National LGBTQ+ Women's Survey Confronts Lack of Attention to Women's Needs in the Movement

March 8, 2021 - A group of seasoned activists and scholars have formed an independent national research project focused on the concerns of LGBTQ+ women. The initiative is spearheaded by veteran lesbian activist Urvashi Vaid, one of the first women of color to lead a national LGBTQ organization (1989). Over 100 organizations have joined on as partners, (www.lgbtqwomensurvey.org) seeking to center the concerns of LGBTQ+ women for policy-makers and advocates.

"We had to create an independent project to get this work off the ground. It's outrageous that it's 2021, and this will be the first national survey about the needs and priorities of LGBTQ+ women specifically" said Vaid. "For queer women to advocate effectively we need this data to deepen the gender focus of our movements, and to get the services and resources our community needs at a local, state and federal level"

The trailblazing survey will look at all aspects of LGBTQ+ women's lives - from workplace issues and education to family life, from religious and political affiliation to and sexuality and gender expression. It will be housed at Emory University, under the leadership of Professor Alyasah Ali Sewell. Dr Sewell is a highly respected and widely-published sociologist on the political economy of race, neighborhoods and health.

The survey launches in the context of an incredibly violent and challenging year for LGBTQ+ women. The COVID-19 pandemic has fomented a marked increase in interpersonal violence, while the murders of transwomen have continued unabated. Economic precarity and job loss has disproportionately impacted women across the board.

"How has this perfect storm of displacement, disease and increasing violence impacted LGBTQ women?" asked Jaime M. Grant, research director for the project. "As usual, nobody knows. Well, it is time we build that knowledge base together. Everyone in the community needs to take this survey."

We are choosing to launch our pledge campaign on International Women's Day #IWD2021. This year's theme challenges us to find ways to forge a gender equal world and to take action for equality. We #ChooseToChallenge by building knowledge and power with our groundbreaking survey.

For further information please contact:

Jaime Grant, PhD. jaimemgrant@gmail.com

Jaime M. Grant is a lesbian feminist racial justice activist and writer based in DC. She is the author of Great Sex: Mapping Your Desire and founder of the podcast, Just Sex. In 2011, she served as co-primary investigator of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey and its report, Injustice at Every Turn.