Racial and Ethnic Differences in Experiences of Discrimination in Accessing Health Services Among Transgender People in the United States

Abstract

Transgender/gender-nonconforming (GNC) individuals experience discrimination at high rates, including 19% in one study who reported having been refused medical care based on the their transgender/GNC identity. These individuals may also experience a lack of respect from medical personnel, a dearth of culturally competent knowledge and medical information around their medical needs, and concerns with safety when accessing medical care. Additionally, people of color experience higher levels of discrimination in health care than their White counterparts. This study examines the prevalence of discrimination faced by transgender/GNC people and compares by race/ethnicity those rates of discrimination when accessing medical services such as emergency rooms, doctors/hospitals, and ambulances/emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Data indicate that while a significant number of transgender/GNC individuals of all races/ethnicities experience discrimination based on transgender/GNC identity, when accessing medical services, transgender/GNC people of color experience higher levels of antitransgender discrimination, including in emergency rooms (χ2[1, N = 6,454] = 31.018, p < .001), with doctors/hospitals (χ2[1, N = 6,454] = 32.831, p < .001), and with ambulances/EMTs (χ2[1, N = 6,454] = 40.523, p < .001). Significant differences by region were found regarding discrimination when individuals attempted access to doctors/hospitals, (χ2[1, n = 4,823] = 20.72, p ≤ .001). Implications of the findings and future research are suggested.