Workplace Discrimination as a Social Determinant of Health Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men

Abstract

Multiple studies have described the relationship between discrimination and health outcomes among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). However, little attention has been paid to prejudiced events in workplace environments. Rooted in a social determinant of health framework, we sought to examine associations between sexuality-based workplace discrimination (SBWD) and health outcomes in an online survey of Canadian GBMSM (N = 7,872). A minority (6.5%) of GBMSM reported past-year SBWD, which was more common among those identified as queer, Latino, Aboriginal, single, or with annual income less than CAD $30,000. GBMSM partnered with a man or woman reported less SBWD than single men. After adjusting for sociodemographics, SBWD was positively associated with having discussed depression and anxiety with a healthcare provider, suicidality, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and intimate partner violence (IPV). More GBMSM who reported SBWD rated their health as poor, as compared with those who did not report SBWD. This is the first study to examine SBWD as a social determinant of health among Canadian GBMSM. Findings document that despite the social and legal gains of the last three decades, about 1 in 15 GBMSM report recent workplace discrimination due to their sexuality, which threatens their health. Work-based policies and interventions are urgently needed to provide safer workplace environments for sexual minorities.