Transgender and Cisgender US Veterans Have Few Health Differences

July 2018

Using data from the 2014-2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a nationally representative survey led by the CDC, this study compares the health of transgender and cisgender veterans and civilians. It was published in Health Affairs in July 2018.

AUTHORS

Janelle Downing
Assistant Professor, OHSU-PSU School of Public Health
Kerith J. Conron
Research Director
Jody L. Herman
Senior Scholar of Public Policy
John R. Blosnich
Research Health Scientist, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

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Highlights

The mental and physical health of transgender veterans is similar to that of cisgender veterans.

Transgender people assigned female at birth were five times more likely to be veterans compared to cisgender females.

Transgender veterans experience higher rates of poverty and less education and are less likely to be married than cisgender veterans.

Data Points

163,000

transgender veterans live in the U.S.

8%

of transgender people assigned female at birth are veterans

2%

of cisgender females are veterans

11%

of transgender people assigned male at birth are veterans

19%

of cisgender males are veterans

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