Transgender

Transgender, often shorted to trans, describes anyone whose gender identity or gender expression is different from their sex assigned at birth.^[1] As it is an umbrella term, transgender includes both binary trans people (gender identity is the opposite of sex assigned at birth, for example, someone who was born male, but identifies as female) and people who do not identify as specifically male or female, including, but not limited to, nonbinary, genderfluid, agender, bigender, a third gender, or a xenogender/neogender. The opposite of transgender is cisgender, someone who identifies with the gender they were assigned at birth.^[2] Being trans is not to be confused with being intersex, where a person is born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not fit the typical definitions of the male and female anatomy. While someone could be both transgender and intersex, the two are separate terms, and people can also be just intersex or just transgender.^[3] Additionally, it should be noted that being transgender is separate from sexual orientation. Just like cisgender people, transgender people can be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, asexual, or an entirely different orientation.

In his 1945 work Sexual Hygiene and Pathology: A Manual for the Physician and the Professions, John F. Oliven (1914-1975), a psychiatrist of Columbia University created the term transgender to describe someone who did not identify with their assigned gender. Previously, the terms transsexual or transsexualism were used to describe trans people, however, Oliven stated that "The term [transsexualism] is misleading; actually, ‘transgenderism’ is what is meant, because sexuality is not a major factor in primary transvestism”.^[4] The term transgender was popularized in the 1970s through the advocacy and writings of trans activist and pioneer Virginia Prince.^[5]

Many trans people, whether a binary trans person, nonbinary, or genderqueer, experience gender dysphoria, which is defined as psychological distress caused by a difference between one's gender identity and their biological sex and gender assigned at birth. Gender dysphoria often appears in childhood, although some may not experience it until during or after puberty.^[6] While scientists do not fully understand the causes of gender dysphoria, connections have been made showing that the brain structure of transgender people that is more similar to the gender they identify as.^[7]

• Transgender activism

• FAQ about transgender people
• Stories from transgender people