Page 310 - 2018-2019 Directory

TRANSGENDERRESOURCES 308 ©2018 GLPages.com
TRANSGENDER TERMINOLOGY
A Glossary of Acceptable Terms
First, let’s say that NO human being should be referred to as an “It” under any circumstances. (Do you refer to your pets that way? Probably not!) We strongly oppose using such outdated, derogatory terms as he-she, she-male, tranny and transvestite. Please use the guide below to educate yourself on today’s accepted terminology regarding the transgender community as well as the LGBTQ community as a whole.
Bi-Gendered: A person whose gender identity encompasses both genders, male and female.
Cross-Dresser: One who dresses in clothing typically worn by the opposite sex but generally has no intent to live full-
time as that gender.
Drag King: A woman who dresses as a woman for entertainment purposes, generally at night-clubs, bars or events.
Drag Queen: A man who dresses as a woman for entertainment purposes, generally at night-clubs, bars or events. Some use this derogatorily to refer to all transgender women.
FTM: Also known as a transgender man, FTM refers to a person who transitions from “female-to-male,” born female at birth but identifies and lives as a male.
Gender Expression: This is how a person outwardly expresses one’s gender identity, through clothing, hairstyle, voice, behavior or physical characteristics.
Gender Identity: Not necessarily visible to others, gender identity is an individual’s internal sense of being female, male or something else.
Gender Non-Conforming: Gender expression that is different from societal expectations.
Genderqueer: An individual who neither identifies as entirely male nor entirely female.
Intersex: People who are born with chromosomes, internal reproductive systems or external genitalia not normally associated with the male and female standards. An outdated, stigmatizing and misleading word for intersex is “hermaphrodite.”
MTF: Also known as a transgender woman, MTF refers to a person who transitions from “male-to-female,” born male at birth but identifies and lives as a female.
Passing: A term used by transgender people to mean that the public generally views them as the gender with which they identify.
Queer: A term that can be used to refer to any LGBTQ person, often used instead of “gay” since it does not convey a sense of gender. Depending on the user, the term may be considered derogatory and should generally be avoided except when used in reference to a person who self-identifies as such.
Sexual Orientation: A person’s attraction to members of the same or opposite sex, usually classified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or heterosexual. Avoid the term “sexual preference” which is offensive in that it implies that being gay or lesbian is a choice and is curable.
Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS): The phrase is singular, but SRS encompasses a multitude of procedures to change one’s body so it conforms to gender identity. Top surgery involves breast augmentation or removal, whereas bottom surgery is the alteration of genitals. Avoid the outdated, derogatory phrase, “sex change surgery.”
Transgender: This is an all-encompassing term for people whose gender identity, expression or behavior differs from their birth sex. The term is quite broad and is the preferred term for non-transgender people to use.
Transition: The period when a person begins living as their new gender, which may include changes of name and legal documents, the taking of hormones or having sex reassignment surgery. Avoid using “pre-operative” or “post- operative,” as they imply SRS is mandatory for a transgender person.
Transsexual: A person whose gender identity differs from one’s birth sex, often with a desire to alter the body through hormones or surgery to match gender identity.