Legal Definitions - sex reassignment

Sex reassignment refers to the medical treatments and procedures undertaken to align a person's physical characteristics with their gender identity. These interventions typically involve hormonal therapies and surgical procedures designed to modify the body to more closely resemble the sex with which the individual identifies.

• Example 1: Alex, who was assigned female at birth but identifies as male, begins a course of testosterone therapy to develop masculine secondary sex characteristics, such as a deeper voice and facial hair. He also plans to undergo top surgery (mastectomy) to create a male-contoured chest.

  Explanation: Alex's use of testosterone and his planned surgery are medical treatments specifically intended to alter his physical body to align with his male gender identity, which is a clear instance of sex reassignment.

• Example 2: Maria, a transgender woman, receives estrogen hormone therapy to encourage the development of feminine characteristics like breast growth and softer skin. She also undergoes facial feminization surgery to reshape her facial features to appear more feminine.

  Explanation: Maria's estrogen therapy and facial feminization surgery are medical interventions aimed at changing her physical appearance to match her female gender identity, thereby illustrating the process of sex reassignment.