271063 School-based discrimination among multiracial trans people in the national trans discrimination survey

Monday, October 29, 2012

Luis Gutierrez-Mock, MA , Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, UCSF, Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, San Francisco, CA
Background: School-based discrimination is common among transgender (trans) and gender non-conforming youth and is associated with negative health outcomes. Similarly, multiracial and multi-ethnic youth also report experiencing discrimination in school. Additionally, multiracial people experience differences in health outcomes when compared to their monoracial counterparts. No research to date has examined the intersection of multiracial and trans identities.

Methods: Using data from the National Transgender Discrimination Study, this project examined levels of association between reported school-based discrimination among multiracial respondents (N=788) compared to monoracial respondents (N=5529). School-based discrimination was defined as harassment or bullying by students, teachers, and staff. A chi-square test of significance and logistic regression were run, controlling for gender, age, income, and citizenship. Further within-group analysis was conducted among the multiracial respondents, comparing respondents who selected a “multiracial” identity to those who did not.

Findings: School-based discrimination was reported by 23% of all respondents and was highest among multiracial respondents (37%). A significant difference was found in school based discrimination among multiracial respondents when compared to monoracial respondents, X2 (1, N=6,317)= 102 p=0.000. White, Black, and Asian monoracial respondents, were .58 (95% CI .48 - .72), .41 (95% CI .27 - .63), and .54 (95% CI .32 - .91) times as likely (respectively) to report school based discrimination when compared to multiracial respondents.

Conclusions: Given the differences in reported school based discrimination among multiracial trans respondents, further research is urgently needed. Additionally, demographic questions should be changed to accurately capture all racial/ethnic and gender identities.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Other professions or practice related to public health

Learning Objectives:
1. To identify differences in reported school-based discrimination among multiracial and monoracial respondents in the National Transgender Discrimination Survey. 2. To discuss within-group differences in reported school-based discrimination among multiracial respondents.

Keywords: Gender, Ethnic Minorities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I work as the Senior Technology Exchange Specialist at the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health at the University of California, San Francisco. I hold an MA in Sexuality Studies, a second MA in Ethnic Studies, and will complete an MPH in community health education by May, 2012. I formerly served on the Board of Directors for Interracial Family Pride and I was the co-author for the Bay Area Multiracial Youth Health and Wellness Report.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3290.0: LGBT Caucus of Public Health Professionals Poster Session