@article{ref1,
title="Stigma and discrimination against transgender men in Bhutan",
journal="PLoS one",
year="2023",
author="Saxena, Vinita and Xu, Audrey and Kinley, Kinley and Tsheten, Tashi and Gyeltshen, Tenzin and Tobgay, Tashi and Zajkowski, Tae Young and McFarland, Willi and Khandu, Lekey",
volume="18",
number="7",
pages="e0287745-e0287745",
abstract="BACKGROUND: While transgender people worldwide face high rates of stigma and discrimination, there are few studies of transgender men (also &quot;trans men&quot;) in Asia. We measured the prevalence of, and factors associated with, stigma and discrimination faced by trans men in Bhutan to bring visibility to their experiences and inform health and social policy changes. <br><br>METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in nine regions in Bhutan from November 2019 to January 2020. A total of 124 trans men were recruited using a hybrid venue-based and peer-referral approach. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression characterized associations with experiencing stigma and discrimination when accessing health services. <br><br>FINDINGS: Participants were young (48.0% 18-24 years) and 48.4% had migrated from a rural to an urban area. The majority (95.2%) experienced stigma because people knew or thought they were trans men. Associations with frequent experiences of stigma were living with their partner as a couple (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.07, 95% CI 1.27-7.44) and being unemployed or a student (3.22, 1.44-7.19). Nearly half (47.6%) said they experienced discrimination when accessing health care because people knew or thought they were a trans man; this experience was associated with migration (2.42, 1.08-5.39) and having >15 trans men in their social network (3.73, 1.69-8.26). Most (94.4%) experienced verbal violence, 10.5% experienced physical violence, and 4.8% experienced sexual violence. <br><br>INTERPRETATION: Our study found high rates of stigma, discrimination, and interpersonal violence due to being a trans man in Bhutan. <br><br>FINDINGS highlight the urgent need for strengthening laws and regulations to protect the rights of transgender persons, particularly when accessing health services, recognizing partnerships, and preventing violence in public spaces.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1932-6203",
doi="10.1371/journal.pone.0287745",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287745"
}