Executive Summary
One of the main focal points of Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign for president was eliminating legal protections for transgender people. In its first weeks, the Trump administration has already begun a massive attempt to roll back transgender rights. Recognizing the challenging environment that transgender people could face under the current administration, we conducted an anonymous survey using a two-fold recruitment strategy in December 2024 to understand transgender people’s fears, concerns, resilience, and coping strategies in light of the 2024 election results and the upcoming Trump presidency. The following findings are based on responses from 302 transgender, nonbinary, and other gender-diverse people we refer to as “transgender” in this report.
Over a third of the people in our sample were people of color, and over 40% had household incomes under $50,000 a year. When considering the state-level transgender policy environment, as defined by the Movement Advancement Project, 53% of participants lived in more transgender-affirming states, and 47% lived in less transgender-affirming states.
Overall, 93% of respondents were concerned about what a Trump presidency might mean for transgender people. When asked if they felt hopeful about the future, 42% said they were not very hopeful or not at all hopeful. More specifically, they expressed concerns about their safety and well-being, access to gender-affirming care and other forms of health care, legal protections for themselves and their families, and living their lives openly as transgender people. To cope with their fears and concerns, many transgender people reported taking steps to protect their rights, health, and safety; engaging with their friends, family, and community; and participating in self-care through pursuing hobbies, interests, and other strategies. Finally, many transgender people reported responding to the Trump presidency by becoming more active in their LGBTQ communities, including by engaging in activism, advocacy, and mutual aid.
Key Findings
Concerns
Safety and Well-Being
Participants were asked whether their level of concern about their safety and well-being had changed as a result of the outcome of the 2024 election.
In terms of their health and well-being, due to the outcome of the 2024 election:
- 83% had increased concerns about their mental health.
- 65% had increased concerns about their physical health.
In terms of their safety, due to the outcome of the 2024 election:
- 83% were more concerned about being discriminated against.
- 80% were more concerned about being the victim of a hate crime.
- 79% were more concerned about being verbally attacked.
- 74% were more concerned about being physically attacked.
- 59% were more concerned about being the victim of any crime, with participants in less trans-affirming states being more concerned than those in more trans-affirming states.
When asked about their comfort level around asking the police for help if they were discriminated against, attacked, or the victim of a crime, almost half (48%) of participants said they would feel less comfortable as a result of the outcome of the 2024 election.
Access to Gender-Affirming Care
- Overall, almost two-thirds (65%) of the sample were very (40%) or somewhat (25%) concerned about future access to gender-affirming care (GAC) as a result of the 2024 election.
- Over one in four (28%) said there were specific aspects of GAC they had previously planned to pursue that they were now delaying or forgoing. Those with household incomes less than $25,000 per year and those who were living in less transgender-affirming states were more likely to say that they were delaying or forgoing care.
- Approximately one in five (21%) reported that they were fast-tracking (i.e. expediting) elements of their GAC as a result of the election outcome.
We considered three groups of transgender people more specifically in terms of concerns about accessing gender-affirming care (GAC) during the Trump presidency: those who a) had access to and were using GAC, b) those with access to GAC but who were not currently using it, and c) those currently without access to GAC.
- Those currently accessing GAC were the most likely to have concerns about being able to continue their care—85% were very or somewhat concerned.
- Among those who had access to but were not using GAC, four out of 10 said that the 2024 election outcome meant that they would be less likely to pursue GAC, and one-third said that there were specific aspects of GAC that they had previously planned that they now would delay or not pursue.
- Almost half of those without access to GAC said the 2024 election outcome meant they would be less likely to pursue GAC.
Access to General Health Care
- Almost three-fourths of participants (73%) were concerned that the quality of their health care in general would become worse due to the 2024 election outcome.
- Those with household incomes less than $25,000 per year were significantly more likely to voice concern (89%) that their health care in general would become worse than those whose household incomes exceeded $25,000 per year (68%).
- One-fourth (24%) said they were very much (8%) or somewhat (16%) less likely to pursue general health care as a result of the 2024 election. Those in less transgender-affirming states were more likely to say that they would avoid health care compared to those in more transgender-affirming states.
Legal Recognition and Rights
Participants also expressed concerns about legal recognition and rights related to themselves and their families post-election. Many had already taken steps toward protecting themselves and their families in anticipation of the Trump administration:
- Motivated by the results of the 2024 election, 42% of participants had already taken at least one legally protective action.
- Those with more education and resources were more likely to do so. About half (49%) of college-educated participants had pursued at least one legally protective action compared to one-third (33%) of non-college-educated participants.
- Of those without updated state IDs prior to the election, 29% reported changing or updating state IDs. Of these, over three-fourths (78%) faced financial challenges in updating their IDs, and 91% encountered delays when trying to do so.
- Of those who were married or partnered and had not pursued additional legal safeguards prior to the election, 29% reported pursuing these to protect their relationship with their partner. Of these, 69% found it financially challenging to do so, and 44% encountered delays.
- Of those with children who had not pursued legal safeguards prior to the election, 33% reported taking action to protect their relationships with their children. Of these, 83% experienced financial challenges, and three-fourths (75%) encountered delays.
Being Out as Transgender
Participants also expressed concerns about living their lives openly as transgender people as a result of the 2024 election. They indicated these concerns by responding they would be less out in some settings as transgender, downplay their transgender identity, and avoid some public places and activities altogether.
Outness
- In the workplace, 49% of respondents with supervisors were somewhat or much less likely to be out to them. Of those with coworkers, 46% were less likely to be out to them.
- Regarding their living situation, 59% of respondents with landlords were somewhat or much less likely to be out to them. Of those with fellow tenants, 44% were less likely to be out to them.
- Regarding accessing health care other than GAC, 44% were somewhat or much less likely to be out to health care providers.
- At school, 41% of those with teachers/professors were somewhat or much less likely to be out to them, and 44% were less likely to be out to other students.
- In terms of social support, about one-third were somewhat or much less likely to be out to extended family members (38%), non-LGBTQ friends (34%), and members of their religious and/or spiritual communities (32%).
Covering Behaviors
“Covering” behaviors are changes to behavior, appearance, or speech to downplay visibility as a transgender person. Approximately 80% of respondents said that as a result of the 2024 election, they would engage in covering behaviors. Sixty percent said they would make three or more changes, and over one in four (28%) said they would make six or more changes. For example, many participants reported that they planned to change their bathroom use and limit their speech related to their gender identity.
- Changing bathroom use. Two-thirds of participants (66%) said that, as a result of the 2024 election, they would change their use of bathrooms in at least one way, such as avoiding multiple-stall restrooms (48%), avoiding using a bathroom in public at all (47%), and using a bathroom that others will perceive as more consistent with their sex assigned at birth (30%).
- Limiting speech. Others reported limiting their speech related to their gender identity. Over half (53%) indicated that they would be somewhat or much more likely not to talk about being transgender, and 41% would be somewhat or much more likely not to talk about political or advocacy issues or activities related to the transgender community. Nearly one-third (30%) said they would be somewhat or much more likely to use pronouns that others will perceive as more consistent with their sex assigned at birth.
- Changing appearance, voice, or mannerisms. One in four (25%) participants indicated that, as a result of the 2024 election, they would be somewhat or much more likely to dress in a way that others will perceive as more consistent with their sex assigned at birth. Approximately one in five said that they would be somewhat or much more likely to change their hair or makeup (21%), voice (21%), or mannerisms (20%) for the same reason.
- Changing their name. Sixteen percent said they would be somewhat or much more likely to revert to their dead name (the name they had been given as a child that does not match their gender identity).
Avoiding Public Places and Activities
Responding to a question about how participants were coping with their fears and concerns after the 2024 election, one-third (33%) said they were socially isolating. Further, when asked whether the outcome of the 2024 election would make them less likely to engage in various activities, many respondents indicated changes in their behavior.
- Among those who traveled/went on vacation, many were somewhat or much less likely to go to less transgender-affirming states (70%) or less affirming parts of their state (65%).
- Among those who used public transportation, approximately one-fourth (27%) were somewhat or much less likely to use it due to the election.
- About one-fourth of those who said the following activities applied to them were somewhat or much less likely to go to LGBTQ events, stores, or venues (27%), or go to the gym, get their hair cut or styled, get their nails done, etc. (26%).
- Over one-fifth of those who went to movies, theaters, or concerts were somewhat or much less likely to engage in these activities (22%). Likewise, of those who went to restaurants, just under one-fifth were somewhat or much less likely to eat out in the future (19%).
Transgender people who lived in less transgender-affirming states were more likely than those in more affirming states to report disengaging from public life in a number of ways. They were significantly more likely to say that they would be less likely to attend LGBTQ events, stores, or venues and go to restaurants, movies, or the theater compared to those who lived in more transgender-affirming states.
Coping Strategies
While transgender people are concerned about the next four years, they also are proactively taking action to care for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Protecting Themselves from Discrimination, Harassment, and Violence
Most participants indicated that they were taking steps to protect themselves from mistreatment, including discrimination, harassment, and violence.
- Over 84% of participants were considering learning about their rights related to safety and discrimination, with over 60% already having started doing so before inauguration day.
- 43% of participants were considering pursuing self-defense classes, with almost 9% already having done this.
- Over one-third of participants (37%) were considering buying a gun and/or learning how to use a gun, with 13% already having done so.
- About two-thirds (67%) were considering other safety measures, such as buying pepper spray or a personal alarm, with 37% already having done so before inauguration day.
Proactively Taking Care of Their Health
Many participants also reported taking steps to care for their physical and mental health.
- Over 72% were considering meeting with health care professionals and therapists, with 29% already having done so.
- More specifically, over half (52%) were starting or continuing therapy.
- Almost half (48%) were considering stockpiling hormones (e.g., estrogen, testosterone) or other medications related to GAC, with nearly one-fourth (22%) already having done so.
Taking Time to Pursue Interests and Hobbies
- Over four in 10 participants (42%) reported engaging in interests and hobbies (i.e., activities they enjoyed, were a form of self-care, and/or served as a means of distraction) as a way to support themselves over the next four years. These interests and hobbies included art, drawing, writing, cooking, dancing, and singing.
- When asked about specific activities, 55% were playing video games, 47% were watching television, 43% were exercising, and 33% were engaging with social media.
- Almost half (47%) indicated that they were connecting with and spending more time in nature.
Engaging with Friends, Family, and Community
- Participants reported creating the support they would need for the next four years by connecting and spending time with friends (74%), pets (53%), partners and children (41%), and families of origin (30%).
- They also reported that they were seeking out community support online (38%) and in their local communities (20%).
Engaging in Advocacy and Mutual Aid
Many participants shared that they were engaging in advocacy and mutual aid in order to help their communities and as a form of self-care.
- One-third (34%) indicated they would engage in activism and advocacy to support themselves during the next four years.
- Three-fourths (76%) were considering organizing with mutual aid and community groups, with one-third (34%) already having done so.
- When asked about changes to their level of transgender advocacy and/or activism as a result of the 2024 election outcome, two-thirds (66%) said they were either going to continue (42%) or increase (14%) their level of advocacy.
- Among the 15% who said they recently decreased their level of advocacy, their main reasons for doing so were exhaustion (76%) and/or concerns about visibility (54%) under the Trump administration.