RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — TERMINOLOGY
Genderqueer — A term used by individuals who identify as neither entirely male nor female, identify as a combination of both, or who present in a non-gendered way.
Nonbinary — A term used to describe people who do not identify as a male/man or female/woman.
Sex reassignment surgery — A doctor-supervised surgical intervention. It is only one part of transitioning from one sex to another. Not all trans people choose to, or can afford to, undergo medical surgeries.
Transgender — A term for those whose gender identity or expression is different than that typically associated with their assigned sex at birth.
Transition — A complex process to alter one's birth sex that occurs over a period of time. It can include some or all of the following personal, medical and legal steps: telling one's family, friends and coworkers; using a different name and new pronouns; dressing differently; changing one's name and/or sex on legal documents; hormone therapy; and possibly one or more types of surgery.
This story was produced by the Virginia Commonwealth University's Capital News Service.