Transgender: What is it? What Does it Mean?

Transgender refers to a person whose gender identity does not match the one that was assigned to them at birth. Transgender can be used to describe many members of the community including those who have undergone surgery, those who have not, those who consider themselves to be genderless, those who are intersex, and many more.

Terminology

AFAB

Assigned female at birth. This is an acronym used to describe people who was female assigned at birth.

AMAB

Assigned male at birth. This is an acronym used to describe any person who was male assigned at birth.

Agender

A person who has no specifically set gender.

Assigned Sex

The sex or gender marker a person is assigned at birth based on their external genitalia.

Cisgender

A person whose gender identity does not change from the one that they are assigned at birth.

Gender Affirmation

A list of procedures and behavior changes one might go through when wanting a deeper sense of their gender identity. These can include changes in wardrobe, hobbies, medical procedures, and more.

Dead Naming

This is the harmful practice of referring to a transgender person by the name they were given at birth instead of their chosen name.

Gender Dysphoria

The emotional distress a transgender person might feel when their physical body characteristics do not match with their gender identity. This is considered to be a medical and mental health diagnosis and may require medical treatments in the form of gender-affirming procedures.

A person does not have to be transgender to have dysphoria. A cis man may experience dysphoria if he is short, has wide hips, or has excess breast tissue. A cis woman may have dysphoria after a mastectomy or if she grows facial hair.

Gender Expression

All of the ways a person can outwardly express their gender identity. This is often done through hair, make-up, and wardrobe. Transgender individuals are not the only people who engage in gender expression. Cis people also make choices that are based on their desire to present themselves in a way reflects their gender identity.Gender expression does not always correspond to a person’s gender identity.

Gender Identity

Gender identity is a deep, innate, and genuine feeling of ourselves in the system of gender.. Gender identities can include man, woman, nonbinary, agender, bigender, genderfluid, and more.

Gender-Neutral

Refers to people and pronouns that do not completely match with the gender binary. For pronouns this can include they, them, their, ey, em, eir, zie, hir, hirs, as well as no pronouns at all. For gender identity these can refer to people who are agender, gender fluid, and nonbinary.This term is also widely used in the language when it’s essential to state that a particular product or space suits everyone regardless of gender.

Intersex

A term that is used to describe people who are born with bodies that do not match the physical characteristics of male or female.

Nonbinary

A transgender person whose gender identity does not match with the gender they were assigned at birth or with the binary of male or female. Nonbinary people may refer to themselves as NB or Enby.

Pronouns

The way a person refers to themselves, not limited to transgender people. Includes phrases such as I, we, me, he, him, his, she, her, hers, they, them, their, as well as many others. Some transgender people have adopted neo-pronouns. such as xe/xem. Acceptance and adoption of these have varied. But, neopronouns aren’t just a transgender invention. The way we use pronouns has evolved over time.

Transgender

The word transgender refers to any person whose gender does not align with their assigned sex at birth.

Transgender Man

Transgender person who was most likely assigned female at birth, but identifies as a man. One doesn’t have to transition to be a trans man.

The term FTM used to be used to describe a trans man, however this is no longer considered to be an affirming title.

Transgender Woman

Transgender person who was most likely assigned male at birth, but identifies as a woman. One doesn’t have to transition to be a trans woman.

The term MTF used to be used to describe a transgender woman, however this is no longer considered to be an affirming title.

Transition

The process of adjusting or shifting a person’s biological characteristics and gender presentation to match their gender identity. The process of transitioning can include medical procedures, legal forms, and emotional and social changes. There is no set path to transitioning, and almost every transgender person who has transitioned will have a different way to get through the transition process.

Physical Transition

A part of the transition process that has to do with a person’s physical appearance. This can include dressing differently, changing your hair, and going through medical procedures in order to match your physical appearance to your chosen gender identity.

Again, physical transition is a sticky topic. A person is fully the gender they identify with when they decide. This isn’t based on the surgeries they have had or the hormones they have taken.

Social Transition

A part of the transition process in which a person begins to introduce themselves under a new name that matches their gender identity. This process might include coming out to people they trust, and learning how to advocate for themselves and for their identity.

Many medical professionals require transgender people to go through a process of social transition prior to allowing them to pursue other interventions. Social transition is an important step for people to help confirm their transgender identities.

This is also the most accessible form of transition. A transgender person doesn’t have to seek insurance approval to transition socially, for example.

Full Transition

This is an outdated term that was once used to refer to transgender people who had undergone a phalloplasty for trans men and vaginoplasty for trans women. Now, we recognize that a person is fully transitioned when they decide, and that this is different for every person. Often, the term bottom surgery can and should be used instead.

Transsexual

This term was originally used to describe trans people, and was relatively popular in the 1990’s. Although this term is no longer viewed as affirming there are still some members of the community who identify themselves using this phrase.

Transvestite

A derogatory term that usually refers to a man who enjoys wearing traditionally feminine clothing. It is often associated with deviant behavior.

Crossdresser

Crossdresser or cross-dresser is a more acceptable term for someone who prefers to dress in clothing of the opposite sex. Transgender people may experiment with clothing as they are exploring their authentic identities. But, many people enjoy cross-dressing who are not transgender.

Drag

Drag is a kind of performance art that involves using makeup and costumes to present a theatrical presentation of gender expression. Drag is much like other kinds of art. It is used for entertainment purposes, to educate, and to provide social commentary.

Like other theatrical presentations drag may be accessible and family-friendly. It may also push boundaries and be intended for adult audiences only.

Drag performers are not necessarily transgender. Many are not, but prefer to engage only in character. Some are transgender, but this does not necessarily drive their choice to perform drag. Also, drag is not limited to men performing as women. For example, Chappell Roan is a queer, cis woman who performed as a drag queen.

Transphobia

The hatred, fear, and desire to oppress or limit the rights of people who are transgender.

History

Transgender people and different gender identities have always existed. Although the bones of people can sometimes give archaeologists an idea of their physical sex, the clothing, and articles that many people are buried with tell the story of how they lived their lives as well as an idea of who they were to others.

Archeologists and anthropologists are able to contextualize historical artifacts, documents, and other items they find to show that transgender people have been a part of every culture in history.

Transgender people have always existed, and they always will exist. Here are some significant points of history and knowledge about transgender people.

BCE

• 5000-3000 BCE: The Sumerian Goddess Inanna was worshiped by trans and androgynous priests called Gala. These priests would often speak with their own special dialect and would identify themselves using feminine names.
• 200-300 BCE: Galli priests were transgender people who worshiped some of the gods. They often wore feminine attire, referred to themselves as women, and have been identified as early transgender figures in history.

CE

• In the 4th Century, Anastasia the Patrician fled from their life in Constantinople, and lived the rest of their days out as a monk wearing masculine clothing. Although we do not know the name that they went by while living as a monk Anastasia is believed to be a trans man.
• In the year 1394 records indicate that a transwoman by the name of Eleanor Rychener was arrested for doing sex work while dressed as a woman. Her records indicate that she was an “able bodied man” however she is believed to have been a transgender woman.
• In 1776 a genderless person from the United States referred to themselves as the “Public Universal Friend”. After suffering from a severe illness at the age of 14 the Public Universal Friend claimed they had actually died and had been reanimated as the “Public Universal Friend”. The friend rejected all forms of pronouns and lived as an androgynous preacher until their death at the age of 67
• In the 18h century the Itelmens of Siberia started to document and recognize another gender identity. Koekchuch was a term used to describe a transgender woman. Or a person who was assigned male at birth, but would express and present themselves as women.
• In 1895, the very first known transgender advocacy organization was founded under the name of Cercle Hermaphrodites.
• 1952, transgender woman Christine Jorgensen underwent a series of gender reassignment surgeries and became known as one of the pioneers of gender reassignment
• 1959, an uprising caused by police harassment of people in the LGBT community at a 24 hour donut shop in Los Angeles known as the Cooper Do-nuts Riot
• 1966, a violent uprising caused by police harassment and violence towards drag queens, transgender people, and especially transgender women which took place in Gene Compton’s Cafeteria. This became known as the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot.
• 1969, the Stonewall Rebellion or riot was a multiday uprising in response to police brutality after an early morning raid of the Stonewall Inn.
• 1970’s Lou Sullivan became one of the very first transgender people to publicly self identify himself as a trans man.
• 1986 Lou Sullivan founded FTM International, which is the oldest organization for transgender men in the United States which is still in operation to this day.
• 1990’s-2000’s Transgender day of remembrance was established overtime across the united states in order to remember the transgender people who were victims of hate crimes.
• 2010’s, the organizations “Girl Scouts” and the “Episcopal Church” began to accept transgender people as members of their organizations
• In 2017 Scouting America (Formerly Scouts BSA or Boy Scouts) announced that they would accept girls and transgender people as members.
• 2020, in the case of Bostock vs Clayton County, the Supreme Court ruled that title VII of the civil rights act protects employees against discrimination based their gender identity and sexual orientation.
• 2020 Sarah McBride becomes the first transgender state senator in United States history
• In 2021 Gottmik became the first openly transgender male contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race
• Also in 2021 Rachel Levine was confirmed 24 March as U.S. assistant secretary for health, making her the first openly trans person confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a U.S. federal government position
• 2021 The White House releases the first official proclamation on transgender day of visibility
• 2022 World Aquatics passed a policy banning trans women from competing if they had gone through male puberty
• 2023 Two transgender people, Sam Smith and Kim Petras, became the first gender non-conforming performers to win a Grammy
• 2024 Danica Roem became the first transgender person to be elected and serve in both chambers of (Virginia’s) state legislature.

Current Transgender History And Issues

We are currently in a historically significant time as transgender issues have been heavily politicized. In 2024 in the United States there have been more than 620 anti-transgender bills proposed. While most have failed, some have passed, and others are currently being enforced.

There has been a rise in hate groups like Moms For Liberty that regularly push anti-transgender messages while also lobbying for laws that deny transgender people basic human rights.

While people in America are decidedly against anti-transgender laws and policies, some hate groups have been able to successfully organize and pressure businesses and politicians otherwise. Companies like AB/InBev have walked back partnerships with members of the transgender community. Others like Tractor Supply and John Deere have made public statements indicating an intent to drop their commitment to DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion).

Flag and Symbols

Like other members of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, transgender people have adopted flags and symbols as a way to unite and represent themselves.

The Trans Pride Flag

The trans pride flag is a flag that consists of 5 equally sized stripes that go in the order from top to bottom, Pink, Blue, White, Blue, Pink. The blue stripes represent trans men and pink stripes represent trans women. The white can represent a wide number of individuals including non binary people, intersex people, people whose gender identity is unconfirmed, and transgender people who never get the chance to actually transition.

Combined Male-Female Symbol (⚧ and ⚦)

These symbols represent both gender inclusivity and transgender people.

Progress Pride Flag

The Progress Pride Flag combines the colors of the Philly Pride flag with the Transgender pride flag to make a more inclusive symbol.

Am I a Transgender Person?

That is a question that is a very personal experience for people. Some know from an early age, saying they just knew. It was almost as if they simply had to wait to have the vocabulary to recognize their trans identity. Other people lived for decades knowing something was “off” but could not pinpoint it until they realized they were transgender.

If you are wondering about your identity, search for resources and help available in your local area and online. Look for transgender communities online. You can find support in your journey. Also, interacting with trans individuals may help you see if this identity truly resonates with you.

Gender identity can be a complicated matter especially if a person is trying to suppress it. If you have been unsure of your identity or socialized to believe that being transgender was a negative thing, you may have invested a lot of emotional energy in denying those feelings. For example, a trans woman may spend years cultivating attitudes and behaviors they perceive as masculine to “prove” to themselves and others that they are a man. Depending on how you were raised to view transgender issues, you may have even engaged in transphobic behaviors.

For many transgender people coming to terms with their identity takes time. There is a lot of stigma in society associated with transgender people. Coming out may also be a difficult experience wrapped up in fear. So, for many transgender people knowing they are trans may come as a realization, but they may push their authentic thoughts aside for the sake of protecting their lives. Every situation is different you may feel comfortable being openly transgender, but not in living your identity openly.

How To Come Out As Trans?

Coming out can be a daunting experience for transgender people, whether they were assigned male or female gender at birth. Many transgender people doubt their identity at first and question their sexual orientation.

 For example, some may choose to express their secondary sex characteristics slowly or step outside the gender binary. Some transgender people live as gay, lesbian, queer prior to accepting themselves as transgender.

If you are starting to feel like you might be a transgender person, your gender identity and sexual orientation do not depend on each other. There are plenty of gay trans persons, just as many straight ones. Most people do not have a strong desire to wear their sexuality on their sleeve.

Accepting the fact that you are trans has to come from within you, not others telling you that. Also please remember that gender identity and sexual orientation are two different things. A person’s sexual orientation does not depend on their gender. There is no right or wrong way to be a transgender person or to come out as one. Countless people have questioned their gender, identity, and sexuality. You are not alone in this.

If you are asking yourself questions about being trans, feeling uneasy when people refer to you as your assigned gender, experiencing gender dysphoria, then your feelings are valid. If you feel like a transgender man or woman, you have the right to feel the way you do. Nobody can tell you otherwise.

Being a transgender person offers the opportunity to explore all aspects of identity, connect with yourself on many levels, see the world in a deeper, more meaningful way when it comes to your body and soul. Remember that your transgender identity is uniquely yours. Nobody has every created a universally accepted list of behaviors and characteristics that make someone a particular gender. Every person defines for themselves what it means to be a man, a woman, or something else on the gender spectrum.

You do not have to have any certain beliefs, interests, or worldviews to be trans. There are transgender people who align with many different belief systems. The only requirement is that your gender identity differs from the one you were assigned. Not all transgender people think and walk in lockstep.

There is no single rule that can apply to everyone’s gender identity, but here are a few things that can help you come out to your friends and relatives. For young people, a great way to feel like you are not alone in this and find more support is by joining LGBTQ+ student groups.

• Think about whom you want to come out to at first
• Write your thoughts down on paper or email
• Know the facts, in case someone questions you, be firm in your stance
• Do not make assumptions, some people may react with a positive outlook, others may have a more negative reaction
• Be prepared to face negativity
• Offer transgender resources for people in your life who are but may not know how to be supportive

Be safe when you come out. While you should be able to live openly, not everyone can do so safely. This is especially true for transgender youth living in homes or communities that are not safe for them. Try to find friends who are supportive. Look for online communities. Have a safety plan that you can implement if you do decide to come out, or if your trans identity is revealed.

Many therapists will tell you that it is not a mental illness, and neither is gender dysphoria. Yes, statistics show that LGBTQ+ people tend to struggle with depression, anxiety, and suicidality, but being yourself is not a mental health condition.

The American Psychiatric Association, states that gender identity isn’t inherently linked to other mental health problems: “For these individuals, the significant problem is finding affordable resources, such as counseling, hormone therapy, medical procedures, and the social support necessary to freely express their gender identity and minimize discrimination. Many other obstacles may lead to distress, including a lack of acceptance, direct or indirect experiences with discrimination, or assault.”

What if I Do Not Want to Medically Transition?

It is okay to explore your identity to gain a better view of yourself as a human being. Sometimes labels change. Nobody can tell you how to feel. You don’t have to take hormone therapy or have surgeries to fall under the transgender umbrella.

Not all transgender people choose surgery or hormones. Some do, because they know they will never feel like their true selves if they don’t. Others don’t consider these things to be important at all. There are also transgender persons who fall somewhere between. They may choose:

• To take hormones but avoid surgery due to risks or costs
• No surgery or hormones because they can’t afford it
• Top surgery but not bottom surgery because of cost or simply being okay with existing genitalia
• No surgery or hormones because gender affirming care has been banned for trans people
• Not all transgender people struggle with dysphoria

Medical interventions are not necessary for people to present their authentic transgender identities. You can choose clothing, hairstyles, and accessories that reflect the person you wish to present to the outside world. Additionally, there are products available to help with dysphoria and presentation. You can purchase binders, packers, gaffs, bras, and other items to help your external appearance match your internal perception of yourself more closely.

How To Be a Parent to a Trans Child?

Parenthood is never easy. Parents tend to be concerned for their kids all the time, regardless of how they act and what environment they are in. Listening to your child’s words and expressions when it comes to asserting themselves is critical in their development. Especially when it comes to the internal feeling of their true self.

Many children will exhibit behavior that is reflective of a different gender. Think girls playing with cars, boys playing with dolls, kids being kids by playing dress-up. Showing gender nonconforming behavior does not signal that your child is trans. But, there are certain clues when it comes to children identifying themselves other than the sex assigned to them at birth.

Our gender expression is built upon the world around us. Transgender children are no exception. Most transgender people also report knowing as early as the age of 3.

Most kids have phases that they go through, but being transgender or non-binary is not one of them. Taking the steps to help your child during their journey will give them the ability to be themselves later on. Your support, respect, and validation are crucial to allowing your child to grow up a happy person.

Attempting to hide your child’s authentic identity by punishing them or denying it may be tremendously detrimental to their mental health. It may scar and harm them for life causing mental health problems down the road.

Always be respectful of your child’s feelings. It is a great opportunity to help recognize the child’s needs and wants. A good idea is to start looking for support healthcare groups for parents of transgender children. Whether a child wants to transition socially or medically should be discussed with the help of medical professionals.  Remember your child just wants to be their authentic self, they do not have a mental illness.

According to recent statistics, there are more than 3 % transgender students among the school population. This is why transgender equality is important to talk about at any age.

How to Support Transgender People

• Make a Conscious Effort to Ask People What Their Pronouns Are

Whether a person is transgender or not, doing this helps to remove the stigma from pronouns which helps move the race for transgender equality forward. Share your pronouns too. This normalizes sharing pronouns, and can put vulnerable people at ease.

• Remember That Understanding and Respecting a Person’s Gender Identity Are Different Things
  

It’s perfectly valid to not know much about transgender people, or to not fully understand what transgender people go through during their day to day lives. However it is important to always be respectful of a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation.

• Remember That You Cannot Tell if a Person Is Trans Just From Looking at Them
  

In recent years due to growing animosity towards transgender people, many people have been publicly shamed and attacked due to assumptions about them being transgender. Some of the people who have been attacked are/were actually cisgender people. This is because transphobia, or hatred towards transgender people, have deeply ingrained the idea in many peoples heads that “real” women and “real” men are required to look, dress, and act in a specific way. The following two names are examples of how transphobia affects not only those who seek transgender equality, but also cisgender people as well.

• Jay Rose, a cisgender woman who was harassed by another woman while using the restroom at a casino in Las Vegas, who assumed she was transgender due to her hair being cut really short at the time.
• Michelle D Peacock, a cisgender black woman from Indiana who was murdered by her neighbor Tommy Earl who claimed that she was a transgender woman.
• Olympic Boxer Imane Khelif was cyberbullied and accused of being a man. This was done despite evidence to the contrary. The individuals and media outlets misgendering and bullying her were not limited to one specific socio-political bloc. Khelif was targeted by falsehoods and innuendos from mainstream and even progressive media outlets as well as individuals who claim to be feminist/pro-woman.

Many of these incidents are driven by anti-transgender laws that force people to use restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms based on their assigned sex at birth rather than their gender identity or outward appearance.

There is no right or wrong way to express your gender identity

Being transgender is not something a person chooses but rather the way a person feels about their gender identity. A transgender man who has had bottom and top surgery is just as valid as the transgender man who only wears binders.

• Explore Your Own Gender Identity

This isn’t a process only for transgender people. Everybody has a gender identity. You may have never had to consider yours because yours was never questioned or challenged. If you were assigned male at birth and present yourself to the world as masculine, think about how it would feel if all of your clothing was replaced by what you perceive as women’s clothes. Logically, you know that your gender is the same regardless of clothing. But, you would feel discomfort and fear social consequences. These thought exercises can help you understand yourself better and have empathy for what transgender people experience.

• Continue to Educate Yourself About Trans People

One of the best ways to support transgender people is to allow yourself to be educated about transgender people. Research gender identity, sexual orientation, and gain an understanding about transgender people and the things that they go through. There is an immense amount of information online. There are trans authors and content creators who have taken on the mission of educating people.

Take on the responsibility of your own education and understanding. Do not expect trans people you know to do the work of educating you. Yes, many will be happy to talk to you about various things. Just know that there is a very fine line between providing education on this topic and being made to justify your own existence.

It is perfectly normal to be curious about some of the more intimate parts of being a trans person. It is not normal to ask intrusive questions. If you wouldn’t ask a cis person about their genitals or breasts, you should probably avoid the topic with a trans person.

• Listen to the Language They Use to Refer to Themselves and Use It

Most transgender people will use the language they prefer most when referring to themselves. It is best for you to follow their lead and use the language they prefer the most.

• Avoid Backhanded Compliments

These are often compliments that are just poorly disguised insults. These can include statements such as.

• “Wow! You look like you are an actual man/woman! I never would have guessed you were transgender”
• “I would go out with them even though they are transgender”
• “Even though you’re transgender you look really good.”

They might feel like compliments, but overall these kinds of statements can be incredibly hurtful to transgender people or people who are unsure of their gender identity

Speak Out

• Gently correct those who use the wrong name or pronouns when referring to transgender people.
• Support transgender equality by challenging anti-trans jokes, insults, remarks and conversations
• Remember that a person does not have to be of a specific sexual orientation to be attracted to transgender people.
• Challenge the way that things are unnecessarily gendered.

This is not just an issue in the transgender community, but across the entire spectrum. Many items, job titles, and tasks are delegated into gender binary specific categories. When you see something in the store that is obviously made for boys or obviously made for girls, take a good look at it and ask why.

• Rethink gendered language, and change habits that are based on gendered language.

The phrase ladies and gentlemen is very common and while many are fine with it it does lead a large part of the transgender community to be excluded. There are also other common ways people inherently gender others without realizing such as referring to everyone as guys, or telling jokes about a specific gender. Most of the time it is ok to use these in communication, however it is also a good idea to avoid making assumptions about a persons gender identity, especially during face to face interactions.

• Pay attention to laws and policies that might affect transgender people.

The best way to meaningfully protect transgender people is by supporting policies and laws that are affirming. It isn’t enough to be kind or friendly to a trans person you know, but support politicians who want to undo transgender rights

• Ensure that everyone has safe and reasonable access to restrooms and other necessary facilities at school, the workplace, or at the grocery store.

Support gender affirming restroom policies in schools and other public spaces. If you are in a position to control or define access to facilities at your work, make it clear that those spaces are open and friendly to trans and nonbinary people.

• Ask why gender identity is required on so many forms, and if they are actually required to be on that form

Normalize leaving these fields blank. Ask who will have access to this information. Question why only binary gender choices are given.

• Encourage others to support and include transgender people instead of just tolerating them

Actively counter rhetoric that pushes a narrative that transgender people seek attention and special treatment. Use reporting mechanisms on social media to prevent false and harmful information about the trans community from being spread. Remember that a person’s rights to their opinions and thoughts are not the same as their rights to a platform.

• Don’t out transgender people

Transgender people are often very careful about who they trust. Just because someone is open about their transgender identity with you, does not mean that they are open in general. The best rule to follow is this. Unless you are told otherwise, a transgender person is simply the gender they present publicly. They are women, not transgender women. They are men, not transgender men.