Delve into the experiences of LGBTQIA+ migrants: Using hermeneutic injustice as an analytical lens

Introduction: Both stigma and discrimination, defined as a lack of knowledge of and a sense of discomfort in providing care to LGBTQIA+ migrants, were found to manifest in a sample of LGBTQIA+ migrants who received social and healthcare services in a Canadian study. Some professionals continue to have a limited understanding of the experiences of LGBTQIA+ migrants in the Canadian context, and LGBTQIA+ migrants continue to have troubling "care" experiences with professionals.

Method: Miranda Fricker has developed the concept of epistemic injustice in her work by drawing on feminist philosophy and social epistemology. Epistemic injustice refers to unfair treatment of a person by judging them as a “not knower” in a communicative and testimonial situation.

Data generation involved individual semi-structured interviews with 16 LGBTQIA+ migrants (20 – 49 years) who received social and healthcare services in Canada. Epistemic injustice as an analytical lens with the hermeneutic circle that involved an iterative process of rereading and interpreting the data helped to understand how stigma and discrimination are produced in this community by the very social and healthcare professionals who ostensibly want to help them.

Two overarching themes manifested. 1) In a few situations when LGBTQIA+ migrants were admitted to psychiatric units due to suicide ideations as a direct result of identifying as LGBTQIA+ migrants, the healthcare team responded with dismissive statements that reflect an epistemic situation in which the hearer is negating what was heard. 2) The experiences of LGBTQIA+ migrants are often not recognized as a credible source of knowledge about their own lives and needs in the context of Canadian social and health care.

Conclusion: The concept of epistemic injustice helps to frame this situation as one where the care provider is not doing justice to the needs of LGBTQIA+ migrants and provides suggestions for improving healthcare and social services.