‘Trans’

The word transgender refers to individuals whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth. People who identify as binary (male or female) or non-binary (identifying as neither primarily male nor exclusively female) can fall under this category.

People can realize they are transgender at any age, and the process of self-discovery and acceptance may vary. Repressing or trying to change gender identity does not work and can have detrimental effects on mental and emotional health.

Some, but not all, transgender individuals receive medical treatment to better match their gender identity with their bodies and help them live healthier lives. Not everyone needs medical treatment to transition or lead a full life, even if transition-related care is essential and in many cases even life-saving for transgender individuals.

Transgender people are raising their voces for transgender people’s rights, access to healthcare, and social support networks, as well as about the discrimination they frequently encounter.They may also experience gender dysphoria, a distress caused by the incongruence between their assigned sex at birth and gender identity.

It is important to acknowledge gender as a spectrum rather than a binary construct, because this larger view recognizes the range of gender identities outside of the conventional male and female categories, accommodating non-binary and gender non-conforming people.

(Author: Mariachiara Pacchetti)