Transgender

What it means

Gender identity is separate from sexual orientation: it's about who you are, while orientation is about who you're attracted to. A trans person's gender is different from the one recorded at birth. Trans women are women; trans men are men; some non-binary people also consider themselves trans. Being trans doesn't depend on medical transition — some people take hormones or have surgery, many don't, and none of that decides whether someone is 'really' trans. Trans people can be any orientation.

Where the term comes from

'Transgender' came into wide use in the 1990s as an umbrella term, building on earlier words like 'transsexual', which some people still use for themselves but many find dated.

How it can look in real life

• A trans woman attracted to women, who is a lesbian.
• A trans man who has socially transitioned but chosen not to take hormones.
• A non-binary person who uses 'trans' as part of how they describe themselves.

These are examples, not requirements. People who use the same word can have very different histories, relationships and preferences — and nobody needs a particular amount of experience to know what fits.

Common myths

• Being trans is a sexual orientation — it's a gender identity.
• Every trans person has surgery.
• Trans people are confused — major medical bodies recognise trans identities as real.

Talking about it with a partner

Use the names, pronouns and words for body parts a partner prefers. Ask what touch feels affirming and what doesn't — dysphoria can make some areas off-limits, and that can change.

It helps to talk about specifics — what closeness, touch, exclusivity and privacy mean to each of you — rather than expecting a label to answer those questions. Either person can decide something isn't right for them, and nobody owes intimacy to keep a relationship going.

Sexual-health notes

• Screening should follow the organs a person has — for example, cervical screening for anyone with a cervix, prostate checks for anyone with a prostate — regardless of gender.
• Hormones can affect fertility, libido and skin; testosterone does not reliably prevent pregnancy, so contraception may still be needed.
• Trans people face higher rates of discrimination in healthcare — look for providers who follow WPATH guidance.
• PrEP is effective for trans people and is compatible with gender-affirming hormones.

Health advice should follow your body and the activities you actually do, not a label. A clinician can help with testing, vaccines and barriers — and you deserve care that doesn't judge.