A major Global LGBTI Internet Survey has just been launched and aims to give a voice to the community around the world

Worldwide, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people contend with exceptionally high risks for HIV infection, stigma and discrimination, economic inequalities, and for exclusion from HIV and other health services. Happiness and quality of life for LGBTI people are seriously compromised in various settings around the world.

This survey is the first of its kind and is a result of partnership formed by UNAIDS, the LGBT Foundation, the University of Aix-Marseille, and the University of Minnesota. The survey is designed in collaboration with representatives of LGBTI community, including those living with HIV. Its mission is to create a global platform for amplifying voices, experiences, and concerns of the community.

The survey aims to inform how various factors, including demographic, economic, homophobic, psychosocial, attitudinal, behavioural, are associated with vulnerability to HIV infection and access to health care.

With support of the LGBTI global networks the survey will be shared with more than 25 million LGBTI people via social media around the word.

The survey is presented in 17 languages, including Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, Farsi, French, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Marathi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, and Urdu.

The survey and its research protocol was approved by the Research Board of Ethics of the University of Aix-Marseille and by the WHO Research Ethics Review Committee (ERC). The survey tool is compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which is the highest standard with respect to privacy and personal data. To secure and safeguard the anonymity of the survey participants and the data the access to the online survey is provided via Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) secured weblink, which establishes an encrypted link between a web server and a browser.

“We are eager to immerse in what makes the real life of LGBTI community in different parts of the world. Therefore, undertaking a web-based survey with behavioural economics came up naturally. This type of approach is very much in line with the way LGBTI community is connected nowadays” said Erik Lamontagne, Senior Economist at UNAIDS.

“We want progress in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex health and well-being. We want it now and this survey will help in this direction. It is a great initiative, where LGBTI people can confidentially speak up and build the knowledge to empower, raise public awareness and advocate, with an ultimate goal of eliminating stigma and discrimination against LGBTI people. It will be extremely helpful to the community,” said Sean Howell, CEO of the LGBT Foundation.

The survey is now opened for participation. It takes about 12 minutes to complete. Be heard. Participation helps making a difference for the LGBTI community around the world: https://www.research.net/r/LGBTHappinessResearch