Prevalence, Characteristics and Impacts of Macro- and Micro-aggressions Toward LGBTT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Two-Spirit) Persons in Canada

This research is funded by an Insight Grant awarded to the Principal Investigator, Dr. Melanie A. Morrison, and Co-Investigator, Dr. Todd G. Morrison, from the Social Sciences Research and Humanities Council of Canada. 

Overview

Sexual and gender minority persons constitute some of the most minoritized and marginalized persons internationally; indeed, reports from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and two-spirit (LGBTT) persons indicate that anti-LGBTT stereotyping, prejudice, violence, and discrimination are widespread. Despite consistent messages about the negative psychological and physical health impacts for persons victimized for their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, broad-based accounting of the stigma-related experiences of LGBTT persons in Canada are inexplicably rare. In fact, when evidence that there is a need to address homonegativity, binegativity, and transnegativity is sorely needed, Canadian researchers and advocates have often had to present American statistics and, consequently, been met with the unsubstantiated assertion that "the situation is not as bad in Canada" or the question: "where are the Canadian data?" (Taylor & Peter, 2012, p. 126). Omitting or underestimating the scope, depth, and impacts of stigma experienced by Canadian LGBTT persons results in ongoing systematic biases against them, and may have severe implications for the quality and competence of policies formulated to protect and support these members of Canadian society. 

To contribute meaningfully to this pressing social issue, our research aims to give voice to LGBTT persons within Canada by documenting their experiences of enacted stigma in two forms: macro-aggressions (i.e., overt, intentional discrimination and violence reflected in behaviours such as hate crimes, social ostracism, and use of anti-LGBTT epithets) and micro-aggressions (i.e., the constant and continuing everyday reality and experience of slights, insults, invalidations, and indignities due to one's status as a sexual and/or gender-identity minority person). Since the prevalence of micro-aggressions and their psychological and physical impact on LGBTT persons have yet to be examined in Canada, our proposed research contributes significantly to the advancement of Canadian social science.

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Graduate Students 

• Kiss, M. Effects of Olfactory Disgust on Behaviours and Attitudes towards Gay Men 
• Nielsen, E-J. ‘My Three Minutes’: The Lifeworld of Queer Women and Non-Binary Canadian Spoken Word Poets 
• Parker, K. Developmental Pathways that Foster Canadian Men’s Support for Feminism and Allyhood