A new survey of transgender persons in America is being called one of the biggest ever on the topic.
The survey includes a focus on Michigan, where it found the transgender population suffers from high levels of poverty, unemployment, and psychological stress.
Of the 28 thousand transgender persons surveyed 900 were Michigan residents.
In Michigan about one third of of transgender persons reported living in poverty, and 43 percent said they felt psychological distress.
Rachel Snyder is a Chapter Leader for Transgender Michigan in Traverse City. She said efforts to promote legislative equality for transgender persons have been shot down before.
“The Eliot Larsen’s project was one I was involved with a few years ago. We weren’t trying to change the non discrimination policy we were just trying to add basically there would be no discrimination based on sexual orientation or the way you identified. That was shot down.”
Snyder said the survey finding that 19% of transgender persons are unemployed is unsurprising.
“It’s not only jobs it’s housing. I live in an apartment complex, a very wonderful place, but I do know of other apartment complexes that people have discriminated against. Instead of saying ‘oh you have to leave now’ it’s ‘we’re not going to renew your lease.’”
Snyder said the suicide rate is high in the transgender community, largely because support systems are hard to find.
“I have a support group that I’ve had some parents say ‘I don’t understand it, I don’t ever will but I don’t want to lose my son or my daughter.’ That’s what it takes some times.’
Snyder said increasing the visibility of people in the transgender community is important - but there also needs to be protections for those that come out.