This is an invitation to Two-Spirit, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer men, and non-binary people (2S/GBTQ) living in British Columbia who are interested in sexual health and in informing new doxy PrEP/PEP research development.
About Doxy PrEP/PEP:
2S/GBTQ people continue to face high rates of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) in Canada. Doxy PrEP/PEP is a new prevention tool that involves taking a common antibiotic before (PrEP) or after sex (PEP) to reduce the risk of getting some STBBIs, including syphilis, chlamydia, and some strains of gonorrhea.
Why do we need community perspectives?
We already know that many 2S/GBTQ people are interested in doxy PrEP/PEP and many 2S/GBTQ in British Columbia are now accessing it through a publicly-funded doxy PrEP/PEP program. Now, we want to know more about 2S/GBTQ people’s experiences with accessing and using doxy PrEP/PEP to help improve access and uptake.
About CBRC & The Project:
Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) promotes the health of people of diverse sexualities and genders through research and intervention development. CBRC’s core pillars—community-led research, knowledge exchange, network building, and leadership development—position the organization as a thought leader, transforming ideas into actions that make a difference in our communities.
The main goal of this project is to identify how access to doxy PrEP/PEP can be improved for diverse 2S/GBTQ community members in British Columbia. We will learn this by talking with diverse 2S/GBTQ community members and healthcare providers who are prescribing doxy PrEP/PEP.
What Are We Looking For?:
We are looking for 6 Community Advisors who:
- Identify as 2S/GBTQ,
- Live in British Columbia,
- Are interested in sexual health, and
- Can work with the research team in English.
To promote diversity of opinion and perspective, there is a preference for people who live in non-metropolitan areas, and who identify as trans or non-binary, Indigenous, Black, a Person of Colour, less out, and/or living with a disability. Our team believes that no research about these communities should be developed without the communities in question being involved every step of the way. “Nothing about us without us.”
Your Role:
Working with the CBRC research team, Community Advisors will steer all activities of this project, including:
- Shaping data collection and analysis plans and tools;
- Interpreting quantitative (i.e., demographic survey) and qualitative (i.e., interview) research findings;
- Developing and refining knowledge mobilization efforts; and
- Overseeing evaluation of the completed research project.
Collectively, this work will help guide the implementation of doxy PrEP/PEP in Canada, contributing to the collective sexual health of 2S/GBTQ communities in British Columbia and beyond. Community Advisors will work closely with the CBRC Research Team. Meetings will take place virtually by email, phone, or Zoom each month. Each Community Advisor will receive $50 per meeting as an honorarium.
Interested?
Please submit your statement of interest in your preferred format: email (2-3 paragraphs), video, voice recording, or another format to Lucas Gergyek ([email protected]). We will begin to review submissions on May 17, 2024, and will hold follow-up conversations with individuals shortly afterwards.
