As today's society moves forward in demanding equality for all American citizens, transgender people continue to face some of the most severe forms of discrimination. Transgender people are defined as those who do not identify or express themselves as the gender they were born into. Many of these people choose to represent themselves solely by dressing according to the gender with which they identify. However, a large portion of them choose to undergo gender reassignment surgery and legally change their birth certificate, social security information and other identifying documents to complete their transformation and feel like the gender they are. they should have had at birth. It is not surprising that the majority of people in today's society do not understand or identify with this and therefore discriminate against transgender people. It is impossible to know exactly how many people identify as transgender in our city, or in our country, because the United States Census Bureau has not yet figured out how to include these people in order to compile an accurate count of their population totals. Yet the Williams Institute found, through research from its 2007 and 2009 surveys, that 0.5% of adults aged 18 to 64 identified as transgender (Gates, 2011). The Houston metro area is no exception. Although we do not have a precise number of transgender citizens living here, evidence supported by numerous local websites as well as community businesses and support services that cater to this culture proves that a large number of these people live here. Unfortunately, this culture has seen a lot of bias in the workplace. In many cases, employers choose not to occupy...... middle of paper ...... private space; or use of a nearby private space, such as a toilet (Transgender Issues, 2004). There are countless benefits to establishing a non-discriminatory workplace. For example, it offers “a more cooperative, collaborative and welcoming environment both internally and between clients” (Ems, 2010). It can also improve recruitment and retention of all employees, as it is a supportive and understanding workplace and employers will have a greater number of candidates to choose from (Ems, 2010). Yet another benefit is the lasting effect it will have on the transgender staff member's work, mindset, and dedication to their employer or company (Ems, 2010). These are all great arguments for developing a workplace that doesn't discriminate against anyone (let alone transgender people), but when it comes down to it, it's just the right thing to do..