This Is Something We Know

All the statistics show how marginalized we are, high suicide rate, high drug and alcohol usage, high homeless rates, we as a community know that it is because of discrimination and bigotry that the numbers are so high. Now a study confirms it.

Gender Nonconforming Transgender People Face Greater Discrimination And Health Risks, Study Finds
ThinkProgress
By Zack Ford
October 7, 2015

A new study published last month in Sociological Forum has found two important connections that demonstrate how discrimination has a negative impact on the health and well-being of transgender people.

The study from Indiana University involved a new analysis of the data collected in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey. It specifically looked at how gender conformity impacted whether transgender people experienced discrimination, and whether experiencing discrimination caused individuals to have more health issues.

Consistent with other findings, the study found that the more everyday and major discrimination a transgender person experienced, the more likely they were to engage in health-harming behaviors, such as attempting suicide, abusing drugs or alcohol, and smoking. This is further evidence that the mental health consequences transgender people experience are not a result of being transgender, but a result of how they are treated for being transgender.

Furthermore, the study found that trans people were more likely to experience discrimination if they were perceived to be trans or gender nonconforming. In other words, the more likely they are to be “clocked” or “read” as transgender, “the more they are subject to major and day-to-day discriminatory treatment.” Likewise, in combination with the first finding, “gender nonconformity predicted greater likelihood of attempted suicide, drug/alcohol abuse, and smoking — a relationship that was partially mediated by major and everyday discrimination.”

This is one of those “Well Duh!” we knew that. Those who can integrate into society do not face discrimination; it is the trans person who is easily identified as trans that faces the discrimination and hatred. But that is also true for gays and lesbians, those who do not fit into the gender norms are the ones who are harassed and belittled.
The article goes on to say…

The study confirms previous analysis that discrimination is linked to suicide attempt rates and further counters the argument made by conservatives that transgender people are inherently mentally ill.

It is the children that are too tall, too short, too overweight, the boy who is too feminine, the girl that is too masculine that are picked on in school. They also face a high suicide rate, those that are marginalized are singled out and harassed.