When the definition of transgender is searched on Google, the top result states that it is “denoting or relating to a person whose gender identity does not correspond with the sex registered for them at birth” (Oxford Languages). People who identify as transgender are often treated differently for simply trying to be their true selves. The hatred directed towards this community can be associated with the term “transphobia”. The simple definition of transphobia is the dislike or prejudice against those who identify as a part of the transgender community. These transphobic acts that people encounter on the daily can be the cause of a lot of issues in their lives, physically and mentally
The best way to combat transphobia is to first recognize it. "Microaggressions are subtle expressions of hostility and discrimination, intended or unintended, toward people with marginalized or underrepresented social identities" (Byers, David S). These can often be missed if you are not actively looking for them. One of the main microaggressions is misgendering someone. Whether intentional or not this can cause significant harm to mental health. If you are unsure of someone's pronouns be sure to ask. Never assume what pronouns someone uses based on how they look. Mistakes happen, and if you make an honest mistake it is important to apologize and correct yourself quickly. It is essential to not make it a big show, while also acknowledging that you made a mistake. Don't make this a habit, doing so could be seen as trying to undermine someone's identity. When it comes to microaggressions they are often hard to recognize outright so it is best to listen to any feedback you may receive.
Transphobia and its consequences has a profound negative effect on the mental wellbeing of transgender people. The most notable effect is the suicidality of transgender people; A study from The National Library of Medicine (NLM) found that 41% of trans people in the United States have attempted suicide in their lives (Virupaksha et al.). However, suicide rate drops with social acceptance of transgender people; The Trans Pulse Project found that among trans people, a strongly supportive family can reduce suicide attempts by up to 93% (Trans Pulse). Other effects on mental health are also apparent, such as depression, anxiety, and self-esteem issues. The Trans Pulse Project reports that transgender individuals with strongly supportive families are more likely to be happy with their lives (72% v. 33%), had higher self-esteem scores (64% v. 13%), and lower rates of depression (23% v. 72%). It has been shown both in transgender adults and children that gender-affirming care has a marked positive effect on their wellbeing. In a meta-analysis of 55 relevant studies, it was found that 51 (93%) noted a positive effect on mental health and only 4 (7%) found mixed or neutral findings. None found a definitively negative effect on trans people (Cornell). In a small study conducted at the Gender Management Clinic in Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego found that puberty suppression for transgender minors improved greatly, as all but two individuals out of 22 noted to have mental health problems reported improvement after puberty-blocking and gender-affirming treatment (EndoMedia). In a word, transphobia hurts transgender people and acceptance heals them.
Transgender people are more likely to be at high risk for homelessness. There are many factors why this is true. Some of those factors are family discrimination and rejection, denying them access to shelters and eviction based on their gender identity, and transphobia. Many of them have experienced discrimination based on their gender identity when trying to purchase a home. More than one in ten transgender people have been evicted or denied a home because of this. According to a 2017 U.S. Trans Survey, more than 27,000 transgender people living in the U.S. 30% of them have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. Out of the 1.6 million homeless youth, more than 20-40% of them are transgender (DeChants, Jonah). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is trying to increase the protection of trangnder people and prohibit discrimination under the Fair Housing Act when trying to purchase homes and protection from unfair evictions. The consequences of people being transphobic is leading to increasing rates of homelessness for transgender communities.
Calling out transphobia is a major step in fighting discrimination and promoting inclusion. The first step is to have an open mind and educate yourself on the basics of gender identity and expression. Learn about the experiences of transgender people, the impact of discrimination and prejudice, and how you can be an ally. It is okay to acknowledge that you do not know some things. The next step is to speak up. If you hear someone making transphobic comments or jokes, speak up and let them know that their behavior is not acceptable. Always hold others accountable. If someone in your community or workplace is engaging in transphobic behavior, hold them accountable by reporting the behavior to an authority figure. Make it clear that this behavior is not acceptable and that you will not tolerate discrimination in your environment. Lastly, it is especially important to always support and believe others when they say who they are. You can show your support for transgender people by standing up for their rights, advocating for their inclusion in society, and promoting their visibility. This can include sharing positive stories about transgender people, donating to trans-led organizations, and attending events or rallies in support of the community. If you have younger children, prepare them to navigate diversity, and equip them to treat everyone with equitable levels of respect and dignity. You could do this by interrupting restrictive ideas about gender and attitudes that are rooted in sexism, homophobia, and transphobia.
EndoMedia. “San Diego Clinic Finds High Need for Treatment of Transgender Youth.” EurekAlert!, The Endocrine Society, 7 Mar. 2015, https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/913334.
“Trans Pulse.” Trans PULSE, 2 Oct. 2012, https://transpulseproject.ca/research/impacts-of-strong-parental-support-for-trans-youth/.
Virupaksha, H. G., et al. “Suicide and Suicidal Behavior among Transgender Persons.” Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, vol. 38, no. 6, 2016, pp. 505–509., https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.194908.
“What Does the Scholarly Research Say about the Effect of Gender Transition on Transgender Well-Being?” What We Know, Cornell University, 11 Aug. 2021, https://whatweknow.inequality.cornell.edu/topics/lgbt-equality/what-does-the-scholarly-research-say-about-the-well-being-of-transgender-people/.
Byers, David S., et al. “Naming and Addressing Homophobic and Transphobic Microaggressions in Social Work Classrooms.” Journal of Social Work Education, vol. 56, no. 3, July 2020, pp. 484–95. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.ezproxy.delta.edu/10.1080/10437797.2019.1656688.
“Guide to Being an Ally to Transgender and Nonbinary Young People.” The Trevor Project, 15 Nov. 2022, https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/guide/a-guide-to-being-an-ally-to-transgender-and-nonbinary-youth/.
Pronoun and preferred first name project. Yavapai College. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.yc.edu/v6/equity/pronouns.html