According to a new study of the state’s transgender population conducted in part by a University of Maryland graduate student, almost three-quarters of transgender people in Maryland were concerned about being severely judged when seeking medical care, and almost a third interrupted needed treatment.
The Maryland Trans Survey, the largest of its kind ever in the state, examined a range of healthcare, financial, legal, and discrimination experiences among 750 transgender individuals across all counties and Baltimore. The Queer/Trans Collective for Research on Equity and Wellness, which conducts community-based research to ensure gay and transgender communities are represented in scientific publications, conducted the neighborhood firm Trans Maryland. It was made public prior to the international observance of Transgender Day of Visibility on Sunday.
The survey, conducted online between May and December 2023, also revealed that transgender people in Maryland have an alarming rate of violence and victimization, with 78.2% reporting at least one incident of verbal abuse and 46.1% reporting experiencing physical or sexual assault. Other findings included trends in income and employment, such as the fact that 22.7% of respondents have experienced major financial crises in the last year, and insights regarding identity documents, with just over half of those who have an ID that accurately reflects their gender.
M Pease ’22, a doctoral student in counseling psychology and lead author of the initial findings report, said, “We really wanted to have data that clarified some of those experiences with policies where the state has strengths and also has room to grow.” Son Taylor, project lead from Towson University, Trans Maryland Executive Director Lee Blinder, Principal Investigator and Professor Paz Galupo, and postdoctoral researcher Zakary Clements, both from Washington University in St. Louis, were the other authors.
In other wellness-related results, while 94.4% of respondents had some type of health insurance, 20.1% reported that they had no place to go for health advice, and 32.5% didn’t have a primary care provider. Additionally, among individuals who sought transgender-related surgery, 85.2% experienced barriers to access.
These findings have important policy implications, Pease said, especially as people travel to states like Maryland, where there is no shortage of transgender laws.
Being aware of the gaps in the availability of providers who are competent in supporting transgender patients, and the extent to which they can access affirmative care, is crucial, they said.
The survey also revealed a diverse transgender community in Maryland, with participants ranging from 18 to 80 years old and representing a variety of races, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities.
“Our data really counteracts some of those one-dimensional narratives about how the transgender community looks and feels about who we are,” according to Pease. “It is a tremendous strength that we have such a rich and vibrant community.”
The survey’s findings can inform policymakers and advocates to improve transgender experiences and promote inclusion in the state and beyond, according to Pease.
“I believe that visibility transcends just our existence being passively tolerated within society,” they said. “I think it means truly resolving the ways in which we oppress gender diversity.” And in order to do that, I believe it is to develop policies, put care, love, and joy in the community at the forefront, respect our dignity, and begin to address the disparities that this report highlights proactively.
