| Term | Definition | |------|-------------| | | The classification (male, female, or intersex) given at birth based on physical anatomy. | | Gender identity | An individual's internal, deeply held sense of their own gender (male, female, a blend of both, or neither). | | Transgender (trans) | An umbrella term for people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. Includes trans men, trans women, and non-binary people. | | Cisgender (cis) | A person whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth. | | Non-binary / Genderqueer | People whose gender identity falls outside the strict male/female binary. May identify as both, neither, or fluid. | | Gender dysphoria | Clinically significant distress caused by a mismatch between one's gender identity and assigned sex. Not all trans people experience dysphoria. | | Gender-affirming care | Medical (hormones, surgeries) and social (name change, pronouns) support that aligns a person’s body and life with their gender identity. | | Transition | The process of living as one's true gender. Can be social, legal, and/or medical. Not all trans people medically transition. |
For many, being transgender isn't just a category within a larger acronym—it’s a distinct microculture. This distinction often arises from the unique challenges trans people face that differ from those experienced by cisgender gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals. indian shemale tube