This post is sponsored by SOQIR. 

One somewhat unexpected thing Autostraddle has devoted time to over the years, in addition to deep dives on Janelle Monáe and Tessa Thompson or the best lesbian movies of all time, is extremely thorough surveys on everything from your love life to your political stances. Also perhaps unexpected is that readers have always responded with gusto; Autostraddle readers have filled out these surveys by the thousands, which is pretty impressive considering it’s time-consuming and uncompensated. But people have been motivated by the same things that led us to create these surveys: there’s just hardly any information out there about us. There’s extraordinarily little legitimate research on queer communities — our health, our needs, our experiences — and what little there is tends to focus on cis gay men. That’s where the SOQIR survey comes in.

SOQIR (pronounced So Queer; Study on Queer Intimate Relationships) is an IRB-approved and NIH- and Columbia University-funded study designed to learn more about same-sex, same-gender, and trans relationships. While we occasionally see study data come out about queer folks’ relational experiences, it’s often designed as a comparison point to straight and cis relationships. SOQIR is different; its team of researchers all ID as queer, trans, and/or non-binary; they’re focused on our community exclusively, and want to learn more about the unique challenges, stressors and strengths of women (trans and cis), nonbinary people and trans men in relationships with each other.

Take the Survey

We know both anecdotally and from what limited data remains that relationships with queer women and trans people face unique stigma with unique impacts. How does our relationship with our support networks change when we’re in a queer relationship? How is the treatment we receive from the rest of the world impacted by the relationships we’re in? Our resources for building families? In what ways are we uniquely at risk; in what ways are we uniquely resourced? We’ve spent generations building ways of doing relationships, family and community that depart from straight, cis norms; the folks behind SOQIR take that seriously, and want to document what we can learn about our relationships in a culturally competent study designed by people devoted to the public health of queer and trans communities.

Participants in the survey can expect to spend 35-50 minutes answering questions; some who take it may also be contacted about an additional face-to-face interview along with their partner, which will be compensated, and also may include an exclusive opportunity to meet Maizie, the leading feline member of the SOQIR team. (Although Maizie hasn’t indicated whether she IDs as queer, trans, or nonbinary, she is bonded with her cat housemate, Frizzy.)

Take the Survey

Who’s eligible to participate?

People who:

1. Identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, trans, nonbinary, or are same-sex or same-gender attracted;
2. Are currently in a relationship with someone who identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, trans, nonbinary, or who is same-sex or same-gender attracted.
3. Are 18 or over.

Basically, if you are queer, nonbinary, and/or trans and are in a relationship with someone who also is queer, nonbinary, and/or trans, AND you are over 18, you are qualified!

What does participation look like?

SURVEY: Take a survey (approx. 35-50 minutes) on your relationship and your experiences.

INTERVIEWS (OPTIONAL): If you qualify, you and your partner may be asked to take part in our interviews (those who are invited to be interviewed will be compensated for their time). Total possible time commitment for the interviews may be up to 3-4 hours.

Ok, I’m down! How do I sign up?

You can take the survey right now! Thanks for playing such an important role in helping people who care understand more about the needs of our community.

Take the Survey

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