Bridging the gap: Capturing UK trans health discourse in the Archive of Tomorrow

Abstract

The barriers trans and non-binary people in the UK face when accessing healthcare have been well documented in recent years, and a proliferation of sites produced by and for trans communities have emerged to bridge the gaps left by suspended services and growing waiting times. Concurrently, a number of high-profile legislative cases and public debates have underscored the extent to which the provision of information about trans* health is defined and shaped by societal and political contexts. This chapter discusses the challenges of collecting online trans* health information in a rapidly changing and hotly contested environment, and explores the questions around representation and the ethical implications of collecting online health discourse.