Community Based Participatory Research Supporting Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People in Milwaukee

College of Health Professions & Science, College of Nursing, Conaway, Kaylee, Mentor, Poster Presentation, School and College, Student, Wesp, Linda

Kaylee Conaway, “Community Based Participatory Research Supporting Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People in Milwaukee”
Mentor: Linda Wesp, Nursing
Poster #38

Lack of resources is a known issue for the transgender community (James et al 2024). A bill defining gender-affirming care as a “legally protected health-care activity” wasn’t signed until 2023, yet despite this, health care resources are lacking or inaccessible (Gaur, 2023). To better understand community needs, we conducted a community-based participatory research project in Milwaukee with people over 18 who identified as transgender and gender diverse. Results from our first community needs assessment survey (n= 129) identified needs related to health care, employment, and safe sober community spaces. Additionally, of the 39 respondents who had been prescribed gender affirming hormones in an injectable form, 72% reported barriers accessing what they needed to take their injections as prescribed, such as receiving incorrect supplies from the pharmacy, gaps in refills, needle phobia, or not receiving education about how to give their injections. Based on the survey findings, the Milwaukee Transgender and Queer Depot (MTQD) was formed as a mutual aid project. MQTD is a sober community space providing many resources including help with legal name or gender marker change, support for people taking prescribed injectable medications, and overall, a place where people can go to just talk and be together. Arguably as important as the information given through the survey is the ongoing feedback heard through word of mouth about community needs. For instance, hearing many people say they have a never-ending buildup of needles from their injectable medications, an easy-to-read resource was made outlining where one can safely dispose of their needles in the area. MQTD will conduct more surveys to continually improve the resources provided in real-time. Conducting research guided by what the community needs has allowed our team to assist and provide meaningful resources that improves lives.