The Health, Health Related Needs, and Lifecourse Experiences of Transgender Virginians

A comparison of health disparities among transgender adults in Colorado (USA) by race and income

“…While not all health care providers are openly hostile to transgender patients, many simply lack any understanding of what it means to be transgender (Poteat, German, & Kerrigan, 2013;White Hughto et al, 2015). Transgender patients frequently report having to educate their providers on the different procedures and practices within the realm of transgender health care (Grant et al, 2011;Xavier, Honnold, & Bradford, 2007). In order to improve the health and quality of life of the transgender community, efforts must be made to reduce cultural biases regarding gender identity and to provide competent care within the health care system (De Vries, Mason, Quam, & Acquaviva, 2009;Kenagy, 2005;Shipherd et al, 2010).…”

“…Moreover, a transgender competent practice also encompasses transgender inclusive language in signs, forms, electronic records, and assessments. When attempting to become more competent, providers often utilize their transgender patients or consumers as educators (Grant et al, 2011;Xavier et al, 2007). This approach is problematic, not only because one person cannot be presumed to represent all transgender people but also because it should not be the responsibility of a patient to educate a health care provider on a minority identity.…”

Unequal Treatment of Transgender Individuals in Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Programs

“…Several studies of transgender individuals' experiences of physical violence have indicated that perpetrators are often known individuals. For example, in a needs assessment conducted with transgender individuals in Virginia, Xavier, Honnold, and Bradford (2007) found that, among those who had been physically attacked by someone, 31% said that the attack involved someone living in their home at the time. Sixteen percent of perpetrators of physical abuse were fathers or stepfathers, 9%…”

Connecting the Dots: Examining Transgender Women’s Utilization of Transition-Related Medical Care and Associations with Mental Health, Substance Use, and HIV

“…A study of 229 transwomen in Virginia found that 58 % had lifetime suicidal ideation, and 62 % of those who had considered suicide attributed it to transition-related issues. 14 In 2006, Clements-Nolle et al found that almost one third of a sample of more than 500 transgender respondents reported a lifetime suicide attempt. 15 Other studies report lifetime suicide attempt prevalence in the transgender population ranging from 18 to 41 %, which is 15-38 % higher than the overall US population.…”