2026/03/18 by Juan Carlos Ruiz Malagon, Bamby Salcedo, Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga +2 · 1 voice
Psychology · Social Sciences · Arts and Humanities · #LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy #Latin American and Latino Studies #Rhetoric and Communication Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/26895269.2026.2645930
openalex publication_date 2026/03/18 · openalex created_date 2026/03/20 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/19
Background Transgender communities experience disproportionate criminalization and marginalization that impacts their access to basic needs and social services. This study examines how discrimination at the structural level influences determinants of health for transgender Latinas.Methods Conducted in partnership with the TransLatin@ Coalition, this qualitative study utilized testimonios– first-person narratives centering lived experiences and knowledge–with nine transgender Latinas in Los Angeles County.Findings Four themes emerged from the testimonios: (1) Structural discrimination as a barrier for health equity; (2) Sisterhood among transgender Latinas is critical for survival; (3) State violence as a structural driver of health; (4) Educational aspirations and economic conditions.Conclusion Structural and political forces manifested through structural transphobia, healthcare exclusion, and neglect produce layered forms of structural violence and disposability for transgender Latinas. The testimonios clarify collective practices that sustain survival and envision a thriving future. Public health interventions must address these structural forces while supporting community organizations that provide affirming care and resources that governmental systems fail to provide.