You're in the Wrong Bathroom!: And 20 Other Myths and Misconceptions about Transgender and Gender-Nonconforming People: Myths Made in America

Laura Erickson-Schroth, MD, MA (New York, NY), is a psychiatrist working with LGBTQ people in New York City. She is the editor of Trans Bodies, Trans Selves, a resource guide written by and for transgender people. Find her at writerdoctor.com.

Laura A. Jacobs, LCSW-R (New York, NY) is a trans and genderqueer-identified psychotherapist, writer, activist, and public speaker working with transgender and gender-nonconforming, LGBTQ+, and sexual/gender diversity issues.

PART 1: IDENTITY

MYTH 1: You’ve Never Met a Transgender Person
MYTH 2: All Trans People Want to Be Either Barbie or Ken
MYTH 3: You’re Not Really Trans If You Haven’t Had “the Surgery”
MYTH 4: Trans People Are “Trapped in the Wrong Body”
MYTH 5: Trans People Are Secretly Gay
MYTH 6: It’s Rude to Ask How You Should Address Someone
MYTH 7: “Sure, I’d Love to Talk About What’s in My Pants”

PART 2: SEX AND RELATIONSHIPS

MYTH 8: Most Trans People Are Sex Workers and Have HIV
MYTH 9: Trans People Hate Their Bodies
MYTH 10: Trans People Are Trying to Trick Others
MYTH 11: Most Trans People Can’t Find Partners and End Up Lonely
MYTH 12: Trans People Are a Danger to Others, Especially Children

PART 3: HEALTH AND SAFETY

MYTH 13: “You’re in the Wrong Bathroom!”
MYTH 14: Trans People Are Mentally Ill and Therapy Can Change Them
MYTH 15: Getting Hormones and Surgery Is Easy
MYTH 16: Testosterone Makes You Angry and Estrogen Makes You Emotional
MYTH 17: Laws Support Trans People

PART 4: HISTORY AND COMMUNITY

MYTH 18: Trans People Have Existed Throughout Time
MYTH 19: Certain Cultures Universally Embrace Trans People
MYTH 20: Trans People and Feminists Don’t Get Along
MYTH 21: The LGBTQ+ Community Is United

Acknowledgments

Resources

Notes