Access to justice is recognized as a significant issue facing middle- and low-income Canadians. Contracted by the Department of Justice, we will recruit 25-30 participants gender minoritized (trans, non-binary, agender, Two-Spirit) and 25-30 sexual orientation minoritized (lesbian, gay, bi, queer, etc.) people to participate in semi-structured, in-depth interviews.

The primary objective of this research is to gather qualitative data on the experiences of these marginalized populations with serious legal problems in the previous three years in different parts of Canada. Research questions include, but are not limited to:
1) What types of problems have the participants experienced in the last three years? Where there has been more than one problem, how are the problems connected?
2) How have the participants tried to resolve their problems? What has been the outcome of these efforts?
3) Have the participants resolved their problems through recourse to the formal legal system? If not, why not?
4) What has been the impact of these problems on the participants – for example, financially, mentally and physically?

Partners: CBRC

Methods:
Qualitative: Interviews

Funder: Department of Justice, Canada

Current Status: Early implementation phase, with ethics protocols submitted at Carleton and UVIC and trans and LGB teams assembled. Still revising interview guide, and recruitment and analysis plans. Plan to begin recruitment in August 2020.