Applying critical leadership to advance 2SLGBTQIA+ health equity: A complex adaptive systems approach

Abstract

Health inequities are increasing in Canada and across the globe. They pose a substantial threat to the health and well‐being of millions of people. Organizational leadership, if it is to effectively contribute to tackling these inequities, must become more systematically infused with competencies that address power and the structural determinants of health. Health equity contexts for 2SLGBTQIA+ (Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Plus) remain a neglected area of focus in organizational leadership. The goals of this article are to provide: (1) a concise description of critical perspectives and critical leadership studies, (2) describe the urgency of theoretical and applied leadership approaches that more fulsomely integrate critical perspectives, and (3) illustrate an integration of a Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) approach to support critical perspectives in advancing health equity for 2SLGBTQIA+ people.