Fear of rejection by family members and community plays a significant part in deciding to hide one’s sexuality. Expressing one’s sexual orientation or identity does not provide comfort either. Though family support might exist, societal systems and facilities may not serve the needs of the “visible” transgender people.
Research shows that transgender people suffer from different forms of discrimination. While there is a growing consciousness about their right to be treated equally and without discrimination, transgender people remain largely marginalized in society.
The impact of this marginalization strikes transgender people at the time they need support the most. Health services in ordinary situations might be effectively kept away from them, while support for basic needs may not be forthcoming during times of crisis such as when disaster strikes.
Limited recognition of the diverse types of transgender people likewise presents a challenge. The diversity of situations and categories of transgender people demands diverse services and materials. Public ignorance of such diversity among transgender people is caused partly by research that tends to focus on transgender people who are young, female, and living in urban areas.
Such failure to recognize diverse situations and categories of transgender people amounts to another form of discrimination.