transgender (adj.)

used only as an adjective ("transgender people" or "a transgender person"), never as a noun, "transgender" needs no extraneous "-ed" at the end ("transgendered" is not a word and is considered highly offensive). Transgender individuals respond to a profound disconnect between the sex assigned at birth and the person they know themselves to be. Today the right to gender self-determination allows people to conform to their real gender at ever younger ages. Unfortunately, although relatively few in number, transgender individuals face extreme levels of discrimination and violence, which is why using respectful, accurate language is critical: (1) Question the need to mention a person’s gender identity; it is often irrelevant to your material. (2) Always use the person’s preferred name and pronouns, even when referring to something in their past when they used a different name or pronouns. It is never appropriate to put quotation marks around either a transgender person's chosen name or the pronoun that reflects that person's gender identity. (3) "Trans" is sometimes used as an adjective: trans-related medical care, trans clients, a trans take on things. (4) Because gender identity is about who one is and sexual orientation is about who one is attracted to, some transgender people are straight, some are gay, some are bi, some are queer. (5) Avoid "transsexual" unless a person self-identifies that way; "transgender" is preferred. "Tranny" and "she-male" are highly offensive. See also cross-dresser, deadnaming, gender, sex reassignment surgery, transsexual.