Trans Healthcare Access in Mass

On June 12, 2020 the Trump administration finalized changes to a public rule within the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The federally published rule enables healthcare providers and insurers to define sex and gender as a simple binary, and unchangeable.

This move comes as the latest in a string of attacks on LGBTQIA+ individuals and families in the United States, implemented without a vote or even the possibility of appeal.

During their undergraduate experience pursuing a Social Work degree, Nic Tompkins-Hughes, a transgender non-binary student at Bridgewater State University, reviewed the literature available on healthcare experiences of transgender individuals. With very few published qualitative data sets, Nic devised and executed an IRB Approved qualitative study interviewing transgender adults about their lived experiences with accessing healthcare in Massachusetts. These interviews were transcribed, coded, and analyzed in the School of Social Work using Grounded Theory. The resulting manuscript was accepted as an Honor's thesis by the School of Social Work in May 2020.

The study and results are now brought to life here in the hope of improving the landscape of heathcare access for all trans and gender non-conforming individuals.

This study would not have been possible without the support of Bridgewater State University, specifically the School of Social Work, the Undergraduate Research Department, and the Adrian Tinsley Program (ATP) for Undergraduate Research and Creative Work Summer Grants

Special thanks also to Honors thesis mentor Dr. Kathy Bailey, Associate Professor at the School of Social Work at BSU.

The lives, voices, and stories of transgender individuals have been silenced throughout history. This study and project lifts up only a few of those voices, but the information they provided was invaluable and informative. Deepest thanks go to the study participants, and to all those who helped with recruiting and supporting the design and execution of the study, as well as the analysis, translation, and presentation of the data.

A NOTE ON INCLUSION

Disclaimer: This study contained eight participants, all of whom identified as White. This study does not represent the whole of transgender experience, and unfortunately does not reflect the systemic challenges and oppression expereinced by BIPOC. Due to the nature of undergraduate research and IRB approvals, the study was unable to attempt additional recruitment after the end of the approved time frame.

Black Trans Lives Matter.

• Read the Study