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

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

Survey About How Social Media Increases Anti-Trans Ideals

the role of social media in facilitating anti-gender mobilizing and their impact on tgdi movements

The following is from the webpage on this survey:

We want to explore the impact of global anti-gender movements on trans, gender diverse (TGD) and wider LGBTQI mobilizing and rights and the role of social media in facilitating anti-gender mobilizing and discourses.

The anti-gender movement is an international movement which opposes what it refers to as gender ideology, gender theory, or genderism (Kováts, Eszter, 2016). Today, social media plays a huge role in disinformation currencies that perpetuate anti-gender mobilizing. If you’re a trans or gender diverse person, is very likely that you’ve encountered anti-gender movements. We’re creating a survey to collect data that can help us counteract these movements, and we need your help! This survey was created for people who are part of organizations or unregistered collectives working on trans, gender diverse or wider LGBQ communities and issues.

It takes about 20-30 minutes to fill out this questionnaire. You are welcome to send us your complaints or other types of feedback to research@gate.ngo. Considering the safety issues in many contexts relating to reporting on anti-gender opposition and/or being an activist or a community member, you will have the opportunity to stay anonymous. This is also available in Russian and Spanish.

If you’re interested in participating, click here.

The 2022 Gender Census is open! [closed]

The 2022 Gender Census is open!

This survey is open to anyone, in any country, of any age, whose experience of their gender doesn’t fit tidily into the strict binary of female/male. It seeks broad statistical data about the language we use to refer to ourselves in English, e.g. pronouns, identity words, and titles. The results will be made public for use in activism, self-advocacy, business, and academia.

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.
  • Most of the survey asks about three things: identity words, pronouns and titles.
  • There is a feedback box at the end.
  • Most people find that it takes 5 minutes or less.
  • You can read the FAQs here.

This is a volunteer-run, crowdfunded project. They don’t pay for any advertising at all, and the >44,000 responses last year were gathered entirely by word-of-mouth.

If you’re into that kind of thing, click here to take part: survey.gendercensus.com

Rites of Passage Study

Sharing the following opportunity as listed on my friend ink’s substack:

Rites of passage research is incredibly important to me in my journey of recovery and becoming. Through initiating to adulthood in community, to learning to truly be alone, rites of passage work has fostered an unwavering sense of knowingness and purpose into my life that I hope all young people get the privilege to experience.

We have all grown up in vastly different ways. Qualitatively, there is no one growing up story alike another.

With this, we want to know more about how you grew up.

We are building an understanding of how our generation of young people have come into age as we seek to understand its impacts on health, toward future programs.

This is an incentivized opportunity ($20 bookstore giftcard) to contribute to the advancement of rites research, as we move toward implementing ways of knowing and being that support growing up.

These questions are in-depth and may be uncomfortable. Only engage if you feel you have the time to donate your story to the cause. Otherwise, please feel free to disregard or send feedback.

Find everything you need to know here, and thank you for supporting the research.

Participate in the International Kink Health Study

KINK HEALTH Adventurous people deserve exceptional care. kinkhealth.org TASHRA presents an international health study and invites YOU to learn if you are eligible. Go to kinkhealth.org Do you have recurring, long-standing fantasies that focus on kink, bondage, and fetish? Our goals: • The IKHS will document the prevalence of injuries and medical complications arising from kink activities • Examine the health status of kink-involved people; and document how healthcare is utilized by kink The involved people International • Investigate how connections to kink communities Kink Health affect people's health and well-being Study (IKHS) Contact us with other questions at KinkHealth2@protonmail.com *Complete a short survey to determine your eligibility for this study at kinkhealth.org

The International Kink Health Study is now LIVE!

The International Kink Health Study (IKHS) is a research project about the physical and mental health, childhood experience, sexuality and healthcare of those around the world with recurring fantasies and practices that involve kink/BDSM/leather and fetish.

An expansion of our 2016 research survey, this study plans to invite participants to become part of a group of kink interested people from around the world. We will ask them to complete yearly surveys over a number of years. We hope that they will help us understand more about what it means to be kinky, about their health and wellbeing, their kink lives and pleasure, their relationships and roles, their injuries and their experiences of healing.

We are researchers with deep roots in the kink community and who want to make sure that this information benefits the kink community. Won’t you think about joining with us on our upcoming adventure?

Want to learn more, see if you’re eligible, or take the survey?
Pop over to the study’s website today.

Pledge to Take the 2022 US Trans Survey

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. 

Hypermobility and Sexual Function Study

hypermobility and sexual function study graphic

Sexual Functioning and its Impact in Relation to EDS

Researchers: Tom Virden, Ph.D. (he/him) & Brona Hagins, M.A. (she/her) at Midwestern University

In layman’s terms, this study is to assess how hypermobility/EDS may negatively impact gynecological health, sex, and relationships. Therefore, it is only open to those who were

  • assigned female at birth,
  • aged 18 years or older,
  • and who have a hypermobility disorder such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS).

This research study is open to those who have been diagnosed with a hypermobility spectrum disorder (which includes Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). The purpose of this research study is to understand the gynecological impacts of hypermobility.

The questionnaire will assess gynecological concerns and their impact on individuals with hypermobility regarding avoidance, fear, relationships, sexual dysfunction, and quality of life. Quality of life will be assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life brief scale (WHOQOL-BREF). Sexual dysfunction will be assessed using the Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI).

Original questions are follow-up questions to the two included measures, such as sexual functioning’s impact on various relationships.

The study aims to assess the psychological and day-to-day impact of gynecological concerns in hypermobile individuals. Additionally, it will provide guidance as to the gynecologically-informed treatments utilized/recommended in the hypermobile population.

We’re inviting you to participate in a research study. This study consists of an online survey. You will be asked to complete a series of questions about your sexual health and gynecological functioning. This survey may be completed on any computer with internet access. You are free to skip any questions that you would prefer not to answer.

Participation is completely voluntary. If you agree to participate, you can always change your mind and withdraw. There are no negative consequences, whatever you decide.

  • If you have any questions about or do not understand something on this form, you should ask the research team for more information.
  • You can and should discuss your participation with anyone you choose, such as family or friends.
  • Do not agree to participate in this study unless the research team has answered your questions and you decide that you want to be part of this study.

Some questions may be very personal or upsetting. You can skip any questions you don’t want to answer or stop the survey entirely.

  • Online data being hacked or intercepted: This is a risk you experience any time you provide information online. We’re using a secure system to collect this data and are not collecting identifiable information, but we can’t completely eliminate this risk.
  • Breach of confidentiality: There is a chance your data could be seen by someone who shouldn’t have access to it. We’re minimizing this risk in the following ways:
    • Data is anonymous.
    • We’ll store all electronic data on REDCAP, a secure online survey server, or on a password-protected, encrypted computer when statistical analyses are conducted.

In the unlikely event that you suffer an injury or illness directly related to your participation in this research project, upon your request, Midwestern University will arrange for the provision of treatment for such injury or illness at the closest medical facility. Payment for such treatment will be your responsibility, although your commercial insurance carrier if any, may pay all or part of the medical expenses that you might incur. Midwestern University will not pay any monetary compensation for research related injury or illness or pay for treatment outside any MWU-affiliated Hospitals or Medical Centers. You are not waiving any of your legal rights by volunteering to participate in this study.

Although you will not benefit directly from participating in this study, you will make a major contribution to the information known about gynecologically related concerns impact in hypermobility. In future, others may benefit because doctors will learn about how hypermobility affects gynecological functioning.

You will not be compensated for participation.

This questionnaire should take no more than 15 minutes to complete.

We will not collect any identifying information for the research.

Where will data be stored?
On the servers for the online survey software, REDCAP.

How long will it be kept?
For the duration of the research project (estimated < 1 year).

Who can see my data?

  • We (the researchers) will have access to de-identified (no names, birthdate, address, etc.) information. This is so we can analyze the data and conduct the study.
  • We may share our findings in publications or presentations. If we do, the results will be de-identified.

This study has been reviewed and approved by the Midwestern University Institutional Review Board (AZ #5070). If you have questions about this research project and the research subjects’ rights please contact the principal investigator, Tom B. Virden III, Ph.D., at (623) 572-3868 or email at tvirde@midwestern.edu.

If you have any questions regarding the rights of being a research subject, please call the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at 623-806-7670 or via email: AZORSP@midwestern.edu.

You can also contact Brona Hagins, MA, at bhagins67@midwestern.edu.

 

After taking this survey, I would suggest listing information on the first page in the last question about if you’re not currently experiencing sexual function issues but have in the past. There isn’t another spot to list that information later on.

 

To participate, click here.

2021 Care Rationing Survey

2021 Care Rationing Survey - #NoBodyIsDispoable Fat Legal Advocacy, Rights, & Education Project - Have you struggled with or delayed getting medical care during the pandemic? Are you a provider concerned about care rationing at your organization? Please take this survey.

The #NoBodyIsDisposable Coalition and the Fat Legal Advocacy, Rights, & Education Project have created a short survey to hear from people who are being denied medical care because of limited medical resources. Responses will be used to help advocate for fair medical treatment.

This survey was created to help gather the stories of folks who are having trouble getting medical care during COVID. Stories will be shared to create awareness and support advocacy. (Respondents can choose whether or not to share anonymously.)

Who should take the survey?

Please take the survey if you or someone you know had a hard time getting medical treatment during COVID due to limited medical personnel and supplies/equipment shortages and you suspect part or all of the reason you did not receive necessary care was based on discrimination including but not limited to your weight, disability, race, age, or other factors.

Take the survey if you have been delaying necessary medical care because you worry if you do get COVID that you will be deprioritized for life-saving medical treatment based on your weight, disability, race, age, or other factors.

Take the survey if you work at a health care organization and have concerns about the care rationing policy, or how it is implemented.

Link to the Survey

The survey is available in English and Spanish.

Please help spread the word. They will be reviewing answers on an ongoing basis.

Study: Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas

Did you know that 34% of Americans live in areas with a shortage of mental health providers?

One group is looking to study this in a project titled Understanding Pathways to Care For Individuals in Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas, with Investigators Dr. Munmun De Choudhury and Dr. Neha Kumar. This project is a joint research initiative between the SocWeb and TanDeM Labs at the Georgia Institute of Technology, along with various partners and stakeholders from community-based mental health advocacy organizations.

What Am I Being Asked To Do?
You are being asked to be a volunteer in a research study. This page will give you key information to help you decide if you would like to participate.  Your participation is voluntary. As you read, please feel free to ask any questions you may have about the research.

What Is This Study About and What Procedures Will You be Asked to Follow?
The purpose of this study is to better understand how people find access to mental healthcare. You will be asked survey questions about yourself, as well as the different resources you use to feel better when you are not feeling well.

If you decide to be in this study, you will be asked survey questions about where you live and how you have sought support for mental health concerns. You will not be compensated for participation in this study

Are There Any Risks or Discomforts you Might Experience by Being in this Study?
Survey questions deal with your mental health background and may touch on topics you do not want to discuss. You are not required to answer any questions and choose to not answer and move to a different question or choose to stop participating in the study at any time.

What Are the Reasons You Might Want to Volunteer For This Study?
You are not likely to benefit in any way from joining this study. However, your participation in this study may assist researchers in understanding how people in resource-limited areas find access to mental healthcare.

Study link

Questions about the Study
If you have any questions about the study, please reach out to Sachin Pendse.

Sexual and reproductive health language used by sexual and gender minority people

The following is from an email sent out by the Pride Study yesterday. Want to contribute to research like this? Join the Pride Study today! It’s really fun and easy. Learn more at PrideStudy.org. For information on all of their studies, go to: pridestudy.org/research.

Full article
Ragosta S, Obedin-Maliver J, Fix L, Stoeffler A, Hastings J, Capriotti MR, Flentje A, Lubensky ME, Lunn MR, Moseson H (2021) From ‘shark-week’ to ‘mangina’: an analysis of words used by people of marginalized sexual orientations and/or gender identities to replace common sexual and reproductive health terms, Health Equity 5:1, 1–11, DOI: doi.org/10.1089/heq.2021.0022

Community-Friendly Summary of Findings
What Did We Do?

We asked cisgender sexual minority women (CSMW) and transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive (TGE) people from all over the United States about the words they use to describe sexual and reproductive health processes and their body parts. Cisgender sexual minority women describes women who were assigned female sex at birth and who identify as asexual, bisexual, lesbian, pansexual, queer, and/or another sexual orientation outside of exclusively straight/heterosexual. Transgender describes someone who identifies as a gender different from that most commonly associated with their sex assigned at birth. Nonbinary describes someone who does not identify as only a man or a woman, but may identify as both or neither, or a multiplicity of genders. Gender-expansive is an umbrella term for someone who may identify with and express their gender in many ways outside of what is expected of them.

Survey respondents were provided with definitions for 9 common sexual and reproductive health terms for body processes, activities, and body parts. The terms we asked about were: abortion, birth control, breasts, penis, period, pregnant, sperm, uterus, and vagina. They were asked if they use the term. If they did not use the term, they were asked to provide their own word.

What Was New, Innovative, or Notable?

This was the first study, to our knowledge, to directly measure whether sexual and gender minority people use medical terms to talk about their sexual and reproductive health, and if not, what words they use. The researchers designed the study in an innovative way, where the words/phrases that respondents provided actually replaced the medical, sexual, and reproductive health terms throughout the survey. This allowed participants to customize their survey while allowing us to learn more about their sexual and reproductive health with language familiar and comfortable to them.

What Did We Learn?

CSMW and TGE respondents use a diversity of words to describe their bodies and experiences. Among 1,704 TGE and 1,370 CSMW respondents, 613 (36%) TGE respondents and 92 (7%) CSMW respondents replaced at least one medical term with their own terms. Some of the most commonly used words among TGE respondents were: “chest” for breasts (n=369, 72% of replacement words), “front-hole” for vagina (n=96, 33% of replacement words), and “dick” for penis (n=47, 45% of replacement words).

Many (23%) replacement words/phrases were only used by a single respondent. For example, one person provided the word “Harold” for uterus and another provided “freedom!! (in Scottish accent)” for abortion.

TGE respondents also said that word-use depended on the context, that some terms did not apply to them, or that they did not have a replacement word/phrase. For example, one respondent for the word vagina responded, “depends on the context- if it’s during sexytimes I usually avoid using the word. If I’m talking about my period I’m okay saying vagina.” Another respondent for the word uterus responded, “I’ve never had a reason to think of what to call it honestly. The only time I ever bring up that area is when talking about a hysterectomy.”

What Does This Mean for Our Communities?

Sexual and reproductive health terms used in clinical and research settings can cause discomfort and dysphoria (a feeling of anxiety and dissatisfaction) among some sexual and gender minority (SGM) people. Attention to word-use by providers and researchers could increase the quality of clinical and research experiences for SGM people. Providers and researchers should ask people what words they would like to use to refer to their bodies and experiences.

What’s Next?

To build upon this work, our team is studying alternatives to asking about sex assigned at birth and gender for screening purposes in clinical care. Specifically, we developed an anatomical organ inventory with transgender, non-binary, and gender-expansive community advisory board members. We are now testing this organ inventory to see if it may be a more accurate and affirming way to assess patient eligibility for certain healthcare services. This organ inventory would be provided alongside a patient-provided language form (like the one used in this study) to make health care experiences more relevant and patient-centered.

Take Action!

Visit http://www.pridestudy.org/study for more information.

Make sure you also check out Ibis Reproductive Health to learn more about Ibis’s work and browse their amazing community-provided resources on sexual and reproductive health relevant to transgender, nonbinary, gender-expansive, and intersex people.