Tranny, also written as Trannie, is a derogatory term used against transgender individuals and drag performers.[1][2] It is also used against those who are gender non-conforming.[2] The term has been reclaimed by some transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.[3] It is still used in a derogatory fashion by most media, and conversations about its reclamation are complicated due to this.[4] It is mostly used against trans women as a way to dehumanize them.[5]
Due to its history, it is best not to use the term for someone else unless they have expressed that they are okay with it.[3]
History
Despite its use as a derogatory term, "tranny" originated among drag performers and transgender women in the 1960s and 1970s. It was a way for transgender individuals and drag performers to refer to each other. However, in the 1980s and 1990s, mainstream media picked up on the word and began using it in a negative context.[3]
Flags & Symbols
The tranny flag was created by Tumblr user acro-pluris on November 2, 2018. There is no known meaning behind the flag.[6]
Community
Controversy
More than any other slur, there is a lot of controversy centered around the reclamation of the term. Some argue that, because of its use in pornographic media, it should never be reclaimed.[7]
Related Terms
| Label | Relationship | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dyke | Counterpart | A derogatory term primarily used against queer women. |
| Faggot | Counterpart | A derogatory term primarily used against queer men. |
| Transvestite | Similar | A derogatory term primarily used against gender non-conforming individuals. |
Sources
- ↑ Tara. “Can We Reclaim the Word Transvestite and Tranny Please.” Tara’s Transvestite Blog, 27 Sept. 2018, tarauktv.com/2018/09/27/can-we-reclaim-the-word-transvestite-and-tranny-please/. Accessed 13 Aug. 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Callander, Denton. “RuPaul’s “Tranny” Debate: The Limits and Power of Language.” The Conversation, 27 May 2014, theconversation.com/rupauls-tranny-debate-the-limits-and-power-of-language-27220. Accessed 13 Aug. 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bricki. “Reclaiming or Retiring: Should We Use the Word Tranny?” Transvitae.com, 16 May 2025, www.transvitae.com/reclaiming-or-retiring-should-we-use-the-word-tranny. Accessed 13 Aug. 2025.
- ↑ Kaveney, Roz. “Why Trans Is in but Tranny Is Out.” The Guardian, The Guardian, 30 June 2010, www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jun/30/trans-language-transgender. Accessed 13 Aug. 2025.
- ↑ Rude, Mey. “5 Slurs That Are Being Reclaimed by the LGBTQ+ Community.” Out Magazine, 3 July 2024, www.out.com/activism/homophobic-slurs-being-reclaimed. Accessed 13 Aug. 2025.
- ↑ acro-pluris. “Tranny Flag.” Tumblr, 2 Nov. 2018, variant-archive.tumblr.com/post/179688146742/tranny-flag-tranny-identity-adopted-by-some.
- ↑ 404nolifefound. “Reddit - the Heart of the Internet.” Reddit.com, 2016, www.reddit.com/r/ask_transgender/comments/56u83k/reclaiming_the_word_tranny/. Accessed 13 Aug. 2025.