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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Allegra Raboff Gordon, MPH and Ilan H. Meyer, PhD. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 631 Catharine St., #3, Philadelphia, PA 19147, 267-467-6478, allegra@alum.swarthmore.edu

Background: Individuals who are perceived as transgressing normative gender roles and presentation are often subjected to prejudice and violence. Perceived gender nonconformity has been identified as a target of prejudice, discrimination, and violence against transgender individuals, but less is known about its role in antigay violence. Method: Project Stride is a longitudinal study of stress, minority identities and mental health in diverse lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) communities. 396 Black, Latino, and White respondents, aged 18-59, were interviewed in person. We assessed a history of major events over the lifetime, whether they were caused by prejudice, and the type of prejudice involved. Results: Many prejudice events related to sexual orientation were interconnected with gender nonconformity. Of 133 participants who experienced one or more events involving prejudice based on sexual orientation, a quarter of them (n = 36) experienced gender nonconformity-based prejudice as part of or an antecedent to the antigay event. Through further analysis of these event narratives we will illustrate that perceived gender transgression was often explicitly targeted by the perpetrator in the course of the event, and such events frequently involved threats and/or violence. Discussion: Understanding of hate crimes and other forms of prejudice against LGB populations has been limited by classification of such prejudice solely in terms of sexual orientation, overlooking the role of perceived gender nonconformity of LGB individuals. These results highlight the necessity of measuring both constructs in order to create a more nuanced understanding of the structures operating underneath prejudice events and hate crimes.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Articulate the distinction between gender identity, sexual orientation, and gender nonconformity.
• Identify three health outcomes that could be associated with discrimination based on gender presentation and perceived gender nonconformity.
• Discuss the significance of incorporating perceived gender nonconformity into the measurement and reporting of antigay prejudice and hate crimes.

Keywords: Gender, Vulnerable Populations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation