As part of their broader consultations on human rights and mental health, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), in partnership with Rainbow Health Ontario, is hosting two consultations for lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/queer (LGBTQ) communities. The discussion will focus on the rights of LGBTQ people with mental health disabilities and addictions to be free from discrimination in employment, housing and services. The information gathered from these consultations will inform the policy work of the OHRC.
Discussion during the consultation sessions will include looking at examples of discrimination that exist for LGBTQ people with mental health disabilities and addictions when looking for a job or requesting accommodation at work, or when accessing adequate, affordable and suitable housing. The sessions will also address the types of negative attitudes and stereotypes about people with mental health disabilities and addictions that lead to unequal treatment when accessing health and social services, and how discrimination based on mental health disabilities and addictions intersects with experiences of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.
The sessions are being held in Toronto on March 7 and March 9. Deadline for registration is February 11. Randomly selected participants will receive confirmation by February 14.
For more information about the sessions, contact Jen Keystone by phone at 416-324-4188 or by e-mail at jkeystone@RainbowHealthOntario.ca.
For more information about the OHRC human rights and mental health consultations, visit www.ohrc.on.ca.