Transgender

Is a term used to describe anyone who lives or wishes to live as a member of the opposite gender to his or her birth gender. It may also encompass, under a broad definition anyone who presents or behaves ambiguously in relation to commonly accepted male/female gender expectations.
ATSAQ uses this term to remove the sexual connotations that may be connected with the term Transsexual.

Transsexual

A person who identifies as a member of the “opposite” sex, i.e. other than their birth sex. Usually they will seek hormone therapy and often surgery to bring their body into line with their gender identity.

 
Gender Identity

The Gender that a person believes himself or herself to be, regardless of their biological sex.

Gender Identity Disorder

This is a medical condition, believed to be of biological origin, which results in a mismatch between the gender a person believes themselves to be (Gender Identity) and the physical sex of their body.
Replaced the term Gender Dysphoria in 1994

 
MTF or M2F

Male-to-Female transgender/transsexual.

 
FTM or F2M

Female-to-Male transgender/transsexual.

Transition

Is the term used to identify the period of time required by the transgender person to change over from their birth gender to their preferred gender. A period of 18 months to two years is the accepted standard for GRS in Melbourne. Some people will take longer.

 
Hormone Therapy

The process of hormonally reassigning a person’s biochemistry to match their gender identity

Gender Reassignment Surgery(GRS)

A surgical procedure whereby the sex organs of a person are refashioned to that of the gender in which they identify Also known as sex reassignment surgery, SRS or genital reconstructive surgery, GCS.

 
Non-Op

A person who chooses not, or cannot for medical or other reasons, to have GRS.

 
Pre-Op

A person who has not had GRS

 
Post-Op

A person who has had GRS

Cross-dresser

A person who has an inescapable emotional need to express their alternate gender identity and be accepted in that role on a less permanent basis. Many cross-dressers go on to transition to their self identified gender.

Intersex

A long established medical, (genetic), condition where an infant is born with reproductive organs and/or sex chromosomes that are not exclusively male or female. Current word for hermaphrodite.
See AISSGA for more information.

Transvestite

A less favoured term due to the links to fetishism and sexual arousal which are not gender identity issues.
Usually refers to men who dress up for sexual pleasure.

Drag Queen

Men who wear a usually exaggerated form of female clothing for entertainment

Drag King

Women who wear a usually exaggerated form of male clothing for entertainment

Androgyne

A person whose gender identity is not exclusively male or female and who may or may not have an intersex condition.

Bi Gendered/
Androgynous

A person who does not exclusively identify as male or female, irrespective of physical sex.

Sex

Biological sex. (Physical attribute).

Sexual Orientation

Sexual attraction towards people of a particular sex, (or sexes in the case of bisexuality). This is has nothing to do with a persons gender identity