High HIV, Imprisonment Among Transwomen

In recent years, there has been a growing body of evidence that transgender women have disproportionately high rates of HIV infection and substance use, as well as unemployment, poverty, violence, victimization and discrimination. The National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS), conducted during 2008-2009, collected data on the life experiences of a large sample of transgender and gender-nonconforming adults from across the U.S.

Researchers from The Fenway Institute and Harvard School of Public Health recently analyzed the NTDS data to determine the rates of incarceration and victimization while incarcerated among nearly 3,900 transgender women.

"Interventions and policy changes are needed to support transgender women while incarcerated and upon release," concluded the study researchers.

Overall, nearly one-fifth (19 percent) of the transgender women participants reported having ever been incarcerated. There were substantial racial and ethnic disparities in the incarceration rates for transgender women, with the highest rates among Blacks (56 percent) and Native American/Alaskan Natives (33 percent), and the lowest among non-Hispanic Whites (15 percent).

In addition, transgender women with a history of incarceration were significantly more likely to have low income, have lower educational attainment, and to be publicly insured or uninsured than transgender women who had never been incarcerated.

Among the incarcerated transgender women, nearly half (47 percent) reported being mistreated or victimized while incarcerated. Black, Latina, and mixed-race transgender women were more than twice as likely to report experiences of mistreatment and victimization while incarcerated as White transgender women.

Another recent brief from the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP), in Edinburgh, U.K.., found great disparities in the way trans sex workers were treated.

"Trans sex workers (TSWs) are amongst the most marginalized and vulnerable sex workers due to widespread social stigmatization attributable, in general, to transphobic prejudice in almost all countries," read the paper.

The 14-page briefing paper focuses on the issues and needs identified by TSWs in NSWP-sponsored focus groups and an online questionnaire. These include the criminalization of sex work, violence targeting TSWs, and pervasive discrimination that limits access to education and employment, housing, justice, and appropriate health care services.

The paper includes a series of recommendations to guide policy-makers, program designers, funders, TSW allies, and the news media who wish to support TSW advocacy and activism efforts worldwide.

For more information, visit http://www.nswp.org/