About Transgender People

National Transgender Discrimination Survey: A Look at Asian American, South Asian, Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Respondents (July 2012)
The National Transgender Discrimination Survey measured transgender experiences of discrimination. This factsheet attempts to examine the impact of anti-transgender and anti-immigrant bias with individual and structural racism. Results of this new analysis showed that Asian and Pacific Islander transgender people are disproportionately impacted by social stigma and economic factors.
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National Transgender Discrimination Survey: A Look at Latino/a Transgender Respondents | Spanish
(December 2011)
The National Transgender Discrimination Survey measured transgender experiences of discrimination. This factsheet attempts to examine the impact of anti-transgender and anti-immigrant bias with individual and structural racism. Results of this new analysis showed that Latino/a transgender people are disproportionately impacted by social stigma and economic factors.

Model District Policy on Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students (November 2011)
As transgender youth come out, schools must institute policies and procedures that fosters their educational development, and protects them from violence and harassment. This policy, co-written with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, serves as a guide to best practices and policies to support transgender young people.

National Transgender Discrimination Survey: A Look at Black Transgender Respondents
(September 2011)
The National Transgender Discrimination Survey measured transgender experiences of discrimination. This factsheets attempts to examine the impact of anti-transgender bias with individual and structural racism. Results of this new analysis showed that Black transgender people reported some of the highest levels of discrimination.

Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (February 2011)
The National Transgender Discrimination Survey is the first large-scale national study of discrimination against transgender and gender non-conforming Americans, and paints a more complete picture than any prior research to date.

ENDA by the numbers (May 2010)
A fact sheet that highlights a few of the statistics about transgender people, the need for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), who supports the bill, and the work that is being done to pass this legislation.

National Transgender Discrimination Survey Preliminary Results (November 2009)
The initial results from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, conducted by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and NCTE; this report focuses on employment and other economic issues.

Teaching Transgender (January 2009)
A how-to guide for leading trainings about the lives of transgender people. Useful information for beginners and veteran educators alike.

Fact Sheets from Teaching Transgender on Understanding Transgender People and Transgender Terminology (June 2009)

Fact Sheets

Improving the Lives of Transgender Older Adults: Recommendations for Policy and Practice | Executive Summary (June 2012)
Transgender older adults face profound challenges and experience striking disparities in areas such as health and health care access, physical and mental health, employment, housing and more. Research and experience also reveal that many transgender elders routinely encounter both a health care system and a national aging network that are ill-prepared to provide culturally competent care and services and create residential environments that affirm the gender identities and expressions of transgender older people.

Transgender Sexual and Reproductive Health: Unmet Needs and Barriers to Care (April 2012)
Transgender people face multiple obstacles to accessing quality health care, include outright discrimination and refusal to treat transgender patients, as well as a lack of relevant clinical and cultural competence among providers. Transgender patients seeking sexual and reproductive health care often fear that they will be treated in ways that are disrespectful or judgmental because of their gender identities or sexual choices, or because aspects of their bodies may not conform to gender norms. This short guide provides an overview of the sexual and reproductive health issues trans people face.

A Blueprint for Equality: A Federal Agenda for Transgender People (March 2012)
The breadth of the agenda for federal transgender equality is long and complex. Since NCTE's founding, we have made consistent progress, and continue to change the way decision-makers respond to our advocacy. This document reflects on these policy accomplishments, and outlines our priorities moving forward. Download individual chapters below.
     Economic Opportunity
     Housing and Homelessness
     Safe and Supportive Schools
     Access to Quality Health Care
     Fighting HIV/AIDS
     Ending Anti-Transgender Violence
     Improving the Lives of Trans Older Adults
     Counting Trans People in Federal Surveys
     ID Documents and Privacy
     The Right to Travel
     Equal Access to Public Programs
     Immigration Reform
     Prison and Detention Reform
     Open Military Service
     Honoring Our Veterans
     Family and Relationship Recognition
     Advancing Global Human Rights

Medicare Benefits and Transgender People (August 2011)
Medicare is one of America’s most important health programs, providing health insurance for millions of
older adults and people with disabilities. As with private insurance, transgender people sometimes encounter
limitations in their Medicare coverage or confusion about what is covered - both for transition-related care
and for routine preventive care. This document provides an overview of benefit questions that may arise for
transgender people, and information on what to do in response to an initial denial of coverage.

Veterans Health Administration Transgender Healthcare Directive (June 2011)
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has issued a Directive to all of its facilities establishing a policy of respectful delivery of healthcare to transgender and intersex veterans who are enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system or are otherwise eligible for VA care. This Directive is an important first step in securing equal access for transgender veterans, and healthcare access for transgender people generally, by setting an example of how healthcare providers in both the public and private sector should be treating transgender patients.

Social Security Gender No-Match Letters and Transgender Employees (February 2011)
Transgender workers sometimes have different gender markers in their employer records than what the Social Security Administration (SSA) has in their database. When this occurs, SSA may send a notice stating that the employee’s listed gender “does not match” the SSA’s records This information sheet explains what these “no-match” letters are and what to do if your employer receives a gender no-match letter about you.

NCTE has a letter from SSA explaining that gender data is optional, and should not be a basis for any adverse action against an employee. The letter recommends that employers not submit gender data to avoid any problems. Providing a copy of this letter may help convince an employer to drop any concerns related to a no-match letter. However, because it is addressed to NCTE, using this letter may mean coming out to your employer as transgender.

Transgender People and Passports (updated January 2012)
This resource gives you current information about when you need a passport and addresses specific concerns for transgender people, including how to change your name and gender information on your passport, how to apply for a new passport and more.

Transgender People and Military Service (July 2010)
Joint Statement from NCTE and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network

State Driver's License Policies (updated May 2010)
Map of the 50 states with information about each state's policies to change name and gender markers on driver's licenses

Whole Body Imaging (November 2010)
Information about the Transportation Safety Administration's (TSA) use of Whole Body Imaging and how it may impact transgender people

Federal Taxes and Transgender People (Updated January 2012)
Frequently asked questions about transition-related care and your federal taxes

Census 2010 and its impact on transgender people (March 2009)
View this fact of information about how gender and relationship status will be counted in the upcoming 2010 census.

The PASS ID Act (August 2009)
A resource to understand the PASS ID Act and efforts to repeal the REAL ID Act

Transgender People and the Selective Service (July 2008)
Practicial information transgender people relating to military service and the selective service registration requirement.

Overcoming Voting Obstacles for Transgender People (September 2010)
Trans people may find voting to be an intimidating process for many reasons. This document lays out the issues that trans people may face when attempting to vote and ways to overcome those issues.

Political Advocacy

Voting While Trans Checklist (November 2012)
Voter ID laws could disenfranchise over 25,000 transgender voters. Bring this short guide with you when you vote. The Checklist has information to help transgender voters prepare to vote, and information for election officials in case your vote is challenged.

Voting While Trans: Preparing for New Voter ID Laws (August 2012)
Regardless of whether you have ever had trouble voting in the past, new voter ID laws in dozens of states will make it harder for many trans people to vote. Learn about what you need to do to protect your right to vote.

Transgender Equality and the Federal Government (March 2009)
NCTE has compiled a list of 112 separate policies that directly impact the lives of transgender people and our families that need to be added, removed or changed.

Making Your Voice Heard: A Transgender Guide to Educating Congress (updated May 2013)
Here is a step by step how-to guide to educating members of Congress about transgender people.

Visiting Your Member of Congress (April 2008)

NCTE has three resource guides to help you visit with your member of Congress. Talking directly with members of Congress and their staff members is critical to moving forward with transgender inclusive legislation. You can raise our representatives' awareness that transgender people and our families live and work in their districts.

• Making an Appointment
• Preparing for your Visit
• During Your Meeting

Human Rights Calendar (2007)
In 2007, NCTE highlighed human rights for transgender people. While the calendars are out of date, the principles are timeless.

"Know Your Rights" Resources

Airport Security and Transgender People (November 2012)
The right to travel freely is a fundamental human right, yet travelers across the country continue to express concerns about the intrusive security screening procedures used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). These procedures can be invasive of everyone’s privacy and are of particular concern to transgender people because of their potential to “out” people in unsafe ways, potentially leading to harassment and discrimination.

LGBT People and the Prison Rape Elimination Act (July 2012)
Sexual abuse is rampant in prison and detention facilities today, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and gender nonconforming people are among those most at risk. To address this crisis, Congress unanimously passed the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) in 2003. After nearly a decade of study and review, the U.S. Department of Justice issued final regulations to implement PREA in May 2012. This resource lays out what protections are available under the PREA Standards for LGBT and gender nonconforming inmates.

Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students: Your Rights at School (June 2012)
Bullying, harassment, or discrimination against transgender or gender nonconforming students is covered by Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in schools. This resource outlines the rights trans and gender nonconforming students have in schools and how to file formal complaints.

Know Your Rights: Employment Discrimination and Transgender People (May 2012)
Federal courts and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which enforces federal job discrimination laws, have concluded that discrimination because a person is transgender or gender non-conforming constitutes illegal sex discrimination. Many states and localities also expressly prohibit job discrimination based on gender identity and/or expression. This resource outlines the rights and procedures transgender employees have to address discrimination.

Health Care Rights and Transgender People (Updated August 2012)
For the first time, the Affordable Care Act of 2010 banned sex discrimination in many health care facilities and programs. While we still desperately need national laws that explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, existing laws such as the Affordable Care Act can provide real protections in many circumstances. This document outlines the health care rights of transgender people and how to file complaints of health care discrimination.

Know Your Rights: Fair Housing and Transgender People (March 2012)
While we still desperately need a national housing law that explicitly prohibits discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, existing laws provide real protections in many circumstances. This document outlines the housing rights of transgender people and how to file complaints of housing discrimination.

Transgender Federal Employees: Your Workplace Rights (Updated February 2012)
In recent years, the federal government has provided new guidance and protections for transgender federal employees. Federal workers have many of the same rights as other workers, but the process for addressing workplace discrimination is quite unique. This resource outlines the rights and procedures transgender federal employees have.