A need for data

Trans and gender diverse people lead diverse sexual and romantic lives, but very little research exists to illuminate the features, configurations, and experiences of that diversity. Assumptions about the sexual and romantic lives of trans and gender diverse people - often based on case studies, outdated research, or research with small sample sizes - have tended to focus on pathologization, especially in the context of HIV and STIs.

For too long, these assumptions have been used to inform health care, deliver services, and shape the public discourse for and around trans and gender diverse people. Rigorous data are needed to expand social and medical understandings of sex and romance for trans and gender diverse people beyond a focus on pathology.

A community-led online survey

In 2018, the Australian Trans & Gender Diverse Sexual Health Survey was launched as an entirely online, confidential survey. All aspects of the study’s design, implementation, data analysis and the interpretation of findings has worked to centre communities of trans and gender diverse people, representing a unique and important approach to collaboration. A full overview of the survey’s findings, including the survey instrument itself, can be downloaded here.

The survey recruited the largest sample of trans and gender diverse people to an Australian research study to-date, including a large proportion of non-binary participants, successes that are owed to the incredible support and collaborative spirit developed through adopting a community-led approach. The research team extends their thanks to everyone who participated in the survey, shared its materials among their networks, and to the many organizations and individuals who gave their time and expertise to help shape the study in many important ways.

Next steps

Data collection for the survey’s first iteration is complete. Researchers are now busy analyzing, interpreting and sharing findings that draw upon the rich and comprehensive data collected. The research team is keen to ensure that the data collected through this study are widely used and applied in diverse settings. Any researchers, clinicians, community members or policy makers interested in accessing or making use of the survey data are encouraged to reach out.

Australia has a long history of ongoing behavioral health surveillance and over 96% of survey participants reported that they would be willing to take part if the survey were repeated in the future. Repeating the Australian Trans & Gender Diverse Sexual Health Survey would provide an important look at changes over time, including to evaluate if the increase in focused services and programs is working to improve outcomes in terms of health and well-being. The research team is currently working toward implementing a repeated version of this survey in the coming years.

This study is a collaboration between researchers, community advocates, clinicians, and health experts. It is a study led by trans and gender diverse investigators in partnership with their cisgender colleagues, coordinated centrally by the Kirby Institute for Infection and Immunity in Society at UNSW Sydney.