Jordan W. Edwards ¹, Dennis G. Fisher ^1*, Grace L. Reynolds ¹

¹ California State University, Long Beach

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dfisher{at}csulb.edu.

	Abstract

Data on transgender-identified individuals and HIV risk were collected with the Countywide Risk Assessment Survey from 2126 participants; 92 were male-to-female transgender persons (i.e., cross-dressers, and those who identify with the opposite sex), and 9 were male-to-female transsexual individuals (i.e., those who have undergone gender-reassignment surgery or other procedures). Transgender-identified individuals were more likely to have received hormone injections, offensive comments, and HIV testing; injected hormones with a used needle; been Asian or American Indian; been paid for sexual intercourse; and lived in unstable housing but less likely to have used heroin. Transgender-identified individuals are at high risk for HIV infection because of reuse of needles and being paid for sexual intercourse.

Key Words: HIV/AIDS, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender Persons, Surveys