Latest news with #U.S.TransgenderSurvey
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
New survey reveals crucial role of family support in transgender health and wellbeing
The largest-ever survey of transgender adults in the United States confirms what trans people have long known: support, especially from family, can be a matter of life and death. Keep up with the latest in + news and politics. Released Wednesday by the Advocates for Trans Equality Education Fund, the report draws on responses from more than 84,000 trans adults nationwide and presents a complex but cautiously hopeful portrait of health and access to care. It finds that transgender people are significantly more likely to report good health when they have supportive families and the ability to live in alignment with their gender identity. Those who experienced family rejection, by contrast, reported far higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts. Related: 'This report tells us that, for the most part, trans people are happy, healthy, and getting the care they need, especially when they can live out their lives freely,' said Ankit Rastogi, A4TE's director of research. 'Attacks aimed at removing trans people from public life and limiting trans people's access to health care threaten to halt this progress.' The report, 'Health and Wellbeing: Findings from the 2022 U.S. Trans Survey,' is the third installment of a series analyzing data from the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey. It provides one of the most detailed statistical insights into transgender people's lives in the United States at a moment when health care access for the community is increasingly politicized. Related: Compared to the 2015 version of the survey, the new data suggest improved experiences in clinical settings. Trust in providers appears to be increasing: 50 percent of respondents in 2022 said all of their health care providers knew they were transgender, up from 40 percent in 2015. Nearly three in four respondents—73 percent—who disclosed their transgender status to a provider said they were treated with respect by at least one provider, an increase from 62 percent in the previous survey. Still, structural barriers remain. Although 88 percent of respondents said they wanted gender-affirming hormone therapy, only 56 percent reported receiving it. Other access measures showed progress: 57 percent reported having a dedicated provider for transition-related care, up from 44 percent in 2015. Denial rates for gender-confirmation surgeries fell sharply, from 55 percent in 2015 to 20 percent in 2022. Related: Despite these gains, health disparities between trans adults and the general U.S. population remain pronounced. Just 66 percent of trans respondents rated their health as 'excellent,' 'very good,' or 'good,' compared to 81 percent of the general population. Insurance coverage was also lower among trans adults—87 percent versus 92 percent—and younger respondents reported worse health than older ones. While 78 percent of trans adults age 65 and older said their health was good or better, only 60 percent of those ages 18 to 24 said the same. 'Good health is the foundation that allows everyone to thrive,' said Andy Marra, CEO of A4TE. 'It is unconscionable that access to health care is now on the chopping block for millions of vulnerable Americans, including tens of thousands of trans people.'
NBC News
05-04-2025
- Health
- NBC News
Reality star Ts Madison opens reentry home for formerly incarcerated Black trans women
Madison, known for her reality series 'The Ts Madison Experience' on We TV, has long advocated for trans rights. She has also openly discussed overcoming homelessness and survival sex work. 'I wanted to make space for these girls,' she said. 'I wanted to teach them how to be successful without relying on their bodies but on their other gifts.' Transgender people — especially Black trans women — experience homelessness at disproportionately high rates. A study published in 2020 by the Williams Institute at UCLA Law found 8% of trans adults reported recent homelessness, compared to 1% of cisgender straight adults. The 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality (now Advocates for Trans Equality), found that 42% of Black trans adults have experienced homelessness in their lifetime. Survival sex work is also common among trans people experiencing homelessness, with the National Alliance to End Homelessness reporting that 98% of unsheltered trans people have engaged in high-risk behaviors, including sex work, to survive. Dominique Morgan, executive director of Black and Pink, a national nonprofit supporting LGBTQ people affected by incarceration, collaborated with Madison on the house's creation. Morgan, who spent nearly a decade in prison, said she knows firsthand the barriers trans people face post-release, and she praised Morgan's vision. 'This project isn't just about housing — it's about creating a space where Black trans women can thrive, not just survive,' she said. The house, Morgan added, offers more than just a short-term stay. 'After 90 days, when they graduate, they're not being thrown out into the world alone,' she said. 'They have a network, a community and a group of people who are there to support them.' Madison also partnered with NAESM, Inc., a nonprofit providing health care and HIV/AIDS services to Altanta's LGBTQ communities. Actress and activist Monroe Alise, who works closely with NAESM, applauded the partnership. 'Through this, we're ensuring Black trans women have the tools to move beyond survival and into stability,' Alise said. Morgan said the intake process and the programming are "extremely robust." 'We don't believe in a one-size-fits-all model. Some residents might need job prep. Others may need mental health support or to learn how to cook healthy meals," she said. The Ts Madison Starter House is not reliant on government funding, according to Madison, and she said this is especially important given the current rollback of transgender rights. 'This is funded by the people, for the people,' she said. 'Even with the government cutting funding, we don't need them. We have each other. It's kind of like an underground railroad." Madison said she's documenting the journey of Starter House and its residents and hopes the program becomes a model for other similar efforts. She said the forthcoming docuseries is already in production and vowed it will showcase transformation, not trauma. 'We're not doing it like a 'Baddies,'' Madison said, referencing a reality show known for its drama-filled portrayals of women. 'No, these are the girls overcoming. These are the triumphs.' She added, "This is about possibility and transformation, not exploitation.' As for Morgan, when asked about the docuseries component of the Starter House project, she said visibility is key: 'Historically, queer people who are most accepted are the ones the public sees. That's why this matters.'
