Gender Identity
Gender Identity commonly refers to people who were assigned a gender, usually at birth, which does not match the gender that the person self-identifies or presents as. It is often used as an umbrella term for those whose tendencies vary from the usual gender roles. It does not imply any form of sexual orientation.
Who could be identified as Transgender? Some definitions:
- Cross-dressers – someone who chooses to wear the clothing of the opposite gender, although still identifying as the assigned gender.
- Transvestites – somebody who periodically cross dresses although still identifying as the assigned gender. A Transvestite who cross dresses for sexual reasons is not regarded as being Transgender.
- Androgyne – someone who doesn’t identify as either gender.
- Cross-Gender – someone who lives always or mostly as the gender other than that assigned at birth. They do not normally desire to alter their body.
- Transsexual – Someone who identifies as or desires to live and be accepted as a member of the gender opposite to that assigned at birth. Often now referred to as Trans Men and Trans Women. A need to alter their body is usually present. This is now a recognised medical condition rather than a mental health issue.
- Intersex – someone born with a disorder of sex development which leads to atypical development of physical gender. Around 1.7% of all human births are affected by these disorders.
Useful Contacts
Suffolk LGB&T Network
www.suffolk-lgbt-network.org.uk