Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations

Survey Research Methodology
commentary
Collect Data on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Health Surveys
Sarah MacCarthy, Marc N. Elliott
Jun 25, 2021
Health Affairs
The Biden administration wants to promote programs and policies informed by science and to help lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. For researchers to confidently answer that call, the first step is for the government to consistently collect sexual orientation and gender identity data.
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Sexual Assault
commentary
Military Must Better Understand Sexual Assaults to Combat Them
Andrew R. Morral @AndrewMorral, Terry L. Schell
Jun 22, 2021
The Hill
Sexual minorities in the U.S. military represent about 12 percent of the active-duty population. But they account for an estimated 43 percent of those who are sexually assaulted. This raises critical questions for the Pentagon as it tries to reduce the 20,000 sexual assaults in the ranks each year.
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Sexual Assault
blog
Sexual Assault in the Military, School Security, Mental Health Care: RAND Weekly Recap
Jun 4, 2021
This weekly recap focuses on the risk of sexual assault to sexual minorities in the U.S. military, making medication treatment more accessible to people struggling with opioid addiction, countering Russian propaganda, and more.
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Pharmaceutical Drugs
blog
Prescription Drug Prices, Transgender Troops, Space Diplomacy: RAND Weekly Recap
Jan 29, 2021
This weekly recap focuses on America's high prescription drug prices, allowing transgender troops in the military, food insecurity in Black neighborhoods, and more.
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Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations
commentary
What the First-Ever EU LGBTIQ Strategy Means for Rainbow Families with Children
Natalie Picken
Dec 21, 2020
EU Observer
Rainbow families can face challenges because of ongoing discrimination against LGBTIQ people. The first-ever EU strategy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, nonbinary, intersex, and queer equality unveiled in November sets out actions and initiatives to ensure the safety and equal rights of LGBTIQ people in the EU.
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Health Care Quality
commentary
When It Comes to U.S. Health Systems—Diversity Matters
Ryan E. Tsuchida, Sydney Fouche, John Burkhardt, Ted Corbin, Harrison Alter, Mahshid Abir
Sep 25, 2020
The RAND Blog
Health care systems are a powerful and relatively well-resourced stakeholder in the effort to eliminate inequities both among the health workforce and among patient populations. The deliberate practice of increasing diversity within the workplace may have the power to create significant, positive impacts on workplace culture and patient care.
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Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations
commentary
Public Health Lessons on Intimate Partner Violence Tucked into Tiger King
Sarah MacCarthy
May 15, 2020
Ms. Magazine
Substantial work has been done to figure out how best to address intimate partner violence, but with limited attention regarding how best to meet the unique needs of gay, lesbian, and bisexual victims. The popularity of Netflix's Tiger King, and its depiction of intimate partner violence between Joe Exotic and his two husbands, could help to focus attention on a very real, and often hidden, problem.
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Sexual Behavior
commentary
Public Health Reasons to Tune Into TV's 'Dear White People'
Sarah MacCarthy
Aug 10, 2018
Scientific American
The Netflix series Dear White People shows how sexual decisionmaking can be influenced by race, status, and the power dynamics within a relationship. Public health programs and policies could be better tailored to account for this complexity.
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Gender Integration in the Military
commentary
On RAND's Research Findings Regarding Transgender Military Personnel Policy
Agnes Gereben Schaefer
Mar 27, 2018
The RAND Blog
In September 2015, the Department of Defense asked RAND to initiate a study on the implications of allowing transgender personnel to serve openly. Since its publication, the research has been widely viewed as the most comprehensive and authoritative analysis on this topic. RAND stands by the study's research approach, analysis, and findings.
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Military Personnel
essay
Transgender Troops: Fit to Serve
Aug 18, 2016
The Pentagon's decision to open the ranks to transgender service members was informed by months of RAND research into the costs and numbers involved.
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commentary
Revisiting Restrictions on Blood Donations from Gay and Bisexual Men
Sarah MacCarthy
Jul 5, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
The FDA does not accept blood from male donors who have had sex with a man in the last 12 months. Is this restriction supported by scientific evidence? Or, is it related to lingering stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS?
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Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations
commentary
At the 2016 Oscars, Transgender Health Issues Are in the Spotlight
Sarah MacCarthy
Feb 26, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
By inviting 'The Danish Girl' to Hollywood's most prestigious awards party, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is helping to shine a spotlight on transgender issues – and reflecting a larger cultural moment at the same time.
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Marriage and Divorce
commentary
Gay Marriage Gains Support, but It's Still a Partisan Issue
Katherine Grace Carman @KGCarman, Michael S. Pollard @MichaelSPollard
Dec 29, 2014
Newsweek
Survey data provides evidence that the majority of American voters support the legalization of gay marriage and think it should be decided at the federal level. Republicans are substantially less likely to support legalization, and lower income, lower educational attainment, being older, and being non-white are significantly associated with lower levels of support.
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Military Recruitment
commentary
A Year After Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Bernard D. Rostker
Sep 20, 2012
The RAND Blog
Despite the fears of some, but in line with the experience of every other institution, both in the US and abroad, that has experienced such a transition, there have been no significant problems, writes Bernard Rostker.
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Gulf Coast States
commentary
Gulf States Among Top in New HIV, AIDS Cases
Vivian L. Towe
Jun 27, 2012
The RAND Blog
Improving HIV prevention and medical care delivery to persons living with HIV/AIDS should be a collaborative effort, particularly in the Gulf States region, where resources are limited but the epidemic is expanding, writes Vivian Towe.
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Military Personnel
essay
Gays in the Military: New Facts Conquer Old Taboos
Bernard D. Rostker, Susan D. Hosek, Mary E. Vaiana
Apr 29, 2011
RAND's updated research on sexual orientation and U.S. military personnel policy played a role in the likely repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' But it also tells a story of how public opinion has shifted on the issue since we first studied it in 1993.
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Harassment and Discrimination in the FEMA Workforce

Deterrence and Escalation in Competition with Russia

U.S. Military Aid to Ukraine: A Silver Bullet?

U.S.-Russia Diplomacy, Citizen Science, America's Blood Supply: RAND Weekly Recap

RAND Remote: America's Response to Terrorism

The Policy Currents Podcast

Measuring Wellbeing to Help Communities Thrive

Assessing and Articulating the Wider Benefits of Research

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations

Collect Data on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Health Surveys

Military Must Better Understand Sexual Assaults to Combat Them

Sexual Assault in the Military, School Security, Mental Health Care: RAND Weekly Recap

Prescription Drug Prices, Transgender Troops, Space Diplomacy: RAND Weekly Recap

What the First-Ever EU LGBTIQ Strategy Means for Rainbow Families with Children

When It Comes to U.S. Health Systems—Diversity Matters

Public Health Lessons on Intimate Partner Violence Tucked into Tiger King

Public Health Reasons to Tune Into TV's 'Dear White People'

On RAND's Research Findings Regarding Transgender Military Personnel Policy

Transgender Troops: Fit to Serve

Revisiting Restrictions on Blood Donations from Gay and Bisexual Men

At the 2016 Oscars, Transgender Health Issues Are in the Spotlight

Gay Marriage Gains Support, but It's Still a Partisan Issue

A Year After Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Gulf States Among Top in New HIV, AIDS Cases

Gays in the Military: New Facts Conquer Old Taboos

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