̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge - LGBT

̽��ֱ��queer men of H staircase

cjb250 — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 09:00:26 +0000

For the past 300 years, the Gibbs Building at King’s College, Cambridge, has been home to many of history’s most influential characters. A new book explores the hidden – and in many cases, not-so-hidden – stories of some of its queer fellows.

̽��ֱ��medic making a difference to the care of trans patients

cjb250 — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 08:00:21 +0000

Medical students are taught about some of the rarest diseases, yet do not learn something as important as how to care for trans patients. This needs to change, says intensive care specialist Luke Flower.

GP survey reveals health and healthcare inequalities of trans and non-binary adults

cjb250 — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 09:12:25 +0000

̽��ֱ��study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, also found that while trans and non-binary adults report no differences in access to primary care, they prefer to be able to see the same GP for each appointment. They also report more negative experiences of interpersonal communication, such as involvement in decision-making over treatment, and poorer confidence or trust.

Primary care supports people across the courses of their lives as their health and healthcare needs change over time. Understanding the primary care experiences of minority groups including those with protected characteristics – those characteristics for which it is against the law in the UK to discriminate against someone, and which include gender reassignment – is important for addressing potential inequalities and allowing the NHS to plan long-term.

Since 2021, the annual GP Patient Survey conducted by NHS England has included questions about both gender and trans status in its surveys. A team led by researchers at the Department of Public Health and Primary Care, ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, analysed 850,000 survey responses received to the 2021 survey, which included over 6,300 responses where individuals identified as either trans or non-binary. ̽��ֱ��results are published today in BMJ Open.

Trans and non-binary respondents were more likely to be from Asian, Black, Mixed or Other ethnic groups, less likely to be heterosexual, and were more likely to live in more deprived parts of the country. They were also more likely to be younger – just under one in four (23.6%) trans and non-binary respondents was aged 16-34 years, almost double the proportion among other respondents (13.4%).

After adjustment for age, ethnicity and deprivation, trans and non-binary adults reported higher prevalence for 10 out of the 15 long-term conditions. They were around three times as likely to be living with dementia or to have a learning disability, and twice as likely to be experiencing mental health difficulties. They were almost six times as likely to be autistic.

Dr Katie Saunders from the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge, the study’s first author, said: “These findings are consistent with other studies looking at long-term conditions among trans and non-binary adults. ̽��ֱ��reasons for these differences compared to the general population are likely to be complex, including a mixture of stress, experiences of discrimination, socioeconomic status and the biological effects of hormone treatments.

“It shouldn’t be too surprising that these communities experience higher rates of mental health problems, given media reporting around issues such as the Gender Recognition Act and the Equalities Act and the increasing levels of transphobia that many individuals face on a day-to-day basis.”

When the researchers looked at the experiences of trans and non-binary adults in primary care, they found no difference when it came to accessing primary care. However, almost two-thirds (64.2%) of trans and non-binary adults said they had a preferred GP compared to a half (50.2%) of other respondents.

Trans and non-binary adults were less likely to be involved in decisions about care and treatment (85.0% compared with 93.7%). Those trans and non-binary adults with mental health needs were less likely to have their needs recognised and understood (77.6% compared with 87.3%). Fewer trans and non-binary adults said that overall their needs were met (88.1% compared with 95.2%).

Dr Saunders added: “If you are trans or non-binary, then every time you see a new GP you are forced to decide whether or not to come out to them, so it isn’t surprising that they prefer continuity in primary care. Once you find a GP who understands your needs, you will want to see them each time you have an appointment.”

̽��ֱ��team hope that the findings will help lead to improvements in treatment and care for trans and non-binary individuals.

“There are currently very few guidelines for GPs on how to care for trans or non-binary patients,” said Dr Saunders. “We hope the evidence that we’re presenting will help change this. Knowing that a trans or non-binary patient is more likely to be autistic or to be experiencing mental health difficulties, for example, where guidelines do exist, could help GPs prepare for seeing their patients.”

Reference
Saunders, CL, et al. Demographic characteristics, long-term health conditions, and healthcare experiences of 6,333 trans and non-binary adults in England: nationally representative evidence from the 2021 GP Patient Survey. BMJ Open; 2 Feb 2023; DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068099

Trans and non-binary adults are more likely than the general population to experience long-term health conditions, including mental health problems, dementia and learning disabilities, and to be autistic, according to new research.

If you are trans or non-binary, then every time you see a new GP you are forced to decide whether or not to come out to them

Katie Saunders

Karollyne Hubert

Trans Rights Protest London, April 2022

̽��ֱ��text in this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Images, including our videos, are Copyright © ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge and licensors/contributors as identified. All rights reserved. We make our image and video content available in a number of ways – as here, on our main website under its Terms and conditions, and on a range of channels including social media that permit your use and sharing of our content under their respective Terms.

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Autistic individuals are more likely to be LGBTQ+

cjb250 — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 14:32:56 +0000

̽��ֱ��findings have important implications for the healthcare and support of autistic individuals. ̽��ֱ��results are published in the journal Autism Research.

For many years it was wrongly assumed that autistic individuals are uninterested in sexual or romantic relationships, but this is not the case. In recent years, small studies have suggested that autistic individuals are more likely to experience a wider diversity of sexual orientations and are less likely to have sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, the existing evidence has been limited in size and scope.

In the largest study to date on these topics, the team at the Autism Research Centre used an anonymous, self-report survey to study the sexual activity, sexual orientation, and sexual health of autistic adults. Overall, 1,183 autistic and 1,203 non-autistic adolescents and adults (aged 16-90 years) provided information about their sexual activity, sexual orientation, and medical history of STIs.

̽��ֱ��results showed that the majority of autistic adults (70% of autistic males and 76% of autistic females) engage in sexual activity—although they do so to a lesser degree than their non-autistic peers (89% of both non-autistic males and females report engaging in sexual activity). In contrast to previous findings, the results also found that there were no differences in likelihood of ever contracting an STI, or the age at which participants first engaged in sexual activity, between autistic and non-autistic individuals.

In addition, the study found that autistic adults and adolescents are approximately eight times more likely to identify as asexual and ‘other’ sexuality than their non-autistic peers. And there were sex differences in sexual orientation: autistic males are 3.5 times more likely to identify as bisexual than non-autistic males, whereas autistic females are three times more likely to identify as homosexual than non-autistic females.

When comparing autistic females and males directly, autistic females were more likely to be sexually active; more likely to identify as asexual, bisexual, and ‘other’ sexuality; and were less likely to identify as heterosexual.

Elizabeth Weir, a PhD candidate at the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge, and the lead researcher of the study, said: “Understanding the intersectional identities of autistic individuals who are asexual, bisexual, homosexual, or ‘other’ sexuality is key. It is particularly important that healthcare providers and educators use language that is affirming and accepting of all sexual orientations and gender identities when providing sexual education and sexual health screening checks to autistic and non-autistic people alike.”

Dr Carrie Allison, Director of Strategy at the Autism Research Centre and a member of the team, said: “We must ensure that autistic individuals are receiving equal access to healthcare and support in their choices in their personal lives, to enjoy fulfilling lives and good mental health.”

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, Director of the Autism Research Centre and a member of the team, said: “This new study is an important example of applied health research with policy relevance for health and social care services.”

Reference
Weir, E., Allison, C., & Baron-Cohen, S. ̽��ֱ��sexual health, orientation, and activity of autistic adolescents and adults. Autism Research (2021). DOI: 10.1002/aur.2604

New research from the ̽��ֱ�� of Cambridge suggests that autistic individuals are less likely to identify as heterosexual and more likely to identify with a diverse range of sexual orientations than non-autistic individuals.

Cecilie Johnsen via Unsplash

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̽��ֱ��neuroscientist who champions LGBT+ equal rights

cg605 — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 10:05:03 +0000

Duncan Astle is a neuroscientist on a mission to understand why the brains of some children develop differently to others – and how it affects not just their education but their lives. He also chairs the ̽��ֱ��’s LGBT+ Staff Network. He talks about the Network’s recent decision to sign a declaration that trans rights are human rights.

Meet the lawyer championing LGBTQ+ research at Cambridge

alm93 — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 16:03:49 +0000

Daniel Gerring is Partner and Head of Pensions at leading law firm Travers Smith. Here, he tells us about his time at Cambridge, how he sees things having changed for LGBTQ+ people and why supporting LGBTQ+ research is important to him.

A rich history: reflections from the Cambridge LGBT+ community

alm93 — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 17:00:31 +0000

To mark LGBT+ history month, we asked staff, students and alumni to reflect on what the month means to them.

Out at Cambridge

fpjl2 — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 09:33:30 +0000

New report on LGBTQ+ experiences at the ̽��ֱ�� is now published. While many feel Cambridge offers a “safe and empowering” community, the report highlights the “emotional labour” of being LGBTQ+ at a leading academic institution.