Trigender is a form of multigender in which someone has three distinct gender identities. These three gender identities can be male, female and/or any non-binary identities. Trigender people may experience these genders simultaneously or fluidly.
Trigender people may also identify as multigender, transgender or non-binary. If these genders are experienced fluidly, either over time or under circumstances, they may also identify as genderfluid, which is an umbrella term to describe anyone whose gender identity varies over time.
Flag
The trigender flag consists of five stripes: two pink stripes, two blue stripes, and one green stripe in the middle. The pink stripe represents femininity and feminine genders, the blue stripe represents masculinity and masculine genders, and the green stripe represents androgyny and third/other genders.[1]
History
While the exact origin of this term is unknown, it could have been based off the Native American term Two Spirit, which refers to an indigenous person who experiences having the spirits of both a male gender and a female gender, or a third gender in some way, shape or form.
Gender expression
Trigender people's gender expression is quite variable. They can choose to have any gender expression they like, but most choose to present as androgynous, and, if a trigender person is also genderfluid, they will likely change their gender expression based on the current gender they are feeling.
Trigender Dysphoria
Many trigender people have dysphoria, just like other gender non-conforming and Transgender people. Their dysphoria is not very similar to trans folks' dysphoria, as trigender people (and multigender people in general) feel they have an identity comprised of multiple genders. Some trigender people experience dysphoria where they want their body to reflect all three genders, others don't experience dysphoria at all. Trigender dysphoria can also be similar to genderfluid dysphoria if the person's gender varies along with their trigender identity.
Surgery/transitioning
As for gender affirming surgery and/or transitioning, some trigender people do alter their bodies to present either in an androgynous way or in a way that reflects their mental manifestation of identifying as three genders. Transitioning is also something that a trigender person can do - whether it be going on hormones, getting cosmetic surgery, or getting gender affirming surgery (as mentioned above).
Etymology
The common prefix tri- means "three", so the word "trigender", literally translates to "three genders" or "third gender".