While transgender rights have become a key social issue for many Republicans in the leadup to the 2024 election season, a new study debunks a talking point that transgender people often regret transitioning.
Early insights from the 2022 US Trans Survey have just been released and the results show a more positive picture of transgender and nonbinary lives in the U.S. Conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) in partnership with the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition, National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance and TransLatin@ Coalition, the study collected data from over 90,000 participants from the U.S. and its territories.
According to the study, 94% of those surveyed reported more life satisfaction after transition, with 79% reporting “a lot more satisfied” and 15% reporting “a little more satisfied.”
Of those surveyed who are currently undergoing gender-affirming hormone treatment, 98% reported being more satisfied with life. Of those surveyed who have undergone gender-affirming surgery, 98% reported a level of increased satisfaction in their lives.
The survey also asked respondents about their general health, experiences with healthcare professionals, family support, experiences with anti-trans violence and more.
Housing stability and employment are serious issues for many trans and nonbinary individuals. At least 34% of respondents indicated that they were experiencing poverty, while 30% had experienced some form of homelessness in their lives. The unemployment rate (18%) for trans and nonbinary individuals was much higher than the U.S. average of 3.7%.
Harassment and violence also remain issues for many trans and nonbinary individuals, with 30% reporting that they had been verbally harassed, 39% reporting some form of online harassment and 3% having experienced physical violence for being trans or nonbinary. Regarding receiving help from law enforcement for these issues, 74% of respondents reported some level of discomfort asking for help.
The treatment of trans and nonbinary people can vary significantly based on where they live. Forty-seven percent of those surveyed expressed wanting to move to escape harassment or transphobia. Only about 10% were able to make that move. The states with the most significant exodus of transgender and nonbinary individuals were Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Legislative bodies on all these states have passed or proposed anti-trans legislation in the last few years.
To read the complete list of early insights, check out US Trans Survey.