Transgender

Transgender, often shortened to Trans, is an umbrella term for individuals whose gender identity does not correspond to the sex they were assigned at birth. Transgender individuals may describe themselves with one or more variety of terms. Transgender is not a noun, rather it is an adjective. When discussing someone who is transgender, say "they are a transgender individuals" rather than "they are a transgender." Many transgender individuals take part in hormone replacement therapy and undergo surgeries to change their bodies, but not all transgender individuals can or want to take those steps. Many transgender individuals also experience gender dysphoria, which is the distress, unhappiness and anxiety related to one's gender identity not corresponding with their body. However, not everyone experiences gender dysphoria.

While the term is typically seen to represent transgender men (or FtM) and transgender women (or MtF), the term also includes non-binary identities.

Etymology
The term comes from combining the word 'gender' with the prefix 'trans-', which means "across," "beyond," "thought," and "changing thoroughly." In chemistry, the prefix "denotes a geometric isomer having a pair of identical atoms or groups on the opposite sides of two atoms linked by a double bond." In this context, it is often compared to the prefix 'cis-', which is where the term "cisgender" originates.

History
Although the word "transgender" and the modern definition of it came into use in the late 20th century, transgender individuals have existed in many cultures throughout recorded history.

The current definition was coined in 1965 by John F. Oliven.

Flags & Symbols
The most common transgender flag was created by a trans woman named Monica Helms in 1999, and was first showed in Phoenix, Arizona at a pride celebration the following year. The flag's pattern was chosen so that no matter which way one would fly it, it would always be correct. The meaning behind the colors, as described by Helms, goes as follows: "The stripes at the top and bottom are light blue, the traditional color for baby boys. The stripes next to them are pink, the traditional color for baby girls. The stripe in the middle is white, for those who are intersex or consider themselves having a neutral or undefined gender."

The transgender symbol was designed by Holly Boswell, Wendy Parker and Nancy R. Nangeroni in the early 1990s. The design is the male symbol and female symbol linked together, along with a combination of the two. The circle connected these symbols represents the wholeness of a society that includes transgender individuals. The flag for black transgender individuals and trans individuals of color was created by trans activist and writer Raquel Willis. It was designed to celebrate the history of the black trans community and spread awareness to the violence against trans individuals of color. However, this flag has been criticized for removing the white stripe, being seen as erasure of non-binary individuals. Another transgender flag was designed by Michelle Lindsay for the Trans Day of Remembrance in Ottawa. The pink and blue represent female and male, and the flag uses the transgender symbol. The colors are bold to represent confidence and pride, and the colors come together to represent the "unlimited horizons we have in this world."

The Israeli transgender flag consists of bright, neon green and the transgender symbol. There is also another version of this flag with a black base and a neon green symbol. This flag has been used in protests across Israel, but the original creator of the flag is unknown.

Jonathan "Captain John" Andrew created another transgender flag in 1999, uploaded on his website, Adventures in Boyland. The alternating blue and pink represent the transition between male and female, while the white accent represents "the little triumphs that happen upon us during our journeys to become whole." The lavender symbol is seen as representing FtM/MtF or intersex/both/shifting. In 2015, Andrew noted that he could not find a transgender pride flag and decided to design his own, but never had the funds to produce it.

Statistics
According to a Williams Institute study from 2020, over 1.6 million individuals identify as transgender in the United States, with 0.6% being between the ages of 13-17.

A Pew Research Center study done in 2022 shows that 5.1% adults younger than 30 are trans or non-binary, with 2.0% identifying as trans men or trans women and 3.0% as non-binary. This study also found that 1.6% of those between the ages of 30-49 and 0.3% of those who are 50 and older are trans or non-binary.

Perceptions and Discrimination
Transgender individuals face a lack of legal protection. Some state legislature across the United States are debating, and passing, legislation specifically designed to prohibit transgender individuals fro accessing public bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity.

Around 29% of transgender adults live in poverty. Between 2014 and 2015, 54% of trans individuals have reported experiencing some form of violence from an intimate partner, 47% have reported being sexually assaulted and nearly one in ten were physically assaulted. Over 27 transgender and gender non-conforming individuals were violently killed in 2020.

Known Individuals

 * Laura Jane Grace is a transgender musician
 * NOAHFINNCE is a transgender musician and YouTuber
 * Elliot Page is a transgender actor

Literature

 * Pussy Braden (Breakfast on Pluto)

Comics

 * Elle Argent (Heartstopper)
 * Max (Magical Boy)

TV

 * Unique Adams (Glee)
 * Sheldon Beiste (Glee)
 * Gray Tal (Star Trek: Discovery)
 * Lexi Haddad-DeFabrizio (Saved By The Bell)
 * Ma Hyun Yi (Itaewon Class)
 * Sophia Burset (Orange is the New Black)
 * Angel (Pose!)

Video Games

 * Charles Eyler (Hello Charlotte)