Being trans & doing trans health research: A facilitated discussion of challenges & opportunities скачать в хорошем качестве

Being trans & doing trans health research: A facilitated discussion of challenges & opportunities

Kai Jacobsen & Leo Rutherford (Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy about Transgender Experiences) Led by two trans researchers, this talking circle will open a discussion about the challenges and benefits of doing community-based work by and for trans communities in a time of misinformation and threats to gender-affirming care. Historically, research projects have rarely been led by trans people, and only recently have we been considered as experts on our own health and experiences. Emerging trans scholars are redefining what community-based research (CBR) means by centering trans people as experts with both academic knowledge and lived experience. Many trans researchers seek to use CBR to uplift other trans people and to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities. Despite this, our research is often under attack by actors claiming it as “low quality evidence” or “biased” based on our experience as trans community members. Our communities are faced with research being used against us, or twisted to fit an anti-trans agenda. Further, some data being collected from trans communities either does not contribute to health equity for trans people or further disempowers trans people by lacking appropriate knowledge translation. In this time of change, trans researchers have the power to positively impact our community with community-led research programs; to do so, however, is not an easy task. In this presentation, we invite trans researchers and community members to connect, collaborate, network, and share strategies for dealing with the unique challenges we experience. We welcome and encourage cisgender researchers to attend to listen and learn from the experiences shared.