Editor's note: This is an open letter sent to Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health.
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Dear Minister Duclos:
We are writing to you and the Ontario Minister of Health with great concern regarding our community and Monkeypox.
We have also copied various leaders, the Prime Minister, The Premier of Ontario, Ontario Prides and Canada Pride with several union leaders. We are expecting a response from everyone.
There have been several concerns raised by our community regarding access to vaccines and education about Monkeypox. We have heard of doctors telling their patients to not worry about Monkeypox because it’s a “gay’ disease.
This is history repeating itself from the 1980s, regarding AIDS and HIV. Monkeypox is not a “gay” disease, and you must start educating the public on this.
In talks with many public health units in northern Ontario, we understand they have been told that they need to wait until they have a case of Monkeypox before vaccines will be sent to northern communities. Why? Why would we want to be reactive instead of proactive? Why would we subject the healthcare system to be further burdened with Monkeypox?
In the 1980s, with AIDS, the governments took the same response which resulted in millions of deaths around the world, and you would think that we would have learned our lesson wouldn’t you? Did COVID not teach us anything? Reactive to this does NOT work.
Is this because it is currently appearing in “gay’ men?
Once again, the inaction of our government around the gay community is very concerning. We are asking the following:
- Start a federal and Provincial Education campaign about Monkeypox including it is not a “Gay” disease
- Access to Monkeypox vaccines in ALL communities to prevent the spread.
- Meeting between the Minister of Federal and Provincial health to consult with Prides on the education portion about monkeypox and to roll out vaccine clinics across Canada, with education about vaccines
Time is clearly not on our side regarding this. People are already facing more discrimination because of people believing Monkeypox is a “gay” disease. Not to mention the spread is rapid. We urge you to meet with us right away and come together to plan for all communities and help avoid overrunning the healthcare systems in Canada one more time when it's already beginning to crack.
Do not leave the queer community out in the cold again.
Sincerely,
Jason Maclennan
Communications Director
North Bay Pride
