A community-derived framework for designing and evaluating safe physical activity opportunities for transgender and gender diverse people

Abstract

Background Transgender people experience barriers to participating in physical activity, many of which relate to concerns about safety, discrimination, and access to affirming environments. Although research has identified these barriers, there are few practical tools to guide organizations in evaluating whether physical activity opportunities are likely to be experienced as safe by transgender participants.Aim To develop a community-derived Safety Evaluation Framework that supports the design and evaluation of safe physical activity opportunities for transgender and gender diverse people.Method This study reports one component of a qualitative co-design project undertaken in Whanganui, Aotearoa New Zealand. A Working Group comprising nine transgender participants, a transgender co-facilitator, and a cisgender researcher/co-facilitator met across six sessions. Through iterative discussions and reviews across sessions, participants refined their understanding of safety, from which an evaluation framework was derived. Emerging concepts were reviewed, refined, and applied to a range of physical activity settings.Results Participants reconceptualized safety as a multidimensional construct encompassing physical environments, identity affirmation, social experiences, psychological safety, practical accessibility, and body comfort. These understandings informed the development of a Safety Evaluation Framework comprising six interconnected domains: Facilities and Environment, Clothing and Equipment, Social Environment, Psychological Safety, Practical Accessibility, and Body Comfort and Identity Affirmation. The framework was applied to a range of physical activity opportunities, illustrating how it can identify activity-specific strengths and areas for improvement.Discussion This study presents one of the first community-derived frameworks for systematically evaluating safety within transgender physical activity settings. It is intended as a guide for reflection and evaluation, rather than as a validated or norm-referenced measurement instrument. The framework provides a resource to support the design, evaluation, and continuous improvement of physical activity opportunities by healthcare providers, community organizations, activity providers, researchers, and funders, with the potential to enhance safe participation and promote health equity.