Below are some common questions our participants and GBTQ couples had about all2GETHER.
Please note: although all2GETHER often uses the term gay, bi, or queer but all2GETHER is for many sexual and gender minority individuals and couples regardless of how they identify.
READY TO JOIN
FILL OUT THE SCREENER NOW!
ALL2GETHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN all2GETHER??
all2GETHER is for many of the communities who have sex with cisgender men. If you are a cisgender or transgender man, if you are non-binary or gender nonconforming, or if you are a transgender woman and have sex partners who are cisgender men then you may qualify for all2GETHER.!
WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT LIKE?
The entire study is spread out over two years, but the first 4-5 weeks require a bit more time commitment. If you get randomized to the online education the modules should take around 1.5 to 2 hours. Couples will then get two 90 min to 2 hour coaching sessions hopefully in back-to-back weeks. Facilitators/coaches will try to work around your schedule as best as we can!
IS THIS THERAPY/COUNSELING/COUPLES COUNSELING?
all2GETHER’s relationship education is not therapy or couples counseling. While the online education includes useful communication, healthy sexuality, and stress & coping skills it is important to know it’s not therapy or counseling. Our facilitators can be thought of more as coaches or mechanics. CLICK HERE TO FIND OUR LIST OF THERAPY/COUNSELING AND HEALTHCARE RESOURCES!
DO YOU KEEP OUR INFORMATION CONFIDENTIAL?
Yes! We adhere to strict regulations for research studies as well as federal health privacy laws. Your name, address, health information, and contact information is kept in a secured database accessed only by our team. You will have a chance to read over a consent form that outlines this in more detail.
HOW MUCH/WHEN DO I GET PAID?
You and your partner (if you are participating as a couple and not individuals) will each be paid $50 via online gift card after completing the baseline survey and HIV/STI testing. You will also be paid $50 at your 12 and 24 month follow-ups AND $30 at 6 and 18 months– for a total of $210 each. Payment can take up to 2-3 weeks to process after we get your results back from the lab. and be uploaded to your online account, so we appreciate patience. Also make sure to spend your money.
WHAT IF MY PARTINER DOESN’T WANT TO PARTICIPATE WITH ME??
Don’t worry, while we definitely encourage couples to participate together if they are willing, individuals can participate by themselves. Additionally because we believe single people and people who chose not to partner can also benefit from our skills they are also eligible to enroll in the study.
WILL THIS HELP ME GET A DATE?
No promises, we aren’t SCRUFF or Tinder. Although if you are randomized to our education program many of our relationship skills might be useful when dating, hooking up, or making new friends.
WHAT IS THE TIME COMMITMENT LIKE?
The entire study is spread out over one year, but the first 8 weeks are the most intensive with your Baseline and sessions. We will try to work around your schedule as best as we can!
WHAT KIND OF STI TESTS WILL WE BE DOING?
You will each self-administer a gonorrhea and chlamydia test, – this means that you’ll pee in a cup and swab your butt hole. Participants not currently living with HIV (HIV Negative participants) will self-collect an Oraquick oral swab HIV test at Baseline, 12, and 24 months.
HOW WILL I RECEIVE MY STI TEST RESULTS?
When the lab successfully processes your results, you will receive a secure email to view them. You will then login to a secure website to access your results. We may follow up with you if you have not viewed your results.
ARE YOU GUYS THE SAME AS <INSERT PROJECT NAME>?
Chances are, we’re not. There are several projects named “Together” for the LGBTQ community. We are an updated version of two clinical trials named 2GETHER which enrolled over 500 couples between 2018 and 2021. We’re a group of researchers at the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health at Northwestern University. In other words, we’re nerds who love helping our community!
WHO IS FUNDING THE STUDY?
We are funded through several institutes at the National Institutes of Health including The National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Disease, The National Institute of Mental Health, and The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
HOW CAN I LEARN ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THIS STUDY?
Our team will strive to keep you informed with how the study is going through regular newsletters so you can learn more about the all2GETHER community. Additionally we may post some preliminary findings on social media.