Initial Development and Validation of the Transgender Ally Identity Scale for Counselors

The Transgender Ally Identity Scale for Counselors (TAISC) is a 35-item scale measuring counselors’ ally identity for working with transgender individuals. The purpose of the current study was to develop and initially validate the TAISC. Using a non-experimental survey design, the scale was developed (i.e., item development, external review, pilot study) and validation analyses were performed (i.e., exploratory factor analysis, internal consistency, validity, and social desirability analyses). Electronic data were collected from a nationwide sample of counseling students, professional counselors, and counselor educators (N=285). Participants completed a survey packet consisting of the TAISC, Multicultural Counseling Knowledge and Awareness Scale (MCKAS; Ponterotto et al., 2002), Genderism and Transphobia Scale – Revised –Short Form (GTS-R-SF; Tebbe et al., 2014), Marlowe Crowne Social Desirability Scale – Short-Form C (MCSDS-C; Reynolds, 1982) and a demographic information form. A two-factor model was determined to be the best fit for the sample, accounting for approximately 37% of the total variance. The internal consistency estimate was acceptable for the TAISC total scale (α = .94). Additionally, the TAISC was significantly, positively correlated with the MCKAS (Ponterotto et al., 2002) and significantly, negatively correlated with the GTS-R-SF (Tebbe et al., 2014) supporting convergent validity. Although further validation analyses are needed, initial results support the use of the TAISC in measuring transgender ally identity of counselors.