Hate crime law associations with mental health and discrimination experiences among transgender and gender diverse adults

Abstract

State-level hate crime laws are a proposed solution for pernicious effects endured by transgender and gender diverse (e.g., no-binary, queer) (TGD) communities. The present study investigated the following correlates of psychological distress, suicidal behavior, and discrimination experiences among TGD adults: State-level hate crime law statutes (e.g., gender identity protection), state-level attitudes (e.g., conservative ideology), and individual-level marginalized identities (e.g., sexual minority status). Participants were all TGD adults in the 2015 United States Transgender Survey (USTS). We merged three data sources: the USTS, Cooperative Congressional Election Study, and the Anti-Defamation League's Hate Crime Map. We employed bivariate and logistic regression analyses. Prominent findings spanning the whole sample included: (a) worse psychological distress was associated with living in a state with greater anti-TGD attitudes and an absence of gender identity protections; (b) worse 12-month suicidal behavior was associated with living in a state with an absence of gender identity and police data collection statutes; and (c) holding multiple marginalized identities, particularly having a disability, was the strongest risk factor for experiencing negative outcomes. Findings are contextualized by debates about hate crime laws. We offer recommendations for mental health promotion and suicide prevention, hate crimes training, and future research.