As of 2020, the most recently available data, approximately 19% of transgender adults were parents.[1] Transgender people are just as good parents as cisgender parents and their children have similar outcomes. However, transgender people face many challenges to becoming parents and as parents.
The Williams Institute conducted a study in 2026 documenting many of these challenges. Learn more here: Current Challenges for Transgender Parents
Transgender parents who experience violence may have unique concerns about:
- Engaging with child welfare programs, which may discriminate against them
- Legal rights and protections as a parent, or lack thereof
- Targeting of their family due to the parent’s gender
- Lack of social supports
- Their child(ren) facing harassment or bullying for having a trans parent
Much proposed legislation between 2022 and 2026 targeting the trans community portrayed transgender adults as dangerous to children. This has increased concerns that transgender parents will have their children removed from their care solely because of the parents’ gender.
Trans parents may be more isolated from organizational and governmental support systems due to the above concerns.
When service providers work with transgender/nonbinary parents they can:
- Affirm the parent’s strengths and skills
- Safety plan with the parent, based on their concerns
- Understand why the parent may be hesitant to involve governmental agencies in their situation
- Help to address the concerns of the parent
[1] Williams Institute. (2020). 19% of transgender adults in the U.S. are parents [Press release]. https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/press/trans-parents-press-release/