The Impact of Birth Year on the Coming Out Process for Transgender and Gender Diverse Individuals from Austria

This study examined age-related cohort differences in the timing of three key gender identity milestones (first desire to transition, coming out, and initiation of hormone therapy) across gender identities. Data from 212 adult transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals (54.2% trans male, 42.5% trans female, 3.3% gender diverse; age 20-76 years) were collected at a single center between 2017 and 2021. Gender diverse participants, defined as those with identities outside the binary, were grouped accordingly. Selected items relating to gender identity milestones and sociodemographic information were drawn from the Innsbruck Quality of Life Questionnaire. Linear regression revealed significant negative correlations between year of birth and age at first desire to transition (B = - 0.57, p < 0.001), coming out (B = - 0.77, p < 0.001), and hormone therapy initiation (B = - 0.89, p < 0.001), indicating earlier milestone attainment in later birth cohorts. Logistic regression showed that earlier birth year significantly predicted higher odds of identifying as a trans woman (OR = 0.95, p < 0.001). Analysis of birth year distribution by gender identity further indicated an increasing trend in individuals seeking hormone therapy, with younger birth years more prevalent among trans men. An association was demonstrated between year of birth and time spans between gender identity milestones, showing a shortening in time intervals in younger participants. Educational attainment in the study cohort was lower than in the general Austrian population. These findings suggest a temporal shift toward earlier realization and affirmation of gender identity among TGD individuals.