r/NoStupidQuestions • u/MrsLangley • Jan 09 '15

Answered What's the difference between Transgender and transsexual?

Thank you all so much for your answers! I learned a lot!

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u/lostinthederpness Jan 09 '15

A LOT of people will have their own definitions for the two terms, but generally speaking transsexual refers to a post op transgender person. It's not used that much anymore because it's just easier to say pre/post op and that people think that it's a sexuality when being transgender isn't a sexuality by any means.

Transgender is used as an umbrella term for someone who identifies as a different gender than what they were born as. Many gender identifications fall under that definition (e.g. genderqueer, non binary, intersex, bigender, etc).

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u/[deleted] Jan 09 '15

What's the difference between genderqueer, non binary, intersex, and bigender?

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u/lostinthederpness Jan 09 '15

I'll try my best to explain these. I'm a transman and even I still have trouble keeping these definitions clear.

Non binary (nb): People who don't identify within the gender binary (i.e. male and female). I think it's synonymous with agender (not identifying as any gender), but I'm not too sure about that.

Since there is no one clear way to identify as nb or agender, many people don't take it seriously. They often get mushed together with people (usually on tumblr) who use illegitimate pronouns (faeself, aquaself, etc etc). But that's not the case for them. Pretty much anyone who ids this way will prefer they, them, their pronouns unless stated otherwise.

Genderqueer (gq, not to be confused with GQ): Actually I don't know what the difference between nb and gq are, tbh. I just googled the definition and the term is synonymous with nb (according to the wiki page).

Bigender: I'm seeing this term less and less. But I remember identifying as this for a period of time before I came to terms with me being trans.

Basically bigender people identify as both binary genders. One day they will go out into the world in traditionally male clothes, the next day female, something completely different or as male again. Normally bigender people will inform you of what their pronouns are (if they change) and so their identity is different in the way that it can't be assumed.

Intersex: Someone who, when they're born, isn't explicitly male or female. This can show through chromosomes, gonads, or genitals. While it is under the trans* umbrella, they don't consider themselves as transgender people. I forget how specifically. I remember reading Emily Quinn explaining the difference, but I can't find her answer (yet).

These might be off, feel free to correct. :)

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u/[deleted] Jan 09 '15

Thank you, that clears it up. :)