the UK’s first inclusive health survey of queer communities!

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What is the Queer Health Survey 2027?

The Queer Health Survey (QHS) is a UK-wide research study exploring the health, wellbeing and healthcare experiences of LGBTQ+ people. We want to understand what shapes our health, the challenges we face when accessing healthcare, and the ways we look after ourselves and each other. 

QHS is being conducted as a partnership between researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and The Love Tank, a community-based organisation working to improve the health and wellbeing of underserved communities. 

This survey has been co-produced with LGBTQ+ communities. Community collaborator groups, representing a range of identities, backgrounds and lived experiences, helped us decide which issues matter most and what questions we should ask. 

The Queer Health Survey 2027 at a glance

  • QHS is about making Data For Change

    We don't want to collect data just for the sake of it. We want to collect data that can make a difference

  • Takes 10-15 minutes

    You can choose which questions you answer

  • Completely anonymous

    We do not collect your name, IP address, location, or device information. All results are combined so that no individual can be identified 

  • General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant

    Your answers are stored securely on Queen Mary University servers, in accordance with university information governance and data protection policies

  • Who can take part?

    Anyone who:  

    • Is 18 years or older, 

    • Lives in the UK, and 

    • Identifies as queer and/or part of LGBTQIA+ communities 

  • Why take part?

    Participation involves minimal risk and you could win one of 5 £50 vouchers. Your participation will help improve understandings of queer communities’ health experiences, needs, and priorities

  • You do not need to have any particular health condition or experience of healthcare to participate

    We want to hear from people with a wide range of experiences, including those who rarely or never use healthcare services. 

  • The survey is open for responses until DD/MM/YYYY

    Survey findings will be condensed into a report and academic papers to pressure policy change that serves queer communities

TAKE THE SURVEY

A quick guide to the Queer Health Survey 2027 

About the Queer Health Survey 2027

  • We know that LGBTQ+ people experience inequalities in health and healthcare, but many of our experiences remain overlooked or poorly understood. 

    We don't want to collect data just for the sake of it. We want to collect data that can make a difference. That means asking questions that help us understand not only what challenges people face, but why they happen, what is working well, and what could be done differently. 

    By working with our communities to identify what matters most, we hope to gather evidence that can be put to practical use, through guiding future research, improving healthcare services and influencing policies that affect LGBTQ+ people's lives. Our aim is to move beyond describing inequalities, to ensure we take action to help address them. 

  • The Queer Health Survey 2027 is coproduced, combining the collective knowledge, insight and experience of queer community members, queer community organisations and queer researchers. Coproduction means that participation is equitable and our findings are mutually beneficial to the queer communities who engage with the survey.  

    The Queer Health Survey 2027 is: 

    • Community-led & participatory:
      Queer communities are involved in every step. 

    • Intersectional & inclusive:
      We prioritise underserved groups, including people of the global majority, queer migrants, and disabled queer people. 

    • Equitable & accessible:
      Our survey is designed so that as many people can participate as possible. 

    • Transparent & accountable:
      We are open about how the survey is designed, how decisions are made, and how data is handled ethically. 

  • The survey has been co-produced with members of seven underserved queer communities: 

    1. Women who have sex with women 

    1. Asexual and aromantic people 

    1. Disabled queer people 

    1. Older gay/bisexual/other men who have sex with men 

    1. Transgender women and transfeminine people 

    1. Transgender men and transmasculine people 

    1. Non-binary and gender diverse people 

    From January to June 2026, each group participated in workshops to identify health priorities, refine survey wording, and evaluate the accessibility, inclusivity, and acceptability of proposed questions. 

    Hear from some our collaborators here.

  • In parallel to the recruitment phase, The Love Tank has engaged with community organisations across the UK to build The Queer Health Survey. The Steering Committee met in the same capacity as collaborator groups, informing survey design, development and dissemination. Find out more about the Steering Committee here.

  • During our workshops, we reflected on what Queer Health means to us by bringing together words, objects, and images. Our design assets, including our logo, are coproduced with our community collaborators by using elements from these reflections. 

  • This research project is led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and The Love Tank CIC. We have received funding from Barts Charity to cover costs of the study. As the sponsor, QMUL is solely responsible for designing, conducting, directing, and monitoring the study in compliance with applicable laws.

  • This research study has been reviewed by the QMUL Research Ethics Committee in accordance with the local and national regulations.  Research ethics approval reference: XXXXX.

Completing the survey: FAQs

  • Yes. Taking part is entirely your choice. You do not have to participate, and you can skip any question you do not wish to answer. You can stop taking part at any time before submitting your responses by closing the survey. There will be no consequences if you decide not to participate, and your decision will not affect any healthcare or services you receive. 

    Once your responses have been submitted, they cannot be withdrawn, because the data are anonymised and we will not be able to identify which responses belong to you. 

  • Your responses will contribute to research intended to improve healthcare and wellbeing for LGBTQ+ communities. 

    Some questions cover potentially sensitive topics, including mental health, discrimination, sexual health and negative experiences of healthcare. These may bring up difficult memories or feelings. 

    You can skip any questions you find uncomfortable or stop participating at any time before submission. 

    Information about relevant support services will be provided at the end of the survey. 

  • We have designed the survey in a way that means you can spend as little or as much time on it as you like. At a minimum, the survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. However, this depends on how many questions you decide to answer and whether your answers are more detailed. 

  • The survey is designed to take around 15 minutes, so don’t worry if you’re struggling with a specific question. You can skip it, answer ‘prefer not to say’ if checkbox, or write that you don’t understand it if there is an option for an open text response. If you’re struggling to answer a question and would like some guidance, you are welcome to email our programme co-ordinator Elio at qhsurvey@thelovetank.info. 

  • We want as many people as possible to complete the survey. If you are unable to complete the survey in the current format, send an email to Elio at qhsurvey@thelovetank.info so we can discuss alternative formats. 

  • If you would like to complete the survey or with to learn more about Queer Health Survey, please contact Elio Yagüe Raguz, the Queer Health Survey Programme Coordinator, qhsurvey@thelovetank.info. Dr Benjamin Weil (Deputy Director of Research and Policy at the Love Tank: research@thelovetank.info) and Dr Kyle Ring (k.ring@qmul.ac.uk) are co-Principal Investigators. 

Data collection: ethics and storage 

  • Data collected as part of the study is anonymous. We do not ask for or collect your name or contact details. 

    If you decide to enter the prize draw, your name and contact details will only be used for issuing any potential winnings. This information will be deleted no later than one month after the window for completing the survey has closed. 

  • Data will be collected through a GDPR-compliant survey platform and securely stored within QMUL's SharePoint Safe Haven, in accordance with university information governance and data protection policies. Only authorised members of the research team will have access to the research data. 

  • The data will be retained securely for five years, in line with QMUL's data governance policy, and securely deleted after this period.

  • The findings may be shared through academic publications, research reports, presentations and other materials intended to inform healthcare services and policy. Individual participants will not be identifiable in these outputs. 

    Because the survey responses are anonymised, it will not be possible to identify and remove your answers after they have been submitted.

  • Queen Mary University of London processes personal data for research purposes in accordance with the lawful basis of ‘public task’. 

    Please read Queen Mary’s privacy notice for research participants containing important information about your personal data and your rights in this respect. If you have any questions relating to data protection, please contact Queen Mary’s Data Protection Officer, Queens’ Building, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS or data-protection@qmul.ac.uk or 020 7882 7596. 

Decisions on terminology

Many of us use different words to describe our identities and experiences, and that these don't always fit neatly into categories. In this survey, we've used broad categories to help us compare experiences of health and healthcare between different groups, while recognising that these categories may not fully reflect how you describe yourself. All the wording in questions and answers were shaped and reviewed by our community collaborators. 

We've asked about different aspects of your identity separately because we think each may be relevant to understanding patters of health and experiences of healthcare. Wherever possible, we've also ensured you will have the option to describe your identity in your own words.  

Some questions may not feel relevant to you, and you can choose "Prefer not to say" or skip any question that you do not wish to answer. All responses will be kept confidential and analysed alongside those of many other participants.  

  • In the survey, we've used the same ethnic categories as the UK Census so we can compare our findings with other research. We know these categories may not describe everyone well, so we've included an additional question that lets you describe your race or ethnicity in your own words. 

  • In the survey, we've asked what country you were born in and how long you have lived in the UK to learn about migrant status and how this can affect health and experiences of healthcare. We also ask whether you have sought asylum or been granted refugee status in the UK or another country. We recognise that these questions are highly sensitive and politically charged. We've included them because we think they could lead to valuable insights about the health of those who have sought asylum or been granted refugee status. Your answers are completely anonymous. 

  • In the survey, we've asked about your gender, sex assigned at birth, variations in sex characteristics, and sexual orientation. In response to the feedback from our collaborator groups, we have opted for a shorter, less varied list of gender and sexual orientation options. We have also made these multiple-choice question and included an option for self-description when "another gender identity" and "another sexual orientation" are selected.  

    We also recognise that your sexual behaviour can be separate from your sexual orientation, so we only ask about the type of sex you're having later on to ascertain risk and eligibility for things like vaccines. 

  • In the survey, we've asked about disability identity and any impacts of your disability or disabilities, as well as neurodivergence, to better understand the diversity of LGBTQ+ people's experiences and whether healthcare services meet different people's needs. The questions in the survey are written in a way that recognises that not everyone has access to a formal diagnosis, and that self-identification is valid. 

Meet our Steering Committee! 

Meet some of our collaborators! 

  • "As both an EDI professional and a queer person who's faced significant barriers when accessing healthcare, I know how the lack of data on queer health has been making it harder to shape accessible and sustainable solutions in systems that largely see us as exceptions. I'm hoping the QHS can help bridge that gap and uplift voices from our communities to bring us the recognition and resources we need and deserve"

    Ramses (he/him) is an award-winning writer and EDI consultant, currently working for OUTpatients, the LGBTIQ+ cancer charity. He is a disabled trans, asexual, gay man passionate about building community centred care. 

  • "QHS matters to me because quality health care is a human right that is universal for all communities and the data supports it."

    Amanda (she/her) is a black transgender model and refugee advocate with LGBTQ asylum lived experience. She has a MSc in international development and social justice so this makes QHS an opportunity to improve quality health care in our communities through research. 

  • "QHS matters to me because I’d love my medical consults to stop becoming a cocreation LARP my GP and I go on into the unknown, and instead be able to be safe deferring to external expertise."

    For Ro (they/them) research was never meant to be the superfluous, partitioned industry it’s become, and they’re aching to change that. They are attempting to fix things from a sport, medical ethics, and spec-fic lens now, but let’s check back in in 3 months. 

  • "The QHS means a lot to me as someone who is asexual, intersex and disabled – which gives me a very intersectional yet personal view of the struggles accessing affirming healthcare, so I wish to use that view to try and make things even a little better. "

    Wren (it/they) are a nonbinary & queer game designer who's always had a passion about changing things for the better. From secondary school to university, they've run every LGBTQ+ student group possible and lobbied for real changes to happen. They have no intent to stop now that they've graduated, which is why they've really enjoyed working alongside The Love Tank. 

  • "QHS matters to me as it was collaborative and will make a difference in queer peoples lives. "

    Neil (he/him) has worked in the field of LGBTQIA+ research for 22 years, including a PhD on gay relationships and projects on LGBT ageing and care as well as LGBT youth homelessness. He was an actor so loves going to plays, ballet, opera and is a massive cricket fan so you will find him at Lords during a hot summer.  

  • “Engaging with The Love Tank CIC Queer Health Survey (QHS) programme/project has been a very pleasant experience in the ambition to study and quantify LGBTQA+ sexual health lives including People of Colour (POC) folk. This is much needed!"

    Olawale (he/him) is a 63yrs old man of Nigerian heritage. He’s a retired person but has a substantial community work responsibility post his paid employment era with currently a big focus on local cooperative group creation and development. 

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