first we must ask:
What is Gender?
Transgender is a descriptive term for people whose gender identity and/or expression is different from what is typically associated with the sex they were assigned at birth. This might mean a transgender person identifies as male or female, or it might mean that they identify as neither -- or both. Gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same thing — your gender doesn't affect who you're sexually attracted to.
As you explore this site and the resources we've linked to, you might come across some words and concepts that are unfamiliar to you, but will help make conversations with your friends and family much easier. We've borrowed many of these definitions from the Human Rights Campaign website.
Also, check out The Gender Book for even more information on the topic of gender! |
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Glossary
DISCLAIMER: Different sites and people define some of these terms slightly differently. The definitions here are meant to familiarize you with the terms.
Agender: a person who has an internal sense of being neither male nor female nor some combination of male and female, or a person whose gender identity is genderless or neutral Androgynous: Identifying and/or presenting as neither distinguishably masculine nor feminine. Asexual: The lack of a sexual attraction or desire for other people. Biphobia: Prejudice, fear or hatred directed toward bisexual people. Bisexual: A person emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to more than one sex, gender or gender identity though not necessarily simultaneously, in the same way or to the same degree. Cisgender: A term used to describe a person whose gender identity aligns with those typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth. Closeted: Describes an LGBTQ person who has not disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity. Coming out: The process in which a person first acknowledges, accepts and appreciates his or her sexual orientation or gender identity and begins to share that with others. Cissexism: Erasing trans people and their experiences, and/or expressing hatred and bigotry toward trans people. Drag queen/king/performer: The theatrical performance of one or multiple genders via dressing in the clothing of a different gender, or in a manner different from how one would usually dress. While many drag queens/kings are cisgender men and women, drag shows have always included trans and gender diverse people as performers. Enby: Enby is simply an abbreviated way of saying nonbinary. (‘Enby’ is preferred to ‘NB’ as an abbreviation because NB also means ‘Non-Black’) Female-to-Male/FTM/FtM: Female-to-male was once the accepted terminology for men who were assigned female at birth. The term continues to be used in medical literature, and some transgender people do identify that way. Especially among younger transgender people, however, trans man is now a more popular term for this demographic. For some people, the term female-to-male can be offensive for its implication that trans men were “originally” female, and have only now become male. Gay: A person who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to members of the same gender. Gender dysphoria: Clinically significant distress caused when a person's assigned birth gender is not the same as the one with which they identify. According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the term - which replaces Gender Identity Disorder - "is intended to better characterize the experiences of affected children, adolescents, and adults." |
Gender-expansive: Conveys a wider, more flexible range of gender identity and/or expression than typically associated with the binary gender system.
Gender expression: External appearance and mannerisms, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, haircut or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine. Gender identity: One’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth. Gender non-conforming or gender non-binary: A broad term referring to people who do not behave in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not fit neatly into a category. Genderqueer: Genderqueer people typically reject notions of static categories of gender and embrace a fluidity of gender identity and often, though not always, sexual orientation. People who identify as "genderqueer" may see themselves as being both male and female, neither male nor female or as falling completely outside these categories. Gender transition: The process by which some people strive to more closely align their internal knowledge of gender with its outward appearance. Some people socially transition, whereby they might begin dressing, using names and pronouns and/or be socially recognized as another gender. Others undergo physical transitions in which they modify their bodies through medical interventions. Homophobia: The fear and hatred of or discomfort with people who are attracted to members of the same sex. Intersex: Intersex people are individuals born with any of several sex characteristics including chromosome patterns, gonads, or genitals that, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, ‘do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies’ Lesbian: A woman who is emotionally, romantically or sexually attracted to other women. LGBTQ: An acronym for “lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer.” Living openly: A state in which LGBTQ people are comfortably out about their sexual orientation or gender identity – where and when it feels appropriate to them. Male-to-Female/MTF/MtF: Male-to-female was once the accepted terminology for women who were assigned male at birth. The term continues to be used in medical literature, and some transgender people do identify that way. Especially among younger transgender people, however, trans woman is now a more popular term for this demographic. For some people, the term male-to-female can be offensive for its implication that trans women were “originally” male, and have only now become female. |
Outing: Exposing someone’s lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender identity to others without their permission. Outing someone can have serious repercussions on employment, economic stability, personal safety or religious or family situations.
Transmasculine: A person whose gender identity is partially or fully masculine and differs from the sex the person had or was identified as having at birth Transfeminine: A person whose gender identity is partially or fully feminine and differs from the sex the person had or was identified as having at birth Transgender Man: A man who was assigned female at birth may use this term to describe himself. He may shorten it to ‘trans man.’ (Note: trans man, not "transman.") Some may prefer to simply be called men, without any modifier. Use the term the person uses to describe their gender. Transgender Woman: A woman who was assigned male at birth may use this term to describe herself. She may shorten it to ‘trans woman.’ (Note: trans woman, not "transwoman.") Some may prefer to simply be called women, without any modifier. Use the term the person uses to describe their gender. Transsexual: An older term that originated in the medical and psychological communities. As the gay and lesbian community rejected homosexual and replaced it with gay and lesbian, the transgender community rejected transsexual and replaced it with transgender. Some people within the trans community may still call themselves transsexual. Do not use transsexual to describe a person unless it is a word they use to describe themself. If the subject of your news article uses the word transsexual to describe themself, use it as an adjective: transsexual woman or transsexual man. Queer: A term people often use to express fluid identities and orientations. Often used interchangeably with "LGBTQ." Questioning: A term used to describe people who are in the process of exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity. Same-gender loving: A term some prefer to use instead of lesbian, gay or bisexual to express attraction to and love of people of the same gender. Sex assigned at birth: This term refers to the sex that is indicated on a person's birth certificate, as it was interpreted at that time. Assigned female at birth (AFAB) and Assigned male at birth (AMAB) Sexual orientation: An inherent or immutable enduring emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to other people. Transgender: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity is different from cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender does not imply any specific sexual orientation. Therefore, transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc. Transphobia: The fear and hatred of, or discomfort with, transgender people. |