"100 Questions and Answers About Transgender People" is part of the Michigan State University School of Journalism series on cultural competence.
The guide is written for those who want quick answers to basic, introductory questions about transgender people. It is a starting point, for family members, teachers, people in business, places of worship, government, medicine, law enforcement, human resources and journalism who want to get a fast grounding. The guide suggests resources for those who then want greater depth.
Questions include:
What is the difference between gender and sex?
What is the gender spectrum?
At what age do people start understanding their gender identity?
What is transitioning?
How does someone know they should transition?
Do all transgender people have gender-confirming surgery?
Are most transgender people gay?
What is gender identity?
How many transgender people are there in the United States?
What is "deadnaming?"
What issues do transgender people have with body image?
Which happens more, male to female or female to male?
How often do intersex births occur?
What does "two-spirit" mean?
How does one respectfully refer to a transgender person?
How does one ask a transgender or nonbinary person about their pronouns?
Why is there lack of agreement on initials like LGBT?
Why do many transgender people prefer not to be called "transgendered?"
Do some people prefer to be identified as men or women rather than with a trans- prefix?
Is it OK to ask a person if they have had surgery or hormone therapy?
Are transgender identities new?
When did the U.S. transgender rights movement begin?Why is Christine Jorgensen important to the transgender movement?
What is the Stonewall uprising?
When were national transgender organizations created?
Have transgender people been elected to office?
Do some transgender people decide not to come out?
Are people really transgender if they do not get surgery or hormone treatments?
Are transgender people drag kings and queens or crossdressers?
What is "sex-change regret?"
Do news media portray transgender people accurately?
How are transgender people portrayed on TV?
Do cisgender actors play transgender roles?
How do social media platforms allow users to declare their gender identity?
Do transgender people have children of their own?
How important is family support to transgender people?
How accepting is U.S. society overall of transgender rights?
Are transgender people supported by the larger LGBTQ+ community?
Who are some influential openly transgender or binary trans people?
Which religious groups accept transgender people?
How is religion used to deny services and jobs to transgender people?
Does the federal Title IX cover transgender students?
Are transgender students bullied?
What is gender-inclusive housing?
Is it more difficult for transgender people to get jobs?
What are income levels like for transgender people?
What is U.S. military policy about transgender people?
Is being transgender a mental illness?
What is gender dysphoria?
Does transitioning change mental health?
What is hormone therapy?
What is gender-confirming surgery?
What is the medical cost of transitioning?
Does health insurance cover gender transition?
What is the suicide rate for transgender people?
What is conversion therapy?
Are transgender people targets of hate crimes?
Are laws written to curtail transgender rights?
Do transgender people have marriage rights?
Are transgender people protected from workplace discrimination?
Which restroom do transgender people use?
Why do people need to use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity?
What did the 2016 North Carolina restroom bill do?
Have most transgender people updated their IDs?
Must transgender people provide proof of surgery to get new IDs?
Can outdated IDs be a problem for transgender people?
What is wrong with forms that ask "male" or "female"?
This guide is one of more than 10 guides cultural competence guides created through journalism classes at Michigan State University. The series editor is journalism instructor Joe Grimm, who has been working in cross-cultural communication for 25 years. The concept of this series is to teach cultural competence by spreading awareness about a specific group or community. Ultimately, the goal is to break down cultural and socially constructed walls by opening up discussion among people. The guides have been used in diversity training in business, the health industry, universities and law enforcement. We approach cultural competence on the basis that questions asked out of sincere interest, even if phrased in a less than graceful manner, are the best way to bridge cultures. The guides are meant to start that process and to lead to face-to-face conversations. The guides are icebreakers individuals can read on their own to make awkward conversations easier. Answers in these cultural competence guides are meant to be clear, honest and non-judgmental.
Foreword by Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, "the nation's leading social justice advocacy organization winning life-saving change for transgender people." According to the center's website, Keisling "has led organizational and coalition efforts that have won significant advances in transgender equality, including the inclusion of gender identity in the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the first-ever Congressional hearing on transgender issues, and countless federal administrative and state-level wins."
