Programs

For Transgender

The gender identity of a "transgender" person differs from conventional expectations of masculinity and femininity; and their gender identity differs from their biological sex as assigned at birth. A transgender person includes pre- and post-operative transsexuals; transgenderists (people living in a gender different than that of their birth sex and have no desire to undergo surgery); crossdressers (people whose gender expression occasionally differs from their birth sex); and "mannish" or "passing" women (people whose gender expression is masculine Transsexuals and transgenderists are either female-to-male (transsexual men), or male-to-female (transsexual women). Most transgender individuals identify as heterosexual; although the fundamental difference is gender identity, not sexual identity.

The general psychological term is "gender dysphoria," defined as an intense feeling of pain, anguish and/or anxiety from the mis-assignment of a person's sex at birth. The feeling is most acute for transsexuals and transgenderists, and may induce feelings of depression or anxiety, which may lead to chemical dependencies, marital and other family problems, and even suicide. In order to seek relief from their gender dysphoria, transsexuals and transgenderists often "transition," or live their lives in their "proper" genders. (source: excerpts from Transgender Nation, Gordene Olga MacKenzie)

Please refer to the Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) page or all gender seminars on the Man2Man page for more information about transgender programs at the Center.