The National Center for Transgender Equality finally released the 2015 Transgender Survey, which includes data from over 27,000 trans* U.S. citizens. This is the most comprehensive survey of transgender Americans to date. Information was culled from “27,715 respondents from all fifty states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and U.S. military bases overseas.”
The results of the report were grim.
Mistreatment
- 10% of respondents have had a family member become violent toward them because they were transgender
- 8% were kicked out of their homes for being transgender
- 54% of transgender students have been verbally harassed by classmates for being transgender
- 24% of transgender students have been physically attacked by classmates for being transgender
- 13% of transgender students have been sexually assaulted by classmates for being transgender
- 30% of transgender workers were fired, denied a promotion, or otherwise mistreated (including verbal, physical or sexual assault) at the workplace in 2014
Economics
- 29% are living in poverty (national average: 14%)
- 15% are unemployed (national unemployment rate: 5%)
- 30% have been homeless at some point during their lifetimes
- 12% of respondents were homeless during 2014
Mental and Physical Health
- 40% have attempted suicide (national average: 4.6%)
- 33% were verbally harassed or refused treatment while seeking healthcare
- 33% could not afford to seek healthcare
- 4% are living with HIV (national average: 0.3%)
Intersectionality
Transgender people of color, undocumented immigrants and transgender people with disabilities face compounded difficulties.
- 43% of Latinx transgender people, 41% of American Indian transgender people, 40% of multiracial transgender people and 38% of black transgender people are living in poverty (national average: 14%)
- 20% of transgender people of color are unemployed (national unemployment rate: 5%)
- 7% of black transgender people are living with HIV (national average: 0.3%)
- 19% of black transgender women are living with HIV
- 24% of transgender undocumented immigrants were physically attacked in 2014
- 50% of transgender undocumented immigrants have been homeless at some point in their lifetimes
- 68% of transgender undocumented immigrants have been domestically abused
- 24% of transgender people with disabilities are unemployed
- 45% of transgender people with disabilities are living in poverty
- 42% of transgender people with disabilities have been mistreated while seeking healthcare
- 54% of transgender people with disabilities have attempted suicide
Despite the increased visibility and acceptance of transgender people, there is clearly a lot of room for improvement. Transgender people, like all members of the LGBT community, deserve to live in safety and security.
For more information, read the full report or the executive summary, and watch the official presentation of findings below. (Lee el resumen ejecutivo en español aquí.)
