Trans Homelessness and Personal Narrative: An Exploration of the Causes of Homelessness and Lack of Healthcare within the Transgender Community
Location
Ponderosa Room B
Presentation Type
Presentation
Presentation Topic
Psychology, Healthcare, Gender and Sexuality
Start Date
6-3-2026 2:30 PM
Event Sort Order
40
Abstract
Transgender youth experience a disproportionately high rate of homelessness. In 2022, 39% of transgender youth aged 13-25 experienced homelessness compared to 23% of cisgender youth. Transgender individuals have differing causes of homelessness due to the intersectionality of their gender identity and living environment. Prominent reasons for this include being subjected to conversion therapy, unsafe living environments and/or being kicked out due to unsupportive family members. Most research focuses on singular issues of trans youth but this issue of trans homelessness is not a solo issue, not only do transgender youth experience higher rates of homelessness but they also have more barriers accessing safe and effective mental and physical healthcare. Trans youth also have a significant lack of community support and experience stigma saying trans people are dangerous and need to be converted and/or locked up, campaigns that claim helping homeless individuals is bad. This all leads to higher rates of suicide. My research methods include literary review of primary and secondary sources through a lens of intersectionality and queer theory. My research also includes some of my personal experiences of homelessness as a transgender youth. With this research I will break down the stigmatization, bring new perspectives to these issues, and help find solutions.
Trans Homelessness and Personal Narrative: An Exploration of the Causes of Homelessness and Lack of Healthcare within the Transgender Community
Ponderosa Room B
Transgender youth experience a disproportionately high rate of homelessness. In 2022, 39% of transgender youth aged 13-25 experienced homelessness compared to 23% of cisgender youth. Transgender individuals have differing causes of homelessness due to the intersectionality of their gender identity and living environment. Prominent reasons for this include being subjected to conversion therapy, unsafe living environments and/or being kicked out due to unsupportive family members. Most research focuses on singular issues of trans youth but this issue of trans homelessness is not a solo issue, not only do transgender youth experience higher rates of homelessness but they also have more barriers accessing safe and effective mental and physical healthcare. Trans youth also have a significant lack of community support and experience stigma saying trans people are dangerous and need to be converted and/or locked up, campaigns that claim helping homeless individuals is bad. This all leads to higher rates of suicide. My research methods include literary review of primary and secondary sources through a lens of intersectionality and queer theory. My research also includes some of my personal experiences of homelessness as a transgender youth. With this research I will break down the stigmatization, bring new perspectives to these issues, and help find solutions.
Presenter Bio
Luke Wilson (he/they) is a student at University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) majoring in Psychology with the goal of getting a PhD. After getting his degree he wants to research ways to improve mental health crisis level care. They currently work at UCOs Women’s Research and BGLTQ+ Student Center. In their free time they like to crochet and go on walks. He also loves spending time with his cat Hashbrown.