Altersex is a catch-all term to describe a state of having primary and secondary sex characteristics that deviate from what would be considered dyadic/perisex, while also not being intersex. Altersex is intended to be used mostly (but not exclusively) for fictional characters, to describe body plans that are not found naturally in humans. In the case of real people using this as an term, those who have a mental body plan/view of their “true” self that has a body that does not fit traditional human sexes may call themselves altersex.
Altersex could also be used to refer to those who go through HRT or sexual reassignment surgery of some sort, since those people aren't intersex, but also also no longer have the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics associated with their assigned sex at birth. However this should only be done if the person in question is comfortable with it.
The term was coined to address the usage of “intersex” when describing people and characters who are not actually intersex, but are not perisex either. This includes people sexually transitioning, characters of a fictional/impossible sex, characters able to shapeshift to change sex characteristics, or when describing “alien” sexes which are not found in humans but may be found elsewhere, such as in different species. In these cases ones body or their desired body may not conform to the binary sex standard, but this is not due to any variation of intersex. The term altersex allows for a nonsexualized, nonslur term for these individuals that is neither transphobic or anti-intersex.
Altersex does not imply any specific sex characteristics, just as intersex does not; to allow for privacy of the altersex person and avoids reducing individuals to their genitalia. It is neutral descriptor for any characters and individuals who are not perisex or any variation of intersex. Some altersex individuals/characters may resemble the binary sexes to some degree, but they are different. Altersex can describe both a physical body or an internal sex identity, or both.
Flag
Altersex was coined by Farorenightclaw on or before May 29, 2017[1]. The flag was designed by Pastelmemer on May 29, 2017. The color meanings are as follows:
Mint green is commonly associated with specific altersex identities, like angenital and salmacian. Green also represents abundance and growth: abundance of possible body types, and growth for people who physically transition to "grow" into their true bodies. Blue represents fluidity, for bodies that have fluid sex characteristics. White represents transcendence, as well as bodies with no sex characteristics. Purple represents the alternative, non-traditional nature of altersex bodies. Reddish pink represents sex characteristics.