Transgender

The transgender flag.

Transgender (often shortened to trans) is a term referring to people who do not identify as the gender assigned to them at birth. Transgender does not imply any form of sexual orientation. Trans people can have any sexuality. Some, but not all, transgender people choose to medically transition with hormone replacement therapy, and gender affirming surgeries.

Transgender individuals can be binary, meaning they are men or women, or they can be non-binary, meaning their gender does not fall in one of the categories of gender traditionally used by the western society. Not all non-binary people identify as trans, however.

The opposite of transgender is cisgender.

Trans Masculine

The trans masculine flag.

Trans masculine, or trans-masc people are men or men-aligned individuals who were assigned female at birth. Trans masculine people will often try to appear more stereotypical masculine. Trans-masc people might also be called FtM, or F2M (female to male).

Trans Masculine Identities

Some trans masculine include:

• Trans men
• Demiboys
• Genderfluid people who are often masculine
• Solarians
• Other non-binary people who identify as strongly masculine

Transition

Many trans men and trans masculine people will try to present in a traditionally masculine way. This can include having short hair and wearing traditionally masculine clothes. Some will wear packers to give the feeling and appearance of having a penis. Many will wear binders to make their chest flat, however binding can be dangerous and can lead to deformation of the rib cage, especially if done incorrectly or for long periods of time.

Medical transition typically involves taking testosterone injections, or testosterone gel. Surgical elements can include a mastectomy to remove breasts (known as top surgery), and a metoidioplasty and/or phalloplasty to create a penis (known as bottom surgery). It is also not uncommon for trans masc people to have a hysterectomy (removal or the uterus), oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries), or both.

A trans masculine person may do all, some, or none of these things. Some may not feel a need to transition and some may be unable to transition do to medical reasons.

Trans Feminine

The trans feminine flag.

Trans feminine or trans-fem people are women or women-aligned individuals who were assigned male at birth. Trans feminine people will often try to appear more stereotypical feminine. Trans feminine people might also be called MtF or M2F (male to female).

Trans feminine identities include.

• Trans women
• Demigirls
• Genderfluid people who are often feminine
• Lunarians
• Other non-binary people who identify as strongly feminine

Transition

Many trans women and trans feminine people will try to present in a traditionally feminine way. This can include having long hair, wearing traditionally feminine clothes, and wearing makeup. They may wear breast forms to give the appearance of breasts. Some will tuck, which is the act of pushing the testicles back into the body and pushing or taping the penis back, to get rid of the bulge created by the penis. This can be dangerous to do for extended amounts of time, and it may be impossible for some trans fem people as their body might not allow them to fully push their testicles back into their body.

Medical transition typically involves taking testosterone blocking medication and estrogen. Estrogen can be taken by pills, injections, or gel. Surgical elements can include a vaginoplasty to create a vagina, and sometimes breast implants. Breast implants are sometimes not necessary though, as estrogen will cause breast growth. Some trans feminine people will get facial feminization surgery and many will undergo laser hair removal.

A trans feminine person may do all, some, or none of these things. Some may not feel a need to transition and some may be unable to transition do to medical reasons.

Flag

The transgender flag was designed by trans woman, Monica Helms and was first shown in a pride parade in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2000. The flag has two blue stripes, the traditional color for baby boys, two pink stripes, the traditional color for baby girls, and a white stripe, representing non-binary and intersex individuals.