Transgender individuals suffer inequity in many aspects of their lives, including in schools, at workplaces, in the military, in prison, and as parents. They may also lack sufficient access to appropriate healthcare and access to public accommodations and restrooms. Although some progress has been made in the area of rights for gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals, the area of transgender rights has been slower to evolve.

In some contexts, there are federal, state, or local laws prohibiting discrimination against transgender individuals. In other areas, policies exist, but often have no real teeth, remaining mere guidance for administrative bodies rather than a legally sanctioned deterrent to discriminatory or hostile conduct. Certain policies that actively hinder transgender individuals are still in effect, such as a ban on being publicly out in the military.

Parental Rights

Parents who come out as transgender or those who transition after having children sometimes find that their former partner or spouse can use this information to restrict custody or visitation.

While courts generally look at the best interests of the child in these situations, each state approaches the factors that are considered relevant to a child's best interests differently. Usually, however, they assume that children benefit from knowing both of their parents and visitation is granted liberally. The outcome of child custody proceedings when a parent is transgender is difficult to predict, however. You should retain an experienced family lawyer who understands gender orientation and parental rights as a result.

Healthcare Law

Healthcare law for transgender patients changed significantly in 2014. The federal Affordable Care Act includes anti-discrimination provisions that pertain to transgender people. For example, insurance plans cannot refuse to cover you on the grounds that your gender identity is considered a pre-existing condition. Health programs and organizations that are funded and administered by the federal government also cannot discriminate against you because of your transgender status or in instances where the staff believes you do not conform to gender stereotypes and interprets this in a negative light. The future of the Affordable Care Act remains uncertain in the current political situation, but at present it remains in effect.

Criminal Justice and Prisoners’ Rights

The Eighth Amendment of the Constitution and the 2003 Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) provide guarantees about the health and safety of transgender prisoners. Under the Eighth Amendment, a prison is required to provide its transgender inmates with adequate healthcare to address serious medical needs. Gender dysphoria is considered a serious medical need. Prisoners' rights include the right to be treated for gender dysphoria.

Immigration

Transgender people immigrate to the United States for many different reasons, some using federally recognized processes and documents that verify their legal status and others becoming undocumented immigrants. It is estimated that at least 15,000 to 50,000 undocumented LGBTQ immigrants are transgender. Fear of persecution or violence based on gender identity can be the basis for asylum relief, or withholding of removal or relief under the Convention Against Torture for undocumented immigrants.

Military Service

Military service is an area where transgender individuals are actively discriminated against. Although "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed for gay, lesbian, and bisexual military service members in 2011, it has stayed in effect for transgender individuals. To date, about 15,500 transgender service members serve in the military without being able to disclose their gender identity. However, active duty service members currently need to be aware that trying to change their name or gender in military records, or disclosing their gender identities to others, may jeopardize their position in the military and put them at risk of being discharged.

Public Accommodations

Public accommodations are sites like libraries, hospitals, restaurants, grocery stores, and homeless shelters that offer the public goods and services. Transgender people often experience discrimination while using public accommodations. While federal anti-discrimination laws don't prohibit discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity, many states and cities do outlaw sex discrimination in local laws or ordinances. Transgender individuals can bring claims on the grounds that "sex" includes gender identity, and some courts have interpreted the term inclusively.

Airport Security

Airport security provided by the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) involves invasive body imaging as well as pat-downs to screen passengers. These protocols can cause transgender travelers to feel particularly uncomfortable. You may elect to either being screened with a full-body scanner or a pat down. If you feel your screening was inappropriate, you can request to speak to a supervisor, file a complaint through the United States Department of Homeland Security's Travel Redress Program, or contact the TSA Office of Civil Rights.

School Issues

The primary protection for transgender and gender nonconforming students is Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in any school that receives federal funding, including secondary schools, colleges, and universities. Courts interpret "sex discrimination" inclusively and include discrimination against transgender individuals. However, religious institutions may obtain exemptions from Title IX.

Identification Documents

It is critical for transgender individuals to understand their rights in terms of identification documents. Unfortunately, the agencies that issue identity documents, including driver's licenses, birth certificates, and passports, each have different requirements for changing names and gender markers. In many states, you can start by petitioning the court to change your name and gender. However, some states are altering the process by which transgender individuals can change these markers. For example, in California, you can submit a form and doctor's letter to the Department of Health to amend certain documents such as a birth certificate once you receive a court-ordered name and gender change, rather than having to return to court on multiple occasions.

Last updated July 2018