Latino transgender asylum seekers in the US: Documenting a history of social exclusion, sexual violence, and resulting post-traumatic stress disorder

Background: Violence against transgender individuals has been documented in the United States, but there is no published research documenting the common experiences of sexual violence and resulting mental health issues among Latino transgender immigrants. Methods: This mixed method retrospective document review examined the evidence filed in support of US asylum by Latino transgender asylum seekers to identify life events associated with transgender identity and resulting psychological trauma. The authors reviewed the asylum declarations and the psychological evaluations of Latino transgender asylum applicants between 2007 and 2012 who sought assistance at a west coast social service agency (specific country of origin was not reported to protect identity). Data analyses procedures included a thematic analysis, a statistical analysis, and an integration of qualitative and qualitative findings. Results: Analyses resulted in the identification of multiple types of physical and sexual violence, including intrapersonal, self-directed and collective forms of violence in response to transgender identity and behaviors in the Latino transgender asylum applicants. The study further reports the association of exclusion and violence experienced by the Latino transgender asylum seekers to performance on standardized mental health assessments measuring depression and PTSD, suicidal and homicidal ideation and other mental health issues. Conclusions: Latino transgender asylum seekers experience a lifetime of sexual violence and social discrimination that can impact them long after immigration to the US. Public health practitioners should target mental health services to this population.

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