REAL ESTATE
Intensive cleaning, social distancing, and more staff working from home will transform offices of the future.
Canadian queer communities have a deep history of being impacted by major health issues and pandemics, and one in particular: the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and the ensuing HIV epidemic.
In that time of crisis, LGBT communities showed resiliency and resourcefulness—often in the face of widespread discrimination—to take action and raise awareness.
Queer communities are now drawing upon those strengths to face the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic presents.
In fact, a national survey found that LGBT Canadians are more affected by the novel-coronavirus pandemic than other Canadians. Advocacy and human-rights organization Egale Canada, in partnership with the Innovative Research Group, released a report on April 6 that analyzed the results of an online survey about how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting Canadians.
The survey found that more than half of LGBT Canadians (53 percent) have been affected by layoffs or reduced hours experienced either by themselves or by someone in their household, compared to 39 percent of Canadians. LGBT respondents also perceived a significantly greater impact of the pandemic upon their current physical and mental health, household finances, and quality of life, as well as their outlook in these areas in the near future.
Queer individuals, the survey found, were more conscientious about taking precautions against spreading the virus than other Canadians, including self-isolating (58 percent for LGBT people, compared to 49 percent for other Canadians).
That’s all in addition to the fact that LGBT Canadians are much more likely to be living with a chronic health condition (29 percent for LGBT and 15 percent for all Canadians) or a physical disability (12 percent for LGBT and seven percent for other Canadians).
The pandemic poses another obstacle: how will the annual celebration of LGBT communities be held this year?
After provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said April 18 that large-scale events won’t be held in 2020, the Vancouver Pride Society (VPS) issued a statement in response.
The VPS, which has been considering alternative ways of helping LGBT communities converge, will endeavour to offer a Pride Week celebration this year by virtual means.
The nonprofit VPS will be contacting all partners, vendors, and parade participants to inform them of this year’s plans.
Both Pride Toronto and Fierté Montréal will be offering alternative festivities.
As VPS executive director Andrea Arnot stated: “Pride can’t be cancelled.”