Becky

Term	Abbreviation	Definiton
Androgen		A generic name for male sex hormones.
Androgynes		Individuals whose assumed chasracteristics are not limited to either of the two traditionally accepted gender classifications, masculine and feminine. This can include a variety of experiences including androgynous presentation, behavior, wardrobe and social roles. Androgynes usually are not interested in Sex Reassignment Surgery although they occasionally seek out hormone therapy and/or secondary sex characteristic repressive surgeries.
Androgynous	Andro	Usually applied to a person who's gender identity is not apparent.
Being Read		A slang term for being identified for the gender of origin.
Bigendered	BG	One who has a significant gender identity that encompasses both genders, masculine and feminine. Transsexuals are normally do not consider themselves to be bigendered.
Biological Sex		Being male or female, as determined by chromosomes, and body chemistry.
Brain Sex		The physical `sex' of the brain. Based on the theory/evidence that the human brain is uniquely different for genetic males and genetic females.
Butch		Masculine or macho dress and behavior, regardless of sex or gender identity.
Crossdressing	CD'ing	Refers to the adoption, fully or partially, of the clothes normally identified as belonging to the opposite sex. People may crossdress for a variety of reasons of which transvestism, transsexualism and fetishism are the commonest. Some people may also crossdress as part of a disguise or for entertainment. Others may cross-dress as part of masochistic activities.
Crossdresser	CD	One who, regardless of the motivation, wears the clothes, makeup, etc. assigned by society to the opposite sex. Generally, these persons do not alter their bodies. Clinically called a Transvestite, the term 'Crossdresser' is preferred by many.
Drag Queen	DQ	Generally a M2F crossdresser who usually goes to wild extremes, whether towards a glamorous or campy end, often for other peoples entertainment, appreciation or for its shock value. N.B. This term is considered derogatory by some.
Drag King	DK	The Female-to-Male counterpart to the crossdresser. These are women who identify as women, but occasionally cross-dress. Similar to their male counterparts, they also are predominantly heterosexual, and range from the closeted to the publicly proficient. Oftentimes, they will affect fake facial hair to complete the image, and (save for the voice) will be much more successful at passing in public than their male counterparts.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders	DSM IV	The guideline that the American Psychiatric Association publishes which details what is and is not a psychiatric illness. Transsexualism and transvestism are included in the list of psychiatric disorders.
En Femme		Projecting ones person to society as a female through clothing and mannerisms (i.e. dressed as a woman).
En Homme		Projecting ones person to society as a male through clothing and mannerisms (i.e. dressed as a man).
FTM or F2M	FTM or F2M	Female-to-Male. Used to specify the direction of a change of sex or gender role.
Female Impersonator	FI	A male who on specific occasions crossdresses and employs stereotypical feminine dialog, voice and mannerisms for the entertainment of other people.
Femme		Feminine or effeminate dress and behavior, regardless of sex or gender identity.
Gender		Gender is expressed in terms of masculinity and femininity. It is how people perceive themselves and how they expect others to behave. It is largely culturally determined.
Gender Dysphoria Gender Identity Disorder	GD GID	Refers to the dissatisfaction with one's gender (masculinity or femininity) which is in conflict with one's physical sex. The term is usually restricted to those who seek medical and surgical assistance to resolve their difficulty.
Gender Community		Colloquial for transgender community. People who identify as not having a gender identity that matches societies rules for their birth physical sex, or those who identity with the gender community.
Gender Identity		The gender to which one feels they belong.
Gender Neutral		Clothing, behaviors, thoughts, feelings, relationships etc. which are considered appropriate to both genders/sexes.
Gender Role sometimes called Sex Role		This is the set of socially-defined roles and behaviors assigned to females and males. This can vary from culture to culture. Our society recognizes basically two distinct gender roles. One is the masculine: having the qualities or characteristics attributed to males. The other is the feminine: having the qualities or characteristics attributed to females. (A third gender role, rarely, though possibly increasingly, condoned in our society, is androgyny combining assumed male (andro) and female (gyne) qualities.) Some people step out of their socially-assigned gender roles or "crossdress (wear the clothing traditionally reserved for the other sex). Though not universal or even precise, some of the terms used to identify these individuals include "transvestites (often heterosexual males and females who crossdress), "Drag Queens (male homosexuals who crossdress), "Drag Kings (female homosexuals who crossdress).
Genetic Girl	GG	Female at birth regardless of one's present sex or gender identity. (Also, GW for Genetic Woman or GF for Genetic Female).
Genetic Male	GM	Male at birth regardless of one's present sex or gender identity.
Heterosexuality	Hetero	Sexual preference for those of the opposite sex.
Hormones		Hormone therapy is used by transsexuals to change some secondary sex characteristics, including breast size, weight distribution, and hair growth. Like most aspects of human chemistry, the endocrine system - which controls the body's production and balance of hormones, including sex hormones - is still, at best, only loosely understood. However, one thing is for certain, hormones represent some of the strongest and subtlest chemicals produced by the body and should not be 'messed-with' without extreme care. Always consult a physician before using, or contemplating the use of, sex hormones on your body.
Hormonal Reassignment Therapy	HRT	The introduction of the body to the hormones that affect the secondary sex characteristics of a transsexual.
In Drab [DRessed As a Boy]		Wearing clothes and an attitude supposedly deemed appropriate to one's gender of origin.
In Drag [DRessed As a Girl]		Wearing clothes considered appropriate to the other sex.
MTF or M2F	MTF or M2F	Male-to-Female. Used to specify the direction of a change in sex or gender role.
Non-Op		Same as non-surgical transsexual (see below)
Non-surgical Transsexual		Transsexuals who seek sex reassignment through hormones and who cross-live, but stop just short of surgery. Some (1) have concerns about major surgery, which is not always successful. Others (2) have been unable to obtain the money necessary and have essentially given up on this final step (are "in limbo). Yet others (3) feel they are complete without surgery and are the same as definition 1 of transgender (see below). Others still (4) cannot have surgery due to special health problems.
Passing		The opposite of "Being Read". A term often used to describe your 'natural' ability to be accepted by most people as your preferred gender.
Post-Op		Transsexuals who have had sex-change operation(s), and now have the physical anatomy they desire.
Pre-Op		Transsexuals who have not yet had their sex-change [reassignment] operation(s), but who are working towards it.
Sexual Reassignment Surgery	SRS	A surgical procedure designed to modify one's primary sexual characteristics (genitalia) from those of one sex to those of another (penis to vagina, or vagina to penis). May also include secondary surgery such as breast implants or removing the Adam's apple.
Significant Other	SO	Mate/partner, as in husband, wife, boy/girlfriend.
T-Friendly		Any organization or institution that is accepting of transgendered peoples and their needs.
Transphobia/Transphobic		The fear and hatred of cross-dressers, transsexuals, and gender benders and what they do [or are feared to do], and everything that results from this, from disrespect, to denial of rights and needs, to violence. Though some have defined this as an "irrational fear and hatred, in actuality, from the time most of us are young, people and institutions (parents/guardians, peers, teachers, clergy, the media, etc.) have taught us to conform to societal notions of "proper gender behavior, and to hold in contempt those who challenge or transgress these standards. Transphobia is indeed a form of oppression.
Transgender	TG	Originally, this word meant (1) what are also known as full-time cross-dressers or nonsurgical transsexuals, people who live and work in the [other] (of their physical anatomical) [sex], continuously and for always. Now it also means (2) the group of all people who are inclined to cross the gender line, including transsexuals, cross-dressers, and gender benders together. This is the main way the word is used today, and is referred to as the "umbrella definition as it covers everyone. A few [people] use the word transgender as (3) a synonym for transsexual.
Transition		The period of time between when the individual first starts the sex-reassignment procedure and when the individual is living totally as a member of the opposite sex.
Transsexual	TS	A person who feels a consistent and overwhelming desire to transition and fulfill their lives as members of the opposite gender. Most transsexuals actively desire and complete Sexual-Reassignment Surgery.
Transvestite	TV	The clinical name for a Crossdresser. A person who dresses in the clothing of the opposite sex. Generally, these persons do not alter their body.