Author: Opal Gay
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PhD Graduation Livestream: Join Me Online
I’m excited to share that my graduation ceremony will be livestreamed starting at 7 PM EST on December 15th and open to anyone who would like to tune in. This moment marks the culmination of years of study, research, and community work, and it means a great deal to be able to share it with…
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New Publication in the International Journal of Transgender Health
I’m excited to share my newest article, recently published in the International Journal of Transgender Health. This study addresses an important gap in the transgender health literature by centering the experiences of Black nonbinary people—voices that remain largely absent from existing research and policy conversations. Drawing from a nonbinary mixed-methods framework, the article examines how…
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In defense of gender affirming care
When I speak with new friends about their perception of me, I often hear this feeling of assuredness, control, and purpose. I had a laugh with a colleague of mine recently, who was in disbelief when I disclosed my astrological sign, Cancer. When I asked how I read, they said, Leo. You’re someone who naturally,…
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Invitation to My Dissertation Defense
The time is finally here! After 6 years of my PhD training, countless late nights researching, writing, revising, and more, I’m officially defending my dissertation on Wednesday, September 17th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m EST. I’ve leaned on community, mentors, and loved ones along the way, and I carry all of that support into…
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What about the boys?
We need better research on the health & well-being of men in our lives. I want to emphasize our lives, again, because I think most people can agree, we want the men we care for to feel well, be healthy, and live quality lives. Almost everyone I know can agree with that, even if people…
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Published in the Journal of Bisexuality
I’m thrilled to share the latest publication from my sister Angela-Faith Thomas and me in the Journal of Bisexuality. You can check out the article through the following link. Below is a copy of the reflexive essay Angela and I wrote to underscore our connection to the work and aspirations for future directions. This manuscript is…
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My Interview with ProFellow
The full interview is also available on the ProFellow website! Tell us about your background. What brought you to advocate for community wellness through research, advocacy, and public policy? “I’m from a small rural part of Alabama where I grew up seeing vast health disparities that were fueled by classist and racist state policies. I…
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Fulton County Scraps $2 Billion Jail Project: Communities Over Cages Coalition Leads the Charge
This past week, Black Futurists Group and its coalition members celebrated a major political win. Fulton County officials announced they will no longer proceed with plans to construct a new $2 billion jail, which would have been the most expensive in U.S. history. This decision came after the formation of the Fulton County coalition, Community…
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My Afrofuturist Introduction of Devin Barrington-Ward to the GSU Sociology Department
So we’re here to talk about the future. What a terrifying and exciting place to be. And I am so humbled to introduce my friend, comrade, and mentor, Devin Barrington Ward. But first, of course, I must talk about my love for afrofuturism. One of the greatest poetries of Black people. A critique levied against…
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Field Note: What the hell? Georgia Politics
Below, I conduct a policy analysis of three measures by conservative state legislatures that actively advance racist mass incarceration in our state: House Bill 30; Senate Bill 63; and Senate Bill 359. The Georgia State Assembly has sent a clear message to organizers in the movement for Black lives growing in our city of Atlanta.…
Opal Gay Ph.D. 