Transphobia has been described as an “irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against people whose gendered identities, appearances, or behaviours deviate from societal norms”. This includes transgender, transsexual, transitioned, transgender, and gender-queer people, as well as some two-spirit people. Transphobia exists within a context of cisnormativity, the expectation that all people are- and should be- cisgender, or non-trans. Transphobia includes acts of exclusion, discrimination, and violence, as well as attitudes that trans people may themselves internalize. Here we present information about the types and levels of transphobia experienced by trans people in Ontario.

Reference: Longman Marcellin R, Scheim A, Bauer G, Redman N. Experiences of Transphobia among Trans Ontarians. Trans PULSE e-Bulletin, 7 March, 2013. 3(2). Downloadable in English or French at http://www.transpulseproject.ca .