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gender 101


USING CORRECT PRONOUNS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SHOWS RESPECT TO ONE’S HUMANITY AND THEIR IDENTITY. INCORRECT PRO- NOUNS, REGARDLESS OF INTENTION, IS REFERRED TO AS MISGENDERING.”


TALKING ABOUT GENDER


The topic of gender identity has gained lots of


press coverage recently.While names like Laverne Cox and Chaz Bono have become commonplace in our vocabulary, many people still feel confused about less commonly discussed gender identities and appropriate terminology. No one is an expert on every subject, but it’s important to educate yourself in order to have a basic understanding of identities other than your own. A gender identity is one’s internal sense of self-identity—being male, female, both, neither, or something completely different—it is not the sex a person is assigned at birth. When a baby is born, a sex of either female or male is assigned based on the external appearance of their anatomy. One’s gender identity however, may match the sex they were assigned at birth or it might not. Every person has a gender identity, regardless of whether they identify as transgender or not.


Gender identity connects to one’s sexual orienta-


tion, but the two are not one in the same. Gender identity is who you are, but sexual orientation is who you are attracted to, be that be romantically, physically, emotionally, or some other combination of factors. “Transgender,” or “trans,” is an adjective that


broadly describes someone whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, a transgender male is a person who was assigned female at birth, but at some point, realized this did not match who he is inside and began to transition to living as a man. Trans people understand that the sex they were assigned at birth influenced their development, but believe this information is irrelevant to anyone they aren’t going to be intimate with. Though the term “transsexual” was used in the past, and in some cases still is in healthcare or by people who feel that the term more


by zaya mejia, trans health coordinator at the lgbtq center long beach


accurately reflects who they are, transgender and trans have gained popularity due to their ability to encompass many different identities. If you aren’t transgender, “trans” or “transgender” are the proper terms to use. “Non-binary” refers to a gender identity that is neither male, nor female. Not to be confused with “intersex,” a term describing a condition where one’s reproductive or sexual anatomy does not fit the common definitions of male or female. Someone can identify as non-binary regardless of their sex assigned at birth, although some non-binary people may consider themselves transgender, but not all do. “Cisgender,” or “cis,” is an adjective that describes someone whose gender identity does align with the sex they were assigned at birth. Someone who is cisgender is not transgender. Sexual orientation intersects with gender identity:


A man who exclusively dates men may identify as a gay man, but a woman who exclusively dates men may identify as a straight woman. Who they are, combined with who they are attracted to, defines their sexual orientation. Just like cisgender men can be gay and cisgender women can be lesbian, there are gay trans men and lesbian trans women. Some people however, don’t like putting a specific label on their sexuality. Where do pronouns fit into all this? A pronoun is


a word used to reference something or someone mentioned in a discussion, such as “it,” “he,” or “she.” In the English language, pronouns have genders and meanings attached to them. “It” refers to objects and is non-gendered, “he” refers to a single masculine person, and “she” refers to a single feminine person. Though many people are familiar with using “they” to refer to multiple people, it can also be used in a gender-neutral way to refer to a single person. Using correct pronouns is important because it shows respect to one’s humanity and their identity. Incor- rect pronouns, regardless of intention, is referred to as “misgendering.” Keep in mind that words and definitions change


over time, so if you hear a new term, or a different meaning for a word you know, Google it! You can also contact your nearest LGBTQ Center. As Trans Health Coordinator at The LGBTQ Center Long Beach, I advocate for the transgender community, and provide education to local organizations and people who want to learn more.


Most importantly, listen to others and


remember that we are all just people trying to live our lives.


44


RAGE monthly | SEPTEMBER 2018


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