What is a transgender person?

Gender Identity refers to a person's actual or perceived sex, and includes a person's identity, appearance, or behavior, whether or not that identity, appearance, or behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's sex at birth. People who are transgendered are people whose anatomies and/or appearances do not conform to those considered appropriate for culturally predominant gender roles. They have physical and/or behavioral characteristics that readily identify them as having a non-conforming gender identity. In other words, transgendered people, to varying degrees, "transgress" cultural norms as to what a man or a woman "should be."

Of course, not all people who transgress cultural norms in regards to gender are, or should be, considered transgender as we are discussing here. In that case, that would include a woman who works as a pipe fitter or a male nurse. However, when transgender is used in the case of a "sexual minority", we are generally referring to one of the following five categories:

Transsexuals were born into one gender but identify psychologically and emotionally as the other. Transsexuals are generally thought to have a condition called gender dysphoria (also called Gender Identity Disorder). Those who are born physically male but are emotionally and psychologically female are called transsexual women. Those who are born female but are emotionally and psychologically male are called transsexual men. There is some disagreement as to whether gender dysphoria is a physical condition, a psychological condition or both. Some scientists believe that gender dysphoria occurs when the developing fetus is in the womb and that a chemical imbalance occurs their development, that affects sexual difference.

The primary way transsexuals differ from other transgendered people is that in almost all cases, they seek to modify their bodies through hormones, SRS (Sexual Reassignment Surgery) or both. This process (which may take several months or many years) is called Transition, where transsexuals will make major life changes in order to bring their physical appearance in line with their gender identity. Some of those changes include changing their name and gender designation on legal documents such as birth certificates, driver's licenses and social security records. However it is achieved, the ultimate goal of transition is to enable the transsexual to live completely as the gender with which they identify.

It is extremely important to remember that male to female transsexuals are women, just as female to male transsexuals are men and should be referred to and treated as such.

Intersexed people were born exhibiting some combination of both male and female genitalia (usually determined by the doctor to be either a clitoris that is "too large" or a penis that is "too small.") As one can imagine, such a diagnosis is entirely subjective. At birth, the attending physician or parents or both "choose" which gender to raise the child, necessitating surgery and/or hormonal treatment that must be continued throughout the child's life. Many intersexed people, now adults, are advocating for an end to the way intersexed children are seen as "damaged goods" needing to be fixed.

Crossdressers (previously known as transvestites) identify as, and are completely comfortable with, their physical gender at birth, but will occasionally dress and take on the mannerisms of the opposite gender. Of course, cross-dressing is more onerous on men, since our culture accepts the idea of a woman wearing pants, but not a man wearing a skirt. Most cross-dressers are heterosexual men. The term transvestite is now considered offensive and should not be used because it is associated with negative images of sexual fetishism.

Drag Performers include people like Ru Paul, or Elvis Herselvis (a well known lesbian Elvis impersonator). Drag performers are precisely that - performers. They dress and act like the "opposite" sex for the entertainment of an audience. For them, drag is a job - not an identity. Some are gay - some are not. Some identify as transgendered - most do not. It is important to be aware of the fact that some people, including many drag performers themselves, do not consider drag performers to be members of the transgendered community.

Gender blenders, bi-gendered, androgynes and others - Not all transgendered people fit neatly into the above categories. For some, such characterizations of gender and gender identity are more constraining than liberating. Gender blenders may or may not identify as one or the other in a binary gender system (i.e. either/or, male/female) and many times will assume a mixture of male and female dress and characteristics, combining elements of both.

Cisgeneder is NOT UNDER THE UMBRELLA but the following is what it means. . .

Cisgender is the opposite of transgender. Meaning their Gender identity and their body sex match.

After reading this question and your other one about sex with a transgender person I feel I need to comment. I'm going to answer both here as I feel no need to justify t you or anyone else who I am. I am a transsexual woman, I did not chose to be, I was born that way. I am also going to assume when you say transgender you actually mean a transsexual, there is a huge difference but I doubt you are open minded enough to go to the link Radgal has provided and learn the difference. If you had sex with a post op transsexual woman you would not even know unless she told you. most Doctors can not distinguish any difference between a natal woman or a post op transsexual woman's genitals without doing an Internal exam. Are you 100% sure you have not already, some thing to think about isn't it. You say you are attracted to women. Again unless I were to tell you my medical history you are not going to know I was born with a male body. If you were to see me or the majority of transsexual women walking down the street, in a bar, restaurant, etc you would not have any idea of our past. You say if you had been born as a woman you would be a lesbian and be fine with it. Hate to be the one to burst your bubble but if you had been born a woman you would have a different thought process and out look on life. You would also most likely be attracted to guys just as the vast majority of women are. You do not get to decide if you want to be a lesbian, gay, or transsexual. When ever I hear or read some one say they are fine with a particular group of people I alway wait for the "but". If you were truly fine with gender variant people you would not have to declare that you are. Nor would you have asked this question or the other one about sex. It would be a non issue. The real truth is you do not understand the first thing about us and rather then educate yourself you base your views on us with stereotypes. Why? Because you like most people can not grasp the concept that our genital are not what defines us as men or women. You're prejudice.

Your friend has a girl's body, but *his* brain is completely male. He's a boy. Even though he doesn't look like one under the clothes.

Transgender is an umbrella term. Your friend would be a transsexual. A transsexual is a person whose body and brain don't match- their physical sex and mental gender don't match up. A transsexual woman would be a person who was born with male parts, but has a female brain. A transsexual man is a person who was born with female parts, but has a male brain.

As for being looked down upon, it really depends on where you live. I wouldn't think California would have much a problem with it, but say, a bible belt state might. There are open minded people and close minded.

There are plenty of transsexual guys out there. Tell your friend to check these out:

http://www.lauras-playground.com/

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/sex...

Just offer any support you can for your friend. It's very normal. Oh, and he might choose (if he has the money) to transition later in life, so he can look more like the guy he is inside, as cheesy as that sounds.

I agree with Trinidad Grad and Chris.

This question is asked quite often heres how I put it.

. My personal definition of a transgender person is a person whose physical body is not in alignment with his or her gender identity, either all or part of the time. In other words, the body says male by societal and medical standards, but the mind, or gender identity, says

woman, or vice versa. It is also possible for the mind, or gender identity, to say neither man nor woman, or both man and woman. Regardless, the physical body and the gender identity do not match, either all or part of the time.

There are also those who define transgender in a broader sense that encompasses anyone who transgresses traditional gender norms, either intentionally or unintentionally, on a regular basis and/or who suffers repercussions (discrimination, homophobia, Tran phobia,

threats, violence) because of perceived or actual transgressions. A person’s gender identity may or may not come into play here.

For example, there are some women who are very “masculine” by our society’s standards, but who have a feminine gender identity all of the time. There are some men who are very “feminine” by our society’s standards, but who have a masculine gender identity all of the time. These people would likely fall under the second definition of

transgender, but not the first. These people may or may not see themselves as transgender.

There are some who identify transsexual people as transgender. Many times, headlines will refer to someone who I would consider to be a transsexual person — someone who has transitioned, is going through a transition, on HRT, or who is trying to live full-time in the gender that matches that person’s gender identity — as a transgender man or woman. This is an

acceptable reference to some people and unacceptable to others.

There are transsexual people (like myself) who also use the term transgender to

refer to themselves. There are others who have never used the term transgender to refer to themselves, and who, after transition, do not use the term transsexual, either. After the surgery they use the proper gender identity, they are men or women.

It is in my in opinion impossible to adequately represent all other people’s positions, identifications, or situations.

I disagree with pj.

"Transsexuals" are men or women who have not tried to fix their transsexualism, or have tried and failed. As long as their transsexual condition remains, they are unable to claim the identity of "man" or "woman." With few avenues of recourse left, most adopt the stigmatized "transsexual" identity held by ignorant members of society, and then try to convince these people that they should accept them as men or women, no matter how outlandish their behavior, how awful their appearance, or how incredulous their presentation may be. This is both unreasonable and unrealistic.

There is nothing wrong with with people seeing you as a "tranny" or "shemale" for the rest of your life, assuming this is what you want.

But if you wish to be seen as just a man or a woman, you need to correct the condition that is preventing you from presenting as such. This is precisely why people undertake "Transition", the enormously difficult process of getting one's transsexualism fixed.

You don't have to BE a medical condition if you don't want to.

a transgendered person is someone who believes that they would rather live life as the opposite sex of who they are. A transvestive is a person who likes to or prefers to dress as the opposite sex. However for transgendered people, they WANT to be the opposite sex, not just dress as one. gender and sexual orientation are completely different, although most men who want to be women will probably be attracted to men. Or women who want to be men will probably be attracted to other women. Hower, sometimes a person might want to be the opposite sex, but still be attracted to the opposite sex. For example, I'm a lesbian. I know a man who is transgendered. This means he is a man, but wants to be a woman. BUT he is a lesbian. Because he wants to be a woman that is attracted to other women. So... I guess what im trying to say is... that a transgendered person is a person that wants to be the opposite sex then what they are. Not just dress like a man or a woman. As for if they like men or women. Well that's different. Transgendered people are looked down upon like gays and lesbians. But i think being transgendered is more difficult than being gay or lesbian because you can be gay or lesbian and just be who you are now. But transgendered people are constantly battling with their looks. anyways im drunk and this is the end of my rant.

I agree with PJ. She knows what she's talking about.

without doing a bland copy and paste answer ill tell you a transgender person is someone who switches genders. if "your friend" really wants to be a boy and thinks she is a boy trapped in a girls body then she is transgender. there are other girls who switched to boys. i personally like it more when a boy switches to a girl because they can make for some really pretty girls without the dogma of girl thinking. plus its just more girls for me, i wish more guys were gay so it would lower my competition.

"transgender" is such a broad and convoluted word that it can mean virtually anything any one individual wants it to mean. therefore, as an expressive term it has no value at all.

"transsexuals" are people born of one anatomical gender and the opposite brain gender. i am transsexual, i was born with a perfectly normal female brain in an otherwise perfectly normal male body.

that's what transsexualism is all about...period. i do not use the term "transgender" because, as i've said, for conversational purposes it is useless...it can mean anything.

there are many transsexuals. thousands and thousands and thousands. my surgeon, just one of many in the world, performs approximately 300 g.r.s.'s each year <genital reconfiguration surgery>. and i think we can safely say that only a tiny percentage of transsexuals ever get as far as surgery. so, your friend is not at all alone.

yes, there is a negative stigma attached to transsexualism in and out of the gay community. the only effective counters to that is providing true and accurate information on the subject, countering misinformation and transphobia wherever it is encountered, and demonstrating for the world that transsexuals are not worthy of the negative connotation attached.

"you have to BE the change you want to see in the world."

much love and hope. pj