4247.0 Health and wellbeing of transgender/nonbinary young adults working as sexual content creators: Implications for clinicians and advocates

Session: Exploring Mental and Psychosocial Health Among LGBTQ+ People

Program: LGBTQ Health Caucus

Time: 3:00 - 3:15 PM

Presenters:

Gabriel Murchison

Benjamin Eisenstadt

Kaylia Carroll

Abstract

Sexual content creation—selling homemade erotic media online—has become a widespread form of sex work. Because transgender and/or nonbinary young adults (TNB YA) are overrepresented in sex work and face considerable health disparities, we sought to describe TNB YAs’ experiences working as sexual content creators from a public health perspective. In this multi-method study, we interviewed TNB YA sexual content creators (n=15; ages 21-30 years; diverse in gender, race, and ethnicity) with a semi-structured guide addressing motivations, benefits, stressors, and advocacy priorities. We used template analysis to develop four themes. Theme 1 (“Alternative Work”) highlighted how participants were excluded from mainstream employment, often due to disability/ableism, and supported themselves by combining sexual content creation with other flexible, sexuality-related, and/or creative work. Theme 2 (“Fulfilling Work”) explored how sexual content creation fulfilled psychological needs such as connectedness and gender affirmation. Theme 3 (“Stressful Dynamics”) described experiences of financial instability, gender incongruence, unwanted interactions, and sex work stigma (from clinicians and others). Theme 4 (“Policy Context”) outlined how corporate and government policies promoted stressful dynamics. We presented these results to three focus groups of clinicians and advocates (n=17; 59% TNB; >40% current/former sex workers), who identified clinical and advocacy implications. Results suggest that TNB YA sexual content creators often derive financial and psychological benefits from their work but lack crucial supports and protections. Public health, LGBTQ+, gig worker, sex worker, and disability advocates should work with sexual content creators towards shared priorities, including non-stigmatizing health care and adequate safety net programs.