To Know is to Grow: How Different Types of Contact with Transgender Individuals is Associated with Varying Levels of Anti-Transgender Prejudice

UC North Ballroom, Presentation Pod 1

In societies around the world, transgender individuals are often stigmatized and discriminated against due to their gender identity. Previous research suggests that transgender individuals, compared to other highly stigmatized sexual minority groups, experience some of the highest levels of prejudice (e.g., Dispenza, Warson, Chung, & Brack, 2012; Hughto, Reisner, & Pachankis, 2015; etc.). Importantly, gender-based prejudice is associated with negative mental health outcomes, particularly major depressive disorder and attempted suicidality (Nemoto, Boedecker, & Iwamoo, 2011; Clements-Noelle, Marx, & Katz, 2006). Therefore, examining and deploying methods to reduce anti-transgender prejudice may provide a socio-cultural approach to reducing mental health disparities among transgender individuals. Importantly, contact as an intervention strategy has been shown to reduce anti-transgender prejudice quickly and effectively, especially when compared to other prejucide reduction methods (Walch et al., 2012; Case & Stewart, 2013; Tompkins, Sheilds, Hillman, & White, 2015). Despite these advancements, further examination of the relationship between various forms of contact (i.e., personal contact with transgender identified individuals, and contact with general media outlets or educational materials that describe transgender identities and/or experiences) and gender-based prejudice reduction is needed.