What is a transgender person?

A transgender person is someone whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. Gender identity is the internal sense of being male, female, neither or some combination of both. Sex is the biological category of being male or female, based on physical characteristics such as chromosomes, hormones and genitals.

Some transgender people experience gender dysphoria, which is a feeling of distress that can happen when their gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth or their sex-related physical characteristics. Gender dysphoria can cause significant distress and impair a person’s functioning in various aspects of life. Some transgender people may seek medical treatment, such as hormone therapy or surgery, to align their body with their gender identity. Others may not want or need any medical intervention.

Transgender people may use different terms to describe themselves, such as transsexual, nonbinary, genderqueer, agender, bigender, genderfluid, etc. These terms reflect the diversity and complexity of gender identity and expression. Transgender people may also use different pronouns to refer to themselves, such as he/him, she/her, they/them, etc. It is important to respect the terms and pronouns that transgender people use to identify themselves.

Being transgender is not related to a person’s sexual orientation, which describes the group of people to whom they are attracted. Transgender people can be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, asexual or any other sexual orientation. Sexual orientation can’t be assumed based on a person’s gender identity or expression.

Transgender people face many challenges and barriers in society, such as discrimination, harassment, violence, stigma and lack of access to health care and legal protection. Transgender people also have many strengths and resilience factors, such as community support, self-acceptance, advocacy and activism. Transgender people have existed throughout history and across cultures, and they contribute to the diversity and richness of human experience.

Gender Dysphoria

Gender dysphoria is a term that describes a feeling of discomfort or distress that can happen when a person’s gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth or their sex-related physical characteristics. Gender identity is the internal sense of being male, female, neither or some combination of both Sex is the biological category of being male or female, based on physical characteristics such as chromosomes, hormones and genitals.

Some people with gender dysphoria may seek medical treatment, such as hormone therapy or surgery, to align their body with their gender identity. Others may not want or need any medical intervention. People with gender dysphoria may also use different terms and pronouns to describe themselves, such as transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer, agender, bigender, genderfluid, etc. These terms reflect the diversity and complexity of gender identity and expression

Gender dysphoria can affect many aspects of life, such as social situations, work, school and mental health. People who have gender dysphoria also often experience discrimination, stigma and violence Accessing health services and mental health services can be difficult due to fear of stigma and a lack of experienced care providers.

Children gender dysphoria

 children can have gender dysphoria. According to the Mayo Clinic, gender dysphoria is the feeling of discomfort or distress that might occur in people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth or sex-related physical characteristics Gender identity is the internal sense of being male, female, neither or some combination of both.

Gender dysphoria might start in childhood and continue into adolescence and adulthood. Or children might have periods in which they no longer experience gender dysphoria They might also experience gender dysphoria around the time of puberty or much later in life.

Children with gender dysphoria may show a consistent pattern of behavior or preferences over time that are different from what is expected of their assigned sex. For example, they may prefer to dress, play or be addressed as the opposite gender. They may also express a strong desire to be or to be treated as another gender. They may have a strong belief of having the typical feelings and reactions of another gender

Children with gender dysphoria may also experience significant distress that affects how they function in social situations, at work or school, and in other areas of life. They may face discrimination, stigma and violence. They may have difficulty in school due to pressure to dress in a way that’s associated with their sex assigned at birth or out of fear of being harassed or teased. They may also suffer from anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders, substance misuse and other problems.

Children with gender dysphoria may benefit from counseling and treatment that can help them cope with their feelings and explore their identity. Some children may seek medical treatment, such as hormone therapy or surgery, to align their body with their gender identity when they are older. Others may not want or need any medical intervention.