Chargers Bridge Research and Advocacy While Presenting Key Research at New York City Event

As student researchers from the University of New Haven’s WeEmbody Lab, we had the incredible opportunity to present at a Born This Way Foundation’s event in New York City called “Without It I Wouldn't Be Here Today - LGBTQ+ Young People's Experiences in Online Spaces.” This event brought together activists, researchers, community members, and allies to discuss the experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ youth, particularly around their experiences in the online world.

As part of a collaboration with the Born This Way Foundation—a nonprofit founded by pop singer Lady Gaga and her mother Cynthia Germanotta—we supported our faculty mentor, Dr. Alvin Tran, in conducting online focus groups with LGBTQ+ youth from across the country. For each of us, this experience was deeply impactful — shaping our understanding of advocacy, reinforcing the power of research, and strengthening our commitment to uplifting marginalized voices. Below, we share our reflections on key moments, lessons learned, and how this experience will influence our future work.

When we first started our project, I had no idea how rewarding it would be. Presenting as a student researcher at Born This Way Foundation’s event gave me the opportunity to be in a room full of brilliant minds who are tirelessly advocating for the betterment of the LGBTQ+ community.

A key moment for me was the panel discussion featuring a Born This Way Foundation representative, a young government official, a student leader, and a student researcher. Their conversation explored the intersectionality of queerness across different aspects of life, reflections on a previous survey conducted by the foundation, and strategies for navigating challenges to support the LGBTQ+ community. This panel laid a strong foundation for our research presentation, which highlighted actionable recommendations from LGBTQ+ young adults we interviewed.

Engaging with leaders after our presentation reinforced the importance of continuous communication, advocacy platforms, and safe spaces. Our community is our strength, and creating spaces for conversation is crucial.

Advocacy has always been central to my student career, and this experience solidified my commitment to using research, advocacy, empathy, and education to contribute to a more equitable future. I am deeply grateful to Dr. Alvin Tran for mentoring us through this process and for teaching us how to translate research findings into advocacy that drives meaningful change.

What stood out to me the most was how people from diverse backgrounds came together for this event. Still, everyone felt genuinely present and engaged. There was a shared sense of purpose in the room, and it was inspiring to see so many different voices focused on supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was the power of research in driving real change. This project challenged us to think critically, collaborate meaningfully, and ensure our findings translated into actionable insights. The preparation leading up to the event was just as informative as the presentation itself.

A recurring theme during the breakout session was access: ensuring parents have the right tools to support LGBTQ+ youth and that young people themselves have safe spaces and trusted resources. This shared concern resonated deeply with me.

I see research as more than just data collection. It is a powerful tool for advocacy. This experience reinforced how essential it is to elevate marginalized voices through intentional research. Moving forward, I hope to continue using research to create meaningful change, ensuring it reflects the voices and needs of the communities it serves.

I was deeply moved by how people of all ages came together to support the Born This Way Foundation, sharing their personal experiences with honesty and vulnerability. As someone outside the LGBTQ+ community, I had only a limited understanding of their struggles, but hearing their stories firsthand opened my eyes to the resilience, challenges, and strength of this community.

Presenting our research reinforced how research gains legitimacy when validated by the community it serves. Effective advocacy requires creating platforms where marginalized voices shape the narrative about their experiences. This experience taught me the value of authentic listening—setting aside my researcher perspective to fully absorb personal stories. This, I realized, forms the foundation for meaningful community partnerships and more relevant research.

One of the most impactful moments was my conversation with another researcher, who shared how their work directly influenced a mental health resource benefiting thousands of LGBTQ+ youth. Seeing research translate into a real-world impact was inspiring, and the appreciation we received reaffirmed the importance of conducting research that amplifies marginalized voices. That moment made me proud of our efforts and hopeful about the impact of our findings.

This experience has strengthened my ability to engage with diverse communities in meaningful ways. Moving forward, I will incorporate more participatory research methods to ensure that community voices remain central to the research process. I hope to apply these insights to shape policies and programs that truly support LGBTQ+ individuals.

What stood out to me the most from the event was the overwhelming support from allies. I expected engagement from the LGBTQ+ community, but seeing allies so open to hearing our experiences, willing to learn, and eager to implement our suggestions was truly heartening. Their enthusiasm reaffirmed that advocacy and support can come from many different places.

Presenting our findings from the podium was a powerful moment, giving me a profound sense of responsibility to accurately represent youth voices. This experience also provided a reality check on how communities can mobilize for action despite facing systemic barriers. Witnessing other youth being so active and vocal about their experiences was inspiring. Many high school students at the event shared strong recommendations that I learned from and hope to incorporate into future work.

This experience has significantly improved my presentation skills and helped me overcome my public speaking anxiety. As a researcher, I hope to continue working with sexual and gender minorities. However, I do not want to limit myself to literature reviews, data analyses, and publishing. Making research accessible to the public is important to me, and I am grateful to the Born This Way Foundation for providing us with a platform to reach larger audiences. I look forward to engaging beyond conferences and connecting on diverse platforms to amplify research findings in meaningful ways.

Ria Maindan ’25 MPH and Moushume Chowdhury ’25 MPH are candidates in the University’s Master of Public Health Program. Gauri Birmole ’25 MA is a candidate in the University’s Master of Arts in Community Psychology Program. Ja’nya Hill ’25 BA is a candidate in the University’s Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program with a concentration in forensic psychology. The WeEmbody Lab is directed by Dr. Alvin Tran, Assistant Professor of Population Health and Leadership.