FAQs

Sex refers to biological characteristics — chromosomes, hormones, and anatomy — usually assigned at birth. Gender refers to a person’s internal sense of self and how they live in the world as a man, woman, both, or neither. Major medical and psychological bodies treat the two as related but distinct.

Transgender describes people whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. It is an umbrella term covering many identities and experiences. Being transgender is not a mental illness.

Cisgender describes people whose gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth. It is simply the counterpart to transgender, and helps talk about gender without treating one experience as the default.

Non-binary describes people whose gender identity is not exclusively male or female. Some non-binary people identify as a blend of genders, as neither, or as shifting over time. Non-binary people may or may not also describe themselves as transgender.

Gender dysphoria is the distress a person can feel when their gender identity does not align with their assigned sex or their body. Not every transgender person experiences it, and it is recognized as a clinical diagnosis in current medical guidelines.

Transition is the process of living in alignment with one’s gender identity. It can be social (name, pronouns, and presentation), legal (updating identity documents), and/or medical (such as hormones or surgery). Not everyone pursues every step, and there is no single “right” way to transition.

No. Gender identity is who a person is; sexual orientation is who a person is attracted to. A transgender person can be straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or any orientation.

Pronouns — such as she/her, he/him, or they/them — are the words we use to refer to someone in place of their name. Using a person’s correct pronouns is a basic matter of accuracy and respect.

Coming out is the personal process of sharing one’s gender identity or sexual orientation with others. It is ongoing and looks different for everyone. Being “outed” without consent can carry real social, professional, or safety risks.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (or questioning). The “+” reflects other identities and experiences, including intersex, asexual, and non-binary people.

Brianna Nicole Austin is a transgender author, reporter, and columnist who has covered the transgender community since the early 2000s. This site gathers her books, commentary, interviews, and reading guides. You can learn more on the About page.

The site focuses on the transgender experience and the wider culture around it — identity and belonging, media and representation, politics and public policy, LGBTQ history, and the arts. Much of it is organized into curated reading guides and a reference library.

No. This reference library is intended for general information and education. For medical, mental-health, or legal decisions, please consult a qualified professional. If you have a question you’d like answered here, reach out through the contact page.

Language and understanding around gender continue to evolve. These answers reflect widely accepted usage at the time of writing and are reviewed and updated periodically.