SLGBTQIA+ People

We are amidst a striking backlash targeting 2 Spirit, trans, and non-binary people, drag performers, and broader 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Gender-diverse identities are being targeted and attacked for political gain, putting trans lives and trans youth lives in danger.

On September 20, 2023, anti-trans marches took place in cities across Canada. The HIV Prevention Lab and the HOPE Centre for Sexual and Gender Minority People want to add to the responses of BC’s Human Rights Commissioner, the 519 Centre, and the CBRC to these hate-fueled marches by affirming that the human rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ people are not up for debate.

We strive to create a safe, inclusive, just, and equitable space for 2SLGBTQIA+ and all people to thrive. 2SLGBTQIA+ lives matter. Trans lives matter. The safety of trans youth matters. Every single day.

Links/Resources:

Home

Army of Lovers

https://www.cbrc.net/reflections_on_safety_and_support_for_trans_children_and_youth_a_conversion_therapy_survivor
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/trans-professionals-share-fair-tickets-700419482527
https://www.instagram.com/p/CxD1pwwLFMe/?img_index=1
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxd_7RKrhd3/?img_index=1
https://www.ecuad.ca/news/2023/statement-trans-solidarity

LGBT Youthline text: 647-694-4275
LGBT Youthline Resources Finder: https://resources.youthline.ca/
Trans Lifeline: 1-877-330-6366
Stepstones for 2SLGBTQ+ Youth Resource Guide: https://www.stepstonesforyouth.com/resources/youth-resources/lgbt2q-services/
Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310 or visit their website: https://www.hopeforwellness.ca
Toronto Distress Centres: 416-408-4357 or 408-HELP
TalkSuicide: 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645

The HIV Prevention Lab stands in solidarity with the University’s Indigenous community in the renaming of Toronto Metropolitan University. To learn more about the University’s new name and the process in which the name was chosen, we encourage you to read more about the University’s new name.

A key focus of the HIV Prevention Lab’s work is to acknowledge and highlight the health disparities and inequities that exist within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. A recent Canadian research report highlights the unique experiences of Indigenous trans, two-spirit, and non-binary people that negatively impact their health and wellbeing, particularly high rates of violence, harassment, and social exclusion. Importantly, the report also highlights the unique strengths and resiliency of Indigenous trans, two-spirit, and non-binary individuals and communities. As a part of Pride Month, we encourage community members to stand in solidarity with and advocate for the racialized, trans, non-binary, and two-spirit members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community who continue to experience disproportionate levels of discrimination, oppression, and marginalization.

Statement on Anti-Racism Action

The HIV Prevention Lab acknowledges the violent and tragic history of racism and colonialism as well as the ongoing oppression of Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour. We also acknowledge that both science and academia are complicit in these systems of racism and oppression. We commit to respond with anti-racist action, including:

Actively recruiting and supporting Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour in our lab.
To conduct research examining the role of racism and colonialism in the lives of people who are Black, Indigenous, and/or other people of colour.
To conduct intersectional analyses that examine how racism and colonialism interact with other oppressive systems such as homophobia and sexism in the lives of gay, bisexual, queer, and other men who have sex with men who are Black, Indigenous, and/or people of colour.
To mandate training among lab members on anti-racism and anti-colonialism, and to mandate that we discuss how to implement this knowledge to improve our research and clinical practices.

Studies with ongoing recruitment

SASSY (Substance And Sex StudY)

This multiphase, sequential mixed-methods biopsychosocial study aims to examine potential modifiable mechanisms that may explain different types of crystal methamphetamine ...
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Engage

The Engage Cohort Study is Canadian collaboration between researchers and community-based organizations on HIV and sexual health among gay, bi, ...
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Sexual Confidence – RCT

This study tests the efficacy of a novel integrated HIV prevention intervention that combines the most empirically supported treatment for social ...
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Café Scientifique
Engage held their latest Café Scientifique event last week at the Glad Day Bookshop. The theme of the event: Ask a Queer Sex Scientist ANYTHING! We saw an overwhelming turnout full of burning que [...]
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HOPE Community Symposium
Today, the HOPE Centre Community Symposium was hosted at the OHTN for an invigorating discussion and day-long consultation with community members and organizations. Building on the momentum gaine [...]
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SASSY Funded!
Dr. Trevor Hart latest multi-site Substance And Sex StudY has placed 2nd in the Fall 2023 CIHR Project Grant competition and will be funded for the next 5 years! SASSY will be following on the hee [...]
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End of Year Lab Get-Together
It's unbelievable how time flies! In appreciation of all the wonderful members of our lab, we got together at Storm Crow Manor for a fabulous night out! [...]
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CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity: Call for Members for the Community Advisory Committee
The Institute of Infection and Immunity (III) is aiming to convene its first Community Advisory Committee that includes people with lived and living experience to advise its Institute Advisory Board [...]
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Café Scientifique

Engage held their latest Café Scientifique event last week at the Glad Day Bookshop. The theme of the event: Ask a Queer Sex Scientist ANYTHING! We saw an overwhelming turnout full of burning questions and buzzing discussion!

Read More...
HOPE Community Symposium

Today, the HOPE Centre Community Symposium was hosted at the OHTN for an invigorating discussion and day-long consultation with community members and organizations. Building on the momentum gained from the Launch event, the HOPE Centre Community Symposium brought together community members, organizations, and researchers from the Centre in a collaborative setting. The symposium’s themes was…

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SASSY Funded!

Dr. Trevor Hart latest multi-site Substance And Sex StudY has placed 2nd in the Fall 2023 CIHR Project Grant competition and will be funded for the next 5 years! SASSY will be following on the heels of the Engage Cohort study and will be running concurrently with Engage 2.0. Our SASSY grant is otherwise titled,…

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End of Year Lab Get-Together

It’s unbelievable how time flies! In appreciation of all the wonderful members of our lab, we got together at Storm Crow Manor for a fabulous night out!

Read More...
HIV Prevention Lab and the HOPE Centre Stand in Solidarity with Trans and 2SLGBTQIA+ People

We are amidst a striking backlash targeting 2 Spirit, trans, and non-binary people, drag performers, and broader 2SLGBTQIA+ communities. Gender-diverse identities are being targeted and attacked for political gain, putting trans lives and trans youth lives in danger. On September 20, 2023, anti-trans marches took place in cities across Canada. The HIV Prevention Lab and…

Read More...
CIHR Institute of Infection and Immunity: Call for Members for the Community Advisory Committee

The Institute of Infection and Immunity (III) is aiming to convene its first Community Advisory Committee that includes people with lived and living experience to advise its Institute Advisory Board and Institute Staff on a number of topics. The individuals on this Advisory Committee will not be academic researchers, clinicians or trainees. Rather, these future…

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The Feast Centre is hiring for a Research Coordinator!

The Feast Centre is Hiring a Research Coordinator! The Research Coordinator (II) is responsible for applying specialized knowledge to initiate, implement, manage, and coordinate moderate to large research projects. For the full posting please visit the job posting on the McMaster University Careers website: https://careers.mcmaster.ca/psp/prepprd/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&SiteId=1001&FOCUS=Applicant&JobOpeningId=57314&PostingSeq=1 To apply: Please send your completed application (including cover letter, CV and…

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Lab Picnic 2023

It’s summertime, and what better way to enjoy the beautiful weather than a picnic in the park? The Toronto Music Garden is such a lovely place to gather, and we were lucky enough to get to enjoy the music of an afternoon string ensemble.

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OHTN Quarterly Newsletter

This Quarterly Newsletter shares quick facts about injectable antiretroviral among people living with HIV in Ontario and provides a glance at evidence brief “OHTN Evidence Report on Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.” There are also updates regarding OCS Governance Committee membership, two OCS sub-studies, and the OCS study team. You can read the full newsletter at the OCS website.

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Unlocking HOPE at New TMU Centre for 2SLGBTQ+ Health

Earlier this month, the HOPE Centre officially launched. Housed in the Faculty of Arts at TMU, the HOPE Centre is the first and only Centre in Canada dedicated to combining health research aimed at understanding disparities in sexual and gender minority health. Read the TMU newsletter write-up about our HOPE Centre Launch by Michael Torres HERE!

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Recognition: Adhm Zahran

Adhm Zahran has been awarded the Canadian Psychological Association’s Scientific Affairs Committee Student Research Grant for his project “Sexual Minority Stress and Alcohol Misuse Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Sexual Minority Men in Canada”. Congratulations! We are excited to see the positive contributions your project brings to the world.

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Recognition: Mario Sanchez-Corte

Mario Sanchez-Corte, in addition to graduating this spring, has received the Canadian Psychological Association Certificate of Academic Excellence for his Undergraduate Honours Thesis. Warmest congratulations on your inspiring achievement and graduation!

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Recognition: Graham Berlin

Graham Berlin has been selected for an APA research award, receiving the 2023 Malyon-Smith Scholarship for his proposal entitled “Applying the Rejection Sensitivity Framework to Sexual Minority Men Who Use Methamphetamine: An Examination of Rejection-Related Cognitive-Affective Processes.” This is an exemplary achievement. Congratulations!

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A Successful Launch of our HOPE Centre!

We at the HIV Prevention Lab had a fantastic night out at the HOPE Centre Launch party and hope to see most everyone again at the next event! The HIV Prev Lab would also like to extend a tremendous thank you to all of our lab members who volunteered their time at this event!! Terri,…

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HOPE Centre Launch Party

Toronto Metropolitan University’s HOPE (Health Outcomes Promotion and Engagement) Centre for Sexual and Gender Minority People conducts community-engaged, interdisciplinary research to understand and promote the health of people who identify as members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities. Please join us for a Cocktail Reception and Launch Party from 6:30pm to 9:30pm for appetizers, one complementary cocktail, a spiked punch…

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YSMENA Study

This CANFAR funded study is recruiting for MENA identifying young adults from the HOPE Centre. They are administering a survey to MENA young adults in Ontario and BC. Part of their mandate is to amplify the voices of harder to reach key populations (gay, bisexual, MSM, and trans) MENA young people to help them plan…

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2SLGBTQ+ Research Mixer

The International Partnership for Queer Youth Resistance (INQYR) is hosting an event for 2SLGBTQIA+ researchers to network and learn more about queer research on June 8th, 2023 from 6pm-8:30pm at the University of Toronto Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. To find out more about this event, you can visit their website and can RSVP for free…

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Trainee Opportunity: 2SLGBTQ+ Health Hub

The 2SLGBTQ+ Health Hub Awards Committee to officially launch this year’s call for Community, Academic, and Professional Trainees (see links below in both English and French). Applications are due Wednesday, May 15th! We encourage applications from interested individuals who are committed to 2SLGBTQ+ health and either working in a community or professional setting or completing their education in a university…

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Mario presenting his Undergraduate Thesis Poster!

HIV Prevention lab’s thesis student, Mario Sanchez-Cortez, presented his undergraduate poster on Proximal Sexual Minority Stress and Bisexual Men’s Sexual Satisfaction last Friday. Way to go, Mario!

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STI testing rates down 40 per cent during the pandemic in Toronto

Trevor Hart, psychology professor and director of the HIV Prevention Lab at TMU, cites a rise in syphilis over the years, with it going up nearly 300 per cent when comparing data from 2010 to 2019. A lack of testing facilities in a cross-section of communities may be one factor, he says.

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