Prevention Toolkit > CAPS Model Programs - TRANS - What does being transgendered mean?

TRANS - What does being transgendered mean?

 

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Lally C. Lacy - TRANS Health Educator; Tamika Gonzales - API Wellness Center Transgender Program Supervisor; Melenie M. Eleneke - TRANS Project/Research Assistant

Transgender is an umbrella term used to describe persons who cannot or choose not to conform to societal gender norms associated with their physical sex. Such individuals have gender identities, expressions or behaviors not traditionally associated with their birth sex. Transgender persons live their lives to varying degrees as their chosen gender and may self-identify as female, male, trans-women or -men, non-operative transsexuals, pre-operative transsexuals, transsexuals who have completed surgical sex reassignment, transvestites or cross-dressers, among others. These terms vary regionally and over time.

For more information, please see the CAPS fact sheet "What are the HIV prevention needs of male-to-female transgendered persons (MTFs)?" Tambien en español.