Glossary

Terminology Usage - TNB

In the Parent Support Program, we will be using the acronym TNB to refer to the term "Transgender and Nonbinary." TNB serves as an umbrella and inclusive term that includes people with any gender identities (e.g., transgender, nonbinary, gender expansive, genderfluid, Two-Spirit, agender) other than those categorized under cisgender (i.e., gender identities that align with sex assigned at birth).

Here are some definitions of some terms used throughout the program: 

Gender Identity

refers to the internal sense of being a man, woman, both, neither, or any other gender(s). Gender identity is not dictated by one's physical body or outward appearance. 

  • Gender Expression: outward expressions of gender using clothing, hairstyles, body language, speech, behaviors, and other forms of expression that are often considered to be masculine or feminine. Gender expression can change over time and often depends on the context.

  • Transgender (trans): An umbrella term for people whose gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth.

    • Trans Man: a man who was assigned female at birth 

    • Trans Woman: a woman who was assigned male at birth 

    • Trans Masculine: a person who was assigned female at birth and expresses their gender in more masculine ways

    • Trans Feminine: a person who was assigned male at birth and expresses their gender in more feminine ways

  • Nonbinary: Those who do not exclusively identify as male or female. For example, a person may identify as neither man nor woman, as both, or as another gender entirely. Nonbinary people may or may not identify themselves as transgender. 

    • Agender, Nongender, Genderless – experiencing an absence of gender or not identifying with any gender.

    • Bigender, Pangender, Polygender – experiencing the presence of multiple genders.

    • Genderfluid, Genderflux – fluctuating between different genders or with the intensity at which gender is experienced.

    • Genderqueer, Neutrios – a third gender identity that is in-between or outside the gender binary.

    • Demiboy, Demigirl – partly, but not fully identifying with being a man/boy or woman/girl.

Sexuality

or sexual orientation is an identity that usually describes a person’s romantic and/or sexual attractions, which is distinct from their gender identity and gender expression.

  • Asexual: an identity that describes having no or limited sexual attraction to others

  • Pansexual: an identity that describes sexual, romantic, or emotional attraction toward people of all genders, regardless of their sex or gender identity

  • Queer: an umbrella term for non-heterosexual people. Can also be used as an identity label. The term used to be used as an offensive slur (and is still considered offensive by some), but was reclaimed by the community to have a positive meaning. 

Medical Terms

Gender Affirming Medical Care: an umbrella term for all medical interventions that aim to bring someone’s physical characteristics in more congruence with their gender. Examples include puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and several types of surgery. 

Sex: the socially constructed categories of “male” and “female” based on physical characteristics that tend to cluster together such as chromosomes, hormones, and genitalia, which may not align with a person’s gender identity or expression.

  • Sex Assigned at Birth: the sex marker, usually male or female, that is assigned by doctors at birth.

  • Intersex: describes people who have a combination of sex characteristics (e.g., chromosomes, hormones, genitalia) that do not align with traditional definitions of female and male