: Transgender and LGBTQ individuals face unique stressors rooted in systemic prejudice and societal hostility.

: Research highlighted by the National Institutes of Health notes that these distinctive stressors often lead to higher rates of mental health challenges compared to the general population. Defining LGBTQ+ - The Center

: Because of societal bias, the community often creates "chosen families" and support networks to combat isolation and hostility. Challenges Faced by the Community

: According to the American Psychological Association , "transgender" describes individuals whose internal sense of gender does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.

: In the United States, approximately 1% of the adult population —about 2.3 million people—identifies as transgender, according to data from USAFacts . Core Elements of LGBTQ Culture