Lesbian, bisexual, and queer women's sexual and reproductive health in Australia:

Both LGBTQ+ health organisations and women’s health services seek to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of lesbian, bisexual, queer and other sexuality diverse (LBQ+) women (cis, trans and inclusive of non-binary experiences). However, responding to the complex needs of this increasingly diverse population requires targeted health promotion messaging at the level of community. Meaningful collaboration between sectors is needed to identify LBQ+ women’s comprehensive and holistic sexual and reproductive health needs within and across community settings in order to harness lay knowledges and strengths of social connectedness and sexual wellbeing. The project will develop inclusive, affirming health promotion frameworks to inform a nationally scaled action plan.

This project addresses a critical and persistent gap by moving beyond narrow, clinical SRH risk models to a socially engaged approach grounded in an intersectional and comprehensive view of LBQ+ women’s lived experiences, identities, practices, bodies, relationships, and cultures.

Research questions

1. How, where and when have LBQ+ women positioned in respect to SRH sectors, and what are the community dynamics, including existing and emerging cultures of care, that shape LBQ+ women’s health literacies and capabilities?
2. How are LBQ+ women negotiating safe, respectful and pleasurable sexual relationships with respect to the diverse settings, identities, and bodies so that they can meet their intersectional experiences and preferences?
3. How can health systems amplify and support SRH within a community of LBQ+ women by combining living experience with sector expertise to formalise collaboration between the LGBTQ+ and women's health sectors so as to better respond holistically to LBQ+ women’s SRH rights?