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Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
and Transgender Health
Chapter 62
Lauren Abern, MD
❍ What is gender identity?
A person’s innate identification as male or female, which may or may not correspond to the person’s body or
designated sex at birth.
❍ What is sexual orientation?
Refers to the gender(s) of people an individual is attracted to.
❍ Is a person’s sexual orientation distinct from their gender identity?
Yes. One’s gender identity does not imply sexual orientation. For example, a transgender woman (male to female)
may be attracted to other women and identify as a lesbian.
❍ What is the definition of transgender?
It is a broad term used for people whose gender identity or expression differs from their assigned sex and includes
transsexuals, cross-dressers, androgynous people, genderqueer, and anyone that identifies as neither female nor
male and/or as neither a man nor as a woman. It does not refer to sexual orientation.
❍ What is the definition of transsexual?
This refers to individuals who seek hormonal and possibly surgical treatment to modify their bodies so they may
live full time as members of the sex category opposite to their birth-assigned sex.
❍ What is the definition of female to male?
This refers to someone who identifies and portrays his gender as male but was identified as female at birth. Also,
trans man, or transman.
❍ What is the definition of male to female?
This refers to someone who identifies and portrays her gender as female but was identified as male at birth. Also,
trans woman or transwoman.