Gender Identity Basics and Terminology

This fact sheet from that National Center for Transgender Equality provides basic information and defines key terms such as transgender, gender identity, and gender expression.

Answers to frequently asked questions about transgender people, including information on the transitioning process and costs, cross dressing, the difference between gender identity and sexual orientation, and discrimination faced by people who are transgender.

This fact sheet includes basic information about gender identities beyond the male/female binary.

In this TED Talk, Scott Turner Schofield discusses transgender identity and what it could mean to "end gender."

This short film provides interviews with individuals self-identified as transgender or genderqueer. It also presents an overview of the spectrum of gender identity and sexual orientation.

This resource offers guidance on how to decide whether or not a particular question is appropriate to ask a transgender person. It also has answers to specific questions that many people have, as well as reasons why transgender people may be uncomfortable being asked these questions directly. 

This chart outlines eight traditional and gender neutral pronouns and provides conjugation and pronunciation information.

This glossary contains some working definitions and examples of frequently used (and misused) gender and sexuality terms as a starting point for dialogue and understanding.

This fact sheet discusses the terms paradox. Asking what terms a person uses and using those terms to refer to them conveys respect and openness, however terms provide very little information relevant to providing appropriate services.

This resource offers guidance on supporting a transgender individuals as well as tools to help change the world to be better for transgender communities.

The page includes a list of tips for anyone working to become a better ally to transgender people. The list is not exhaustive and cannot include all the "right" things to do or say because often there is no one "right" answer to every situation.

This publication provides conversation approaches and talking points to help allies build and sustain solid, lasting support for nondiscrimination laws, and also factually and effectively address concerns that might be raised when discussing the need for such laws.