The Williams Institute, CA, USA
New Estimates Show that 150,000 Youth Ages 13 to 17 Identify as Transgender in the US
For Immediate Release
January 17, 2017
Media Contact:
Noel Alumit,
alu...@law.ucla.eduOffice:
310-794-2332Cell:
323-828-5554New Estimates Show that 150,000 Youth Ages 13 to 17 Identify as Transgender in the US
In addition to 0.6 percent of U.S. adults (1.4 million individuals), new study finds that 0.7 percent of youth ages 13 to 17 identify as transgenderLOS ANGELES –An estimated 0.7 percent of youth ages 13 to 17, or 150,000 youth, identify as transgender in the United States, according to a new study released by The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law. This study is the first to provide population estimates for youth who identify as transgender in each of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia.
The study, titled
Age of Individuals Who Identify as Transgender in the United States, by
Jody L. Herman, Ph.D., Andrew R. Flores, Ph.D., Taylor N. T. Brown,
MPP, Bianca D.M. Wilson, Ph.D., and Kerith J. Conron, Sc.D., provides
new estimates of the age composition of individuals who identify as
transgender in the U.S. and estimates of the size of the
transgender-identified population by age group. The youngest age group,
13 to 17, has the highest estimated percentage of individuals who
identify as transgender.
“Current policy debates in several states have involved legislation that would impact transgender students,” said Dr. Jody L. Herman. “Our estimates suggest that thousands of youth could be negatively impacted by laws that would limit their access to school facilities and undermine protections against discrimination.”
Key findings from the report:
-In the U.S. population, the study estimates that 0.7 percent of youth ages 13 to 17, 0.7 percent of young adults ages 18 to 24, 0.6 percent of adults ages 25 to 64, and 0.5 percent of adults ages 65 and older identify as transgender.
-About 150,000 youth (13 to 17) and 1.4 million adults (18 and older) identify as transgender in the U.S.
-Of individuals ages 13 and older who identify as transgender in the U.S., 10 percent are youth (13 to 17), 13 percent are young adults (18 to 24), 63 percent are ages 25 to 64, and 14 percent are ages 65 and older. This distribution is similar to the age distribution of the general population.
-Mirroring the relative population size of U.S. states, the largest populations of youth that identify as transgender are found in California, Texas, New York, and Florida. The smallest populations are found in North Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.
“Agencies and institutions that have a responsibility to protect and promote the wellbeing of adolescents now have an idea of how many transgender youth should be served in every state in the U.S.,” remarked Dr. Kerith J. Conron.
For
Age of Individuals who Identify as Transgender in the United States, the
authors utilized data from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System (BRFSS), a national, state-administered survey,
which collected data on transgender identity among adults in 19 states
for the first time in 2014. The BRFSS represents the best available
population-based data to study the size and characteristics of adults
who identify as transgender. The authors used an advanced statistical
method to produce population estimates for youth, as well as adults.
Inclusion of gender identity measures in population-based youth surveys
remains necessary to advance knowledge about the size, characteristics,
and needs of the transgender youth population.
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The Williams Institute, a think tank on sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy, is dedicated to conducting rigorous, independent research with real-world relevance.Read the report.http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/uncategorized/new-estimates-show-that-150000-youth-ages-13-to-17-identify-as-transgender-in-the-us/