What does transgender mean?
“Transgender is an umbrella term for persons whose gender identity, gender expression, or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth. Gender identity refers to a person’s internal sense of being male, female, or something else; gender expression refers to the way a person communicates gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice, or body characteristics. “Trans” is sometimes used as shorthand for “transgender.” While transgender is generally a good term to use, not everyone whose appearance or behavior is gender-nonconforming will identify as a transgender person. The ways that transgender people are talked about in popular culture, academia, and science are constantly changing, particularly as individuals’ awareness, knowledge, and openness about transgender people and their experiences grow.” – From the American Psychological Association.
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For more information on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender terminology, feel free to refer to this stylebook supplement compiled by the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA), an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators, and students who work within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues.
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