GLOSSARY

Terms to Know: 

Sex
The classification of a person as male or female. At birth, infants are assigned a sex, usually based on the appearance of their external anatomy. (This is what is written on the birth certificate.)
A person's sex, however, is actually a combination of bodily characteristics including: chromosomes, hormones, internal and external reproductive organs, and secondary sex characteristics. There are more than two sexes: people who are intersex display 

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Gender Identity
A person’s internal and deeply held sense of their gender. Most people have a gender identity of man or woman (or boy or girl). For some people, their gender identity does not fit neatly into one of those two choices (see non-binary and/or genderqueer below.)

Gender Expression
External manifestations of gender, expressed through a person's name, pronouns, clothing, haircut, behavior, voice, and/or body characteristics.

Sexual Orientation
Someone’s romantic and sexual attraction to others. (aka who you love.) Separate from gender identity (who you are.)

Transgender (adj.)
The prefix trans indicates something that passes from one side to another (like the transcontinental railroad.) The term transgender describes anyone who identifies with a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth. Gender assigned at birth is what the doctor said; they look at a baby and say “That’s a girl.” If that baby (years later) disagrees, they are trans. 
Transgender identity is not dependent upon physical appearance or medical procedures, although many transgender people are prescribed hormones by their doctors to bring their bodies into alignment with their gender identity. Some undergo surgery as well.

Transgender is an adjective. It’s not accurate to write “transwoman” because trans is a description of the type of woman she is. You wouldn’t say “tallwoman” or “women and tallwomen”

Cisgender
"Cis-" is a Latin prefix meaning "on the same side as," and is therefore an antonym of "trans-." Cisgender people are those who identify with their sex assigned at birth, and the  term is used to describe people who are not transgender.

Gender Non-Conforming
A term used to describe some people whose gender expression is different from conventional expectations of masculinity and femininity. Not all gender non-conforming people identify as transgender; nor are all transgender people gender non-conforming. Many people have gender expressions that are not entirely conventional – that fact alone does not make them transgender. Many transgender men and women have gender expressions that are conventionally masculine or feminine. Simply being transgender does not make someone gender non-conforming.

Non-binary and/or genderqueer
People who experience their gender identity and/or gender expression as falling outside the categories of man and woman often use these terms to describe themselves. They may define their gender as falling somewhere in between man and woman, completely outside the concept of woman and man, or they may define it as wholly different from these terms.

Gender Dysphoria
Gender Dysphoria is typically understood as the discomfort and disconnect between one’s perceived gender and one’s true gender identity. There are many types of dysphoria, such as social dysphoria, and physical dysphoria. People’s experience of dysphoria is personal and may vary widely. There is no wrong or right way to experience gender dysphoria.

Gender Euphoria
Gender Euphoria is the feeling of joy and content when one’s true gender is affirmed. It is feeling good in your skin, and seen as who you are. If you’re cisgender, you probably don’t even realize that you are feeling gender euphoria. For trans people, it is often much more obvious. Some trans people feel dysphoria more acutely, while others are more focused on the euphoria of experiencing life in their true gender. 

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Transition
Transitioning is a complex process that occurs over a long period of time. Transition can include some or all of the following personal, medical, and legal steps: telling one's family, friends, and co-workers; using a different name and new pronouns; dressing differently; changing one's name and/or sex on legal documents; hormone therapy; and possibly (though not always) one or more types of surgery. The exact steps involved in transition vary from person to person. Transitioning is often a response and a remedy to gender dysphoria and allows transgender individuals to live more authentic and happy lives.

Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS)
Also called Gender Confirmation Surgery (GCS). Refers to doctor-supervised surgical procedures to transform the genitals, and is only one small part of transition (see transition above). Avoid the phrase "sex change operation." Do not refer to someone as being "pre-op" or "post-op." Note: not all transgender people choose to, or can afford to undergo medical surgeries. 

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Transsexual (adj.)

An older term that originated in the medical and psychological communities. Still used by some people who have permanently changed - or seek to change - their bodies through medical interventions, including but not limited to hormones and/or surgeries. Unlike transgender, transsexual is not an umbrella term. Many transgender people do not identify as transsexual and prefer the word transgender. Do not use transsexual unless a person has made it clear that they use this term. 

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Drag, Crossdressing, Transvestism:
Crossdressing means dressing up as another gender: women wearing stereotypically men’s clothing and vice versa. Transgender people are not crossdressing because they are dressing as themselves, as their true gender, not across gender. In the past, the term transvestism was often used to describe trans people (the suffix -vest means to wear). However is it not an appropriate way to describe trans people today.
Drag is a little more complicated. Although drag is traditionally understood as a man dressing up as a caricature of a woman, trans people have been important participants throughout the history of drag. It is best to understand Drag performers as performing a character: some drag queens are trans, some are cis. The different is when a drag queen takes the costumes off, a trans woman is still a woman whereas a cis man is a man. Being trans isn’t a costume- drag is.