GLAAD's Transgender Resources
Welcome to GLAAD's Transgender Resources!
The purpose of this page is to educate those who may be unfamiliar with or want to learn more about the transgender community. According to poll data from 2008, only 8% of Americans said they either worked with or personally knew a transgender person, compared to 78% who said they worked with or knew a lesbian or gay person. As media representation of transgender individuals and the issues they face grows, it is important that the we all have an understanding of the facts and misrepresentations surrounding transgender people.
If you are a media professional, please check out our resources for covering transgender people in the media.
Transgender Day of Remembrance: November 20
Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) is November 20th. Check out GLAAD's series of TDOR guest posts on our blog. If you are a media professional, check out our resource kit for covering TDOR.
Frequently Asked Questions
George Washington University athlete Kye Allums came out publicly as transgender on Monday Novemebr 1, 2010, making him the first Division I college basketball player to ever do so while competing publicly.
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What does 'transgender' mean?
'Transgender' is a term used to describe people whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex at birth. Transgender people may or may not decide to alter their bodies hormonally and/or surgically.
How is sexual orientation different from gender identity?
Sexual orientation describes an individual's enduring physical, romantic, emotional, and/or spiritual attraction to another person. Gender identity is one's personal sense of being a man or a woman. For transgender people, their birth-assigned sex and their own internal sense of gender identity do not match. Transgender people may be heterosexual, lesbian, gay, or bisexual. For example, a biological male who transitions to female and is attracted to other women would be identified as a lesbian.
How do I talk about transgender people?
Incorrect: "Max is transgendered."
Correct: "Max is transgender."
- 'Transgender' should always be used as an adjective, never as a noun. For instance, instead of saying, "Max is a transgender," you should say, "Max is a transgender man."
- The word transgender never needs an extraneous '-ed' at the end of the word.
- When referring to a transgender person, you should always use the person's preferred pronoun (he/she/his/hers) and name. If you're uncertain how an individual identifies, it is okay to respectfully ask the person which pronoun is preferred.
What terminology is offensive to transgender people?
The following terms are usually considered offensive and/or defamatory to transgender people:
- Transvestite
- She-male
- He-she
- It
- Trannie
- Tranny
- Shim
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Transgender People in the Media |
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Chaz Bono at GLAAD's 25th anniversary celebration in Los Angeles
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Media outlets are doing an increasingly positive job of portraying transgender people in their coverage. One of the most encouraging examples of this is the inclusion of transgender actor and author Chaz Bono in the cast of “Dancing with the Stars” in its 13th season. Chaz Bono is one of the most well-known transgender celebrities in the world today. He grew up in the media spotlight as the child of famous singing duo Sonny & Cher. He is the subject of the documentary “Becoming Chaz,” which has been nominated for three Emmy Awards. He released his memoir “Transition” in May 2011. Chaz’s openness about his experience and his dedication to educating others about transgender issues is integral to amplifying the faces, voices, and stories of other transgender, transsexual, and gender non-conforming people around the world. |
Why is using the word 'tranny' considered offensive?
The term 'tranny' is used as a dehumanizing slur to describe transgender individuals and is oftentimes the last word someone hears before they are brutally attacked. Similar to the anti-gay epithet 'fa**ot,' the term 'tranny' is commonly used to humiliate and degrade transgender individuals.
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Did you know? |
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31-year-old Stacey Blahnik Lee was found murdered in her home on October 11 2010.
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Related Links:
GLAAD Media Reference Guide Transgender Glossary of Terms
GLAAD Blog – Transgender Community
GLAAD Blog – Remember Angie Zapata and Reflecting on Media Coverage of Transgender People
The Angie Zapata Murder: Violence Against Transgender People Resource Kit
Resources:
Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition
National Center for Transgender Equality
New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy
NYC LGBT Center's Gender Identity Project
Philadelphia Trans-Health Conference
Sylvia Rivera Law Project
TNET – PFLAG's Transgender Network
Transcending Boundaries Conference
Transgender Day of Remembrance
Transgender Law Center (SF)
Transgender Law and Policy Institute
Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund
TransJustice
Trans Youth Family Allies
Transgender people in crisis should contact The Trevor Project 's 24/7 Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386), Trevor Chat, the Trevor Projects' online messaging service, or The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
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About GLAAD
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org.
GLAAD's Recent Work on Transgender Issues