Join Us in Advocating for TGI Research Participants
Dear Trans, Gender Non-Conforming and Intersex (TGI) Community Members,
In early December 2020, researchers at Vanderbilt University and UCLA reached out to transgender people across Southern California who are active in the community, work in advocacy, or work for organizations that provide care, resorces, or safety for folks who do not identify as Cisgender. According to their email, the purpose of this meeting was to request feedback on a brain imaging study including set up, appropriate and inclusive materials, and ways in which the study team can respectfully connect with community organizers and partners. During the meeting, we learned that this study is already underway with approval by the UCLA Internal Review Board (“IRB”) (#11-000459).
We strongly recommend that transgender community members and LGBTQ organizations do not advertise or participate in this study. We have grave concerns about the unethical research design.
The research design purposefully causes mental health distress in order to trigger “dysphoria.” This includes having participants wear tight leotards and taking photographs of their body. We were asked for input about low retention of trans participants and found the researchers unable to comprehend why this study is harmful. The researchers are falsely advertising this study without clarity about the expectations of participants and without consideration of the need for direct access to mental health after care.
We object to the purpose of the study and it’s potential consequences on access to care for transgender people. The researchers claim that their study could help transgender people, but their own research materials suggests they are developing tools that may curtail access to gender-affirming treatment. Further, Principal Investigator, Dr. Jamie Feusner, is also currently funded to study Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and anorexia nervosa. He describes his broader research as seeking to understand phenotypes of aberrant perceptual and emotional processing that cross diagnostic boundaries of conditions involving body image such as BDD, eating disorders, and gender dysphoria. We object to the view that transgender people have an aberrant body image condition or that brain imaging of traumatic response could ultimately “help” trans people. It is suggestive of a search for medical “cure,” which can open the door for more gatekeeping and restrictive policies and practices in relation to access to gender-affirming care. At a time in which trans lives are under attack, we find this kind of research to be misguided and dangerous.
We question the larger issue, that UCLA has a “Transgender Research Program” that this researcher heads, and it does not appear to have many connections to the trans community. We call on UCLA to shut down this research project immediately. Furthermore, we call on UCLA to:
- Include transgender researchers and policy advocates to participate in their IRB review for any trans related research
- Include transgender researchers and policy advocates to participate on scientific advisory boards and community advisory boards for any trans related research
- Thoroughly vet any professors-in-residence and tenured professors who wish to engage in transgender-related research and ensure their research and curriculum does not cause harm to the transgender community
As members of the TGI community, we realize that we are in need of research to fill the gaps in our access to care. However, we must remain vigilant that any research that is conducted does not impact our community negatively in terms of opening the door for potential policies that excludes us from society.
To sign on to this letter and stand with the transgender community in solidarity, please submit your organizations’ logo to Ezak Perez (ezak@gjla.org) or Dannie Cesena (dcesena@health-access.org) by COB Friday January 31, 2021 or fill out the google form.
Thank you for standing in solidarity with the transgender community.
Thank you to those who have already signed on to this letter!
For more information visit: https://californialgbtqhealth.org/advocate-for-tgi-research-participants/