Another area of discrimination within the LGBT community is with regard to the transgendered subset vs. The larger gay community. Societal oppression against transgendered individuals has been documented in the scholarly literature for some time now (Carroll, Gilroy, & Ryan, 2002; Lev, 2004; Pepper and Lorah, 2008). However, even within the generally defined group labeled transgendered, there are subgroup: MTF, transitioning from male to female; FTM, transitioning from female to male; transsexual, enlisting surgical procedures and/or hormones; and genderqueer, not identifying with either label of male or female (Singh, Hays, & Watson, 2009). However, despite gender diversification within the transgender community, group members continue to face transphobia and transprejudice because of a lack of understanding, knowledge and acceptance (Singh, Boyd, & Whitman, 2010).

In addition to prejudice from outside of the LGBT community, transgendered persons can be victims of misunderstanding and discrimination within the LGB community (Namaste, 2000). Singh et al. (2010) posit that even though the "T" has been added to the LGB acronym, it does not necessarily represent commitment and advocacy for the transgender community when it comes to gender identity and expression. One such example cited relates to the LGBT national organization lobbying for the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007. The act included sexual orientation as a part of the legislation as well as gender identity as federally protected statutes (Equality Federation, 2007). Unfortunately for the transgendered sub-community, gender identity was removed from the final version to make it more acceptable to the legislative body that could be sensitive and understanding as it related to LBG issues but not gender identity which specifically spoke to protection for transgendered persons (Equality Federation, 2007).

Although there has been some progress with regard to discrimination against people of color and women, as well as some protections for LGBT within other legislation that is currently enacted, discrimination seems to be an issue that continues to plague not just the larger society, but also in many subgroups including the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. Discrimination can come in many forms and be based on race, class, ethnicity, socioeconomic...

However, regardless of the moniker it exists under, discrimination is still a divisive and destructive issue that will need to be continually addressed in the scholarly literature, and in the community at large.
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