This essay examines six transpersons’ experiences as clients of treatment from the social services. Research shows that transpersons experience a high amount of discrimination and vulnerability in society. For this reason, it is important to examine how transpersons, as clients, experience professional treatment in their interaction with social workers. Using a qualitative method, six respondents were interviewed about what kind of treatment they had expected to receive prior to their first meeting with the social worker. The respondents’ general perceptions of their treatment and their wishes regarding how transpersons should be treated were also examined. The results showed that the respondents experienced a positive treatment regarding their gender identity but perceived the social application process as difficult and demanding. One respondent expressed a negative perception of their treatment by social services regarding their gender identity. This experience was however regarding a social worker not in charge of the social benefits application process. The informants expressed a wish to be treated like other clients but with a knowledgeable social worker who understood transpersons’ special vulnerability and needs. Informants also expressed their recommendation that Swedish social services should undergo a LGBTQ certification to ensure a knowledgeable and respectful treatment of transpersons.

Studien har syftat till att skapa förståelse för hur verkligheten kan upplevas för personer som identifierar sig som homosexuella, bisexuella, transpersoner och/eller queer (H/B/T/Q), idag i Sverige. Vi hade en explorativ ansats utifrån detta syfte och använde oss av Grounded theory som kvalitativ metod för datainsamling och databearbetning. Vi intervjuade 11 H/B/T/Q-personer i Örebro, och vi fann ett antal centrala teman som var återkommande i intervjuberättelserna. Dessa handlade om hur sociala interaktioner med omgivningen påverkade den egna processen mot ett öppet liv som H/B/T/Q-person eller ett mer dolt. Det framkom också att det fanns en koppling mellan öppenhet i detta avseende och psykiskt välbefinnande. Utifrån dataanalysen drog vi en slutsats om påverkansfaktorer för den sociala interaktionens riktning gällande öppenhet/slutenhet och belyste relationerna mellan dessa i teoretiska modeller, där olika uttryck hos en heteronormativ omgivning beskrevs som centrala i detta avseende, men även den enskilda H/B/T/Q-personens interaktionsstrategier och tillgången till socialt stöd. / The aim of this study was to create an understanding of the life-views of persons identifying themselves as homosexual, bisexual, transpersons and/or queer (H/B/T/Q) in Sweden today. We had an explorative approach to this aim and used Grounded theory as a research method. We interviewed 11 H/B/T/Q-persons living in Örebro, and we found some central themes wich were frequently described, generally about how the social interaction with others had an effect on their own processes to living an open H/B/T/Q-life or having a restrictive approach. We also found that living openly as an H/B/T/Q-person seemed to be a salutogene factor. Those factors that we found to be central in the interactional processes to openly or restrictive ways of living as a H/B/T/Q-person, were illustrated in theoretical models, where the relationships between heteronormativity, individual interactional strategies and social support were focused.