| Cross-dresser or transvestite | One who likes to dress as the opposite gender but does not identify as that gender |
| FTM/transman | Assigned female sex at birth but identifies as male |
| Gender identity | The gender with which one identifies (unlike sexual identity, which is based on the gender one is attracted to) |
| Gender variant | One who does not conform to the expected characteristics of the sex assigned at birth |
| MTF/transwoman | Assigned male sex at birth but identifies as female |
| Natal sex | The sex (male, female, or intersex) assigned at birth based on chromosomes and/ or appearance of genitalia |
| Non-binary, gender-neutral, genderqueer, gender-free | People who do not conform to society’s gender categories and generally view gender as a spectrum |
| Queer | The “Q” in LGBTQ is used to consciously step outside of social norms of gender and sexual diversity. “Queer” includes sexual minorities who are marginalized for their sexual orientation and gender expression, highlights the idea that identities are fluid and experience-based, and transforms language historically associated with hate to an empowering word—particularly among LGBTQ youth. |
| Transgender | One whose gender identity and/or expression differs from the sex assigned at birth. Avoid using the terms “transgendered,” “transvestite,” “transsexual,” “he-she,” and “cross-dresser” when referring to transgender individuals. |
| Transition | A complex, individualized process that can include inward or outward change—or both—in one’s gender identity. Avoid referring to “sex change,” “preop,” “postop,” or “sex-reassignment surgery” in reference to individuals who are transitioning, as these terms can be offensive and are not generalizable to all transgender individuals. |