|
Androgynous/Androgyny -
|
A
person who is gender neutral or exhibits the characteristics of both genders,
masculine and feminine. |
|
|
|
|
|
CD
(Crossdresser) -
|
One
who regardless of the motivation, dresses in a manner usually associated
with the opposite sex. |
|
|
|
|
|
Drab
-
|
Manner
of dress considered appropriate to the individuals physical sex, not necessarily
male, as opposed to dressing in drag. Occasionally used more simply to
mean dressing as a boy. |
|
|
|
|
| Drag
- |
Manner
of dress considered appropriate to the other sex . Originally referring
to MtF but later incorporated to include all cross gender dressing, is
still occasionally used to mean simply dressing as a girl. |
|
|
|
|
| Drag
Queen - |
A
MtF crossdresser who employs exaggerated or dramatic clothes, makeup and
mannerisms often for entertainment or shock value. Is also used to identify
a member of the gay community who crossdresses, or otherwise expresses
transgender characteristics, although many such individuals do not consider
themselves to be transgendered. (NOTE: This
term is often considered derogatory.) |
|
|
|
|
| FtM
- |
Female
to male. Used to specify the direction of a change of sex or gender role.
Also expressed as F2M, or F>M. |
|
|
|
|
| Female
Impersonator - |
A
male who crossdresses specifically for the entertainment of other people.
Some may employ stereotypical or exaggerated feminine mannerisms and behavior,
in such case it would be a polite term for drag queen. |
|
|
|
|
| Gender
Community - |
Colloquial
for transgender community, used to describe the overall percentage of the
population who engage in cross gender activities regardless of motivation
or sexual orientation. Members of the gender community often do not consider
themselves as part of any other sexual minority community. |
|
|
|
|
| Gender
Dysphoria - |
A
clinical term for transgenderism, meaning "gender confusion". Gender Identity
Disorder is the currently favored diagnostic terminology. |
|
|
|
|
| Gender
Identity - |
How
a person thinks about themselves in terms of gender, as opposed to what
others observe or think about them. Generally expressed as masculinity
or femininity rather than as male or female. |
|
|
|
|
GID
-
(Gender Identity
Disorder) |
The
psychological diagnosis used to describe a male or female that feels a
strong identification with the opposite sex and experience distress because
of their actual sex. As outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Formerly known as Gender Dysphoria. |
|
|
|
|
| GG
- |
Genetic
girl or genetic gender. A female whose physical sex was such at birth. |
|
|
|
|
GRS
-
(Gender Reassignment
Surgery) |
A
term often used of late in place of SRS (Sex Reassignment Surgery). While
popular, technically this term is improper since gender which is a function
of one’s self identity cannot be corrected by surgery while one’s physical
sex can be. |
|
|
|
|
| Hermaphrodite
- |
One
who has both primary physical sexual characteristics (i.e. sex organs of
both genders). See also: intersexed. |
|
|
|
|
HRT
-
(Hormone Replacement
Therapy) |
Hormones
are biochemicals which control of many of the bodies secondary sexual characteristics
and brain functions. Hormone replacement therapy is used by transgendered
individuals to change some secondary sex characteristics, including mental
thought patterns, breast size, weight distribution, and hair growth. |
|
|
|
|
| Intersexed
- |
Used
to define cases where one's physiological sex is ambiguous or includes
partially or fully developed sex organs of both genders. Typically intersexuals
are not told of their birth status, yet often at puberty, intersexuals
learn of their condition when hormones induce sex traits conflicting with
their assigned gender. |
|
|
|
|
| MtF
- |
Male
to female. Used to specify the direction of a change of sex or gender role.
Also expressed as M2F, or M>F. |
|
|
|
|
| Male
Impersonator - |
A
female who crossdresses specifically for the entertainment of other people.
Some may employ stereotypical or exaggerated feminine mannerisms and behavior.
Sometimes used simply to mean FtM crossdresser. |
|
|
|
|
| Non-op
TS (transsexual) - |
A
transsexual who does not intend to have surgery to change his or her primary
sexual characteristics to match his or her gender identity (i.e. have SRS). |
|
|
|
|
| Passing
- |
To
be able to crossdress and successfully assume a gender role opposite of
one's physical sex when interacting with society without being identified
by others as a crossdresser. |
|
|
|
|
| Pre-op
TS (transsexual) - |
A
transsexual who has not yet undergone the surgery required to complete
a physical change of sex, although may be in a transition period
in which he or she is living full-time as a member of the "opposite sex"
and recieving hormone therapy to partially facilitate the physical sex
change. Normally implies the individual is planning to have SRS (see Non-op
TS above). |
|
|
|
|
| Post-op
TS (transsexual) - |
A
transsexual who has completed SRS (Post operative), the physical change
of sex surgical procedure. No longer considered by some as transsexual,
however since gender surgery is never quite the same as having the appropriate
gender at birth most individuals still accept that they are transsexual. |
|
|
|
|
| Purging
- |
A
process in which transgendered individuals attempt to "cure" themselves
by throwing out all of their cross gender apparel and vowing never to "dress
up" again. Most such vows are broken within a very short time yet it is
not uncommon for one to go thru many such cycles before finding self acceptance. |
|
|
|
|
| Read
/ Reading - |
To
recognize an individual as being of the physical sex opposite to the gender
role in which they are dressed. |
|
|
|
|
| Real
Life Test (RLT) - |
Established
by the Benjamin Standards of Care as one year, this is the period of time
in which a transsexual individual is required to live as full time in the
role of the opposite sex before the medical community will accept them
for sexual reassignment surgery. |
|
|
|
|
| Shemale
- |
A
genetic male who has physical characteristics of both male and female by
choice (due to hormones). The term accurately describes most MtF transsexuals
during transition, but it is generally used by those working as a show-girls,
or otherwise exploiting their physiology. (NOTE:
Because of its usage by the pornography industry this term is generally
derogatory, and many are highly offended by it.) |
|
|
|
|
| SO
- |
Significant
other. Mate or partner, as in husband, wife, boy/girlfriend. |
|
|
|
|
SRS
-
(Sex Reassignment
Surgery) |
The
surgical procedure to modify one's primary sexual characteristics (genitalia)
from those of one sex to those of the opposite sex. May also include secondary
surgery such as breast augmentation or reduction and/or removing the adam's
apple. |
|
|
|
|
| Standards
of Care - |
Medical
standards for the treatment of transsexualism and sexual reassignment surgery
(SRS). Major points include: (1) three months of therapy before being recommended
for hormones; (2) one year of hormone therapy beforesurgery; (3) one year
of cross-living before surgery; and (4) two psychiatric or psychotherapist's
evaluations recommending surgery. The Benjamin Standards were created at
a conference by Dr. Harry Benjamin and have been adopted as the world standard
for sex reassignment surgeries. |
|
|
|
|
| TG
(Transgender) - |
A
more recently adopted umbrella term including all persons who engage in
cross gender activities or lifestyles regardless motivation or sexual orientation. |
|
|
|
|
| Transgender
Community - |
Formal
term for gender community, used to describe the overall percentage of the
population who engage in cross gender activities regardless of motivation
or sexual orientation. |
|
|
|
|
| Transition
- |
The
process or period of time when one changes from living as one gender to
living living full time as the opposite gender. |
|
|
|
|
| Transsexual
(TS) - |
An
individual whose gender identity is the opposite of his or her physical
sex. Typically such individuals desire modification of their physical body
(i.e. SRS) to match their gender identity and derive no "thrill", erotic
or otherwise, from merely wearing the clothing associated with the opposite
biological gender. |
|
|
|
|
| Transvestite
(TV) - |
An
older term used to describe a crossdresser derived from "trans", which
means cross, and "vestment", which means clothing. Most commonly used to
describe an individual who cross dresses for emotional or sexual gratification
yet still maintains a gender identity that matches their own physical sex. |
|
