Survey shows 75% of local transgender community have considered suicide
On Tuesday, Riverside County health officials will release a report on the region’s transgender population, with the goal of sparking discussions on how to improve the community’s health and welfare. Current studies estimate the transgender population of the Inland Empire at nearly 27,000 people.
Ninety individuals who identified themselves as transgender were surveyed for the Inland Empire Transgender Health & Wellness Profile, which includes statistics on physical and verbal abuse, income and education.
Three-quarters of the respondents reported seriously considering suicide, more than half reported being physically and/or verbally abused by a partner or someone else close to them and nearly 20 percent reported being kicked out of their family home.
“The pressure on those within the transgender community, both externally and internally, can be overwhelming,” said Thomi Clinton, director of the Transgender Community Coalition. “There can be feelings of isolation, a lack of understanding and belief that others outside the transgender community
don’t care about you.”
The report follows the county’s 2014 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Health & Wellness Profile, which health officials regarded as productive but lacking information regarding the transgender community.
“We viewed the earlier report as a stepping stone that showed the need for more information,” said Sarah Mack, Riverside University Health System director. “Using the information in this report will help focus on areas of need, but it is the first step in a long process.”
The Inland Empire’s transgender population is estimated at nearly 27,000, according to county health officials.
The report will be released at 11 a.m. at the UCR Palm Desert Center. A related evening reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at TruEvolution, 4164 Brockton Ave., Suite A, Riverside. Both events are free to
attend.
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