Policing Gender Through Housing and Employment Discrimination: Comparison of Discrimination Experiences of Transgender and Cisgender LGBQ Individuals

Abstract

Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community experience higher rates of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity than their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. However, discrimination might not occur equally across all members of the community. This article examines the prevalence of and factors associated with experiences of discrimination for cisgender LGBQ individuals and those who identify as transgender. Findings suggest that as compared with cisgender participants, transgender individuals experience a higher frequency of discrimination related to housing and employment. Factors associated with experiencing discrimination include gender identity; length of time being out, that is, openly disclosing their sexual orientation and/or gender identity; age; and race. Results of this study make clear that it is imperative for social workers, educators, and other human service professionals to be aware of and actively work against transphobic policies and actions that affect the quality of life for transgender individuals beyond the already increased discrimination risks faced by the LGBTQ community.

Exploring Individual and Structural Factors Associated with Employment Among Young Transgender Women of Color Using a No-Cost Transgender Legal Resource Center

“…First, at a structural level, assisting displaced and/or unstably housed young trans women appears to be critical for employment and may also address a host of poor health outcomes associated with unstable housing, including increased HIV risk. 9,36,37 Although, several housing assistance programs exist for people living with HIV, few resources are available specifically for transgender people who are HIV-negative. 27 Indeed, nearly one in three (29%) of transgender people in the NTDS reported being turned away from a shelter due to their transgender identity.…”

“…5 Housing may be particularly important as young women transition and may experience bouts of familial and social rejection, which leave them few housing options. 9,36,37 Unfortunately, such rejection is met with limited legal protection against housing discrimination. In the United States, 19% transgender people have been refused a home or apartment and 11% have been evicted because of their transgender identity.…”

“…1 However, such stark disparities in HIV infection cannot be attributed to individual level behavior alone, but are situated in larger social and structural contexts that proximate young trans women of color to increased HIV exposure, including social and economic marginalization. 2–9 …”

“…11–17 Indeed, despite increased legal protections and rights for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, few laws specifically protect transgender people from discrimination, including employment and housing discrimination. 9,18,19 As a result, a fair majority of young trans women of color live in poverty, experiencing high rates of unemployment, homelessness, and limited access to healthcare. 16,20–22 In particular, the 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS) reports that roughly 28% of black and 18% of Latino/a transgender respondents were unemployed, four times, and twice, the rate of the general population, respectively.…”

“…More specifically, this study considers how specific structural factors, such as education, housing, workplace discrimination, incarceration, and legal name status on identification documents, and individual factors, such as job-seeking self-efficacy, perceived confidence passing in public, self-esteem, HIV status, and engagement with transactional sex work, relate with employment. Given the extant literature on trans-gender employment, we hypothesize that key structural factors (e.g., education, housing, workplace discrimination, and legal name change status on identification documents) 2,4,5,7–9 will be associated with the current employment status of young trans women of color. Furthermore, given the research literature on employment among marginalized populations, we hypothesize that individual factors (e.g., job-seeking self-efficacy, confidence passing in public, self-esteem, HIV-status, transactional sex work) 7–9,18,19,24,28–30 will also be associated with the employment status of young trans women of color.…”