What is Transgender?

Being transgender refers to a person's gender identity not aligning with the sex they were assigned at birth. This can include individuals who identify as male or female, as well as those who identify outside the binary (non-binary, genderqueer, etc.). The term emphasizes the diversity and validity of gender experiences beyond traditional gender norms.

Below are some common transgender terms.

• Transgender: (Abbreviation: Trans)
  Umbrella term for anyone whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth, including those who may not pursue medical transition.
• Transsexual:
  Often used to describe a transgender person who has undergone gender-affirming surgery or hormone therapy to align their physical characteristics with their gender identity. Often used with the term pre-op to describe an individual before gender reassignment surgery and post-op to describe someone after gender reassignment surgery.
• Crossdresser:
  This is a term used to describe someone who dresses as the opposite sex, often for sexual gratification. Not all crossdressers are transgender, in fact, swapping roles and exploring role play with a partner is considered perfectly healthy between couples. Note that nearly all transgender individuals will start out by cross dressing, usually at a young age.
• Transgender Man: (Abbreviation: Trans Man)
  A term for someone who was assigned female sex at birth but identifies as a man.
• Transgender Woman: (Abbreviation: Trans Woman)
  A term for someone who was assigned male sex at birth but identifies as a woman.
• Nonbinary:
  A term for people who identify as a combination of genders, or outside of the male/female binary. It could be said that most transgender individuals are in some way nonbinary as often they are raised in childhood in their assigned sex at birth and gain habits/traits that will be with them always. It could also be argued that all individuals are in some way nonbinary, no one is completely feminine or completely masculine all the time, it is simply that those who identify as nonbinary have embraced this and enjoy the fluidity that being nonbinary allows them.
• Genderqueer:
  A term for people whose gender identity and/or expression falls outside the binary categories of man and woman. Often the terms nonbinary and genderqueer are interchangeable.
• Transition:
  An individualized process that can include social, legal, and medical aspects of transferring to one's preferred gender.
• Gender dysphoria:
  Gender dysphoria is the medical terminology for a persistent and intense sense of distress about one's assigned gender that lasts for at least six months. It's different from simply not following gender stereotypes and often leads to severe depression in the individual.
• Transphobia:
  Transphobia is a type of prejudice and discrimination that involves negative feelings, actions, or attitudes towards people who are transgender.

Next: Am I transgender?