The 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS), conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality, is the largest survey of its type, with responses from 92,329 transgender individuals, providing crucial data on their experiences and the challenges they face in the United States. This is over three times the number of respondents who took the previous 2015 survey.
Characteristics of Respondents
Thirty-eight percent (38%) of respondents identified as nonbinary, 35% identified as a transgender woman, 25% identified as a transgender man, and 2% identified as a crossdresser. The survey participants were diverse in age, with 43% between 18-24 years. Racially, 56% identified as White, 14% as Latino(a), 13% identified as two or more races, 8% as Black, and 7% as Asian, Asian American, or Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander. Less than 1% identified as Middle Eastern or North African.
Regarding age, forty-three percent (43%) of respondents were age 18 to 24, 36% were age 25 to 44, 9% were age 45 to 54, 6% were age 55 to 64, and 7% were over the age of 65. Seventeen percent of respondents were parents. In terms of location, USTS received responses from folx in all fifty states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and U.S. military bases overseas. According to Census regions, 41% of respondents were living in the South, 23% lived in the West, 19% lived in the Northeast, and 17% lived in the Midwest.
Key Findings
Greater Life Satisfaction Post-Transition: A profound 94% of those who “lived at least some of the time in a different gender than the one they were assigned at birth” reported enhanced life satisfaction, with 79% feeling “a lot more satisfied” and 15% “a little more satisfied.” Three percent (3%) reported that transitioning gender made them “neither more nor less satisfied” with their life, 1% were “a little less satisfied,” and 2% were “a lot less satisfied” with their life.
Greater Life Satisfaction Receiving Hormone Affirming Therapy: Almost all respondents (98%) undergoing hormone therapy for their gender transition reported an increase in life satisfaction, with 84% feeling “a lot more satisfied” and 14% feeling “a little more satisfied.” Only 1% felt no change in their satisfaction levels, and less than 1% felt “a little less” or “a lot less satisfied” after beginning hormone treatment.
Greater Life Satisfaction Post Gender-Affirming Surgery: Almost all participants (97%) who underwent any form of gender-affirming surgery expressed increased satisfaction with their lives, with 88% feeling “a lot more satisfied” and 9% “a little more satisfied.” Only 1% reported no change in satisfaction, less than 1% felt “a little less satisfied,” and another 1% were “a lot less satisfied” post-surgery.
Healthcare and Psychological Distress: A significant number of respondents avoided necessary medical care due to costs (28%) and fear of mistreatment (24%). Furthermore, 44% experienced serious psychological distress in the past month.
Nearly half (48%) of the respondents who visited a healthcare provider in the past year reported experiencing at least one form of negative treatment due to their transgender status. This included being denied healthcare, misgendering, the use of harsh or abusive language by providers, or experiencing physically rough or abusive treatment.
Employment and Poverty: The unemployment rate stood at 18%, with 34% of respondents living in poverty.
Education and Housing: About 30% of respondents had been homeless at some point, and educational attainment varied with 35% completing high school or equivalent, and 18% achieving a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Experiences at School: Over three-quarters (80%) of adult respondents and about two-thirds (60%) of 16- and 17-year-olds who were openly or perceived as transgender during their K-12 education reported experiencing various forms of mistreatment. These negative experiences included verbal harassment, physical attacks, online bullying, denial of their chosen dress based on gender identity, refusal by teachers or staff to use their true names or pronouns, and being denied access to restrooms or locker rooms that matched their gender identity.
Identity Documents: Almost half (48%) of respondents with identity documents like birth certificates, passports, or driver’s licenses reported that none of their IDs displayed their preferred name. While 20% had their preferred name on some of their IDs, 33% had it on all of them. Additionally, 59% stated that none of their IDs showed their preferred gender, with 23% having the correct gender on some IDs and 19% on all. Furthermore, 22% of respondents experienced verbal harassment, assault, or were denied services or asked to leave a location when their ID did not match their gender presentation.
Safety and Discrimination: Respondents frequently faced violence and discrimination, with 9% denied equal treatment and 30% verbally harassed in the past year due to their gender identity.
The Harm of Discriminatory Policies: Discriminatory state policies have severe implications. Nearly half (47%) of the survey participants considered relocating to another state due to adverse laws targeting transgender people, such as restrictions on healthcare access, bathroom usage, and sports participation. Indeed, 5% had actually moved to escape such discriminatory environments.
Notably, North Carolina fell within the top 10 states from which respondents moved because of state laws targeting transgender people for unequal treatment. The other states included Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
You can read the full 2022 Early Insight Report from the 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey here.
Transgender-Affirming Mental Health Support in North Carolina
At Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting, we offer individualized, trauma-informed, and affirming mental health services for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse individuals in North Carolina. Our services are designed to support those navigating their gender identity, experiencing gender dysphoria, or seeking to celebrate and enhance upon their gender euphoria.
The staff at Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting seeks to offer a safer space for clients of all genders to explore their gender identity, while also offering support and addressing the mental health impacts of discrimination. Likewise, sometimes LGBTQIA+ clients want to receive support for anxiety, trauma, life-transitions, ADHD, and relationship distress in an LGBTQIA+ celebratory space – we hear you, see you, and understand the assignment! Let’s do it!
Be BOLD also strives to assist clients by connecting transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse clients with other supportive community resources, affirming medical and wellness professionals, and other gender-affirming services. Additionally, check out our transgender and gender-diverse resources page, here!
Be BOLD also authors single-session pay-what-you-can letters for gender affirming procedures, for those who may wish to pursue a surgical transition.
Schedule A Free 20-Minute Consult with a Trans-Affirming Therapist in North Carolina Today!
If you or someone you know is looking for compassionate, informed, and affirming mental health support in North Carolina, consider Be BOLD Psychology and Consulting. We are here to support your journey towards being your boldest, most authentic, happiest, and healthiest you! Schedule your free 20-minute consultation with a North Carolina therapist today and discover how we can assist you.
