Mazzoni Presentation- Sexual Health
What is the difference between sex and gender?
Sex is assigned at birth, refers to one’s biological status as either male or female, and is associated primarily with physical attributes such as chromosomes, hormone prevalence, and external and internal anatomy. Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities, and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for boys and men or girls and women. These influence the ways that people act, interact, and feel about themselves. While aspects of biological sex are similar across different cultures, aspects of gender may differ.
What does transgender mean?
Transgender is an umbrella term for persons whose gender identity, gender expression or behavior does not conform to that typically associated with the sex to which they were assigned at birth. Gender identity refers to a person’s internal sense of being male, female or something else; gender expression refers to the way a person communicates gender identity to others through behavior, clothing, hairstyles, voice or body characteristics. “Trans” is sometimes used as shorthand for “transgender.” While transgender is generally a good term to use, not everyone whose appearance or behavior is gender-nonconforming will identify as a transgender person. The ways that transgender people are talked about in popular culture, academia and science are constantly changing, particularly as individuals’ awareness, knowledge and openness about transgender people and their experiences grow.
What are some categories or types of transgender people?
Many identities fall under the transgender umbrella. The term transsexual refers to people whose gender identity is different from their assigned sex. Often, transsexual people alter or wish to alter their bodies through hormones, surgery, and other means to make their bodies as congruent as possible with their gender identities. This process of transition through medical intervention is often referred to as sex or gender reassignment, but more recently is also referred to as gender affirmation. People who were assigned female, but identify and live as male and alter or wish to alter their bodies through medical intervention to more closely resemble their gender identity are known as transsexual men or transmen (also known as female-to-male or FTM). Conversely, people who were assigned male, but identify and live as female and alter or wish to alter their bodies through medical intervention to more closely resemble their gender identity are known as transsexual women or transwomen (also known as male-to-female or MTF). Some individuals who transition from one gender to another prefer to be referred to as a man or a woman, rather than as transgender.
What kinds of discrimination do transgender people face?
Anti-discrimination laws in most U.S. cities and states do not protect transgender people from discrimination based on gender identity or gender expression. Consequently, transgender people in most cities and states face discrimination in nearly every aspect of their lives. The National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force released a report in 2011 entitled Injustice at Every Turn, which confirmed the pervasive and severe discrimination faced by transgender people. Out of a sample of nearly 6,500 transgender people, the report found that transgender people experience high levels of discrimination in employment, housing, health care, education, legal systems, and even in their families. The report can be found online.
Transgender people may also have additional identities that may affect the types of discrimination they experience. Groups with such additional identities include transgender people of racial, ethnic, or religious minority backgrounds; transgender people of lower socioeconomic statuses; transgender people with disabilities; transgender youth; transgender elderly; and others. Experiencing discrimination may cause significant amounts of psychological stress, often leaving transgender individuals to wonder whether they were discriminated against because of their gender identity or gender expression, another sociocultural identity, or some combination of all of these.
According to the study, while discrimination is pervasive for the majority of transgender people, the intersection of anti-transgender bias and persistent, structural racism is especially severe. People of color in general fare worse than White transgender people, with African American transgender individuals faring far worse than all other transgender populations examined.
Many transgender people are the targets of hate crimes. They are also the victims of subtle discrimination—which includes everything from glances or glares of disapproval or discomfort to invasive questions about their body parts.
How can I be supportive of transgender family members, friends, or significant others?
Educate yourself about transgender issues by reading books, attending conferences, and consulting with transgender experts. Be aware of your attitudes concerning people with gender-nonconforming appearance or behavior.
Know that transgender people have membership in various sociocultural identity groups (e.g., race, social class, religion, age, disability, etc.) and there is not one universal way to look or be transgender.
Use names and pronouns that are appropriate to the person’s gender presentation and identity; if in doubt, ask.
Don’t make assumptions about transgender people’s sexual orientation, desire for hormonal or medical treatment, or other aspects of their identity or transition plans. If you have a reason to know (e.g., you are a physician conducting a necessary physical exam or you are a person who is interested in dating someone that you’ve learned is transgender), ask.
Don’t confuse gender nonconformity with being transgender. Not all people who appear androgynous or gender nonconforming identify as transgender or desire gender affirmation treatment.
Keep the lines of communication open with the transgender person in your life.
Get support in processing your own reactions. It can take some time to adjust to seeing someone you know well transitioning. Having someone close to you transition will be an adjustment and can be challenging, especially for partners, parents, and children.
Seek support in dealing with your feelings. You are not alone. Mental health professionals and support groups for family, friends, and significant others of transgender people can be useful resources.
Advocate for transgender rights, including social and economic justice and appropriate psychological care.Familiarize
Where can I find more information about transgender health, advocacy, and human rights?
American Psychological Association
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Concerns
Programs and Projects
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Email
Children's National Medical Center
Gender and Sexuality Advocacy and Education
111 Michigan Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20010
(202) 884-2504
Family Acceptance Project
San Francisco State University
3004 16th Street, #301
San Francisco, CA 94103
Email
FTMInternational
(FTM means Female-to-Male)
601 Van Ness Ave., Suite E327
San Francisco, CA 94102
(877) 267-1440
Email
Gender Spectrum
539 Glen Drive
San Leandro, CA 94577
(520) 567-3977
Email
National Center for Transgender Equality
1325 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 903-0112
(202) 393-2241 (fax)
Email
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Transgender Network (TNET)
PFLAG National Office
1828 L Street, NW, Suite 660
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 467-8180
Email
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
147 W. 24th Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10011
(212) 337-8550
(212) 337-1972 (Fax)
Email
Transgender Law Center
870 Market Street Room 400
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 865-0176
Email
TransYouth Family Allies
P.O. Box1471
Holland, MI 49422-1471
(888) 462-8932
World Professional Association for Transgender Health
1300 South Second Street, Suite 180
Minneapolis, MN 55454
(612) 624-9397
(612)624-9541 (Fax)
Email
Many Americans have a profound lack of understanding of what it means to be transgender. Consequently, transgender people commonly face a wide variety of discriminatory barriers to full equality. Transgender people sometimes face difficulties meeting their basic needs (getting a job, housing, or health care) or in having their gender identity respected (like in the simple act of going to a public restroom).
Much of the discrimination transgender people face mirrors that experienced by lesbian, gay and bisexual people, but is often more severe. Additionally, transgender people face a range of legal issues that LGB people rarely do: identity documents not reflective of one’s gender, sex-segregated public restrooms and other facilities, dress codes that perpetuate traditional gender norms, and barriers to access to appropriate health care.
The ACLU fights to eradicate discrimination against transgender people because it is so pervasive and harmful. Moreover, we believe that the struggles against anti-LGB and anti-transgender discrimination are best waged collaboratively. Much of the discrimination faced by transgender people comes from the same place as does anti-gay discrimination: LGBT people challenge society’s norms on how men or women “should” act (in their gender expression and in the relationships they form). Truly eliminating LGBT discrimination depends on eradicating gender stereotypes, and fighting gender identity discrimination does that directly.
Additional Resources
Ban on Transgender Military Service: (2014 resource) Current U.S. Department of Defense regulations ban transgender people from military service. For decades, transgender men and women have been barred from openly serving in the military, despite the fact that recent studies show that about one-fifth of all transgender adults are veterans, making transgender people approximately twice as likely as others to serve in the military. Through public education, advocacy, and -- if necessary -- litigation, the ACLU is committed to eliminating this outdated, unfair and discriminatory ban.
Protecting the Rights of Transgender Parents and their Children: A Guide for Parents and Lawyers: (2013 guide) This guide, a joint publication of the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Center for Transgender Equality, provides information to transgender parents and their attorneys to help them protect parent-child relationships and assist them when faced with disputes over child custody issues.
Know Your Rights: A Guide for Trans and Gender Nonconforming Students: (2012 guide) This guide from the ACLU and our colleagues at the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network provides information for trans and gender nonconforming students about their rights at school regarding harassment, dress code, dates for prom and other formal dances, and more.
ACLU Challenges Unconstitutional Illinois Requirements For Correcting Transgender Birth Certificates (2011 press release)
Transgender Rights: Illinois Birth Certificates (2009 video): Victoria Kirk and Karissa Rothkopf are plaintiffs in a lawsuit the ACLU filed to change a provision of Illinois law that makes it difficult for transsexual individuals to change the gender markers on that state's birth certificates. Both plaintiffs were born in Illinois but, because they chose to have their gender confirmation surgeries performed by doctors outside of the U.S., the state has refused to change the gender markers on their birth certificates to reflect their gender identity.
Grey v Arnold (2011 Video): Lauren Grey, Victor Williams, and Nicholas Guarino are plaintiffs in a lawsuit the ACLU filed to change a provision of Illinois law that makes it difficult for many transsexual individuals to change the gender markers on their birth certificates. All three plaintiffs were born in Illinois and had some form of gender confirmation surgery, but the state has refused to change the gender markers on their birth certificates to reflect their gender identity because they have not undergone the specific surgery required by the state.