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Transgender issues

This page provides a brief overview of ageing issues for older transvestite, transgender and transsexual people and those planning for later life, as well as for people who wish to offer support. It introduces a range of legal, financial and social care issues that are dealt with in detail in Age Concern’s Information Sheet IS30 ‘Planning for later life: transgender people’. Click on the title to go straight to the Information Sheet.  

What is Transgender?
Transgender (or ‘trans’) is an umbrella term used to include many people whose lifestyles appear to conflict with the gender norms of society. This section of the Information Sheet explains who transvestite, transgender and transsexual people are. It also covers sexual orientation – for example, trans people may be straight or they may be lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB). They may also have some legal issues in common with LGB people, but their lives are far more complex and the consequences of discrimination may well be different.

Becoming Trans When Older
Older people can successfully transition and start living part time or permanently in their preferred gender role. In fact, it may be that the death of a partner or retirement from work has suddenly provided the freedom to think about what it is they might want. This section looks at:

  • The assessment and transition stage
  • The (female to male or FTM) trans man’s transition
  • The (male to female or MTF) trans woman’s transition
  • The limits of transitioning when older          

Getting Older When Trans
Very little is known about what life and health will be like for older trans people. It is only now that we are seeing the first generation of trans people who have taken hormone therapy for 30 years or more, and who are living with gender reassignment surgeries performed using the very different techniques of the 1960s and 70s. This section looks at:

  • Being a healthy older (male to female or MTF) trans woman
  • Being a healthy older (female to male or FTM) trans man          

The Gender Recognition Act
The most significant legal change for transsexual people has been the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) 2004, which came into force in April 2005 and affords full legal recognition of a transsexual person’s acquired gender. This section looks briefly at what ‘Gender Recognition’ means in practice and provides information on where to look for detailed information.          

Financial Issues
Financial matters can have additional problems for older trans people, so this section looks in particular at:

  • Pensions for trans people
  • Welfare benefits and partners
  • Welfare benefits other than pension or tax credits:
  • Tax Credits or tax allowances, National Insurance payments 
  • Matters of banking and credit          

Employment Rights
It is unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a worker on the grounds of gender reassignment. This section briefly introduces your rights.          

A Right to Privacy
The Gender Recognition Act provides for new and very high levels of privacy protection for transsexual people. This section provides advice on the obligations of health and social care providers and how to make a complaint if a person’s privacy has been compromised.        

Goods, Services, Facilities and Housing
At present there is little protection from discrimination for trans people in the areas of goods, services, housing and facilities. However, there are new legal changes due to come into force in 2007 and this section gives a brief introduction to your rights.          

Care Services for Older Trans People
Increasingly we are seeing older trans people who need to access care services, whether this is due to health issues related to their gender reassignment or simply because of ageing. This section gives advice to both those in need of and providing care, including the new legal obligations to ensure the privacy of the trans person, and includes:

  • The care issues
  • Care in the home
  • Housing and residential care         

Wills and Intestacy
It is important that trans people make sure their identity is clear when they are writing a will or are the beneficiary of a will. This might involve providing clear evidence of any other names they might have been known by. This section covers:

  • Making a will
  • Being the beneficiary of a will          

Bereavement and Registration of Death
Registering the death of a trans person can be fraught with extra worry, as relatives or coroners may not know whether it is legal to register a death in the preferred gender and name of the trans person. This section gives basic advice and where to go for further information.          

The Partners of Trans People
There are independent support organisations for the partners of trans people, who may often need their own assistance and independent advice, in particular as their own identity can seem threatened by their partner’s wishes. This section signposts the support organisations that are out there.