The Basics
Joel Muniz
What is gender identity/expression?
Gender identity is a person’s innermost knowledge of who they are (male, female, a blend of both, or neither). A person’s gender identity may or may not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Gender expression is how a person presents their gender identity to the world, often through behavior, clothing, hairstyle, voice, or body characteristics. A person’s gender expression may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being masculine or feminine.
What does it mean to be transgender?
A transgender (trans) person is someone whose gender identity and/or gender expression is different from the cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, a transgender woman may be someone who lives as a woman today and was assigned male at birth.
What does it mean to transition?
Transgender people may undergo a series of processes known as “transitioning” in order to live more fully as their true gender. Trans people may undergo all, some, or none of these gender affirmation processes:
Social (changing names/pronouns, new clothing choices, changing mannerisms)
Medical (hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgeries)
Legal (changing name and sex on government documents)
Why does a person decide to be trans?
A person’s internal sense of gender is a core part of their identity, whether they are transgender or not. Transgender people do not choose to be trans, they only choose whether or not to tell you. Being trans is not a phase, and many trans people spend a long time exploring their gender before coming out or beginning their transition.
Names/pronouns: how should I address/speak about a trans person?
Use the language a transgender person uses for themselves and respect the name and pronouns (she, him, they, etc.) they are currently using.
If you knew them before they came out or transitioned, you may be used to using a trans person’s birth name (some call this their “deadname”) and pronouns, which they may no longer use. If you’re not sure which name or pronouns to use for someone, you can find out in a few ways:
Listen and wait: Sometimes a person’s name and pronouns come up organically in conversation.
Offer your own name/pronouns: “Hi, I’m Joe and my pronouns are he/him. How about you?”
Ask: “What are your pronouns?”
Transgender | A Guide