Category: gender

On a blue grid background, a photo of a transmasculine person with short dark hair petting a cat on their lap. Text: "Online survey: Trans/Nonbinary Experiences with Stressful Events. We are looking for individuals who: Identify as transgender or nonbinary; Are 18 or older. forge.tips/futures-survey." FORGE logo. UWM logo. UT Knoxville logo.

Trans/Nonbinary Experiences with Stressful Events

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

FORGE, in partnership with researchers at UW-Milwaukee and UT Knoxville, is conducting a study to look at trans and nonbinary people’s experiences with stressful events.

We invite anyone who is 18 years of age or older and identifies as trans and/or nonbinary to participate in this research. The purpose of this research study is to better understand how stressful life events, including anti-trans issues, affect trans and nonbinary individuals. If you agree to be in the study, your participation will last for approximately 60 minutes.

I took this and it went more quickly than 60 minutes for me, despite the amount of information I filled in. You will be asked about stressful experiences, trauma, and oppression/discrimination. It’s worth saving for a calm moment.

Take the survey at: https://milwaukee.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_56m7K3cc1o5fQP4

If you have additional questions, please see the FAQs on the main study page here.

 

Image description: On a blue grid background, a photo of a transmasculine person with short dark hair petting a cat on their lap. Text: “Online survey: Trans/Nonbinary Experiences with Stressful Events. We are looking for individuals who: Identify as transgender or nonbinary; Are 18 or older. forge.tips/futures-survey.” FORGE logo. UWM logo. UT Knoxville logo.

2022 US Trans Survey Early Insights

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

The following is from an email sent out by the National Center for Transgender Equity on Feb. 7, 2024:

We know you’ve been waiting, and now the day is finally here! The National Center for Transgender Equality is proud to announce the release of the first report from the 2022 U.S. Trans Survey – the Early Insights report!

A record number of transgender people took the 2022 survey – 92,329 to be exact. That’s over three times the number of respondents of the last survey in 2015. We appreciate every one of you who took or shared the survey, and now we’re finally able to share the first of many reports to be released.

The lessons from the report are clear: trans people in the survey said that living as their authentic selves made them more satisfied with their lives and that they have sources of support, yet still face many challenges in areas like accessing health care and accurate IDs.

Here are a just a few highlights from the Early Insights report:

Trans people in the survey reported greater life satisfaction after transitioning. Nearly all respondents (94%) who lived at least some of the time in a different gender than the one they were assigned at birth (“gender transition”) reported that they were either “a lot more satisfied” (79%) or “a little more satisfied” (15%) with their life.

Discriminatory policies cause real harm. Nearly half (47%) of respondents had thought about moving to another state because their state government considered or passed laws that target transgender people for unequal treatment (such as banning access to bathrooms, health care, or sports), and 5% of respondents had actually moved out of state because of such state action.

Without question, misinformation and a lack of understanding is underpinning the escalating legislative attacks on our community. But with the 2022 USTS, the largest survey ever conducted on the experiences of transgender and nonbinary people in the country, we are once again combatting that misinformation with hard data about trans lives.

Check out the Early Insights report at ustranssurvey.org. We made major changes to the site to make it easier to share the data with PDF and web versions of the report, including interactive charts. You can also view the full website en español.

Special thanks to our partners, the National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition, the TransLatin@ Coalition, and the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, for making this survey possible. And to you, for being part of the NCTE community – we couldn’t have done this without you.

With gratitude,
Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen
(he/him)
Executive Director

Testosterone, Sexual Health, and Pain During Sex among Transgender Men, Nonbinary, and Gender Diverse People | photo of a nonbinary person injection testosterone into their thigh (from gender spectrum)

Testosterone, Sexual Health, and Pain During Sex among Transgender Men, Nonbinary, and Gender Diverse People

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

The following is research that came out earlier this month (September, 2023) from the Pride Study:

What Did We Do?

We looked at sexual health experiences data from The PRIDE Study’s Annual Questionnaires from 2019-2021 provided by transgender men, nonbinary, and gender diverse people who were assigned female sex at birth (AFAB). We also looked at how these sexual health experiences were different or similar among people who were currently using testosterone and those who were not.

What Was New, Innovative, or Notable? 

Our study is one of the largest to look at the relationship between testosterone use, sexual health, and experiences of genital pain during sex among transgender men, nonbinary, and gender expansive people AFAB.

What Did We Learn? 

There were 1,219 participants in this study. 49% of participants were using testosterone and 42% had never used testosterone. Many (65%) reported having any genital pain during sex in the past 30 days (from when they completed the survey). Compared to people who never used testosterone, individuals who were using testosterone had a higher interest in sexual activity and a higher ability to orgasm. People who were using testosterone were also more likely to report genital pain during sex. We did not see a relationship between current testosterone use and satisfaction with sex life, ability for genitals to produce their own lubrication, or orgasm pleasure.

What Does This Mean for Our Communities? 

Testosterone usage for the purpose of affirming one’s gender can be associated with both positive and negative sexual health experiences. Testosterone likely impacts sexual health experiences in complex ways. For example, testosterone may play a role in genital pain during sex for some individuals. At the same time, testosterone may play a role in increased gender affirmation and improved mental health that may be related to more positive sexual experiences.

It is important that a high percentage of participants reported experiencing genital pain during sex because it can have an impact on their well-being and quality of life. However, there are not any treatments for genital pain during sex that have been evaluated specifically for transgender men or nonbinary and gender diverse people AFAB.

What’s Next? 

Our long-term goal is to identify effective and acceptable ways to treat or prevent genital pain during sex among transgender, nonbinary, and gender diverse people and to make treatments accessible. Future studies will focus on: learning more about people’s preferences for potential treatments, the ways that people using testosterone address genital pain symptoms, and what they find to be most effective. Lastly, we plan to look at how genital pain during sex impacts the overall quality of life, well-being, and relationships for transgender men, nonbinary, and gender diverse people AFAB.

Action Steps: 

See http://www.pridestudy.org/study for more information and to share this study with your friends and family.

If you are interested in conducting research related to LGBTQIA+ health, please learn more about collaborating with The PRIDE Study at http://pridestudy.org/collaborate.

Citation:

Tordoff DM, Lunn MR, Chen B, Flentje A, Dastur Z, Lubensky ME, Capriotti M, Obedin-Maliver J. Testosterone Use and Sexual Function among Transgender Men and Gender Diverse People Assigned Female at Birth. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2023 September 9; doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2023.08.035 (article will be live in the near future)

View the full PDF at: https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6bz2x0j6

"The 2023 Gender Census is Open" next to illustrations of happy and thriving transgender and nonbinary people

Gender Census 2023 Now Open!

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

The 10th annual international gender census, collecting information about the language we use to refer to ourselves and each other, is now open until 9th May 2023. This is a short and easy survey.

What is the Gender Census?

The Gender Census is an annual survey that collects information about the language used by people whose genders are not adequately described, expressed or encompassed by the restrictive gender binary. It has taken place every year since 2015.

The language we ask about includes identity words, honorific titles, and pronouns.

Who can take this survey?

The gender binary is a societal model that classifies all humans into one of two categories:

  • Woman/girl – always, solely and completely
  • Man/boy – always, solely and completely

If you feel like that doesn’t fit your experience of yourself and your own gender in some way, you are invited to participate. This includes, but is definitely not limited to:

  • people whose genders change over time.
  • people whose genders fluctuate in intensity.
  • people who experience more than one gender at a time.
  • people who don’t experience gender at all.
  • people whose gender is neither male/man nor female/woman.

We also welcome anyone who:

  • rejects gender altogether.
  • feels like they’re outside of gender.
  • feels like they transcend or move beyond gender or the gender binary.
  • doesn’t really understand gender as it applies to them.
  • is questioning whether their flavour of trans might be binary or nonbinary.

It’s completely up to you whether you feel you fit any of these. This survey leans on the side of inclusive.

You can find data from previous years’ here. This is research from within our community and responses are anonymous.

How do I participate?

Click here to take the survey. It will close on or around May 9th.

Note: language in this post is taken from the Gender Census site.

"no body criminalized" against flowers with the logos of both the transgender law center and the repro legal defense fund

Announcing the Trans Health Legal Fund

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

The following press release was issued on Monday, March 7, 2023:

In the face of widespread attacks on transgender people’s bodily autonomy, Transgender Law Center and If/When/How’s Repro Legal Defense Fund are coming together to launch the Trans Health Legal Fund.

This fund provides economic resources and support for people facing investigation, arrest, or prosecution for seeking gender-affirming healthcare. This fund is a vital tool to protect our communities from pervasive attacks on their access to healthcare from extremist policymakers, police, and prosecutors.

“Trans and nonbinary people deserve the right to access the medical care and resources that align with their needs,” said Shelby Chestnut, Executive Director of Transgender Law Center. “The increasing threats of legislators attempting to ban and criminalize gender affirming care and abortion have highlighted even more the need for a collective response. We’re proud to partner with If/When/How’s Repro Legal Defense Fund to create a pathway to liberation and bodily autonomy for all people.”

“Our fights for reproductive justice and trans liberation are deeply intertwined. As our movements face continuous waves of attacks on our bodily autonomy, it’s essential that we show up together to support the needs of our communities,” said Rafa Kidvai, Director of If/When/How’s Repro Legal Defense Fund. “Criminalization creates a harmful, life-long domino effect on someone’s life, whether they face jail, arrest, or surveillance. Together with the Transgender Law Center, we will work to minimize the harms of the criminal legal system and fight to ensure our communities can live safely and authentically.”

The Trans Health Legal Fund will curtail the deep and lasting harm of facing criminalization by providing financial support that’s for the whole human – from bail to commissary to therapy. Transgender people who are facing criminalization for seeking healthcare can apply to the fund at www.transgenderlawcenter.org.

Transgender Law Center (TLC) is the largest national trans-led organization advocating for a world in which all people are free to define themselves and their futures. Grounded in legal expertise and committed to racial justice, TLC employs a variety of community-driven strategies to keep transgender and gender nonconforming people alive, thriving, and fighting for liberation.

The Repro Legal Defense Fund (RLDF) is a program of If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice that works to prevent, defend against, and put a permanent stop to the criminalization of people’s bodies. The RLDF provides bail and strong defenses for anyone criminalized for something that happens during pregnancy, and the folks who directly support them.

Calling nonbinary folks with nonbinary partners!! Have you heard of the LNLH study? This study seeks to gain insight into how nonbinary partners who live together share household labor (tasks such as cooking, cleaning, taking out the trash, etc.). To be eligible to participate, you must have a nonbinary identity, and currently living with one romantic partner, or multiple romantic partners, who has/have a nonbinary identity. Zoom interviews typically last around one hour. Interviewees will receive $50 Etsy e-gift cards as compensation for their time. If interested, please scan the QR code or visit https://bit.ly/LNLHstudy

Calling nonbinary folks with nonbinary partners!

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

Have you heard of the LNLH study? This study seeks to gain insight into how nonbinary partners who live together share household labor (tasks such as cooking, cleaning, taking out the trash, etc.).

To be eligible to participate, you must have a nonbinary identity, and currently living with one romantic partner, or multiple romantic partners, who has/have a nonbinary identity.

Zoom interviews typically last around one hour. Interviewees will receive $50 Etsy e-gift cards as compensation for their time.

This is not limited to U.S. partipants only, either. If you’re interested and international, please check it out!

If interested, please scan the QR code in the photo or visit https://bit.ly/LNLHstudy

The U.S. Trans Survey is now open! [closed]

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

The following is from an email sent out by the U.S. Trans Survey Team @ National Center for Transgender Equality yesterday (10-19):

take the us trans survey

We’re proud to announce that the U.S. Trans Survey is now open and ready for you to take! Whether you pledged to take the survey or not, you can take the survey today!!

As trans people, we know that we’ve accomplished incredible things together as a community. Join thousands of other people folks around the country in sharing your experience to create a clear picture of what it’s like to be trans in the United States.

If you are trans and plan to take the survey, here’s what you need to know:

  • The survey is open to people of all trans identities (binary and nonbinary), ages 16 and older, living in the United States and U.S. territories, regardless of citizenship status.
  • If you pledged to take the survey, you are not obligated to take the survey. Participation is voluntary. When you click on the link to start the survey, you will be asked to consent to take the survey.
  • The U.S. Trans Survey is an anonymous survey. Your response will be kept confidential and will not be used to identify you.
  • The time required to take the survey may vary, but make sure to set aside at least 60 minutes to take the survey.
  • The survey will be available in both English and Spanish.
  • Please let your trans friends and siblings know about the survey too!

The U.S. Trans Survey is being conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality in partnership with the National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition, TransLatin@ Coalition, and National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance.

If you have any questions, please reach out at ustranssurvey@transequality.org.

Again, thank you so much for being part of this important survey. We’re excited to see the results!

Click here to take the survey now!

With love and solidarity,

The U.S. Trans Survey Team

Pledge to Take the 2022 US Trans Survey

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

a graphic featuring black, brown, white, pink, and blue hands - pledge to take the us trans survey

The U.S. Trans Survey (USTS) is the largest survey of trans people in the United States. The USTS documents the lives and experiences of trans people in the U.S. and U.S. territories. The last time data was collected was back in 2015. That year, nearly 28,000 people took the survey!

The USTS is the main source of data about trans people for the media, educators, policymakers, and the general public, covering health, employment, income, the criminal justice system, etc.  USTS reports have been a vital resource, including the reports on the experiences of people of color and reports by state.

It is vital that we ensure that this survey includes data about historically and continually forcibly marginalized groups, including Black and Brown folks, those in rural areas, disabled folks, and more.

So, if you are ages 16+ and are transgender, nonbinary, etc., please consider pledging to take the survey when it’s out later this year.

Pledge here

Note: By submitting this pledge form, you’ll receive email updates from the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) about the survey. Pledging to take the survey does not obligate you to take the survey. Participation is voluntary. You will be asked to consent to take the survey later when the survey enrollment begins. 

IG Live Wed. 1/19 on Trans, Non-Binary & Gender Non-Conforming Health, Advocacy & Allyship

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

You’re invited to a HealtheVoices Instagram Live on Trans, Non-Binary & Gender Non-Conforming Health, Advocacy & Allyship this Wednesday, January 19 at 4 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. PT!

Tune in for a vial conversation with host Mychelle Williams, LPC, NCC (she/they) and expert activists La’Mia Aiken-Medina (she/her), Gia Love (she/her), and Julian Gavino (he/him) on the experiences and challenges transgender, nonbinary and gender non-conforming individuals face in pursuit of health and wellness, including: medical bias and discrimination; accessing quality and comprehensive healthcare; and mental health and wellbeing. The discussion will also cover key tenants of advocacy and allyship in support of these communities.

This HealtheVoices Chat is presented by the DEAI Task Force. Learn more here. 

Tap this post to receive a reminder when the event starts. You can also add this to your Google Calendar by clicking here.