Transgender people face many challenges, including a lack of support, harassment, and physical health problems. Living in a society that rejects their identity can be particularly difficult, and transgender people can also experience sexual assaults and emotional and physical abuse. These experiences can lead to anxiety disorders and depression. In addition, transgender children can experience physical or emotional abuse. There is a large body of evidence that demonstrates the harmful effects of transgender people’s experiences.
Many transgender people choose to change their names after their transition, whether they wish to change their name to something more gender-neutral or to match their new identity. However, this process can be time-consuming and expensive. It is also important to avoid dead-naming a transgender person, which is considered inappropriate and can lead to confusion. Instead, it is polite to ask for the person’s name and pronouns.
People can become aware of their transgender identity at any age. Some may trace this awareness to their earliest memories, while others simply knew they were transgender from the moment they were born. Regardless of how a person comes to realize they are transgender, they must be open and honest about their experiences. In some cases, it may take years before a transgender person becomes comfortable with their gender identity. As with any new identity, however, there are ways to cope with uncomfortable feelings and keep your confidence up.
GLAAD has created a transgender resource guide that includes links to organizations and publications. The guide references the National Center for Transgender Equality, the Trans Journalists Association, the Human Rights Campaign, InterAct, and the American Psychological Association. However, the guide does not provide an exhaustive list of resources. It is also Western-centric and may not reflect other cultures’ views or definitions of gender. The language and culture change over time, so it is important to check with other resources.
If a transgender person has decided to undergo medical treatments to express their gender identity, they will need to find a medical provider who specializes in this field. This will help them feel more comfortable sharing details of their lives with a person who is familiar with their condition. The health care provider will help them create a plan that will make them feel more confident. It will also help them work through their fears and concerns so they can move forward with their lives.
There are several medical procedures for transitioning from one sex to the other. These medical procedures may include hormone therapy or surgery. It is also possible to change one’s appearance and name as part of transitioning. But these methods do not guarantee a successful transition. For the most part, transgender people try to make their body align with their gender identity.
There are no reliable statistics about the number of transgender people in the United States. The US Census and other official records only report the sex assigned at birth and legal sex. Transgender individuals do not appear to be a significant minority of the population. The lack of transgender inclusive data is one of the factors that hinders accurate assessment of health disparities and social determinants.
Although gender identity is a complex and controversial issue, it is essential to remember that gender identity and sexual orientation are not the same. Gender identity is a self-determined expression of a person’s feelings and is different from sexual orientation. While transgender people have male genitalia and female genitalia, they can still be bisexual, gay, or lesbian. They can even have both. They may choose to hide their identity from others.