Transgender Pamphlet
Title
Transgender Pamphlet
Description
An informative pamphlet about transgender identities.
Text reads:
Let's Talk About Transgender Identities
What Does Transgender Mean?
The Oxford Dictionary defines transgender as "denoting or relating to a person whose gender identity does not correspond with the sex registered for them at birth."
Essentially, this means that a trans person is anyone with a gender that does not match that little initial on their birth certificate that indicates a baby's biological sex.
It is common for trans individuals to want to transition physically (through the use of hormone treatment and/or cosmetic surgery) to match their body to their gender identity, but it isn't required. A trans person is still trans whether they take medical action or not.
Trans People in the LGBTQIA+ Community
The legal rights the LGBTQIA+ community has today in America only exist because of the hard work of some very incredible and inspiring trans people. There is an extensive and engaging history of the trans community which is better covered in the recommended resources.
Trans Rights are Human Rights
Gender as a Spectrum
One key concept to understand regarding gender is that it is a spectrum. People can be more than just male or female; some people are born biologically in-between (also known as intersex). One of the most common examples of an identity outside of the "classic" male and female is nonbinary! Nonbinary can be used as an umbrella term for a lot of different identities or as an identity itself. (The author of this pamphlet is nonbinary!)
One person does not have to identify with one gender, and the majority of gender identities include more than one. When it comes down to it, you can identify with one gender, another gender, multiple genders, or no genders and these are all valid.
It's like colors- there isn't just one shade of blue that gets to be called blue.
How do you know if you are trans?
It can be hard for some people to figure out that they are trans and understand their own gender identity. For others, they may realize they are trans before knowing the term exists. The main thing to remember is that every person is unique but not alone. It can be helpful to try different pronouns for yourself either on your own or with a person you trust. The same can be said with your gender expression (how you present to the world around you); anyone can try out any expression they want to! If it doesn't seem to suit you, then it might not be for you! And ultimately, if your gender still matches your assigned sex, that's okay! The effort is worth knowing for sure and reaffirming your identity as one you know fits you rather than one you were assigned.
Always remember:
Biological sex is not a choice.
Gender is not a choice.
Gender expression is a choice.
Learning about yourself is a process and the result is priceless.
Trans Identities and Terms
Here are some different trans and gender identities. Feel free to look them up and learn more about them!
Transmasculine: Someone assigned female at birth but who identifies as a man. Sometimes referred to as FtM.
Transfeminine: Someone assigned male at birth but who identifies as a woman. Sometimes referred to as MtF.
Agender: No gender or gender identity.
Genderfluid: Even one person's gender identity can change based on different factors outside their control; this is summed up into the genderfluid identity where you have multiple genders but typically only one at a time.
Genderqueer: A more general term for someone whose gender does not fit into other gender identities or for someone who is questioning their gender.
Multigender: This is when you identify with two or more genders at the same time, and there are similar terms based on the number such as bigender and trigender.
Neopronouns: Any pronouns outside the well-known he/him, she/her, and they/them pronouns. Common examples are xe/xem, ze/hir, and it/its.
Want to learn more?
Here are some recommended resources!
Text reads:
Let's Talk About Transgender Identities
What Does Transgender Mean?
The Oxford Dictionary defines transgender as "denoting or relating to a person whose gender identity does not correspond with the sex registered for them at birth."
Essentially, this means that a trans person is anyone with a gender that does not match that little initial on their birth certificate that indicates a baby's biological sex.
It is common for trans individuals to want to transition physically (through the use of hormone treatment and/or cosmetic surgery) to match their body to their gender identity, but it isn't required. A trans person is still trans whether they take medical action or not.
Trans People in the LGBTQIA+ Community
The legal rights the LGBTQIA+ community has today in America only exist because of the hard work of some very incredible and inspiring trans people. There is an extensive and engaging history of the trans community which is better covered in the recommended resources.
Trans Rights are Human Rights
Gender as a Spectrum
One key concept to understand regarding gender is that it is a spectrum. People can be more than just male or female; some people are born biologically in-between (also known as intersex). One of the most common examples of an identity outside of the "classic" male and female is nonbinary! Nonbinary can be used as an umbrella term for a lot of different identities or as an identity itself. (The author of this pamphlet is nonbinary!)
One person does not have to identify with one gender, and the majority of gender identities include more than one. When it comes down to it, you can identify with one gender, another gender, multiple genders, or no genders and these are all valid.
It's like colors- there isn't just one shade of blue that gets to be called blue.
How do you know if you are trans?
It can be hard for some people to figure out that they are trans and understand their own gender identity. For others, they may realize they are trans before knowing the term exists. The main thing to remember is that every person is unique but not alone. It can be helpful to try different pronouns for yourself either on your own or with a person you trust. The same can be said with your gender expression (how you present to the world around you); anyone can try out any expression they want to! If it doesn't seem to suit you, then it might not be for you! And ultimately, if your gender still matches your assigned sex, that's okay! The effort is worth knowing for sure and reaffirming your identity as one you know fits you rather than one you were assigned.
Always remember:
Biological sex is not a choice.
Gender is not a choice.
Gender expression is a choice.
Learning about yourself is a process and the result is priceless.
Trans Identities and Terms
Here are some different trans and gender identities. Feel free to look them up and learn more about them!
Transmasculine: Someone assigned female at birth but who identifies as a man. Sometimes referred to as FtM.
Transfeminine: Someone assigned male at birth but who identifies as a woman. Sometimes referred to as MtF.
Agender: No gender or gender identity.
Genderfluid: Even one person's gender identity can change based on different factors outside their control; this is summed up into the genderfluid identity where you have multiple genders but typically only one at a time.
Genderqueer: A more general term for someone whose gender does not fit into other gender identities or for someone who is questioning their gender.
Multigender: This is when you identify with two or more genders at the same time, and there are similar terms based on the number such as bigender and trigender.
Neopronouns: Any pronouns outside the well-known he/him, she/her, and they/them pronouns. Common examples are xe/xem, ze/hir, and it/its.
Want to learn more?
Here are some recommended resources!
Date
February 18, 2024
Contributor
Grace Doherty Library
Sarah Kuchar
Language
English
Collection
Citation
“Transgender Pamphlet,” Queer Centre: LGBTQIA+ History, accessed May 15, 2024, https://queercentre.omeka.net/items/show/152.