Here is some general information about transexualism.
Transgender ( trans-jen-der )
noun. a person appearing or attempting to be a member of the opposite sex, as a transsexual or habitual crossdresser.
Adjective. being, pertaining to or characterstic of a transgender or transgenders: the transgender movement.
Transsexual ( trans-sek-shoo-uhl )
noun 1. a person having a strong desire to assume the physical characteristics and gender role of the opposite sex.
2. a person who has undergone hormone treatment and surgery to attain the physical characteristics of the opposite sex.
Adjective. of, pertaining to, or characteristics of transsexuals.
Cross-dress ( kraws-dress )
verb. to dress in clothing typically worn by members of the opposite sex.
Feminine ( fem-uh-nin )
adjective 1. pertainingto a woman or girl: feminine beauty; feminine dress.
2.having qualities traditionally ascrided to women, as sensitivty or gentleness.
3. effeminate; womanish; a man with qa feminate walk.
Masculine ( mas-kyuh-lin )
adjective 1. pertaining to or characteristic of a man or men: masculine attire.
2. having qualities tradittionally ascribed to man, as strength and boldness.
Transgender:
An umbrella term for people whose gender idenity, expression or behavior is different from those typically associated with their assigned sex at birth, including but not limited to transsexuals, crossdressers, androgynous people, genderquers, and gender non-conforming people. Transgender is a broud term and is good for non-transgender people to use. "Trans" is shorthand for "transgender".
Transgender Man:
A term for a transgender individual who currently identifies as a man.
Transgender Women:
A term for a transgender individual who currently identifies as a women.
Gender Identity:
An individual's internal sence of being male, female, or something else. Since gender identity is internal, one's gender identity is not necessarily visible to others.
Gender Experssion:
How a person represents or expresses one's gender identity to others, often through behavior, chlothing, hairstyles, voice or body characteristics.
Transsexual:
A term for people whose gender identity is different from their assigned sex at birth. Often transsexual people alter or wish to alter their bodies through hormones or surgery in order to make it match their gender identity.
Cross-dresser:
A term for people who dress in the clothing traditionally or stereotypically worn by the other sex, but who generally have no intent to live full time as the other gender.
Transvestite:
A term for crossdresser that is considered derogatory by many.
Genderqueer:
A term used by some indivduals who identify as neither entirely male nor entirely female.
Gender Non-conforming:
A term for individuals whose gender expression is different from societal expectations related to gender.
Bi-gendered:
One who has a significant gender identity that encompasses both genders, male and female. Some may feel that one side or the other is stronger, but both sides are there.
FTM:
A person who transitions from "female-to-male", meaning a person who was assigned female at birth, but identifies and lives as a male. Also known as a "transgender man".
MTF:
A person who transitions from "male-to-female", meaning a person who was assigned male at birth, but identifies and lives as a female. Also known as a "transgender woman".
Passing:
A term used by trangender people to mean that they are seen as the gender with which they self identify. E.g. a transgender man (born female) who most people see as a man.
Sex Reassignment Surgery:
Surgical procedures that change one's body to make it conform to a person's gender identity. This may include "top surgery" (brast augmentation or removal) or bottom surgery" (altering genitals). Contrary to popular belief, there is not one surgery: infact there are many different surgeries. "sex change surgery" is considered a derogatory term by many.
Sexual Orientation:
A term describing aa persons attraction to members of the same sex or different sex. Usually defined a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or heterosexual.
Transition:
The period during which a person begins to live as their new gender. Transitioning may include changing one's name, taking hormone, having surgery, or changing legel documents, to reflect their new gender.
Intersex:
A term used for people who are born with external genitalia, chromosomes, or internal
reproductive systems that are not traditionally associated with either a "standard" male or female.
Drag Queen:
Generally used to accurately refer to man who dress as women for the purpose of entertaining others at bars, clubs, or other events. It is also used as slang, sometimes in a derogatory manner, to refer to all transgender women.
Drag King:
Used to refer to women who dress as men for the purpose of entertaining others at bars, clubs, or other events.
Gender Identity Disorder (GID):
A controversial diagnosis given to transgender and other gender variant people. Because it labels people as "disordered", Gender Identity Disorder is often considered offensive. The diagnosis is frequently given to children who don't conform to expected gender norms in terms of dress, play or behavior. Such children are often subjected to intense psychotherapy, behavior modification and / or institutionalization. Replaces the outdated but prefered "gender dysphoria"
