By Kika Chatterjee, Stephanie Green Benn, and Alia Nitake, APCO Impact
Tegan and Sara announce the launch of the Tegan and Sara Foundation at the inaugural convening of LGBTQ+ leaders and experts in 2016. Photo: APCO Impact
Navigating healthcare can often be an intimidating experience for many of us. The clinical environment, the impersonal interactions, and the uncertainty about whether our needs will be understood and respected can make even routine visits daunting. But for members of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly those who have historically faced exclusion and discrimination, accessing healthcare can be more than just nerve-wracking – it can be traumatic. Shockingly, studies have shown that 56% of LGBTQ+ individuals report experiencing discrimination from their healthcare providers, with over 25% of transgender patients being refused medical care (Lambda Legal).
In the face of these challenges, the Tegan and Sara Foundation (TSF) stepped up to help. Led by a team of philanthropic strategists at APCO Impact, in 2022 the Foundation launched an initiative that’s transforming the landscape of inclusive healthcare: the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory.
The Tegan and Sara Foundation was founded by Canadian musicians Tegan and Sara, who have openly identified as queer since they launched their career in 1998, and have been outspoken feminist advocates for LGBTQ+ equality and gender justice. The essential message that underpins their worldview and identity is inclusion. The Tegan And Sara Foundation is an extension of their work, identity and longstanding commitment to supporting and building progressive social change.
Tegan and Sara came to our team in 2015 with a request to help them understand how to give back to the LGBTQ+ community that had supported them throughout their career. After embarking on a listening and learning tour to inform the work, the Foundation launched the next year with the mission to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ women and girls. This work is critically important because LGBTQ+ women and girls face greater socioeconomic and health disadvantages compared to their male, heterosexual & cisgender counterparts. We also know that centering LGBTQ+ women and girls in programs often has a ripple effect to other historically excluded LGBTQ+ communities, including transgender individuals, queer people of color, and other disadvantaged LGBTQ+ groups.
Healthcare has been at the center of our work with the Tegan and Sara Foundation since the beginning. An early partnership with GLMA, the largest membership association of LGBTQ+ healthcare providers, informed our work in the space. GLMA had developed a resource of queer healthcare professionals, but the information was often outdated and the website could be challenging and wonky to use.
At APCO Impact, we led the Tegan and Sara Foundation in creating an exciting vision: A brand new LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory, with a beautiful user-friendly interface, the most updated provider data, and the ability to scale to thousands of provider entries.
As we kicked off this project, we identified legendary web design agency Wide Eye to lead the functional site design and user interface, and convened the Foundation’s Board of Directors and GLMA leadership to guide the strategic direction. Our team managed all aspects of the project, performed deep research, and drafted all language on the site. It was a labor of love, and it continues to pay off – more providers join the directory and more potential patients perform searches every day.
The desktop homepage of the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory, which allows prospective patients to quickly search by area of care or their location, and providers to sign up to be listed.
This directory isn’t just a database of healthcare providers; it’s a lifeline for LGBTQ+ individuals seeking affirming and inclusive care. Since its launch in 2022, the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory has had a profound impact. With over 2,700 providers enlisted and more than 43,000 searches conducted across all 50 states and 10 out of 13 Canadian provinces, it’s become a trusted resource for LGBTQ+ individuals across North America. The directory’s user base, which boasts over 60,000 engaged users, speaks volumes about its importance and relevance in the community.
But what sets this directory apart is its commitment to evolution. Content is constantly evolving to better meet the needs of its users. Recent updates, such as state-specific search functionality and options for remote healthcare services, have made it even more accessible and user-friendly. Because quality healthcare shouldn’t be determined by geographical location or social background – it should be a right for everyone.
At APCO Impact, we’re proud to have been with the Tegan and Sara Foundation since day one, working with the Board of Directors to conceive of this project and bring it to life, along with numerous other initiatives aimed at driving positive change in the LGBTQ+ space.
Sara, of Tegan and Sara, shares a 6-word acceptance speech for the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory’s win of an Anthem Award, the social impact arm of the Webby Awards. View Video.
Healthcare is a fundamental human right – and it’s up to all of us to ensure that everyone, regardless of identity or background, can access it without fear or discrimination. The existence and rapid uptake of the Directory is proof that change is possible, even in the face of entrenched systems and societal norms. When passionate individuals and organizations come together with a shared goal, incredible things can happen. And if you’re reading this and wondering how you can contribute, know that there’s always room for more allies in this movement. Whether you’re a healthcare provider committed to making your practice more inclusive or simply someone who wants to lend a helping hand, there’s a role for you. Please reach out to Kika at kchatterjee@apcoworldwide.com to learn more and get involved.
We’re raising a glass to every LGBTQ-inclusive healthcare provider on the frontlines providing care to queer people, especially in a constantly evolving and challenging legislative landscape for LGBTQ care. We also hold space for the LGBTQ+ individuals who are bravely choosing themselves and their health in the face of near constant adversity. We hope people look to the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory as more than just a resource – it’s a symbol of hope, resilience, and the power of community. And we think that’s something worth celebrating.