Legal Definitions - transgender

The term transgender is an umbrella term used to describe individuals whose deeply held internal sense of gender (their gender identity) is different from the sex they were assigned at birth. Sex assigned at birth is typically determined by external anatomy at birth, while gender identity is a person's internal understanding of being a man, a woman, both, neither, or somewhere else along the gender spectrum.

For example, a transgender woman is someone who was assigned male at birth but identifies and lives as a woman. Conversely, a transgender man is someone who was assigned female at birth but identifies and lives as a man. Some transgender individuals identify as neither exclusively male nor exclusively female, or as a combination of genders; these identities are often described as non-binary, genderqueer, or genderfluid. The term cisgender describes individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.

• Example 1: Maria was assigned male at birth and given a male name. Throughout her life, she felt an increasing internal conviction that she was a woman. As an adult, Maria transitioned, changing her name, updating her legal documents to reflect her female gender, and living openly as a woman in all aspects of her life, including her career as a software engineer.

  Explanation: Maria's gender identity as a woman is different from the male sex she was assigned at birth, making her a transgender woman.

• Example 2: From a young age, David, who was assigned female at birth, consistently expressed that he felt like a boy. As he grew older, David began using male pronouns and adopted a masculine presentation, eventually undergoing medical transition to align his physical appearance more closely with his male gender identity. He is now a college student studying history.

  Explanation: David's internal sense of self as a man (his gender identity) differs from the female sex he was assigned at birth, which means he is a transgender man.

• Example 3: Alex was assigned male at birth but identifies as non-binary, meaning their gender identity is not exclusively male or female. Alex uses "they/them" pronouns and presents themselves in a gender-neutral way that reflects their identity, which is distinct from the male sex they were assigned at birth. Alex works as a graphic designer and advocates for gender diversity.

  Explanation: Alex's non-binary gender identity is different from the male sex they were assigned at birth, illustrating how a non-binary person can also be transgender.