Transgender

People often think of gender in forms of male and female. The truth is, gender is richer and more complex than that. Not everyone looks or feels like one sex or the other. 

Gender identity is the inherent feeling people have about what gender they are.Some people identify as a gender other than the sex they appeared to be at birth.

They might identify as male, female or as something else, like transgender. Sometimes people use "Trans" for short.

The more you understand about gender issues, the easier it will be to support trans friends.

• Trans children are often encouraged to act like the gender they appeared to be at birth, no matter how they feel inside. Some wish that during puberty they'll get the adult body that matches their inner gender.
• Trans teens are sometimes clear about their gender identity. But normal puberty can be challenging.
• Support is important, but sometimes its hard to find.
• Trans adults have options about how they live. Some live with the body they were born with. Others take steps to change their bodies so the world sees them as they see themselves.

Gender isn't the same as sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is about whom a person is sexually attracted to.

• Heterosexual men are attracted to women and heterosexual women are attracted to men.
• Gay men are attracted to men.
• Lesbian women are attracted to women.
• Bisexual people are attracted to both men and women.  
• Transgender people can have any sexual orientation. They can be straight, gay, lesbian or bisexual. Usually, people define themselves based on their gender identity, not their physical sex. 

Pictured above: Mal Faust, 29 

Transgender is sometimes used as an umbrella term that includes people with many different gender identities:

• Transgender women identify as female but appeared physically male at birth. Some use the term MTF ("male to female").
• Transgender men identify as male but appeared female at birth. Some use the term FTM ("female to male").
• Genderqueer people might identify as male, female, or something different, like "fluid". Their gender identity can also be different at different times.
• Crossdressers are people who feel comfortable with their physical bodies and enjoy dressing as another gender.
•  Pan-sexual is not limited in sexual choice with regard to biological sex, gender, or gender identity.
• Transsexual is an older medical term referring to trans people who have surgery or take hormones to change their bodies. Most young trans people today don't identify with the term. People use many other terms for different ways to be gendered. Definitions are often personal as well. If you're not sure how to address a transgender friend, ask.

The support of friends is very important. There is still a lot of misunderstanding and fear about gender differences. Support Transgender friends in these ways:

• Let go of stereotypes about the way gender ought to be. Accept the range of gender feelings people can have.
• Respect peoples gender choices. If you're not sure, ask which pronoun they prefer you use with them.
• Learn about different gender choices. 
• Listen to your trans friends if they want to talk about their experiences. Its a good way to learn more about different gender identities.
• Speak out against transphobic remarks or behavior. Help inform others about gender issues.