Racialized gender-diverse youth!

We’re looking to hear from you about your experiences in seeking gender-affirming medical care. For a 1-hour individual interview or a 1-hour focus group discussion with other gender-diverse racialized youth, you will receive a $20 gift card as a thank you for your time. The results of this study will help us understand and address barriers in access to health care for all gender-diverse youth.

Participant Criteria

  • aged 12-19

  • self-ID as a gender other than cisgender

  • self-ID as racialized

  • able to converse in English

  • the two spirit pride flag with the horizontal lines of the rainbow, and a small black and white curcle in the orange stripe, with two overlapping black and white feathers extending down from the circle
  • transgender pride flag with light blue, pink, white, pink, and light blue horizontal lines
  • the nonbinary pride flag with yellow, white, purple and black horizontal lines
  • the progress pride flag with horizontal rainbow stripes, and arrow-shaped colours on the left side of the flag, with whit, pink and blue for the transgender flag and brown and black for queer and trans people of colour
  • genderfluid pride flag with pink, white, purple, black and blue horizontal lines
  • agender pride flag with black, grey, white, light green, white, grey and black horizontal stripes
  • genderqueer pride flag with purple, white, and green horizontal stripes

Have questions?

See if you can find the answer below! Otherwise, please use the submission form to send us your name and email if you are interested in participating. If you have any questions or prefer to reach out directly, you can also email us at tycpathways.study@sickkids.ca

Sign up for the study

What does “Gender-diverse” mean? 

Gender-diverse people define their genders in different ways. Gender-diverse is an umbrella term that includes transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, genderfluid, and any non-cisgender folks. For example, some people would describe being gender-diverse as having a different gender than the one they were assigned at birth.  

What if I’m questioning my gender? Can I still participate? 

Yes! If you are someone who is considering gender-affirming care or has lived experience with gender-affirming care, you can participate. 

What does “racialized” mean? 

Racialized people include people of colour and people who are non-white. If you self-identify as non-white, regardless of how connected you feel to your racial identity, you are welcome to participate! 

Where will the interview or focus group take place? 

The interview or focus groups will be held over the virtual platform Zoom, or in community centres in Toronto. 

I’m not “out” to my family/friends/health-care providers. Can I still participate?

Absolutely! You do not need to tell anyone that you are participating in this study. If you choose to participate in a focus group, you do not need to share your name or gender identity with other group members. Also, you can always choose an individual interview instead of a focus group.

I’m worried that I don’t know enough about gender-affirming medical care to participate. I’m not an expert. 

We are looking for the thoughts, opinions, and experiences of everyday people. We don’t expect you or any single young person to know everything about gender-affirming care or how to improve it. We’re looking for any gender-diverse youth who are considered gender-affirming care or have lived experience with gender-affirming care.