Transgender and Non-Binary People FAQ (2024)

Transgender, or trans, is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity is different from the sex assigned to them at birth. Although the word “transgender” and our modern definition of it only came into use in the late 20th century, people who would fit under this definition have existed in every culture throughout recorded history.

Cisgender, or cis, generally refers to people who do not identify as transgender. Cisgender describes people whose gender identity or expression aligns with traits typically associated with the sex assigned to them at birth. Some people may not identify as cisgender, but that does not mean they are necessarily transgender.

If you would like to explore more LGBTQ+ terminology, please continue reading this guide or visit our glossary.

Non-binary is an identity embraced by some people who do not identify exclusively as a man or a woman. Non-binary people may identify as being both a man and a woman, somewhere in between or as falling completely outside of these categories. While many also identify as transgender, not all non-binary people do. Non-binary can also be used as an umbrella term encompassing identities such as agender, bigender, genderqueer or gender fluid.

If you would like to explore more LGBTQ+ terminology, please continue reading this guide or visit our glossary.

Gender non-conforming is an umbrella term referring to people who do not identify in a way that conforms to the traditional expectations of their gender, or whose gender expression does not fit neatly into a category. Some gender non-conforming people identify as non-binary, genderqueer, trans masculine, trans feminine, agender, bigender or other identities that reflect their personal experience. Some, but not all, gender non-conforming people identify as transgender.

If you would like to explore more LGBTQ+ terminology, please continue reading this guide or visit our glossary.

Gender identity refers to one’s innermost concept of self as a man, a woman, a blend of both or neither – how individuals perceive themselves and what they call themselves. One's gender identity can be the same or different from their sex assigned at birth.

Gender expression refers to the external appearance of one's gender identity, usually expressed through behavior, clothing, body characteristics or voice, and which may or may not conform to socially defined behaviors and characteristics typically associated with being either masculine or feminine.

A person’s gender identity and expression are not the same as their sexuality. Transgender and non-binary people may be gay, straight, bi+ or any sexuality which they feel best describes themselves. Gender identity and gender expression also may or may not be aligned with typical societal expectations of gender. It is both possible and valid to be a feminine trans masculine person, a masculine trans feminine person or any combination of identity and expression with which someone feels most comfortable.

A person’s sex refers to the identity given to them at birth, most often based on their external anatomy. This is typically male or female when it is assigned to them by doctors, parents and medical professionals.

Gender is a broad term typically associated with a person’s own sense of their behaviors, characteristics, and thoughts, often in relation to their sex or to other members of their society. A person’s gender may or may not conform to the male and female binary, and may or may not align with their sex assigned at birth. Gender is a personal identity, but it often interacts with a society’s traditional standards of behavior for those perceived as men or women. To support all gender identities, it is important to promote diversity in a society’s cultural, behavioral and legal spheres.

Simply put, sex and gender are not the same, and a person’s self-identified gender is valid regardless of their sex assigned at birth.

Intersex people are born with a variety of differences in their sex traits and reproductive anatomy. There is a wide variety of difference among intersex variations, including differences in genitalia, chromosomes, gonads, internal sex organs, hormone production, hormone response, and/or secondary sex traits. According to experts, upper estimates are that nearly 2% of the general population is born with intersex traits.

Though some individuals with intersex traits identify with intersex as their gender, the majority don’t - they may identify as male, female, non-binary, or a different gender. Intersex individuals may also be transgender if they do not identify with the gender with which they were raised. Intersex people face similar bias and fear of difference that faces the entire LGBTQ+ community. As such, intersex people are valuable members of our communities who deserve recognition and respect. You may learn more about intersex people by reading the HRC’s guide to Understanding the Intersex Community.

Gender dysphoria is a medical term that refers to the psychological distress a person may feel when their gender is misaligned with their sex assigned at birth. Some may experience it as an acute pain, while others may experience it as an overarching sense of unease. Although many transgender and non-binary people experience gender dysphoria, it is not a necessary requirement to identify as transgender or non-binary.

According to Mayo Clinic, “Preoccupation with being of another gender than the one assigned often interferes with daily activities. People experiencing gender dysphoria might refuse to go to school, due to pressure to dress in a way that's associated with their sex or out of fear of being harassed or teased. Gender dysphoria can also impair the ability to function at school or at work, resulting in school dropout or unemployment. Relationship difficulties are common. Anxiety, depression, self-harm, eating disorders, substance abuse and other problems can occur.”

If you are experiencing gender dysphoria, we encourage you to seek gender identity-based counselling or to join a local or online transgender and non-binary support group. You may also work with a medical or mental health professional who specializes in gender identity to determine a course of treatment which may or may not include medical or social transition.

If someone you love is experiencing gender dysphoria, we encourage you to treat them with kindness and empathy, to assist them in seeking help and to respect their gender identity.

If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-8255. If you’re a young LGBTQ+ person and need to talk to someone, call The Trevor Project’s 24-hour crisis hotline for youth at 1-866-488-7386. If you are a transgender person of any age, call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860.

If you feel as though your gender identity may be different from your sex assigned at birth, you may consider identifying as transgender or non-binary. When someone questions their gender, they may have concerns or even fears about what this means for their self-identity. Some may believe they are too old to transition or to explore their gender identity. For youth, adults in their lives may believe they are too young to understand their gender identity as anything except cisgender.

Regardless of age, it is okay to identify differently from your sex assigned at birth. Some transgender and non-binary people may also be concerned about “passing” as a certain gender. While reaching certain transition goals may be affirming to one’s gender identity, it isn’t necessary to be considered valid. Even among cisgender people, there is a wide variation in gender expression. Transgender and non-binary people come from all backgrounds. If you believe you may be transgender or non-binary, you may want to consider finding a safe space to explore your gender identity and expression.

Unfortunately, transgender and non-binary people still experience high levels of discrimination in our society. If you are concerned for your safety, you may decide not to disclose your gender identity until you feel safe and comfortable doing so. This is a valid and often advisable choice. However, while disclosure can bring risk, keep in mind that your transition can have a positive impact on others, whether you directly witness it or not.

Living openly teaches others that there’s more to gender than they might have known and it can pave the way for future generations of transgender and non-binary youth to live better lives. It can also show others — especially those who may be biased or judgmental — that their attitudes are theirs alone, and help them evolve for the better. For help creating a coming out plan, you may consult the Human Rights Campaign’s guide to Coming Out as Transgender or Non-Binary. You may also seek advice from a gender-identity affirming mental health provider.

Some people may decide to transition, but later decide to go back to identifying with their sex assigned at birth. This is a valid choice and should be respected. However, transition-related regret is rare and is sometimes influenced by environmental factors such as experiencing discrimination. Many who decide to detransition still support transitioning and are thankful for the freedom to explore their gender identity.

No, many transgender and non-binary people choose to transition without surgery. Some have no desire to pursue surgeries or medical intervention. Gender-expansive children do not undergo gender-affirming surgeries, but may receive reversible puberty blockers under the care of a licensed medical provider.

At the same time, many transgender and non-binary people cannot afford medical treatment nor can they access it. In light of these injustices, it is important that civil rights and protections are extended to all transgender and non-binary people equally, regardless of their medical histories. It’s also critical to continue advocating for full access to health care coverage for transgender and non-binary people.

Supporting transgender and non-binary people is an important step towards reducing the stigmas they face in society. Here are some actions that you can take to support transgender and non-binary people publicly:

• Learn gender identity-inclusive language to respect transgender and non-binary people. You may view the Human Rights Campaign’s Glossary of Terms here.
• Too often, state legislatures introduce discriminatory bills that target the transgender and non-binary community. Educate yourself about these proposed bills and work to oppose them in your community.
• Support inclusive public accommodations including gender-neutral bathrooms.
• In 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia that makes it clear that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited under the federal employment non-discrimination law known as Title VII. However, Bostock does not reach some vital areas like public spaces and services, nor does it apply to federally funded programs since sex-based federal protections do not currently exist in these areas. Support the Equality Act, a Congressional bill that would provide consistent and explicit anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service.
• Support transgender and non-binary education in schools. Five states (New Jersey, Colorado, Oregon, Illinois and California) have laws requiring schools to teach LGBTQ+ history. If you do not live in one of these states, you can advocate for a similar law to be passed for your state’s schools. Additionally, the Human Rights Campaign hosts annual Jazz & Friends National Day of School and Community Readings in support of transgender and non-binary youth.
• Understand intersectional issues such as racism, sexism and xenophobia that can lead transgender and non-binary people of color to experience even greater disparities in health care, employment and housing.

On a personal level, you can support transgender and non-binary people you know and meet by engaging in some of the following actions:

• Educate yourself on transgender and non-binary people. If you know a transgender or non-binary person, advocate for them and speak up for them if they receive pushback and if they are comfortable with you doing so.
• Share your own personal pronouns. This helps to normalize discussions around gender identity and creates safe spaces for transgender and non-binary people.
• Support local transgender and non-binary organizations. This may include LGBTQ+ community centers or local non-profits that advocate for the rights of transgender and non-binary people.
• Engage in media that promotes positive depictions of transgender and non-binary people. Examples include tv shows such as Disclosure on Netflix or Transhood on HBO Max, a documentary on transgender and non-binary youth which features the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Time to Thrive Conference. There are also many books by transgender and non-binary authors such as Transgender History by Susan Stryker or the works featured in this list of books by transgender and non-binary authors.

For more information on supporting transgender and non-binary people, you may view the Human Rights Campaign’s Guide to Being an LGBTQ+ Ally.

The Human Rights Campaign has numerous guides for people with certain occupations to learn how to support transgender and non-binary people:

• In the Workplace
• Doctors and Health Care Providers
• Athletes and Sports Professionals
• Teachers and School Professionals
• Media Organizations and Individuals
• Child Welfare Professionals

In 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia that makes it clear that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is prohibited under the federal employment non-discrimination law known as Title VII. Importantly, Bostock does not reach some vital areas like public spaces and services, nor does it apply to federally funded programs since sex-based federal protections do not currently exist in these areas. It is imperative that officials continue to advance pro-equality legislation at the state level to explicitly protect LGBTQ+ people in every area of life.

These remaining gaps in non-discrimination protections are why we must urge Congress to pass the Equality Act, a bill that would provide consistent and explicit anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people across key areas of life, including employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs and jury service.

Full equality for transgender and non-binary people is essential to creating a more diverse and inclusive society.

• We need Congress to pass The Equality Act to ensure full anti-discrimination protections under the law.

• Based on FBI hate crime data from 2019, sexual orientation motivated nearly 17% of hate crimes, the third largest category after race and religion. There was also an uptick in gender identity-based hate crimes, which rose by 23% from 2018.

• There is an epidemic of fatal violence against transgender and non-binary people, particularly Black trans women.

• Some members of our community also face mental health challenges due to societal discrimination. According to the HRC’s analysis of from the most recent Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 28% of transgender adults say they have sustained periods of time in which they are unable to do usual activities, such as self-care, work or recreation, compared to 15% of non-LGBTQ+ adults due to poor mental or physical health.

• Trans people live in poverty at elevated rates, and for trans people of color, these rates are even higher. Around 29% of trans adults live in poverty, as well as 39% of Black trans adults, 48% of Latine trans adults and 35% of Alaska Native, Asian, Native Americans and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander trans adults.

• Many transgender and non-binary people also lack adequate health care coverage. An HRC Foundation analysis found that 22% of trans people and 32% of trans people of color have no health insurance coverage. More than one-quarter (29%) of trans adults have been refused health care by a doctor or provider because of their gender identity.

• State legislatures tried and failed to pass discriminatory bathroom bills, but are now attempting to restrict transgender and non-binary youth from participating in school sports or from receiving necessary transition-related health care.

• Some states still allow and protect the harmful practice of so-called conversion therapy, an insidious practice which harms transgender and non-binary people by shaming them for their identities.

• According to the HRC Foundation’s analysis of 2019 Centers for Disease Control Data, 43% of transgender youth have been bullied at school.

• Transgender and non-binary people who wish to update their legal documents to better match their identities often face restrictive and unnecessary legal requirements, long wait times, expensive financial requirements and, in some cases, laws that prevent them from changing their identification entirely. Many government identity documents also lack inclusive gender options such as an “X” gender marker that accurately reflect non-binary peoples’ identities.

For all of these reasons and more, everyone must act to support equality for transgender and non-binary people throughout society, and to enshrine it in our state and federal laws.