Session: Gender-Based, Family, and Community Violence Impacting Transgender and Gender-Diverse Populations: Lived Experiences and Strategies for Resistance (Society for Social Work and Research 23rd Annual Conference - Ending Gender Based, Family and Community Violence)

Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) populations are at incredible risk for gender-based, family, and community violence, including being physically or sexually assaulted, mistreated in healthcare or social services, bullied at school, or killed. This symposium will include four presentations detailing how violence impacts TGD communities and strategies for counteracting such violence. Based on a systematic review of the qualitative literature, the first paper examines intimate partner violence (IPV) as it impacts TGD populations. Thirty-one qualitative or mixed methods studies were identified across eight different countries. Participants in these studies reported multiple types of IPV and physical, sexual, and emotional/controlling violence. Several articles contained themes of both re-victimization and the potential for validation/affirmation of identity at social service organizations and shelters following IPV. The presenter will discuss implications of these findings and identify future research needs. The second paper will detail experiences of community violence among TGD youth and young adults (YYA) who have been homeless and coping strategies. Data were collected as part of a larger national study on homelessness, which included distribution of a survey to YYA across seven U.S. cities. The final sample included 107 TGD YYA. Over half of participants reported being threatened with physical assault while homeless, 40% reported being forced to have sex, and 32% were victims of sexual assault. Participants coped by recognizing their own strength and concentrating on solving their problems. The presenter will identify interventions that may help eliminate such violence. The third presentation touches upon gender-based and community violence within the norms and policies of healthcare settings as they impact transmasculine adults. While the occurrence of trans-related structural violence (or stigma) in healthcare is well-documented, there is a need for research into the actions that can be taken to counteract such violence. This project asks: What strategies do transmasculine adults use to resist and reduce the impact of transgender structural stigma in healthcare? Based on interviews with 25 transmasculine adults in a mid-Atlantic city, eight themes were identified related to strategies of resistance. This presentation will detail the strategies used by this sample, and how they differ based on intersectionality of identities. The fourth paper presents a study of transgender women in Lebanon regarding macro-level community violence, including war exposure. The purpose was to culturally adapt and pilot test a peer-facilitated group intervention to mitigate HIV risk and mental health symptoms and study whether war event exposure is associated with mental health and sexual health behavior. A significant decrease in anxiety was moderated by war event exposure (p=0.0036). Higher war event exposure also correlated with PTSD, depression, and condomless receptive anal intercourse. Community connectedness was associated with low depression. Results indicate the importance of building community resilience through group interventions. Following these presentations, this symposium will have an open discussion about the way violence continues to impact the lives of TGD people across many life sectors, the connection between trans-related violence and the current political environment, and strategies for ending violence that targets TGD people through social work practice, advocacy, and research.