‘Delivering Equality’ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGB&T) Module 3: Transgender

Transgender Programme 1. Aims 2. Background 3. Trans Definitions 4. Trans Population Size 5. Case for Change 6. Trans and the law 7. Trans health 8. Contact Us

Aims Participant’s will increase their awareness of the issues experienced on a personal, community and institutional level by Trans (LGB&T)

Background In April 2012, NHS Somerset and Somerset LINk jointly commissioned the Diversity Trust to find out about the experiences and views of LGBT people of health and social care in Somerset. In particular, they wanted to hear about the stories, both positive and negative, LGBT people in Somerset had to tell about accessing and receiving health and social care. The research was carried out throughout the county between April and October 2012.

Trans Definitions Trans/Transgender: an umbrella term for whose gender identity and/or gender expression diverges in some way from the sex they were assigned at birth Includes people who identify as Transsexual Those who identify as non-binary or on a gender spectrum May include transvestites and cross- dressers The Transgender community prefers the abbreviated term ‘Trans’

Trans Population Size At present, there is no official estimate of the Trans population in the UK. The Census does not ask if people identify as Trans it did not include a question in the 2011 Census Gender Identity Research in Education Society (GIRES), in their Home Office funded study, estimate the number of Trans people in the UK to be between 300,000 and 500,000

Case for Change Trans women and men frequently encounter barriers in health and social care services, with policies and access to adequate and safe treatment being inconsistent and generally unsatisfactory

Gender Recognition Act In 2004 the Gender Recognition Act becomes law. Trans people are able to obtain a 'Gender Recognition Certificate' which enables them to get a new birth certificate of their chosen gender identity

Gender Dysphoria Means ‘discomfort’ with your assigned gender Trans people identify with or wish to be considered as the opposite gender. There is a spectrum of identity that is not necessarily static gender variance Transsexual people wish to change their gender completely and seek medical interventions to confirm that need Emerging evidence that the brain anatomy and physiology in transsexual people is similar to that of the desired gender.

Trans People Appear in every culture, not just in Western culture Have existed through recorded history Cross all economic and social boundaries Are women and men Are not “sick” or “defective” Are simply part of natural variation Want no more than to be themselves Sometimes need the assistance of medicine to reach that goal Need to be treated with respect and dignity

Transition Can be extremely stressful and disabling It’s one of the biggest changes anyone can make to their lives Many lose friends, family and homes, often all in one go and trans people need support Many years of male/female gender socialisation to undo and new behaviours to learn Hormone therapy and gender confirmation surgery works well, but is not currently available in the UK for people under 18

Transition Gender Dysphoria is not a mental health problem, although it is (still) treated as one by most of the medical profession The stresses of coming to terms with GD and going through transition can trigger mental health issues Physical health can be affected too Loss of confidence and self esteem Can lead to isolation, self harm and suicide

Quality of Life In the ‘Count Me In Too’ study in Brighton and Hove in 2008 Trans respondents are three times more likely than non-trans respondents to have an income of less than £10,000 a year Only 26% of trans respondents are in full-time employment Trans people are more likely to be parents or closely related to a child compared with LGB people 35% of trans respondents are disabled or have a long-term health impairment

NHS Experience 16% of trans respondents think that the quality of care delivered by their current GP is poor or very poor, while 62% think it is good or very good Many Trans people experience difficulties finding a trans-friendly (or non- Transphobic) GP and the process of finding such a GP is subject to pure chance

Trans Sexual Health Trans people are more likely (56%) than non-trans people (37%) to not know where to find help around sex and relationships Trans people are more likely (38%) than non-trans people (24%) to say they have never had a sexual health check up

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