Respecting diversity and gender identities is a norm that everyone should know and understand. People in ancient times are already aware of gender variation.
And now that the transgender community is evolving, gender discrimination also continues to be the main problem for everyone in the community. But it shouldn’t be that way.
Just because you’re a man wearing a dress and make-up or a woman wearing a men’s shirt and jeans, it doesn’t mean that people are capable of throwing hate and offensive words at you.
It’s normal for people to feel that the sex assigned to them at birth doesn’t match the gender they feel inside. It’s okay to feel uneasy when you think that your actions and thinking don’t fit the sex that you have right now.
What is not okay is when people humiliate you for who you are. Nobody deserves to be treated like they have no right to be the person they want to be.
Questions to Ask When Referring to a Transgender
Transgender people come from different regions, states, and countries across the globe. Whatever racial, ethnic, and religious group you belong to, everyone has the right to choose the gender identity that they want. Transgender people are maybe your classmates, co-workers, neighbors, friends, or even you.
And there’s nothing wrong with it. With millions of transgender adults in the United States and around the world, there is a big chance that you’ve already met a transgender person without you knowing it.
So to help you easily identify a transgender person, knowing the following FAQs about transgender is important:
How is transgender different from transsexual?
The term “transgender’ can have different meanings to different people. Hence, it can be really confusing for some in labeling someone with different gender identity. For example, a person assigned with female sex at birth but had a male sense of self as she grows could be categorized as transgender. A person assigned with male sex at birth and realized female sense of self could also be classified as transgender.
On the other hand, the term “transsexual” was historically and medically indicates a difference between one’s gender identity and sex assigned at birth. Transsexual is often used to address a transgender person who has gone through medical procedures like sex reassignment surgery. These result in changes in anatomy and appearance to achieve their dream gender identity.
Similar to the term transgender, the meaning of transsexual may also vary depending on the person, culture, and history. But despite the almost similar definitions, many transgender people don’t want to classify themselves as transsexual for some reason.
What does it mean to be transgender?
Being a transgender is not just about changing who you are to the person you want to be. It’s about knowing your limitations while showing the world your true gender identity.
When people are born, the first word the doctor usually says is that you’re either a male or female based on what your bodies look like. Most people labeled male at birth are expected to be men, and most people labeled female at birth are expected to be women when they grow up.
Whether you’re a transgender person or not, you have a gender identity. Apparently, most people whose gender identity matches their sex at birth are no longer confused with what and who they are.
However, some people whose original sex is way different from their gender identity based on their actions, preferences, characteristics, and more turned out to be transgender.
How can you know that you are transgender?
As early as toddler age, someone can already realize that they are different from others of the same sex. For example, you can love dolls and kitchen sets even if you know you are a boy at a young age.
However, some people may spend years determining what they are. At first, you will feel uneasy and scared, but when they start to feel that they belong and are accepted by your family and community, you will easily feel confident to express yourself.
Remember that repressing or changing someone’s gender identity is not a good idea. It will only leave trauma and fear to transgender people that they will carry their whole life. It can be painful and damaging to one’s emotional and mental health. So never be a reason why someone is afraid to show or express their true gender identity.
What do you mean by gender transition?
Gender transition is the process wherein a person begins to live according to their gender identity rather than the gender that they were assigned at birth.
The transitioning process among transgender may differ from person to person. Some transgender prefers to change the way they dress. In the case of a woman identifying as a man, some may even wear strap-on sex toys to make it look like they have the male genitals. Meanwhile, some want to keep their clothing style as much as possible.
Another thing is, some transgender can even change their identification documents, including license, passport, and other official documents that reflect their gender identity. They change their name or update the gender marker on their identity documents. And some people undergo medical procedures like hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery to change their physical characteristics and make their bodies closely reflect the gender they want.
The Importance of Knowing the Rights of Every Transgender
For so many years and even up to now, the transgender community has faced just discrimination and even life threats in their work or even private lives. In many cases, a lack of adequate legal protections can lead to more serious discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people.
At present, there are more than 30 countries where same-sex marriage is legal. But still, the majority of the countries believe that having a relationship with the same sex is considered a crime. Thus, they are forced to keep their relationships private or be contented with a sex doll as their source of sexual pleasure.
There are also instances where members of the LGBTQ get fired from their works just because they have a different gender identity. Some trans kids get bullied and expelled from schools, and patients are deprived of essential healthcare. Hence, many LGBTQ advocates continuously fight for their freedom and human rights.
So if you’re a transgender person or you know someone with different gender identity, make sure to know the rights and laws concerning the trangender community. This way, you can help in eliminating gender discrimination in just a small act of kindness.
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