Transgender Identity Development Survey

I am writing to ask for your help with what will be the largest non-clinical study of the lives of transgender people in the U.S. (in the first ten days, we have had more than 600 participants, and are aiming for more than 2,000).

While much has been written about individual transgender experiences, there has been little trans-positive research on the processes by which people come to see themselves as MTFs, FTMs, crossdressers, genderqueers, and other transgender and gender diverse identities.

The researchers are a genderqueer college administrator (me!) and a queer campus diversity specialist (full bios are below). We are undertaking this study because we feel that high school and college administrators, therapists, doctors, and other professionals who work with transgender people often have a limited understanding of transgender experiences, which leads to poor treatment and discrimination. We hope that our findings will help foster a greater awareness of transgender people.

You can take part in the study by completing the survey at https://web.survey.psu.edu/transgender/* (it is a secure server). Thequestionnaire will take about 30 minutes to fill out. It is completely anonymous and responses cannot be tracked back electronically to the sender.

Please feel free to forward the study's web address to other transgender people you know who might be interested. And please feel free to contact me with any questions.Thank you very much! I really appreciate your help.

Sincerely,

brett genny

*Bios of the Researchers

*Brett Genny Beemyn, Ph.D., is the coordinator of GLBT Student Services at the Ohio State University, co-chair of the National Consortium of Directors of LGBT Resources in Higher Education, and a board member of the Transgender Law and Policy Institute. Brett has published and spoken extensively on transgender college students and trans-inclusive campus policies. Dr. Beemyn's most recent publications include "Trans on Campus: Measuring and Improving the Climate for Transgender Students" in *On Campus with Women*;"Transgender Issues on Campus" in *New Direction in Student Services: LGBT Issues in Student Affairs*; "Cross Dressing," "Transsexuality," and "Transgender Students" in *Youth, Education, and Sexualities: An International Encyclopedia*; "Genderqueer," "Transgender Autobiography," "Transgender Issues in Education," and "Transgender Issues in the Law" for www.glbtq.com <*http://www.glbtq.com*> ; and a special issue of the *Journal of Gay and Lesbian Issues in Education* on "Trans Youth."

Sue Rankin, Ph.D., is a Senior Diversity Planning Analyst in the Office of the Vice Provost and Assistant Professor in Higher Education at The Pennsylvania State University. She has presented and written several papers and books on the impact of sexism, racism and heterosexism in the academy and in intercollegiate athletics. Dr. Rankin's current research focuses on the assessment of institutional climate and providing program planners and policy makers with recommended strategies to improve the campus climate for underrepresented groups. In her role as a consultant, Dr. Rankin has collaborated with over 50 institutions/organizations in implementing assessments and developing strategic plans regarding social justice issues and concerns. Her most recent publications include: "Campus Climate for Sexual Minority Students: Challenges and Best Practices" in *Toward Administrative Reawakening: Creating and Maintaining Safe College Campuses*; "Climate for LGBT College Youth" in *Youth, Education, and Sexualities: AnInternational Encyclopedia*; "Slow but Steady: Administrators Taking Heart to GBT Safety, Services" in *GLBT Campus Matters: Guidance for Higher Education*; "Campus Climate for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender People" in *The Diversity Factor*; "Campus Climate for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender People: A Legal Perspective" in *Focus on Law Studies*. I am writing to ask for your help with what will be the largest non-clinical study of the lives of transgender people in the U.S. (in the first ten days, we have had more than 600 participants, and are aiming for more than 2,000).