Many identities fall under the transgender category. The term transsexual refers to people whose gender identity is different from their assigned sex. Often, transsexual people modify or wish to modify their bodies through hormones, surgeries, and other means in order to make their bodies as consistent with their gender identity as possible. This process of transition through medical intervention is often called sex or gender reassignment, but more recently it is also called gender affirmation. People who have been assigned the female gender, but who identify and live as men and who modify or wish to modify their bodies through medical intervention to more closely resemble their gender identity are known as transsexual men or transmen (also known as female-to-male or FTM). Conversely, people who have been assigned the male gender, but who identify and live as women and who modify or wish to modify their bodies through medical intervention to more closely resemble their gender identity are known as of transsexual women or transwomen (also known as male-to-female or MTF). ). Some people who are transitioning from one gender to another prefer to be called male or female rather than transgender.
People who cross-dressing wearing clothing traditionally or stereotyped by another gender in their culture. They vary in the extent to which they cross-dress completely, from a single item of clothing to a complete cross-dressing. Those who cross-dress are generally comfortable with their assigned gender and do not wish to change it. Cross-dressing is a form of gender expression and is not necessarily linked to erotic activity. Cross-dressing is not an indication of sexual orientation. (See Answers to your questions: for a better understanding of sexual orientation and homosexuality for more information on sexual orientation.) The degree of societal acceptance of cross-dressing varies for men and women. In some cultures, one gender may have more leeway than another to wear clothing associated with a different gender.
The term drag queens generally refers to men who dress as women for the purpose of entertaining others at bars, clubs, or other events. The term drag kings refers to women who dress as men in order to entertain others in bars, clubs or other events.
Genderqueer is a term used by some people who identify their gender as falling outside of the binary constructs of “man” and “woman”. They may define their gender as falling somewhere on a continuum between male and female, or they may define it as being entirely different from those terms. They can also request that pronouns be used to refer to them that are neither masculine nor feminine, such as “zie” instead of “he” or “she”, or “hir” instead of “his” or “she”. Some Genderqueer people do not identify as transgender.
Other categories of transgender people include androgynous, multi-gender, gender non-conforming, third genderAnd two-spirit people. The exact definitions of these terms vary from person to person and can change over time, but often include a sense of mixing or alternating genders. Some people who use these terms to describe themselves view traditional, binary concepts of gender as restrictive.
