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, as well as body who have under gone HRT and/or sexual reassignment surgery. Although, the term altersex shouldn't be applied to real people unless they're okay with it.
Transgender people who have gone through HRT or sexual reassignment surgery could be considered altersex, since they aren't intersex, but also also no longer have the primary and/or secondary sex characteristics associated with their assigned sex at birth. For example, if someone goes through surgery and/or HRT their primary and secondary sex characteristics, and chromosomes would no longer cleanly fit into the sex categories of "male" or "female" (in terms of biological sex), and therefore they would not fit the definition of perisex. However, they could not be called intersex because they were not born with these variations.
In terms of fictional characters altersex can be used to describe characters of a fictional/impossible sex, characters able to shapeshift and change sex characteristics, or when describing sexes which are not found in humans but may be found elsewhere, such as in aliens or different species found on Earth. In these cases the characters may not conform to the human binary sex standard, but this is not due to any variation of intersex. For most of these characters what would be considered a sex variation by humans is considered normal for their species.
The term can also be used by people whose ideal body, or the body they imagine themself having does not fit the sex binary. This can include people who wish to medically transition or people whose ideal body is that of a fictional sex or is otherwise not biologically possible of humans.
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. 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. This allows 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 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.