Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Physical Therapy Services

Transgender patients that are prepping for, or have undergone gender confirmation surgery (also termed gender affirmation surgery or gender reassignment surgery), will require comprehensive, skilled services.

The transgender population needs the support of our community, and from a young age. Gender identity, gender expression and sexual orientation as portrayed by society may conflict with how adolescents are perceiving themselves. This can have devastating consequences, including suicide. The transgender population has an alarmingly high suicide rate – 41% at some point in their lives, compared with 4.6% of the general population (from American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Williams Institute from results analyzed from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey). 98% of respondents of that survey that had experienced four instances of violence and discrimination that year had thought about suicide, and 51% had attempted suicide in that year. Providers need to educate themselves and be sensitive to these challenges that are faced, and access to services is essential to their physical and mental health.

As part of this mission, we will provide access to skilled, gender affirming, no cost care to these individuals in LGBTQIA - ally facilities that can support the pre- and post-operative needs of these patients. This population is especially high-risk and has less access to basic and specialized health services according to the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey (A report by the National Center for Transgender Equality):

• 29% of transgender people live in poverty, compared to 14% of the general population
• 30% of transgender people report being homeless at some point in their lives, with 12% saying it was within the past 12 months
• Transgender people experience unemployment at 3x the rate of the general population, with rates for people of color up to 4x the national unemployment rate
• 30% of transgender people report being fired, denied a promotion, or experiencing mistreatment in the workplace due to their gender identity in the past 12 months
• 31% of transgender people experienced mistreatment in the past year in a place of public accommodation, including 14% who were denied equal service, 24% who were verbally harassed, and 2% who were physically attacked because they were transgender
• 40% of respondents reported attempting suicide in their lifetime, nearly nine times the attempted suicide rate in the United States (4.6%)

Transgender people, particularly transgender women of color, face alarmingly high rates of murder, homelessness, and incarceration. Most states and countries offer no legal protections in housing, employment, health care, and other areas where individuals experience discrimination based on their gender identity or expression.

Resources:

• Los Angeles LGBT Center
• WeHo Transgender Resource Guide
• The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)
• Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy
• Trans Ally Resources