About the Survey

Purpose: To develop support systems for Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ people in Canada who have been harmed by the expectations of change or denial efforts. Our focus is to listen to those who have been harmed, assess support needs, develop an advocacy plan, and work with Canadian partners to deliver the supports needed to recover.

SOGIECE - or conversion therapy (CT)- is defined as a broad set of practices, pressures, or messages, that attempt to deny, suppress, or change the experiences or identities of same-sex attracted, gender non-conforming, Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and sexual and gender diverse people (2S-LGBTQ+). 

Whether change efforts are experienced as blatant or subtle, religiously based or not, many 2S-LGBTQ+ people do not recognize that they have experienced SOGIECE/conversion therapy, even though they have been harmed by pressures and expectations of change or denial efforts. 

Acknowledge: We recognize that 2S-LGBTQ+ people of colour experience pervasive racism, colonialism, and white supremacy, which causes ongoing, intergenerational, and systemic harm. We acknowledge the impact of intersectional identities and historical inequities for many SOGIECE survivors. We are committed to incorporate these realities into our work, recognizing that our differences strengthen and enrich our work together. We are grateful for the leadership of a group of diverse SOGIECE/CT survivors (17+) who contributed to this project.  

WHO IS CONDUCTING THE PROJECT?

Project Coordinator:    Jordan Sullivan (14-month contract - see bio below)

Organization:              Community Based Research Centre, with the support of No Conversion Canada

Collaborator:              Travis Salway, PhD, Simon Fraser University, Faculty of Health Sciences

Research Assistant:      Reilla Archibald, student, Masters of Public Health program, SFU

PROJECT GOALS:

  1. To develop a plan to offer long-term and comprehensive supports for Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ people in Canada who have been harmed by the expectation of sexual orientation or gender identity-expression change or denial efforts.

  2. To identify the impact of intersectional identities and historical inequities for survivors and the additional supports that may be needed. 

  3. To identify and develop a referral network of therapeutic practitioners with expertise in working with survivors of SOGIECE/CT.  

TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS STUDY WE REQUIRE THAT YOU:

  • Are a 2S-LGBTQ+ person who experienced subtle or blatant pressure to change your sexual orientation or gender identity-expression. This includes people who experienced SOGIECE/CT in secular settings (e.g. home, school, medical practitioners, therapists), or in religious-based settings (e.g. home, church, religious leaders, religious-based therapists/programs).

  • Be 15 years of age or older.

  • Reside in Canada (includes Canadian citizens, immigrants, residents, or those with no status) Note: Your experience of harm may have occurred outside of Canada. You are still eligible to complete the survey.

  • Are able to complete the survey in English or French.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:    

We encourage everyone who is eligible to take the survey.

Additionally, we invite you to consider participating in one of the following:

  • A focus group

  • A one-on-one interview

  • Emailing responses to focus questions below

1.     ONLINE SURVEY OR EMAIL RESPONSE:

  • Online Survey: Complete a 26-question survey on Survey Monkey here, that will take about 15-20 minutes of your time. For more information, see our FAQ on the project survey.

·      Email Response: In your email you will respond to the questions listed below. Email your responses to [email protected]. 

AND/OR

2.     FOCUS GROUP OR ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW

  • Focus Group: Participants will meet on Zoom for 1.5 hours with a group of your choosing, to be determined between you and the Project Coordinator. Groups will be created to ensure equality and trust between group members, and between participants and the facilitator. You can express interest in participating in a Focus Group by emailing the Project Coordinator at [email protected] (see bio below). Questions asked during the focus groups will include anonymous identity questions, and three focus questions (see questions listed below). A modest honorarium is available for those participating in a focus group – to be agreed upon with the Project Coordinator prior to the session. 

  • One-on-One Interview: Participants will be interviewed by the Project Coordinator on Zoom (45-60 minutes). You are welcome to invite someone to accompany you (in person or via Zoom), for personal support during and after the session. You can express interest in participating in an Interview by emailing the Project Coordinator at [email protected] (see bio below). Questions asked during the interview will include anonymous identity questions, and three focus questions (see questions listed below). A modest honorarium is available for those participating in an interview – to be agreed upon with the Project Coordinator prior to the session.

QUESTIONS FOR EMAIL RESPONSES, FOCUS GROUPS, AND ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEWS:

Identity Questions:

  1. Your pronouns, sexual orientation, gender identity, and any other identities you wish to share (e.g. race, ethnicity, disabilities/abilities, language, etc.)

  2. Your age or age group. (15-20, 21-39, 40-55, or 55+)

  3. Type of area you live in (Urban, Suburban, or Rural)

  4. The province or territory you currently reside in

Focus Questions:

  1. What have you found helpful in recovering from your experience of harm? 

  2. What barriers or challenges have you experienced in seeking to recover from the harm? 

  3. If resources were unlimited, what kinds of support would you most wish you could access, today and into the future?

SAFETY, ANONYMITY & DATA COLLECTION

However you choose to participate, we recognize that we will be asking you to respond to questions about a sensitive subject and that we are asking you to be vulnerable as you share your responses. You can stop at any time if necessary. Your safety and health is our primary concern.

Focus groups and Interviews will not be visually recorded, but a transcript will be used to collect data anonymously, using only the identities and location you choose to share, in order to protect your wellbeing, rights, and freedoms. The survey will not collect any identifying information (e.g. name) in order to ensure anonymity.

CAN I SEE THE RESULTS OF THE PROJECT?

By spring of 2022 you will be able to read about results. 

PROJECT COORDINATOR: JORDAN SULLIVAN

I am a trans man and a SOGIECE survivor. I lived for decades with internal denial and conflict around my sexual orientation and gender identity brought on by pressures from church and society. I spent six years in therapy in my efforts to change, while also connecting with such groups as Love in Action and Exodus International. I came out as lesbian in 1993, and as a trans man in 2011. I worked for the Canadian Mental Health Association (Durham) in Public Education (10 years), and The United Church of Canada’s national office (20 years) where my work included LGBTQIA2S+ Justice. I have a B.Sc. in Education, and a M.A. in Religious Studies. I am positioned in society as a white, Western-educated, English-speaking, able-bodied, queerly heterosexual trans man, who is privileged as a member of several dominant groups. As a settler living on traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, I am implicated in Canada’s history of colonialism and racism as a beneficiary of the oppression of Indigenous and Black people, and all people of colour. I am a speaker and writer and have blogged intermittently about my personal journey of transitioning at On Becoming Jordan, from my home in Toronto.

This project has been funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada, LGBTQ2 Community Capacity Fund