Grant: DRA : Canada Graduate Research Scholarship - Doctoral Program (CGRS D)

A growing wave of anti-transgender policies across the United States (US) and in parts of Canada (e.g., Alberta) has severely limited transgender (trans) people's bodily autonomy and full participation in civic life, leading to worsened health for trans people. Trans youth have been targeted particularly aggressively (e.g., bans on medically necessary health care), resulting in negative impacts on their and their family members' health, causing many families with trans youth to consider migrating from hostile sociopolitical environments to safer ones. Yet little is known about health-related factors that influence migration-related decision-making in such families or about the supports they need. Almost no research about this kind of health-related migration has been done with trans youth, much less their families, and no such studies have been done in Canada to date. To address this research gap, I will conduct family interviews and focus groups with trans youth (ages 12-19y), siblings of trans youth (ages 12-19y), and caregivers of trans youth in trans-hostile regions of Canada and the United States to learn more about how their experiences in these anti-trans sociopolitical environments affect their health, how that relates to their thoughts about migration, and what supports they need. Analysis of these interviews and focus groups will help lead to the development of a new measure of how sociopolitical and health-related stressors influence the decisions of families with trans youth about migration. This can enable future researchers to better understand the health and support needs of these families and inform the work of health professionals and policymakers to ensure the health and thriving of all Canadians.