Skip to Content

The largest trans survey in history

Frequently Asked Questions

The 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS) is the largest survey ever conducted to examine the lives and experiences of transgender (trans) people in the United States, with an unprecedented 92,329 respondents from all fifty states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and U.S. military bases overseas.

A portrait of trans lives

The 2022 USTS was an anonymous, online survey for binary and nonbinary trans people aged 16 and older in the United States. It was conducted from October to December 2022 by the Advocates for Trans Equality Education Fund (formerly the National Center for Transgender Equality) and partner organizations, Black Trans Advocacy Coalition (BTAC), National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), and TransLatin@ Coalition (TLC).

The USTS is an important resource that provides much-needed information to help the public understand the lives and experiences of trans people in the United States, the patterns of discrimination many transgender people face, the disparities that many trans people experience, and the need for policy and social change to improve their lives. The USTS also fills in some of the large gaps in research about trans people and provides critical tools for researchers, policymakers, and advocates seeking to better understand the needs of trans people and to find ways to improve their lives.

The 2022 USTS is the follow-up to the widely cited 2015 USTS  and the 2008-09 National Transgender Discrimination Survey. The 2022 USTS provides updated information and expanded perspectives on the experiences of trans people across a wide range of areas, such as education, employment, family life, health, housing, and interactions with police and prisons.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS)?

    The U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS) is the largest survey devoted to the lives and experiences of transgender people across the United States. The USTS was conducted in 2015 and most recently fielded in the fall of 2022. The survey provides a detailed look at the experiences of transgender people across a wide range of areas, such as education, employment, family life, health, housing, and interactions with police and prisons. The survey was presented online in English and Spanish.

  • Who conducts the 2022 USTS?

    The 2022 USTS was conducted by the Advocates for Trans Equality Education Fund (formerly the National Center for Transgender Equality), in partnership with the National Black Trans Advocacy Coalition, TransLatin@ Coalition, and National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA).

  • What topics does the USTS cover?

    The USTS covers the experiences of transgender people in the United States across many areas of life, with hundreds of possible questions covering a range of issues. Topics in the USTS included experiences with education, housing, employment, health, and many other issues that affect transgender people.

  • Who participated in the USTS?

    The USTS is for all trans people ages 16 years and older, including binary and nonbinary trans identities, living in the United States, a U.S. territory, or on a U.S. military base. The 2015 survey included 27,715 respondents from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and several U.S. territories and military bases overseas. The survey was open to trans people at any stage of their lives, journey, or transition. The 2022 USTS included 92,329 respondents. For demographic information on 2022 USTS respondents, download the Early Insights Report.

  • How was the survey made accessible to people with disabilities?

    The survey was accessible to people with physical, sensory, and cognitive disabilities consistent with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. The USTS was accessible for screen reader technology to assist people that are visually impaired. Please contact ustranssurvey@transequality.org with additional questions about accessibility.

  • Was the survey reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB)?

    An IRB reviews, approves, and monitors research involving people and ensures that their confidentiality and other rights are protected. The 2022 survey was reviewed and approved by the University of California, Los Angeles Institutional Review Board.

  • What measures are in place to ensure the confidentiality of participants and ethical use of the data?

    The 2022 USTS has been reviewed and approved by the University of California, Los Angeles Institutional Review Board (IRB). All data are anonymized and stored securely to ensure confidentiality. The data will be used solely for research and educational advocacy purposes, in line with ethical guidelines.

  • When will the 2022 dataset be available?

    The full 2022 dataset is not yet available to the public.  You can request the 2015 USTS dataset through the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research at the University of Michigan.

  • How can I stay updated on the progress of the 2022 USTS reports?

    To stay updated on the progress of the 2022 USTS report, you can subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on social media platforms, or visit our website regularly. We will be posting periodic updates, preliminary findings, and announcements related to the report’s release.

  • How can organizations collaborate with USTS?

    The USTS would not be possible without the support of our partners and collaborators.  We encourage you to share the USTS findings, and the project team is available for speaking engagements and other educational opportunities.  To request a speaker, please contact ustranssurvey@transequality.org.

  • How does USTS align with broader transgender rights and advocacy efforts?

    The USTS data collected serves as an evidence base to better understand the lives of transgender individuals in the United States and its territories.

  • How can researchers access the USTS dataset?

    The 2015 USTS public use data set is available to researchers through the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan. Data are shared in a manner that protects the confidentiality of people who took the survey. Please note that data requests are subject to the terms and conditions set by ICPSR. The 2022 USTS dataset will  be made available  pending completion of the final dataset, codebook, and reports.  For more information about how to request data, please see ICPSR.

  • Where can I find the USTS questionnaire?

    The 2015 USTS questionnaire can be found in Appendix B of the full report, available at www.ustranssurvey.org/reports.  The 2022 USTS questionnaire is being prepared for release and is not yet available to the public. Please contact us at ustranssurvey@transequality.org for further information.