Families, Friends, and Facilitators for Appalachian Community Education on Transgender Support (Tri-FACETS)
Abstract
This research proposes the question “Is there a significant difference, before and after participants take this workshop, in perception of personal allyship through the ability to know, educate, and engage and the perception of transgender men and women?” Pre-post survey design was used to assess, before and immediately after a workshop on the participants' understanding of minority identities and how it can interact with other identities in a community, using the basis as the theories of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Intersectionality. The survey intended to assess reliability of answers with the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSD); literacy, supportiveness, and understanding of challenges held by queer people using a LGBTQ+ oriented, modified racism assessment scale, the LGBT Ally Identity Measure (AIM); and a gender-identity specific assessment of attitude with combined scales, the Attitudes Toward Transgender Men and Women (ATTM, ATTW). The ATTM and ATTW scales showed a decrease in negative opinion towards transgender persons, with perception starting lower and growing more in transgender women, possibly implying need for increased advocacy in this realm. The AIM showed an interesting result for future research, with the measure of reported allyship being lower, but congruent with less overall socially desirable reporting on the MCSD, suggesting that the workshop may have encouraged critical appraisal of personal biases. This also suggests a potentially larger decrease in negative perception in the ATTM and ATTW scales. To support this suggestion, Phenomenological data was taken from three participants, in a comprehensive optional interview to determine the educational versus regional impact on the degree of efficacy of these trainings. These findings show themes in a lack of perception of diversity before the workshop, lack of communication in and around Appalachian trans communities, and frustration with the lack of care, and then a desire to apply knowledge from the workshop.
Start Time
15-4-2026 9:00 AM
End Time
15-4-2026 12:00 PM
Room Number
Culp Ballroom 316
Poster Number
48
Presentation Type
Poster
Student Type
Undergraduate Student
Faculty Mentor
Mickey White
Families, Friends, and Facilitators for Appalachian Community Education on Transgender Support (Tri-FACETS)
Culp Ballroom 316
This research proposes the question “Is there a significant difference, before and after participants take this workshop, in perception of personal allyship through the ability to know, educate, and engage and the perception of transgender men and women?” Pre-post survey design was used to assess, before and immediately after a workshop on the participants' understanding of minority identities and how it can interact with other identities in a community, using the basis as the theories of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Intersectionality. The survey intended to assess reliability of answers with the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSD); literacy, supportiveness, and understanding of challenges held by queer people using a LGBTQ+ oriented, modified racism assessment scale, the LGBT Ally Identity Measure (AIM); and a gender-identity specific assessment of attitude with combined scales, the Attitudes Toward Transgender Men and Women (ATTM, ATTW). The ATTM and ATTW scales showed a decrease in negative opinion towards transgender persons, with perception starting lower and growing more in transgender women, possibly implying need for increased advocacy in this realm. The AIM showed an interesting result for future research, with the measure of reported allyship being lower, but congruent with less overall socially desirable reporting on the MCSD, suggesting that the workshop may have encouraged critical appraisal of personal biases. This also suggests a potentially larger decrease in negative perception in the ATTM and ATTW scales. To support this suggestion, Phenomenological data was taken from three participants, in a comprehensive optional interview to determine the educational versus regional impact on the degree of efficacy of these trainings. These findings show themes in a lack of perception of diversity before the workshop, lack of communication in and around Appalachian trans communities, and frustration with the lack of care, and then a desire to apply knowledge from the workshop.
