Some people say that they have felt like they are the 'wrong' gender, or that they are different from other people of the same gender, from a very young age, but for other people they may not be aware of how they feel until they start going through puberty.

Everyone is an individual, and no two people feel exactly the same way. As a result, people explore their gender identity in different ways and may describe themselves using different terms. Below are explanations of a few of the most common terms people use:

This is often used to describe anyone who does not feel they completely fit the gender and/or sex they were born with.

This is usually used to describe a person who feels that they were born the ‘wrong’ sex, and who identifies with and would like to be accepted as a member of the opposite sex. Many transsexuals want to change physically and do undergo sexual reassignment to change their bodies so that they are the sex they feel is right for them.

These words describe a person who likes to dress in the clothes usually associated with someone of the opposite gender, such as a man liking to wear women’s clothes, or a woman dressing as a man. There can be many reasons why people like to do this and it does not mean that they want to change gender or physically change their bodies.

These words describe a person who does not identify strongly as either male or female and who does not fit neatly into a typical masculine or feminine role. They can also be used to describe someone who naturally has both male and female physical characteristics.

Unfortunately transgendered people do experience prejudice from others, as many people do not understand why a person might feel that they have been born in the wrong body, or would like to wear the clothes usually worn by the opposite gender. This type of prejudice is called homophobia and can make people feel worried and vulnerable. More importantly our society has systems in place to stop this sort of discrimination. The important thing to remember is that gender identity is not fixed and that everyone has the right to feel happy and comfortable and to be who they really feel they are.

Some people find joining a gay club or society really helpful, especially when they do not know many other transexual people, as it can give them the opportunity to meet like-minded people. Growing up as a transexual is not always easy and it can be very helpful to meet other people who understand any worries or difficulties you may be having. Of course that does not mean that you can only have gay or bi friends, or that your straight friends won’t understand you.
For local information visit Gender Matters (www.gender-matters.org.uk)