Tg Glossary
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To me, there is
nothing worse then labels. Unfortunately they are so widely used today.
The general public (including the media) is often clueless regarding the
specific meanings, or even general meanings, of many of these terms. So
I suppose they are sometimes necessary. I still hate them though.
T
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Admirer
Transphile
Autogynephilia
The propensity (of a genetic male) to be aroused by the thought or image of
oneself as a woman. (R. Blanchard, ca. 1989)
Benjamin Scale
The Benjamin Sex Orientation Scale (SOS) by Dr. Harry Benjamin, et. al. A scale
of
sex and gender disorientation
in males, ranging from Type I (Transvestite, pseudo), to Type VI (True
Transsexual, high intensity).
Benjamin Standards Of Care
A statement
of the appropriate standards of care to be offered to applicants for hormonal
and surgical sex reassignment, published by The Harry Benjamin International
Gender Dysphoria Association.
Blend, blending
Somewhat overloaded terms of recent popularity. Blending is used either as a
synonym of or euphemism for passing, or to refer to someone who does not pass in
the visual sense but has little difficulty going out and interacting in
mainstream society.
Donna doesn't really pass, but she blends quite well.
Boy mode
Said of a male cross dresser (and others) when dressed in male attire and
presenting socially as a man.
Brother (twin brother, evil twin brother)
Term commonly used by genetic male cross dressers to refer to themselves when
dressed in male attire and presenting as a man.
Unfortunately I had to go as brother. I know too many people in that part of
town.
BSOC
Benjamin Standards Of Care
Candy Hormones
Non-prescription supplements, often herbal in composition, and other substances,
which are taken in an attempt to produce the effects of hormone replacement
therapy. (See Hormone Replacement Therapy.) The effectiveness of such
self-medication is the subject of endless debate.
Cisgendered
Not transgendered, the Latin prefix "cis" meaning "same" or "on the same side",
the opposite of "trans". Someone whose gender identity is what is normally
associated with his or her biological sex is said to be cisgendered.
CD
Cross dresser
Clocked (Brit.)
Read
Closet
An individual who keeps such things as homosexuality, transgenderism, etc.
secret is said to be "In The Closet."
The closet is a dark, lonely, miserable place to hide.
Closet Queen
Usually refers to a male homosexual who wishes to keep his sexual preference
private, but is sometimes used to refer to those who are transgendered and with
to keep their gender identity private.
Come Out (of the closet)
To go public with a previously secret identity, condition, or lifestyle. To
announce same to friends and family.
Cross dresser
One who cross dresses, who (regularly or occasionally, fully or partially) wears
the clothing intended for the opposite sex. Usually used in referring to a
genetic male who wears women's clothing but who does not have a strong desire to
transition.
Note
that there is much disagreement within the Community regarding the meanings and
the usage of the terms "Cross dresser", "Transvestite", and similar terms.
The
popularity of the label "Cross dresser" increased steadily from the 1970's, with
a corresponding decrease in the popularity of "Transvestite" as a
self-identification. Some believe that the two terms are in fact synonyms,
others insist that "Cross dresser" has less of a sexual or arousal connotation
than "Transvestite" does.
DQ
Drag Queen
Drab
Opposite of "Drag". Dressed As A Boy. See "Boy mode", "(as) Brother". Evolved
during the late 20th. century.
Drag
Dressed As A Girl. A male who is dressed in women's clothing can be said to be
"in drag." This term has been in use for centuries. Attributed to William
Shakespeare.
Drag King
Not quite the literal opposite of Drag Queen, having diverse and
overloaded meanings. 1. A lesbian who wears male attire and may or may not
desire or attempt to pass as a man. 2. A performer (usually genetic female) who
does impersonations of male performers on stage. 3. Any female to male cross
dresser. 4. The name of a musical group.
Drag Queen
Someone (almost always a male) who very flamboyantly wears women's attire,
usually without regard to passing. Often implies homosexuality. The term "queen"
has been used since the 1920's to denote a gay man. "Drag Queen" evolved from
this to mean a gay man who wears women's clothing. The meaning of this term has
broadened somewhat over the past few decades.
Dressed
En Femme. Are you dressed tonight?
Dresser
Cross dresser, Transvestite.
DSM-IV, DSM, DSM-4
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition,
published by The American Psychiatric Association. A publication used by
clinicians which provides the current definition of
Gender
Identity Disorder.
En
Drab
In boy mode, Dressed As A Boy.
En
Femme
In girl mode, Dressed As A Girl. (Some controversy on how this term is to be
pronounced. Some very defensively insist on the French pronunciation.)
Eonism
Transvestism, cross dressing. From Chevalier D'eon de Beaumontis, a noted French
cross dresser of the 1700's. Term not in common usage today.
Eonist
One who practices eonism. Transvestite, cross dresser. Again, very seldom used
at this time.
FI
Female Impersonator
F-M FM FtM FtoM
Female to male. Usually refers to a transsexual who is born female and
transitioning to male.
FP
FemmePersonator. (Term seldom used since the 1970's). Coined as an alternative
to the terms "Transvestite", "Female Impersonator.", etc. Stressed personation,
rather than impersonation. Attributed to Virginia Prince, ca. 1970.
FPE
Foundation for Personality Expression. The original name of what is now Tri-Ess.
Female Impersonator
Someone (almost always a male) who performs impressions of female celebrities on
stage.
Flamer
1. A very flamboyant and overstated drag queen, one who flaunts gender-bending
and seeks attention doing so. Prob. from "flaming queen", which refers to a gay
man who flaunts his homosexuality. 2. A member of the Community with a bad
attitude toward self and others, appearing intentionally unpleasant.
GAB
Girl At Birth. One of several recent acronyms. Synonyms: GG, WAB, WBW
Gaff
A close-fitting undergarment used to conceal the male genetalia. See "Tucking"
Gender
Masculine or Feminine, often erroneously used as a synonym (or euphemism) for
sex.
"Gender is in your head, sex is between your legs." -- S. Lewis,
ca. 1980
There are many variations and attributions of this quote.
Gender Bender
An overloaded catch-all term used by the media and the general public to refer
to almost anyone whose gender presentation is ambiguous or not in sync with what
they think it should be.
The gender bender rock star Boy George has reunited with his band, Culture Club.
Gender Challenged
Transgendered. Seldom used within the Community and quite disliked. From the
1980's euphemistic lingo which includes such terms as "Visually Challenged",
"Physically Challenged", etc.
Gender Dysphoria
Discomfort with one's sex, gender, or gender role. Clinicians will state that
the term Gender Identity Disorder is to be used instead of this term. Mostly
obsolete as of this time.
Gender Euphoria
An overloaded term, which can mean a feeling of comfort in either gender role,
the opposite of gender dysphoria, a euphemism for Gender Dysphoria, or a synonym
for transgenderism or transsexualism. Highly context dependent. Also the name of
a periodical.
Gender Gifted
Transgendered. May also be used as a euphemism for any of several related
conditions.
Gender Identity
The particular gender, masculine or feminine, with which a person identifies.
Gender Identity Disorder
Clinical term describing gender dysphoria and related conditions. There have
been movements to persuade the medical community to cease classifying this as a
mental disorder.
Gender Shock
A temporary feeling of disorientation and sometimes discomfort reported by those
who rapidly shift from one gender role to another.
I
was in Gender Shock. I got called in to work, so I changed back to brother in
the van. When I got in I just nonchalantly walked right into the ladies room
without even thinking.
GG
Genetic Girl. One who is born female. Attributed to Virginia Prince, ca. 1968.
This term is almost universally used throughout the Community. In the 1970's,
this could also mean Genuine Girl, but this was ambiguous and disliked.
GID
Gender Identity Disorder.
GLBT Community
The segment of society made up of those who are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and
Transgendered. The term "GLB" was in common usage in the 1980's, and GLBT became
common in the 1990's. Variations include "BGLT" (in alphabetical order), "GLBTS",
with the S meaning Sensitive or Supportive, and GLBTI, with the I meaning
Intersexed. Other variations and transpositions are in use.
Hermaphrodite
Someone who has physical characteristics of both sexes.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone Replacement Therapy refers to providing someone with hormones that the
body has stopped producing or cannot produce. This has been used for years for
genetic females who have gone through menopause.
Hormone Replacement Therapy is used to provide transgendered individuals with
the appropriate hormones their bodies cannot produce naturally, such as estrogen
(and often anti-androgens) for male to female, and androgens for female to male.
HRT
Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Intersexed, Intersexual
A person born having physical attributes of both sexes. This term covers a broad
range of conditions.
Kleinfelter's Syndrome
A genetic disorder of type XXY.
Ladyboy
A term that's considered crude and demeaning and is quite disliked by members of
the Community. See entry for shemale. Frequently used is Asian, especialy
Thailand. It does have a level of promescuity, but further extends to all sorts
of crossdressers and stage acts. Its derived from the more slim appearance of
Asians in general. So in short, anything Thai with a penis under the skirt is
commonly reffered to as "ladyboy" and usually dosn't even mind it.
Lola
A cross dresser, transvestite, or drag queen. Not commonly used since the
1980's. From a popular 1970's song.
M-F MF MtF
Male to female. Most commonly used for a transsexual who is born male who is
transitioning to female, but is sometimes used for cross dressers and
transgenderists who are biologically male.
Mainstream
Most often heard as a noun used as an adjective to denote something associated
with the general public as opposed to something associated with the GLBT
community.
I
don't go to tranny bars anymore, I prefer mainstream clubs.
Mones
Slang for hormones. (See Hormone Replacement Therapy)
No-Op or Non-Op
Usually refers to a transsexual who has transitioned socially, but will not seek
sex reassignment surgery.
Pass
To successfully appear in public in one's chosen gender role without arousing
attention or suspicion.
Wendy can pass perfectly. Nobody even suspects she wasn't born female.
Paureracult
Sometimes used to denote the Transgender Community, as a euphemism for the term
"subculture". Term seems to be out of common usage today.
Post-Op
Postoperative. A transsexual who has completed sex reassignment surgery.
Poufbunny
One who enjoys petticoats, crinolines and any kind of bouffant fashion.
Pre-Op
Preoperative. A transsexual who has not had sex reassignment surgery.
Purge (v. or n.)
To attempt to suppress cross-gender identity or desires by discarding all items
such as clothing, cosmetics, literature, and ceasing contact with the Community.
RLT
Real Life Test
Read
When someone fails to pass, he/she is said to be "read", meaning others have
determined or suspected that his/her biological sex is opposite to the gender
role being presented.
When I heard the kid shout "Hey, that's a guy!", I knew I had been read.
Real Girl or Real Woman
A very strongly disliked term within the Community. See GG.
Real Life Test
A period of transition prior to surgery, where the individual must successfully
live in the chosen gender role. This is required by almost all SRS providers.
Sex (Biological Sex, Anatomical Sex, Genetic Sex)
Male or female. Traditionally implies gender. Anatomic(al) sex refers to the
presentation of the reproductive organs. Genetic sex refers to the chromosomal
makeup of the individual, normally XX or XY.
She-Male or Shemale
Sometimes used as a dysphemism for "drag queen" but often implies a degree of
promiscuity. "Chicks with dicks." There is a strong degree of dislike for this
term in the Community.
Sister (twin sister, evil twin sister)
Term commonly used by male cross dressers to refer to themselves when dressed in
female attire and presenting as a woman.
Skagdrag, Genderf*ck, or Genderf*ck Drag
The practice of flamboyantly wearing women's attire in an inappropriate manner,
often as an incomplete outfit, with no attempt to present as a woman. An example
would be someone with a beard wearing an evening gown and paratrooper boots.
SRS
Sex Reassignment Surgery.
Stealth
1. Living and passing in society in the opposite gender role, with absolutely no
contact with the Community, and no knowledge of such by friends, coworkers,
associates, etc. 2. Highly closeted, giving no hint of being transgendered to
friends, spouse, etc. 3. Any of several variants of the above. Term is somewhat
overloaded.
Superculture
Short-lived euphemism for subculture. Seldom used since the 1970's
Supermale Syndrome
A genetic disorder of type XYY.
T
Transgender, transgendered.
T*
Encompasing TV/TG/TS, the asterisk coming from computer lingo meaning "matching
all."
T-Cmunity, Transgender(ed) Community or Gender Communityom
The segment of society made up of those who are in one way or another
transgendered. The term "Community" (capitalized) is used in this text to denote
this.
T-friendly
Said of an organization, business, community, workplace, etc. when they either
actively encourage participation/business/etc. by transgendered individuals, or
have no objection to same.
T-oblivious
Similar to T-friendly but implies (positively or negatively) a less active
attitude. Means that members of the Community are treated the same as others in
the general public.
T-Party
A social gathering of members of the Community.
T-People
Members of the Community.
TG
Very common abbreviation for Transgender, Transgendered or Transgenderist
Tootsie
Cross dresser or transvestite. From a popular 1980's film of the same name. Not
currently in common usage.
Trannie or Tranny (orig. Brit.)
Transvestite, Transgenderist, or Transsexual.
Tranny Chaser
Transphile, admirer.
Transexual or Transsexual
A person whose gender identity is in conflict with his/her biological sex to the
degree that transitioning and possibly sex reassignment surgery are desired.
Transgendered
To have a cross-gender identity in one form or another.
Lately, several people have been under the mistaken impression that the term
Transgender(/ed/ist) was coined by Virginia Prince. This appears to be false,
although it is quite possible that she contributed to the popularity of the term
within the Community. The term appears to have originated in the early 1970's,
appearing in the proceedings of two New England Conferences of Sex and Gender
Identity in 1973 and 1974, and may have been in use earlier. None of Dr.
Prince's writings of that era use the term.
Transgenderist
1. A member of the transgender community. 2. Someone who assumes the opposite
gender identity but does not seek physical sex reassignment.
This
term evolved in the early 1970's. It was originally intended to fill a gap in
the spectrum between the transvestite and the transsexual, meaning someone who
perhaps cross dressed more due to gender identity and not for arousal or for the
sake of cross dressing itself.
The
usage of the term has broadened significantly in the last two decades.
Transgenerationalist
One who crosses generational boundaries, such as an adult who assumes the role
of an infant or child.
Transition
To change socially from one gender to another. Often prior to surgery.
Transphile or Transophile
An admirer (socially or sexually) of those who are transgendered to one degree
or another.
Transvestism
The practice of wearing articles of clothing intended for the opposite sex.
Attributed to Dr. Mangus Hirshchfeld, ca. 1919.
Transvestite
Literally means the same thing as cross dresser, but not always perceived as
having the same meaning.
Transy or Transie
Short-lived slang for a member of the T* community. Has been replaced by the
term "tranny" in most cases.
Tri-Ess or Tri-Sigma
Society for the Second Self. A predominately American organization for male
cross dressers and their significant others with chapters in several cities.
Originally named Foundation for Personality Expression (FPE). Founded by
Virginia Prince.
TS
Transsexual
TV
Transvestite
Tucking
Any of several techniques used to hide or disguise the external male organs
under close-fitting garments.
Turner's Syndrome
A genetic disorder of type X0.
Queen
1. A male homosexual. 2. A drag queen. This term has been in use since the 1920s
to refer to a gay man. Today's usage has broadened somewhat, but the original
usage continues.
WAB
Woman At Birth. One of several recent acronyms. Synonyms: GAB, GG, WBW
WBW
Woman born woman. One of several recent acronyms. Synonyms: GG, GAB, WAB
XD
Cross dresser. Not in common usage since 1970's.
XV
Transvestite. Not in common usage since 1970's.