Managing Stigma
Transgender people often experience stigma, including discrimination and rejection, sometimes by family and friends. As the partner of a Trans+ person, you may also experience the effects of stigma, which can affect health and well-being.
As a result, it is important to understand how stigma may show up in your life and learn effective ways to manage it.
Important things to consider:
Your Trans+ partner’s experiences with stigma (e.g., discrimination) can also affect you. You may experience stress, worry, and/or anxiety about how people treat your partner.
Your own experiences with stigma related to your partner’s transgender identity (e.g., rejection by family) can lead to depression, anxiety, and social isolation.
Anticipating future stigma can lead to chronic stress and poorer health outcomes.
You may internalize negative attitudes, opinions, and beliefs about transgender identities, which can lead to shame.
You may have concerns about how others will respond to you, your partner, and/or your relationship if people know about your partner's identity.
People cope with stigma in different ways. It is important to identify strategies that help support you and your individual experience.
Here are some ways to manage stigma...
Share your lived experience and story in safe and welcoming spaces to help yourself and others build community and share resources.
Communicate openly with your partner about strategies that work for each of you.
Challenge internalized stigma by accessing mental health care to confront negative self-talk and increase self-esteem.
Seek out and create safe and affirming spaces with like-minded individuals.
Set appropriate boundaries in your relationships to manage exposure to unsupportive people and opinions.
Practice positive self-talk and self-affirmations.
