Transgender
What is Transgender?: A Short Glossary
Transgender: an umbrella term that can be used to describe people whose gender expression varis nonconforming and/or whose gender identity is different from their assigned sex at birth. This term can include transexuals, genderqueers, cross-dressers, and others whose gender expression varies from traditional norms.
Transexual: a term for someone who transitions from one physical sex to another in order to bring his or her body more in line with his or her innate sense of gender identity. it includes those who were born male but whose gender identity is female, and those who were born female but whose gender identity is male, as well as people who may not clearly identitfy as either female or male. Transsexual people have the same range of gender identities and gender expression and non-transexual people. Many transexual people refer to themselves as transgender.
Genderqueer: a term of self-identification for people who do not identify with the restrictive and binary terms that have traditionally described gender identity (for instance, male or female only).
Transition: the time period when a transgender person starts living as the gender he or she identifies as. Often includes a change instyle of dress, selection of a new name, a request that people use the correct pronoun, and possibly hormone therapy and/or surgery.
These terms are from the National Recommended Best Practices for Serving LGBT Homeless Youth