Gender Identity

A person’s internal, deeply held core sense of self and gender (i.e., who they are -- man, woman, agender, non-binary, etc.), which they may become aware of at any stage of life, and which might not match the sex assigned to them at birth. It’s not visible to others, nor is it determined by someone’s biology or sex characteristics (e.g., chromosomes, reproductive organs).

Gender identities are most commonly man/boy or woman/girl, but there are a wide range of non-binary genders and gender-diverse identities from many cultures throughout history. For trans people, their internal gender identity does not match the sex assigned to them at birth. A person can be any gender identity, sexual orientation, or intersex status, and these identities should not be conflated (i.e., being trans doesn’t imply that someone is gay; being intersex doesn’t mean someone is trans). A guide to more gender identity terms here.