Conforming for Survival: Associations Between Transgender Visual Conformity/Passing and Homelessness Experiences

Purpose: Transgender/gender non-conforming (GNC) individuals face widespread discrimination, harassment, and are frequently victims of transphobic acts of violence. Furthermore, transgender/GNC individuals are twice as likely to experience homelessness than other members of the at-large population, with many reporting that their homelessness was directly related to their transgender/GNC identities. This study uses a national survey to examine, specifically among transgender/GNC individuals: 1) What relationships exist between homelessness prevalence and visual conformity (i.e., the degree to which others would assume an individual is cisgender, meaning that their gender matches the sex they were assigned at birth; often also referred to as “passing”)?, and 2) How is visual conformity/passing associated with this population’s experiences while accessing homeless shelters?

Methods: Collected by the National Center for Transgender Equality, a national advocacy organization, this study utilizes the 2011 National Transgender Discrimination Survey (N=6,454). The survey, which was distributed through partner organizations, social media, and advertisements, was administered online to participants from 50 U.S. States, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Respondents were asked questions about their current living situations, health and demographic questions, and their experiences of discrimination, harassment, and victimization. The current study explores relationships between visual conformity/ability to pass and homelessness, as well as associations between visual conformity and self-reported experiences of accessing homeless shelters.

Results: A substantial portion of the sample experienced homelessness at some point (n = 721, 11.2%). Individuals who were least visually-conforming were significantly more likely to ever needing to find temporary places to sleep, (X²(4) = 55.77, p <  .001), ever becoming homeless, (X²(4) = 43.04, p <  .001), and current homelessness, (X²(2) = 10.72, p <  .01). The same individuals were less likely to seek access to shelters than their visually-conforming counterparts, (X²(4) = 48.24, p <  .001), were more likely to be denied access to shelters, (X²(2) = 13.06, p <  .01), and were more frequently thrown out of shelters, (X²(2) = 7.89, p <  .05). Least-conforming individuals were also more likely to be harassed by shelter residents/staff, (X²(2) = 7.07, p <  .05), to experience physical assault by residents/staff, (X²(2) = 6.78, p <  .05), and were more likely to be forced to live as the wrong gender in order to stay in the shelter, (X²(2) = 7.85, p <  .05), or in order to feel safe in the shelter, (X²(2) = 13.26, p <  .01). Moreover, less visual conformity was associated with leaving shelters due to poor treatment and unsafe conditions, (X²(2) = 13.46, p <  .01).

Implications: Findings suggest that the level to which transgender/GNC individuals are able to visually conform is associated with both homelessness as well as negative experiences incurred while accessing shelters. Future social work research should further investigate avenues that work toward advocating against both housing discrimination as well as how to improve services for homeless transgender/GNC individuals, such that they may access homelessness resources freely and without fear of discrimination, victimization, and being forced to live under false guises of identity.