Panelists called for research-informed LGBTQ+ health advocacy at the UCLA Center for LGBTQ+ Advocacy, Research and Health’s second annual Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research Symposium on March 18.

The symposium, held in the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden, was titled “Advancing LGBTQ+ Health and Resilience in this Moment of Deepening Political Adversity.” Discussions centered on the challenges facing LGBTQ+ communities amid mounting misinformation about their rights and health.

Jack Feng, a doctoral student in epidemiology and vice president of communications at C-LARAH, opened the event by describing the moment as one of extraordinary urgency. He said in a speech that he believes President Donald Trump’s administration, through Project 2025 – a 900-page set of conservative policy proposals that aims to expand presidential authority – has targeted LGBTQ+ rights, particularly those of transgender and nonbinary people.

“These are not just political or scientific issues,” Feng said. “They are deeply personal. They are life-and-death battles for our very existence, rights, well-being and livelihoods.”

The second panelist, Elizabeth Yonko – a doctoral student in epidemiology – said in a speech that the rollback of federal protections and increased reliance on state-level policy have created a precarious environment for LGBTQ+ health access.

They added that recent executive orders, such as Trump’s Jan. 28 executive order limiting gender-affirming care for minors, have significantly impacted access to essential services. These policies, Yonko added, have also led to “confusion and preemptive compliance” by providers, resulting in critical support being withheld.

Ilan Meyer, a distinguished senior scholar of public policy at the UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute, said on the panel that homophobia and transphobia are embedded in Western culture and existed before Trump. He added that LGBTQ+ discrimination has persisted for centuries, and said homosexuality was only removed from the American Psychological Association’s list of mental disorders in 1973.

Meyer said some researchers have recently suggested that society has moved past homophobia and minority stress. However, he added that while representation has increased, he believes structural and societal challenges remain.

“It used to be when I talked about it, I had to convince people that there is still homophobia,” he said. “Today, I have to convince you that there was a point where people thought there was no homophobia.”

One such setback is the recent termination of dozens of HIV- and AIDS-related research grants by the National Institutes of Health, according to CNN. The cuts halted studies focused on prevention and treatment across the country, with experts warning the move disproportionately affects LGBTQ+ and minority communities.

Meyer said comprehensive LGBTQ+ data collection has only gained momentum in the past two decades.

“The fact that this is now at risk in such a dramatic way is really heartbreaking,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Yonko said LGBTQ+ communities continue to demonstrate resilience.

“We find ourselves again in the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ health access and human rights, but we’ve been through this before,” Yonko said. “We can mobilize together and advocate for change. This time won’t be different.”

[Related: Trump’s push against Education Department raises concerns over DEI, civil rights]

Following the panelists’ remarks, attendees participated in a guided meditation featuring deep breathing and grounding exercises.

Matthew Mimiaga, the center’s director and a professor of epidemiology, closed the symposium by recognizing several contributors in LGBTQ+ health research. The Distinguished Research Award in LGBTQ Health was awarded to Meyer, the Rising Star in LGBTQ Health Research Award was presented to Yonko, and the Excellence in LGBTQ Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Award went to Feng.

Sarah Blankespoor, a C-LARAH volunteer and an epidemiology graduate student, said one of their key takeaways from the panel was that research serves as the foundation of effective policy. They added that sound data is essential to understanding community needs – particularly among LGBTQ+ people – and that without comprehensive research, it is difficult to know what interventions are most effective.

Zichen Liu, a C-LARAH volunteer and doctoral student in biostatistics, said she believes data is not always as objective as it should be – and has historically been used to justify racist, homophobic and discriminatory scientific practices.

“It’s up to researchers to do the best possible job to find the truth within the lies and the misinformation and the harmful rhetoric in order to use the most powerful scientific processes and tools to help the most vulnerable populations,” Liu said.