'Sometimes white doctors are not very friendly or inclusive’: A Critical Race Theory analysis of racism within and beyond sexual health settings

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dc.contributor.authorHassan, Abdi
dc.contributor.authorDulai, Joshun
dc.contributor.authorStewart, MacKenzie
dc.contributor.authorRyu, Heeho
dc.contributor.authorAnand, Praney
dc.contributor.authorWorthington, Catherine
dc.contributor.authorGilbert, Mark
dc.contributor.authorGrace, Daniel
dc.date.accessioned2026-05-07T17:31:16Z
dc.date.available2026-05-07T17:31:16Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractMany Two-Spirit, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other queer Black, Indigenous, people of colour in Canada encounter racism when testing for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections. Our objective in this study was to understand how racism shapes testing experiences for these communities in Ontario, Canada. Four peer researchers conducted recruitment and data collection in consultation with a community advisory board. Focus groups and interviews took place with 21 participants and their narrative accounts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants identified three interrelated issues when testing: (1) experiencing judgement and discomfort due to racism; (2) lack of community and cultural indicators in testing spaces; and (3) barriers to accessing testing centres and services. Systemic racism was linked to each of these barriers, including increased distance to testing centres due to racial segregation. Participant accounts signal the need for antiracist testing spaces and practices. Key implications include the need for antiracism training for health service providers and others working with Two-Spirit, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other queer Black, Indigenous, people of colour, and the organisations that serve them, in order to make testing spaces safer. Dismantling systemic racism is imperative to achieve health equity for members of these communities.
dc.description.reviewstatusReviewed
dc.description.scholarlevelFaculty
dc.description.sponsorshipThis study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) [FRN: #CTW-1553878]. JD is supported by a Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral Research Award from CIHR. MG is supported by an Applied Public Health Research Chair in Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections. DG is supported by a Canada Research Chair in Sexual and Gender Minority Health.
dc.identifier.citationHassan, A., Dulai, J., Stewart, M., Ryu, H., Anand, P., Worthington, C., … Grace, D. (2025). ‘Sometimes white doctors are not very friendly or inclusive’: a Critical Race Theory analysis of racism within and beyond sexual health settings. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 27(2), 236–252. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2024.2367683
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2024.2367683
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/23823
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherCulture, Health & Sexuality
dc.rightsCC BY-NC-ND
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subjectBlack, indigenous, and other people of colour (BIPOC)
dc.subjectcritical race theory (CRT)
dc.subjectOntario, Canada
dc.subjectSTI testing
dc.subjectTwo-Spirit, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (2SGBTQ+)
dc.subjectSexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Aspiration Research Cluster
dc.subject.departmentSchool of Public Health and Social Policy
dc.title'Sometimes white doctors are not very friendly or inclusive’: A Critical Race Theory analysis of racism within and beyond sexual health settings
dc.typeArticle

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