Trans Voters
Trans people are a powerful part of the electorate
- Three-quarters (75%) of voting eligible respondents reported that they had voted in the 2020 presidential election, compared to 67% in the U.S. population.
- Eighty-two percent (82%) of voting eligible respondents reported that they were registered to vote in the 2020 presidential election, compared to 73% in the U.S. population.
- High voting rates is a trend that is consistent with the 2015 USTS report.
Civic and Political Participation
Trans people are committed to making our voices heard
- More than three quarters of USTS respondents were engaged in civic and political activities in a variety of ways in the year prior to the survey, including more time-intensive activities such as contacting a government official (28%), attending a political protest or rally (26%), or serving on a committee for a civic, non-profit, or community organization (10%).
- From volunteering for or donating to campaigns, issues, or causes, USTS respondents showed up for the 2020 election and beyond.
- During the 2020 presidential election cycle, respondents reported that they donated money to a presidential campaign (13%) or another political candidate, issue, or cause (19%). They also volunteered or worked for a presidential campaign (3%) or another political candidate, issue, or cause (9%).
- More than three-quarters (81%) of respondents participated in at least one civic or political activity in the 12 months prior to taking the survey.
Barriers to Voting
Voting while trans comes with unique challenges
- USTS respondents who were not registered to vote reported reasons that were specifically related to being trans, such as their current name did not match their driver’s license or Social Security card (3%), they wanted to avoid being harassed by election officials because they were transgender (2%), and they thought their state’s voter identification law could stop them from voting (1%).
- Among other top reasons for not being registered to vote, voting eligible respondents who were not registered reported that they were not interested in the election or not involved in politics (24%), they did not think their vote would make a difference (19%), they did not meet registration deadlines (11%), or they did not know where or how to register (10%).
Policy Priorities
In the U.S. Trans Survey, trans people highlight the issues that are most important to them
- The top three policy priorities identified by USTS respondents were violence against transgender people (46%), racial justice (38%) and coverage for trans-related health care (34%).
- USTS respondents also noted the importance of access to health care, income, employment, housing, and access to identity documents that accurately reflect their identities.
Experiences in Restrooms
Discrimination and harassment in public restrooms
- Four percent (4%) of respondents were denied access to a restroom in a public place, at work, or at school in the last 12 months.
- In the last 12 months, 6% of respondents had been verbally harassed, physically attacked, or experienced unwanted sexual contact when accessing or using a restroom.
I have issues navigating through public spaces due to social anxiety. Whenever people stare at me, I immediately think that they're clocking me. I sometimes get panic attacks in the middle of the grocery store because I feel like everyone is judging me. I'm working on changing that, but it can definitely hinder me from doing things I want and need to do.
Vanessa
Identity Documents
Name and gender markers on official records
- Nearly half (48%) of respondents who had at least one form of identity document (such a birth certificate, passport, or driver’s license), said that none of their IDs listed the name they wanted. Twenty percent (20%) had the name they wanted on some of their IDs, and 33% had the name they wanted on all their IDs.
- Fifty-nine percent (59%) of respondents who had at least one ID said that none of their IDs listed the gender they wanted, 23% said some of their IDs listed the gender they wanted, and 19% said that all their IDs listed the gender they wanted.
- Twenty-two percent (22%) of all respondents reported being verbally harassed, assaulted, asked to leave a location, or denied services when they have shown someone an ID with a name or gender that did not match their presentation.
