The scholarly sub: Research reports on healthy sexuality (July 2025)

Putting the “L” in LGBTQ+

In a world where we’re constantly in a rush — crossing the street, picking up that mobile coffee order, making that brunch reservation, scrambling for a happy hour seat at the bar — you can’t help but wonder, did we forget anything? In today’s fast-paced society, we’re all about efficiency. And that’s also true regarding language and the acronyms we use. AOL, MSN, GIF, YOLO, LGBTQ+ — who thinks about how these acronyms arose or what they stand for?

While lesbians and gay men frequently worked together in the 1970s and 80s, often the term "gay" was used for both. VGCC — the Vancouver Gay Community Centre, predecessor of today’s QMUNITY — became the VGLCC in the early 1980s because the contributions of lesbians were hidden in its former name.

But in some cases, the “L” in LGBTQ+ was placed at the front for more sombre reasons. In the 1980s and 1990s, thousands of gay men and trans women unfortunately passed away due to HIV/AIDS. During this time, while gay men were still supporting each other through the epidemic, the lesbian community truly stepped up and helped gay men and trans women through a variety of immeasurable efforts.

The lesbian community organized to provide meals, shelter, clothing, hospital support and even donated blood for gay men and trans women when they were prohibited from doing so themselves. Gradually over time, the lesbian community had taken on a pivotal leadership role in organizing and rallying support for the entire community. As a result, many centres and organizations shifted to putting the “L” first in any names or titles out of mutual respect for the work done in taking care of our communities.

While the lesbian community has done fabulous work helping gay men during the height of the AIDS epidemic, it is crucial to understand that today, lesbian, bisexual, queer and trans women (LBQT) living with HIV remain invisible and understudied from a medical and research perspective.

A 2012 study explored daily life challenges accessing HIV services among LBQT women living with HIV in Toronto, Canada. Focus group participants revealed key factors that influence the wellbeing of LBQT women living with HIV. The study found multiple barriers to HIV care and support. These included HIV-related stigma, heteronormative assumptions in HIV-positive women’s services and discriminatory and incompetent treatment by health care professionals.

Many participants reflected upon a lack of recognition that LBQT women living with HIV exist. One participant said, ‘‘Right now you just get stuck either being an HIV-positive woman or being queer, but not at the same time.” Another said, “People think ‘I’m lesbian, I cannot get HIV.’” The study’s participants also noted exclusion from HIV research and a need for research to be translated into action.

HOT summer, COOL health — Staying safe!

And just like that, another summer season is upon us in Vancouver. Bike rides along the seawall, scaling a mountain on the Grouse Grind, having a cool ice cream while catching the sunset at English Bay, cruising the trails at Stanley Park — summer in Vancouver has something for everybody! And Pride is right around the corner.

While June is the international month of Pride, many cities and towns in British Columbia have Pride parades and celebrations throughout the entire summer from June all the way to August. Do you remember your first Pride event? Or perhaps this summer, you just might be lucky enough to witness and feel that rainbow magic for the very first time. Whether it’s your first rodeo or you’re a regular customer, it’s important to remember how we can keep each other and ourselves safe this summer.

Remember that Pride started as a riot in Manhattan, New York, in 1969. At a small dive bar called the Stonewall Inn, gay men, lesbians and trans people led by outraged drag queens fought against police raids and brutality rooted in homophobia. 1969 was also the same year Canada decriminalized homosexuality. “It was the Summer of '69," when Canadian singer and B.C. native Bryan Adams discovered a new sexual position and Canada acknowledged sexual diversity.

Today, Pride is a celebration of our diverse queer communities. Many cities organize parades and community events, and hold space for acceptance. However, every summer in Vancouver, rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increase. Since 2022, rates of mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) have also increased every summer. But you can keep your cool ’cause Health Initiative for Men (HIM) is here to help you beat the heat.

From the end of May and through the summer, HIM is offering free mpox vaccinations and HIV/STI testing at bars, parties and beaches near you! It takes two doses of the mpox vaccine for full protection! For more info on ways you can ensure a hot summer, and play it cool about your sexual health, visit checkhimout.ca/hotandcool

Kartik Arora (he/him) has been working in queer men’s health and research for four years. Kartik is a team lead at HIM, and a graduate student at the University of British Columbia.

To learn more about sexual health services in B.C., visit Health Initiative for Men (HIM) at checkhimout.ca. For any questions about this article, contact Kartik at kartik@checkhimout.ca