A major survey exposed the many forms of discrimination faced by transgender people in the U.S.
NEW YORK (TrustLaw) - Discrimination, in many forms, is pervasive among transgender people in the United States.
Below are some findings from a major survey published in February 2011. The survey was the first of its kind and included 6,450 participants throughout the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
* African Americans fare far worse discrimination than all other transgender people.
* Nearly 20 percent of transgender people said in a major survey they have been refused a house or apartment because of their gender identity, and 11 percent said they had been evicted for that reason.
* Family acceptance provides a buffer against discrimination and health risks, such as substance abuse and suicide. Forty-three percent of transgender people surveyed said they kept their family bonds while 57 percent experienced family rejection.
* Many transgender people live in extreme poverty – they are nearly four times more likely to have a household income of less than $10,000 per year compared to the general population.
* Forty-one percent said they had attempted suicide compared to 1.6 percent of the general population, with rates rising for those who lost a job due to bias (55 percent), were harassed/bullied in school (51 percent), had low household income or were the victim of physical assault (61 percent) or sexual assault (64 percent).
* Although tolerance for transgender people has grown in some areas, the workplace remains a minefield for many.
* Ninety percent said they experienced harassment, mistreatment or discrimination on the job or took actions like hiding who they are to avoid it.
* Forty-seven percent said they had experienced an adverse job outcome, such as being fired, not hired or denied a promotion because of being transgender or gender non-conforming.
* More than one in four said they had lost a job due to being transgender or gender non-conforming and half were harassed.
* Accessing healthcare also poses challenges for transgender people. Twenty-eight percent said they postpone medical care for fear of discrimination, 19 percent said they have been refused care, 28 percent had been harassed in medical settings and 2 percent had been victims of violence in doctors’ offices.
Source: Injustice at every turn: A report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Read the executive summary here.
READ FULL STORY:
Violence, discrimination still threaten U.S. transgender people
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
