Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE)

This resource guide was developed by the library and the BC Cancer Working Group on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) to support staff in building an inclusive culture that respects and appreciates the diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression among patients and family and friends, colleagues, partners, and the general public. Resources included are focused on delivering inclusive health services to two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual individuals (2SLGBTQIA+) individuals with lived or living experience of cancer. For a glossary of SOGIE terms, including those mentioned above, please visit the PHSA Gender Basics & Education Glossary.

This guide also includes the Safer Space Campaign, an ongoing education initiative that helps BC Cancer employees learn about the history, lived experiences and healthcare needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ people.

Staff are encouraged to explore resources based on topic and/ or format (e.g. Online learning module, toolkit, books, etc.) which are located in the menu on the left hand side of the page. If there are any concerns with the resources included, or if you would like to suggest a resource, please contact lleitz@bccancer.bc.ca.

Terms used to describe sexual orientations and gender identities can differ per person. Some individuals might resonate more with certain terms than others. It is important to acknowledge and use the term that the individual prefers. In addition, terms are constantly evolving and we will try our best to update this Guide accordingly.

2SLGBTQIA+ stands for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual. The plus sign (+) means that there are additional identities that are not captured by this initialism. You might have seen other variations of this initialism (eg. LGBT, LGBTQ, LGBTQ2S+). This initialism 2SLGBTIQ+ is used in "The case for a Canadian standard for 2SLGBTQIA+ medical education" (Schreiber et al., 2021). We have chosen to align with the initialism 2SLGBTQIA+ for two main reasons:

1. it leads with Two-Spirit.¹ This centers Indigenous peoples' nation-specific expressions of gender and sexual diversity, and acknowledges the ongoing harms of settler colonialism and white supremacy -- which disproportionately impacts 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals who are Indigenous, Black, or both. 
2. it recognizes and respects the diverse experiences and identities within sexual and gender minority communities, and emphasizes the inclusion of a fuller spectrum of identities and orientations.

¹Two-Spirit is a term that transcends Western notions of sex, gender, and sexual orientation; it can be understood as “a community organizing strategy or tool and a way to describe one’s self. It is a way to organize the Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island who embody diverse sexualities, gender identities, roles and/or expressions. Two-Spirit is meant to facilitate Indigenous peoples’ connections with nation-specific expressions and roles of gender and sexual diversity. It is a way for Indigenous peoples to reconnect with their traditional languages, ways and cultures within a pre-colonial setting” (Pruden & Salway, 2020, p. 1).

To learn more about the meaning of two-spirit, see Meet the Methods series: “What and who is Two-Spirit?” in Health Research. 

For a quick introduction to these fundamental terms, watch this video by the federal Treasury Board of Canada: What does LGBTQ2+ mean? (below).

If you wish to complete the Safer Space Campaign and be recognized for developing your knowledge and awareness of 2SLGBTQIA+ issues in healthcare, please click on the link below.