In many countries, transgender individuals suffer multiple forms of discrimination because of their gender identity, gender expression, and perceived sexual orientation.
As of 2013, nearly 80 countries had laws that criminalize transgender and other LBGTI individuals in some way. In some countries - including Iran, Sudan, and Yemen - violation of these laws is punishable by death. In addition to formal laws persecuting trans people, homophobia, transphobia, and other LGBT discrimination in society threaten the safety and security of transgender individuals. According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), transgender persons experience "particularly severe marginalization because they are subject to sexual abuse and violence, discrimination, extreme poverty, lack of access to education, health and psychological care, work and housing," forcing many to turn to sex work to survive. Transgender persons undergoing medical treatment to transition genders are often denied access to that treatment because of their transgender status, and HIV-positive transgender individuals face additional compounded barriers to adequate medical care.
In addition, transgender individuals face obstacles to obtaining legal documentation reflecting their gender identity and to traveling within and outside of their home countries when legal documentation does not match their identities. Such issues with documentation often lead to transgender individuals being searched, detained, and abused.
Many transgender individuals leave their home countries and come to the United States to escape the persecution they face because of their transgender status. It is estimated that between 15,000 and 50,000 of undocumented adults in the United States are transgender.
As of 2013, nearly 80 countries had laws that criminalize transgender and other LBGTI individuals in some way. In some countries - including Iran, Sudan, and Yemen - violation of these laws is punishable by death. In addition to formal laws persecuting trans people, homophobia, transphobia, and other LGBT discrimination in society threaten the safety and security of transgender individuals. According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), transgender persons experience "particularly severe marginalization because they are subject to sexual abuse and violence, discrimination, extreme poverty, lack of access to education, health and psychological care, work and housing," forcing many to turn to sex work to survive. Transgender persons undergoing medical treatment to transition genders are often denied access to that treatment because of their transgender status, and HIV-positive transgender individuals face additional compounded barriers to adequate medical care.
In addition, transgender individuals face obstacles to obtaining legal documentation reflecting their gender identity and to traveling within and outside of their home countries when legal documentation does not match their identities. Such issues with documentation often lead to transgender individuals being searched, detained, and abused.
Many transgender individuals leave their home countries and come to the United States to escape the persecution they face because of their transgender status. It is estimated that between 15,000 and 50,000 of undocumented adults in the United States are transgender.