What does it mean to be trans*?
What is Gender Identity and Expression?
What is the “*” on “trans*”?
Does being trans* mean I am gay/ lesbian/ bisexual?
What is sexual orientation?
Does being trans* mean that I am Intersex?
So can I transition, and how do I do it?
What is Gender Identity and Expression?
What is the “*” on “trans*”?
Does being trans* mean I am gay/ lesbian/ bisexual?
What is sexual orientation?
Does being trans* mean that I am Intersex?
So can I transition, and how do I do it?
What does it mean to be trans*?
The word “Trans*” covers many ways of being. It basically describes anyone whose gender identity (their internal sense of their gender- see below) is different from the sex they were assigned at birth.
There are many ways of being trans*. There is no “wrong” way of being who you are inside!:
Some people may identify as transgender, which usually refers to the state of being aware that your assigned sex is not in line with how you feel in the inside about your gender. At this point, you may decide to start dressing and behaving to reflect your true gender (the way you feel inside). At times, you may even decide to undergo medical processes (like counselling, taking hormones, or undergoing surgery) to allow you to become (or transition) into your true gender. At this point, you may refer to yourself as transsexual (someone who is undergoing medical procedures to transition into their true gender).
Some people (regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity- see below) decide to express themselves through a gender expression that is different from their gender identity or assigned sex. Such people are referred to as transvestites. This includes people who dress in clothes different from those of their assigned sex for entertainment (“drag kings” and “drag queens”), as well as people who do so for other reasons such as sexual play.
Whichever way you decide to identify or express your gender, you are the best judge of that. If you think you might be trans*, but just are not sure, you can contact anyone from TIRZ, and we can help you through your process.
The word “Trans*” covers many ways of being. It basically describes anyone whose gender identity (their internal sense of their gender- see below) is different from the sex they were assigned at birth.
There are many ways of being trans*. There is no “wrong” way of being who you are inside!:
Some people may identify as transgender, which usually refers to the state of being aware that your assigned sex is not in line with how you feel in the inside about your gender. At this point, you may decide to start dressing and behaving to reflect your true gender (the way you feel inside). At times, you may even decide to undergo medical processes (like counselling, taking hormones, or undergoing surgery) to allow you to become (or transition) into your true gender. At this point, you may refer to yourself as transsexual (someone who is undergoing medical procedures to transition into their true gender).
Some people (regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity- see below) decide to express themselves through a gender expression that is different from their gender identity or assigned sex. Such people are referred to as transvestites. This includes people who dress in clothes different from those of their assigned sex for entertainment (“drag kings” and “drag queens”), as well as people who do so for other reasons such as sexual play.
Whichever way you decide to identify or express your gender, you are the best judge of that. If you think you might be trans*, but just are not sure, you can contact anyone from TIRZ, and we can help you through your process.
What is Gender Identity and Expression?
Gender Identity and gender expression refer to two separate concepts that all relate to being trans*:
Gender identity is a person’s internal, deeply felt sense of being male, female, an alternative gender or a combination of genders. A person’s gender identity may or may not correspond with her or his sex assigned at birth.
Gender Expression is a person’s ways of communicating masculinity and/or femininity externally through their physical appearance (including clothing, hairstyle and the use of cosmetics), mannerisms, ways of speaking, and behavioural patterns.
Sometimes your gender identity and gender expression match, and sometimes they do not. It does not matter, as long as you are comfortable in who you are.
Gender Identity and gender expression refer to two separate concepts that all relate to being trans*:
Gender identity is a person’s internal, deeply felt sense of being male, female, an alternative gender or a combination of genders. A person’s gender identity may or may not correspond with her or his sex assigned at birth.
Gender Expression is a person’s ways of communicating masculinity and/or femininity externally through their physical appearance (including clothing, hairstyle and the use of cosmetics), mannerisms, ways of speaking, and behavioural patterns.
Sometimes your gender identity and gender expression match, and sometimes they do not. It does not matter, as long as you are comfortable in who you are.
What is the “*” on “trans*”
The “*” (asterix) added to the end of the word “trans” helps us to be inclusive of every form of gender identity and expression that a person can possibly have. So if you know or identify as a unique form of gender identity which we have not specifically mentioned (such as the Namibian meme- trans woman) then the term “trans*” is inclusive of you too.
The “*” (asterix) added to the end of the word “trans” helps us to be inclusive of every form of gender identity and expression that a person can possibly have. So if you know or identify as a unique form of gender identity which we have not specifically mentioned (such as the Namibian meme- trans woman) then the term “trans*” is inclusive of you too.
Does being trans* mean I am gay/ lesbian/ bisexual?
Not necessarily. Being gay/ lesbian, bisexual etc, relates to your sexual orientation, whereas being trans is more about gender identity and expression. It is definitely possible to be gay/ lesbian/ bisexual, or any other sexual orientation, and be trans* as well.
Not necessarily. Being gay/ lesbian, bisexual etc, relates to your sexual orientation, whereas being trans is more about gender identity and expression. It is definitely possible to be gay/ lesbian/ bisexual, or any other sexual orientation, and be trans* as well.
What is sexual orientation?
Sexual orientation is another intrinsic part of a person’s identity. It refers to a person’s capacity for profound emotional, physical or romantic attraction towards other people. You can be attracted to people of the same biological sex as you (gay/ lesbian), people of the opposite sex as you (straight), or people both the opposite and same sex as you (bisexual). There are many other sexual orientations such as asexual, pansexual, and sapiosexual. For more information, feel free to contact TIRZ.
Sexual orientation is another intrinsic part of a person’s identity. It refers to a person’s capacity for profound emotional, physical or romantic attraction towards other people. You can be attracted to people of the same biological sex as you (gay/ lesbian), people of the opposite sex as you (straight), or people both the opposite and same sex as you (bisexual). There are many other sexual orientations such as asexual, pansexual, and sapiosexual. For more information, feel free to contact TIRZ.
Does being trans* mean that I am Intersex?
Not exactly. Being intersex relates to your biological sex. For more information about this, see the page on Intersex. Being trans* relates to your gender identity and/or gender expression. Regardless, it is definitely possible to be intersex and trans* as well!
Not exactly. Being intersex relates to your biological sex. For more information about this, see the page on Intersex. Being trans* relates to your gender identity and/or gender expression. Regardless, it is definitely possible to be intersex and trans* as well!
So can I transition, and how do I do it?
So as we said earlier, transitioning is when you make the decision to start living in your true gender. You can do this in a number of ways:
However, if you want to transition (whether medically, or non-medically), always remember that your safety and health are important. There are many medical and non-medical methods of transitioning that can cause you harm if you do them without the guidance or supervision of a doctor or expert. If you need help with more information, then feel free to contact TIRZ, and we will help you.
So as we said earlier, transitioning is when you make the decision to start living in your true gender. You can do this in a number of ways:
- Non-medical: this includes things like behaving, dressing, using cosmetics and/ or bindings, or changing your voice to reflect the gender identity you identify with.
- Medical: this includes things like counselling, taking hormones, and undergoing operations to become the gender and sex you identify with.
However, if you want to transition (whether medically, or non-medically), always remember that your safety and health are important. There are many medical and non-medical methods of transitioning that can cause you harm if you do them without the guidance or supervision of a doctor or expert. If you need help with more information, then feel free to contact TIRZ, and we will help you.