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Transgender People

An estimated 2.8 million people ages 13 and older in the U.S. identify as transgender. Transgender people live in every state, are ethnically and racially diverse, and offer a range of skills, expertise, and experiences. In recent years, the collective work of movement organizations has resulted in greater visibility and advocacy for transgender people across the country. Unfortunately, due to increased anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, escalated violence, and legislation, executive orders, and other targeted actions, transgender people are experiencing an extraordinarily difficult political environment, leading to significant impacts on their everyday lives.  

The following resources offer an overview into the lives of transgender people, maps and reports about the policy landscape and the impact on the health and wellbeing of transgender youth and adults.

Related Resources

Medicaid Coverage of Transgender-Related Health Care
Map
Bans on Best Practice Medical Care for Transgender Youth
Bans on best-practice medical care represent one of the most extreme and coordinated political attacks on transgender people in recent years. These bills target transgender youth by blocking their access to best-practice medical care.
Map
Bans on Transgender Youth Participation in Sports
Map
Identity Document Laws and Policies
These maps illustrate the state laws and administrative polices governing the processes by which an individual can change the gender marker on their driver's license and/or birth certificate to accurately reflect their gender identity, sometimes including intrusive and outdated requirements, such as proof of sex reassignment surgery and court orders.
Map
Healthcare Laws and Policies
Map
New Survey Reveals Dramatic Changes for LGBTQ Adults Since November 2024
This brief details nationally representative survey data that provide a critical snapshot into the experiences, concerns, and actions of LGBTQ people since the November 2024 election.
Brief
In Their Own Words: Learning from LGBTQ Youth Experiences to Tell a New Story
By combining new insights on who LGBTQ youth are and examining how social dynamics and public policy shape their lives, this comprehensive report expands our understanding of an often overlooked but frequently debated community.
Report
Barriers to ID Access Impact Everyone — Here’s Why.
Barriers to IDs create and perpetuate a harmful cycle that makes existing inequalities worse and harms those who are less able to access the right documents. A new MAP infographic highlights these barriers and the unique ways not having an ID impacts different communities.
Blog Post
On Transgender Day of Visibility, We Cannot Allow This Administration to Erase Us
This post by Kellan Baker highlights the concerning efforts by the federal government to exclude transgender people in federal research, data collection, and statistical systems.
Blog Post
Fact Sheet: Identity Documents and Transgender People

This fact sheet comes from MAP’s full-length report and highlights the unique impacts of system-level failures related to ID documents on transgender and nonbinary people.

Fact Sheet
President Trump’s Day 1 Anti-Transgender Executive Order: What You Need To Know
Blog Post
On TDoR, Remembering Lives Lost and Resourcing Ourselves for a Better Future
Blog Post
Freedom Under Fire: The Far Right’s Battle to Control America
Across virtually every aspect of life, people’s freedoms are under assault in the United States. This report connects the dots on how these extremist politicans' attempts aim to fundamentally remake this country.
Report
LGBTQ Policy Spotlight: Bans on Medical Care for Transgender People
In this report, MAP analyzed more than 250 bills introduced in recent years that attack access to medical care for transgender people. The report's findings detail the extent of how recent bills targeting medically necessary care for transgender people are expanding and becoming more extreme.
Report
In the Worst Legislative Session Ever, Trans People Will Still Win
Blog Post
The ID Divide: How Barriers to ID Impact Different Communities and Affect Everyone
This report illustrates clear, achievable ID policies that promote public safety and good governance while still ensuring that people can have their basic needs met and have an equal opportunity to participate in civic and everyday life.
Report
Why Being Visible in Data is So Critical for Transgender People in the U.S.
Blog Post
Get the Facts: Best Practice Medical Care For Trans Youth

The recent wave of bans attempting to block best-practice medical care for transgender youth has been fertile political ground in an election year.    

Blog Post
Policy Spotlight: Curriculum Censorship & Hostile School Climate Bills

Curriculum Censorship & Hostile School Climate Bills examines the wave of state legislation that censor discussions of race, ethnicity, religion, and LGBTQ people in schools and that create a hostile climate for students. Curriculum Censorship Bills, including So-Called “Don’t Say Gay” Bills and Bans on Critical Race Theory School censorship

Report
LGBTQ Policy Spotlight: Efforts to Ban Health Care for Transgender Youth

In 2021 alone, legislatures in 22 states have introduced bills to ban best practice medical care for transgender young people. MAP’s report, Efforts to Ban Health Care for Transgender Youth, provides an overview of the legislative environment across the country, the harmful impacts these bills could have, as well a

Report
Week #1: 10 Ways President Biden Can Support LGBTQ People

This brief highlights 10 actions the Biden administration can immediately start to ensure LGBTQ people and their families can be protected from discrimination.

Brief
Where We Call Home: Transgender People in Rural America

Stereotypes and pop culture portrayals often overlook the diversity of rural America, framing rural regions as made up predominantly of white, politically conservative people who are hostile to LGBT people. But millions of LGBT people, including transgender people, live in rural communities—and while some struggle, others thrive. The Movement Advancement

Report
Can LGBT People Be Legally Fired? U.S. Supreme Court Considers Three Cases That Could Take America Backward

In October 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in three cases that could determine whether lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people will continue to have protections under federal nondiscrimination law, or whether it would be legal

Brief
Infographic: Get the Facts About Trans Youth

February 2019 – As part of the “Advancing Acceptance” public education campaign, MAP, the Biden Foundation and Gender Spectrum released new resources including a new infographic, a clearinghouse of helpful links, tips for advancing the conversation, and policy recommendations geared toward promoting acceptance within families and communities of transgender and

Infographic

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