I haven't understood and still not sure I do, but I believe everyone has the right to be who they are. In case anybody else is in the same boat . . .
Understanding Transgender People: The Basics
Transgender is a broad term that can be used to describe people whose gender identity is different from the gender they were thought to be when they were born. “Trans” is often used as shorthand for transgender.
To treat a transgender person with respect, you treat them according to their gender identity, not their sex at birth. So, someone who lives as a woman today is called a transgender woman and should be referred to as “she” and “her.” A transgender man lives as a man today and should be referred to as “he” and “him.”
Gender identity is your internal knowledge of your gender – for example, your knowledge that you’re a man, a woman, or another gender.Gender expression is how a person presents their gender on the outside, often through behavior, clothing, hairstyle, voice or body characteristics.
When a person begins to live according to their gender identity, rather than the gender they were thought to be when they were born, this time period is called gender transition. Deciding to transition can take a lot of reflection. Many transgender people risk social stigma, discrimination, and harassment when they tell other people who they really are. Despite those risks, being open about one’s gender identity can be life-affirming and even life-saving.
Possible steps in a gender transition may or may not include changing your clothing, appearance, name, or the pronoun people use to refer to you (like “she,” “he,” or “they”). If they can, some people change their identification documents, like their driver’s license or passport, to better reflect their gender. And some people undergo hormone therapy or other medical procedures to change their physical characteristics and make their body match the gender they know themselves to be. All transgender people are entitled to the same dignity and respect, regardless of whether or not they have been able to take any legal or medical steps.
Some transgender people identify as neither a man nor a woman, or as a combination of male and female, and may use terms like non-binary or genderqueer to describe their gender identity. Those who are non-binary often prefer to be referred to as “they” and “them.”
It is important to use respectful terminology, and treat transgender people as you would treat any other person. This includes using the name the person has asked you to call them (not their old name) as well as the pronouns they want you to use. If you aren’t sure what pronouns a person uses, just ask politely.
Visit our About Transgender People resource hub for more information! Some suggestions:
For more information about transgender people generally, see Frequently Asked Questions about Transgender People.
For more information about non-binary people, see Understanding Non-Binary People.
For more information about how to be supportive of the transgender people in your life, see Supporting the Transgender People in Your Life.
Gender identity is your internal knowledge of your gender – for example, your knowledge that you’re a man, a woman, or another gender.Gender expression is how a person presents their gender on the outside, often through behavior, clothing, hairstyle, voice or body characteristics.
When a person begins to live according to their gender identity, rather than the gender they were thought to be when they were born, this time period is called gender transition. Deciding to transition can take a lot of reflection. Many transgender people risk social stigma, discrimination, and harassment when they tell other people who they really are. Despite those risks, being open about one’s gender identity can be life-affirming and even life-saving.
Possible steps in a gender transition may or may not include changing your clothing, appearance, name, or the pronoun people use to refer to you (like “she,” “he,” or “they”). If they can, some people change their identification documents, like their driver’s license or passport, to better reflect their gender. And some people undergo hormone therapy or other medical procedures to change their physical characteristics and make their body match the gender they know themselves to be. All transgender people are entitled to the same dignity and respect, regardless of whether or not they have been able to take any legal or medical steps.
Some transgender people identify as neither a man nor a woman, or as a combination of male and female, and may use terms like non-binary or genderqueer to describe their gender identity. Those who are non-binary often prefer to be referred to as “they” and “them.”
It is important to use respectful terminology, and treat transgender people as you would treat any other person. This includes using the name the person has asked you to call them (not their old name) as well as the pronouns they want you to use. If you aren’t sure what pronouns a person uses, just ask politely.
Visit our About Transgender People resource hub for more information! Some suggestions:
For more information about transgender people generally, see Frequently Asked Questions about Transgender People.
For more information about non-binary people, see Understanding Non-Binary People.
For more information about how to be supportive of the transgender people in your life, see Supporting the Transgender People in Your Life.
2 comments:
Some points were left out:
1) Most transgender people are heterosexual.
2) Transgender people prefer to identify as a different gender rather than question their culture's sacrosanct gender roles. In other words, if you have a penis but you're attracted to others with penises, you're transgender, since males are not to be attracted to other males. That is what females desire. It's not acceptable to just be a male who does not fit their culture's gender roles.
Now,
Understanding non-transgender people:
1) They do not need to call themselves "CIS-****". Don't be an ass and impose a label upon them which they don't choose for themselves. As transgender, you ought to have learned that lesson intimately.
I could certainly go on.
Thank you for the lesson and especially for the cordial, polite, and respectful tone. :-0
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