In 2011, National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the National LGBTQ Task Force released the results of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS). Surveys of over 6,400 transgender and gender non-conforming people contributed to the report, Injustice At Every Turn, making it the largest survey ever devoted to the lives and experiences of trans people.

Today, we join with NCTE as they seek to double this participation and maximize the impact of this year’s 2015 U.S. Trans Survey.

Since its release in 2011, The National Transgender Discrimination Survey has been the go-to resource for helping the public understand trans and gender non-conforming people and their experiences. It’s shown us how many trans people have faced discrimination and harassment at school, work, in health care, in homeless shelters, in the criminal justice system, as well as many other areas of life.

To date, the 2011 study has been cited in the media, including blogs here at Believe Out Loud, over 15,000 times. The invaluable insights within the study have dramatically changed how the public and policymakers understand the challenges facing trans people.

Now at this critical time when trans visibility is at its highest, we need updated information to see what has changed, and what still needs to change. The 2015 U.S. Trans Survey (USTS) will provide us with a clearer picture of the diverse experiences of trans and gender non-conforming people and how we can better meet their needs.

Many of the questions included in the USTS have never been asked of trans people before.

The USTS will cover a wide range of topics that reflects the lives and experiences of trans people and is designed to more fully examine specific issue areas that disparately impact trans people, such as unemployment and underemployment, housing, health care, HIV/AIDS, disabilities, immigration, sex work, and police interactions.

The USTS will significantly improve measures in the survey to allow for comparing the lives of trans people to the U.S. population as a whole. This is crucial for demonstrating the disparities faced by trans people in the U.S. In addition, the USTS will be fielded every five years and will enable measuring of progress made over time.

In short, the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey (USTS) will give researchers, policymakers, and advocates the ability to see the experiences of trans people over time, how things are changing, and what can be done to improve the lives of trans people.

After months of publicizing the 2015 U.S. Trans Survey, over 13,000 people have pledged to participate.

With your help we can achieve the largest and most diverse sample possible in order to better understand the unique needs of trans and gender non-conforming communities.

Complete the U.S. Trans Survey today, or click here to spread the word!

Photo via National Center for Transgender Equality