British Society for Rheumatology Listening, Learning, and Inclusion: LGBTQIA+ Experiences in Rheumatology Talking Rheumatology Patient Voices

British Society for Rheumatology Podcast Episode

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

At the beginning of this year, on a really rough day, I opened my email to find a very lovely note from someone at the British Society for Rheumatology. They were planning a series this year on their Talking Rheumatology podcast highlighting issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. And, they wanted me to partake in their episode on LGBTQIA+ experiences.

To boot, the other guest on the podcast would be Dr. Simone Battista, one of the moderators for my upcoming EULAR & HPR presentation.

Our podcast episode came out today! I’d love to invite you to come listen to it here or wherever you listen to podcasts.

You may want to check out other recent episodes of the podcast, which cover neurodivergence, working while living with rheumatic disease, and exercising.

PS: I know I’ve been done a while. I’m starting to come back, slowly but surely, after spending the last 1.5 years fighting insurance to get medication for my rare disease. Things have not been pretty. You can get the quick run-down here.

Gender Census 2025 is open! [now closed]

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

Below is a post from the Gender Census itself:

According to one model of gender called the “gender binary“, everyone fits tidily into one of these categories:

  • Woman/girl – all the time, solely, and completely (may be cisgender or transgender for the purposes of this survey)
  • Man/boy – all the time, solely, and completely (may be cisgender or transgender for the purposes of this survey)

This survey intends to collect information about everyone who DOESN’T fit into this system. Anyone who doesn’t feel like they fit into one of these two boxes is invited to participate. There are no geographical restrictions.

If you hesitate or struggle to place yourself into just one of the two boxes, or if you know for sure that these boxes were not made for you, please do continue!

Helpful information:

  • It is international and open to anyone, anywhere.
  • The survey aims to collect information about the language we use to refer to ourselves when speaking English, which may include words from other languages or cultures.
  • Most of the survey asks about four things: identity words, pronouns, titles, and relationship words.
  • There is a feedback box at the end.
  • Most people find that it takes 5 minutes or less.
  • You can read the FAQs here.

As in previous years, I’ll go over the data and then compile it into a report. I hope that the information can be used to inform choices, persuade authorities, and help us to feel less alone.

The survey opened on 30th July 2025 and closes on Saturday 30th August at the earliest. If the survey is still open, your responses will be counted.

If you want to be notified of the results and future annual surveys, please do click here to sign up to the mailing list.

a transgender man fills out a form, next to text: Contraception Use in Trans Men and Other Gender Diverse AFAB Individuals

Contraception Use in Trans Men and Other Gender Diverse AFAB Individuals

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

The following is a press release from The PRIDE Study, the first longitudinal study of LGBTQIA+ individuals. It came out October 1, 2024:

Publication Title

Contraceptive use among transgender men and gender diverse individuals in the United States: reasons for use, non-use, and methods used for pregnancy prevention.

Community Title

Understanding if and why transgender men and gender diverse people assigned female or intersex at birth use contraception (“birth control”)

What Did We Do?

We focused the study on understanding transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people’s history of using contraception (commonly called “birth control”) specifically for the goal of not getting pregnant, and how use of birth control is different (or not) among TGD people who also use testosterone. We asked TGD people who were assigned female or intersex at birth in The PRIDE study to take a survey with questions on their own birth control use, their reasons for birth control use, and about their testosterone use.

What Was New, Innovative, or Notable?

This is one of the first studies to look at birth control use to avoid pregnancy among TGD people who were assigned female or intersex at birth.

TGD people who were assigned female or intersex at birth may want or need to use birth control. However, much research on contraception has left out or overlooked the needs and experiences of TGD people. As a result, some people, including doctors, have incorrect information about contraception methods and considerations for TGD people. For instance, among people who use testosterone to affirm their gender, it is common to hear the belief that testosterone prevents pregnancy; but this is not fully true and standard forms of birth control are still recommended if pregnancy is not desired and people engage in penis-in-vagina sex. Similarly, it is common to hear TGD people say that their doctor did not know how to counsel them on birth control options.

What Did We Learn?

Among the 1,694 TGD individuals assigned female or intersex at birth who completed the survey, most (71%) had used at least one type of birth control in their lifetime. Out of this group, about half (49%) had used birth control because they wanted to avoid getting pregnant. Other common reasons for birth control use included a desire to avoid period symptoms, stop menstrual bleeding, and avoid getting a sexually transmitted infection.

Participants reported the use of a wide range of birth control methods.

The types of birth control that were most commonly used AT SOME POINT in participants’ lives were:

  • Condoms (92%)
  • Hormonal birth control pills (63%)
  • Withdrawal (“Pulling out”)( 46%)

The types of birth control that participants were most commonly CURRENTLY using included:

  • External condoms (35%)
  • Hormonal IUD (small t-shaped device inserted into the uterus that contains hormones) (25%)
  • Not having sex where sperm is released in/near a vagina (19%)

Some people said that they had previously (7%) or were currently (4%) relying on testosterone hormones to avoid getting pregnant. Participants who had ever used testosterone were less likely to be currently using birth control with hormones in it (birth control pills/birth control patch/birth control ring) to avoid pregnancy compared to participants who had never used testosterone. The most common reason for never using birth control was if the participant did not engage in penis-in-vagina sex. The most common non-pregnancy-related reason for not using birth control was a desire to avoid estrogen or feminizing hormones out of a worry that it might impact their gender affirmation process.

What Does This Mean for Our Communities?

Each TGD person has different needs when it comes to their desire to get pregnant or not and their reasons to use birth control – which can include gender affirmation and avoiding period symptoms. Our study shows that providers should not make assumptions about interest in the use and type of birth control for TGD people. Instead, doctors and advocates can ask and counsel TGD patients on all available birth control methods, centering the needs and goals of the individual. We need to consider an individual’s potential fears, including that birth control could interfere with their hormone treatment and whether or not their body reflects the way they feel about their gender.

What’s Next?

We will work to share these findings with as many relevant groups as we can – transgender men and gender diverse people, healthcare providers, policymakers, advocates, and more – so that we all have the data we need to plan for and prevent pregnancies. Additionally, our team is hard at work preparing a 5-year update of this study to measure birth control needs and experiences among an expanded sample of transgender men, transgender women, and gender diverse participants in The PRIDE Study today. We’re looking forward to seeing if and how birth control experiences and preferences have changed since 2019, and how we can ensure that TGD people receive the highest quality care and support the ability to make their own informed decisions in their reproductive lives.

Action Steps

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

Citation

Obedin-Maliver J, Snow A, Ragosta S, Fix L, Hastings J, Lubensky ME, Capriotti MR, Dastur Z, Flentje A, Lunn MR, Moseson H. Contraceptive use among transgender men and gender diverse individuals in the United States: reasons for use, non-use, and methods used for pregnancy prevention. Contraception. 2024 Sep 26: 110719. Epub ahead of print. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2024.110719.

Text: If you can't easily put yourself into just one of these two boxes, you are invited to take part. Two boxes, one green malachite with a Venus symbol on it, one pink rhodochrosite with a Mars symbol on it.

The 2024 Gender Census Report is here!

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

The 11th annual international gender census – focused on collecting information about the language we use to refer to ourselves and each other – wrapped up earlier this year. Over 48,000 folks participated internationally!

You can check out the high-level summary or the full report today.

PS: Be sure to check out their shop as well to support all the amazing work they do.

Leather flag with a rainbow infinity symbol

Autism & Kink Class on September 22

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

When: Sunday 22nd of September 2024, 11:00 am–1:00 pm Pacific (convert to your time zone here)
Who: John Pendal & Wicked Grounds
Where: Virtually on Zoom
Cost: $30 (with additional options)

This workshop isn’t just for autistic folk, it can help anyone who feels like an outsider or would like to create a more inclusive environment.

In this workshop, we look at the overlap between autism and kink.

  • What is autism, and what’s the right language to use?
  • Why might an autistic person be attracted to a kinky environment?
  • Can BDSM be used as a form of sensory regulation?
  • What’s the difference between neurotypical and autistic communication?
  • What would be useful to know if you’re playing with a neurodivergent person?
  • And how can you negotiate a scene with someone who doesn’t know where masking ends and they begin?

This workshop isn’t just for autistic folk, it can help anyone who feels like an outsider or would like to create a more inclusive environment.

Learn more and buy tickets here

 

Other upcoming virtual classes at Wicked Grounds

a transgender man fills out a form, next to text: Chronic Pelvic Pain among Transgender Men and Gender Diverse Adults Assigned Female at Birth

Chronic Pelvic Pain among Transgender Men and Gender Diverse Adults Assigned Female at Birth

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

The following is a press release from The Pride Study, dated July 16, 2024:

What Did We Do?

Chronic pelvic pain describes pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis, or genitals that lasts 3 months or more. In our study, we looked at how common chronic pelvic pain was among transgender men and gender diverse people assigned female at birth (AFAB). We also wanted to understand how testosterone use may or may not impact chronic pelvic pain. To do this, we used 3 years of data from The PRIDE Study participants (Annual Questionnaires from 2020, 2021, and 2022). We looked at patterns of chronic pelvic pain overall. We also looked at how starting testosterone therapy impacted chronic pelvic pain over time.

What Was New, Innovative, or Notable?

This is the largest published study conducted on chronic pelvic pain among transgender and gender diverse people, a topic on which little is known.

What Did We Learn?

  • Chronic pelvic pain was common. About 1 in 5 (or 18%) of transgender men and gender diverse people AFAB experienced chronic pelvic pain lasting 3 months or more.
  • Participants with the following health conditions were more likely to experience chronic pelvic pain: inflammatory bowel disease (like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), kidney stones, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and uterine fibroids. People who currently had an implanted device to prevent pregnancy or who had ever been pregnant were also more likely to experience chronic pelvic pain.
  • Individuals with chronic pelvic pain reported worse mental health. 51% had a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis, 42% reported severe depression symptoms, and 25% reported severe anxiety symptoms.
  • We saw that people who currently used testosterone were 21% less likely to experience chronic pelvic pain.
  • We saw that some people (about 1 in 10) experienced pelvic pain for the first time after starting testosterone. In contrast, about half of people who reported chronic pelvic pain before testosterone use no longer reported experiencing chronic pelvic pain after starting testosterone.

What Does This Mean for Our Communities?

Chronic pelvic pain is common among transgender men and gender diverse people AFAB. It can have a large impact on mental health and overall well-being. This research suggests that testosterone may reduce pelvic pain for some individuals; while for others, testosterone may be associated with changes that cause new pelvic pain.

It is important that clinical providers do not assume that all cases of chronic pelvic pain among transgender people are caused by testosterone use. Instead, they should take comprehensive health histories and assess symptoms prior to testosterone use. In fact, for some people, testosterone may reduce pelvic pain. We think that testosterone may reduce pelvic pain that is caused by menstruation and endometriosis, a condition in which cells similar to the lining of the uterus grow outside the uterus. For individuals who experience new pelvic pain after starting testosterone, there are known ways in which testosterone would cause changes to the uterus or ovaries that may cause this. In these cases, there may be effective and low-risk therapies available (for example: pelvic floor physical therapy) to improve symptoms. Notably, pelvic pain is the most common reason transgender people report for seeking uterus removal (other than for gender affirmation), but there have been no long-term studies determining if this is an effective treatment for pelvic pain.

What’s Next?

Chronic pelvic pain has many different and sometimes overlapping causes. Treatment approaches for chronic pelvic pain should be customized based on the underlying causes. There is a need to further study the underlying causes of chronic pelvic pain and how testosterone impacts them to develop better treatments for transgender communities.

Action Steps

See http://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, Flentje A, Atashroo D, Chen B, Dastur Z, Lubensky ME, Capriotti M, Obedin-Maliver J. Chronic Pelvic Pain among Transgender Men and Gender Diverse Adults Assigned Female at Birth. Andrology. 2024; 1-10. doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.13703.

The First Annual Neurodivergent Sexuality Conference A Neurospicy Event Hosted By Cannasexual Live On Zoom, June 29th, 2024, 10a-4p Pacific $10 & Up Name-your-price Tickets Video Replay Access Included

ND Sexuality Conference 6/29

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

The First Annual Neurodivergent Sexuality Conference is happening TOMORROW, Saturday, June 29, 2024, from 10 am to 4 pm Pacific Time.

This is an online event taking place on Zoom. Tickets start at $10, and include recordings which should be sent out July 15th.

I’m really excited about this conference! Hopefully, if you are, you’re able to tune in as well.

ADMIT ONE NEURODIVERGENT SAT. JUNE 29 • 10A-4P PACIFIC ⚫ $10 TIX! • SEXUALITY CONFERENCE S OPENING REMARKS & INTENTIONS With Your Co-Hosts @ CannaSexual & @Autism OnAcid NEURODIVERGENT SEXUALITY A Keynote Conversation with @Dr.Moushimi Ghose AUTISM, SENSORY PLAY & KINK Exploring ND Sensory Profiles with @John Pendal. Coach NEURODIVERGENT CUDDLING A Delicate Discussion of Touch with @DrYoniAlkan NEUROQUEER SENSUALITIES & OPENING TO PLEASURE With Dr. Nick Walker, Author of Neuroqeer Heresies SACRED NEUROSPICY SEX A Tantra-Focused Talk by @Liliana Coventina ND SEXUALITY FUTURES A Closing All-Speaker Group Discussion Exploring The Future of ND Sex Education PROUDLY SPONSORED BY: NAUGHTY GYM NEVER STOP PLAYING CANNASEXUAL STREAMING LIVE ONLINE ON SAT 6/29 SLIDING-SCALE $10 & UP TIX VIA @NDpsychedelic ALL TALKS RECORDED FOR THOSE WHO GET TICKETS THE FIRST ANNUAL NEURODIVERGENT SEXUALITY CONFERENCE A NEUROSPICY EVENT HOSTED BY @CANNASEXUAL LIVE ON ZOOM, JUNE 29TH, 2024, 10A-4P PACIFIC SIGN UP FOR THE STREAM (VIDEO REPLAYS INCLUDED) @NDPSYCHEDELIC.COM

Schedule

  • 10 am PT – Opening Remarks & Intentions with Your Co-Hosts Ashley Manta / CannaSexual & Aaron Orsini
  • 10:20 am PT – Neurodivergent Sexuality – A Keynote Conversation with Dr. Moushimi Ghose
  • 11:20 am PT – Autism, Sensory Play & Kink – Exploring ND Sensory Profiles with Coach John Pendal
  • 12:20 pm PT – Neurodivergent Cuddling – A Delicate Discussion of Touch with Dr. Yoni Alkan
  • 1:20 pm PT – Neuroqueer Sensualities & Opening To Pleasure – with Dr. Nick Walker, Author of Neuroqeer Heresies
  • 2:20 pm PT – Sacred Neurospicy Sex – A Tantra-Focused Talk by Liliana Coventina
  • 3:20 pm PT – ND Sexuality Futures – A Closing All-Speaker Group Discussion

If you’re interested, sign up now!

A magenta-filtered monochrome photo of a Black person smiling while sitting in a living room is the backdrop for the text announcement: “Ramp Your Voice! Illuminating the Richness of Black Disabled People: Our Joys & Truths Join Us Friday, June 7 11:30 AM EST"

Ramp Your Voice! Conference — Friday, June 7 | FREE

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

Vilissa Thompson is one of those people who makes the world better by existing in it.

She’s run her website, Ramp Your Voice!, since 2013. And, she specifically started it to highlight Black disabled women and femme folks.

Now, she’s putting on a FREE conference — and, yes, you’re invited!

While the conference is focused on providing an affirming space for Black disabled people, it’s opened to anyone to come listen & learn.

And we all know that the disability community especially needs a ‘Come to Jesus’ moment about racism and colorism.

If you’re not already registered, you can learn more about the conference and do so here: https://bit.ly/RYVConf2024

Are you a transgender man, transmasculine, or nonbinary person who uses testosterone? We want to know about your experiences accessing gynecological health care. Sign up & learn more: goto.stanford.edu/tmgyn Flexible to your schedule $50 gift card

Trans Men / Masculine Folks / Nonbinary Folks Using Testosterone

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

Transgender men, transmasculine, and nonbinary people experience barriers to accessing health care, especially services that are traditionally gendered, such as gynecological care. In addition, very little is understood how testosterone impacts several aspects of pelvic and sexual health, including genital atrophy, genital infections (like bacterial vaginosis and yeast infection), endometriosis, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

This study is specifically examining the experiences of transgender and nonbinary people who are currently using testosterone gender-affirming hormone therapy have in accessing gynecological care. We also hope to understand some of the barriers and facilitators of accessing care and gaps in provider knowledge and awareness. We hope that the findings from this study will help enhance medical care, resources, services, and support for transgender and nonbinary people.

We are looking for transgender men, transmasculine, and nonbinary people who are adults (age 18 and older) and currently use testosterone gender-affirming hormone therapy to participate in one-one-one interviews. Interviews will be held remotely over the Internet using the videoconferencing software Zoom and will last between 60-90 minutes. Your identity will be kept confidential throughout the research process.

This questionnaire will help determine eligibility for participating in interviews.

After completing this short screening survey, you may be contacted to participate in a community listening session hosted by PRIDEnet. If you are eligible to participate in the community listening session and attend the session, then you will be provided an Amazon.com Gift Card in the amount of US$50.00 within 15 business days of completion of the session.

Learn more

Two men kissing. Seeking gay and bisexual men for an online study. Earn up to $400 completing online surveys. Must be 18-30 years old. Identify as LGBTQIA2S+

Strong, Thriving and Resilient Men Study (STAR-M)

Posted on by Grayson Schultz

Note: this survey opportunity is about sexual assault experiences.

The STAR-M Study is a research project to better understand sexual assault experiences among sexual minority men in the U.S., including cis and trans men and transmasculine people, to inform affirming prevention and response efforts.

Almost half of sexual minority men experience adult sexual assault victimization in their lifetime, and as many as 30% of sexual minority men report lifetime adult sexual assault perpetration. Although rates of victimization and perpetration among sexual minority men are alarmingly high, even when measured over short periods of time, little research has examined risk and protective factors for adult sexual assault victimization or perpetration.

This five-year project, which will be named by an advisory board, focuses on identifying those factors and is funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health.

The research will focus on young adult sexual minority (e.g., gay, bisexual, queer) men, including trans men and individuals identifying as transmasculine, ages 18 to 30, from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Researchers will recruit 3,600 sexual minority men from a geographically and racially diverse sample via online platforms and community-based agencies across the U.S.

You can learn more by reading the informed consent form (PDF) or by visiting the study’s LinkTree.