Being transgender refers to a person whose gender identity does not correspond with their birth sex. Some medical theories suggest there is a genetic component causing the brain and body to develop differently in the womb. About 0.7% of teens in the US identify as transgender, and transgender individuals face higher rates of suicide and homicide - particularly transgender women and transgender women of color. The document provides strategies for exploring and acknowledging being transgender such as finding a gender therapist, dressing expressively, asking questions, and connecting with support groups.

1. Transgenders
SHELBI BAUER

2. What is being transgender?
 Denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal
identity and gender does not correspond with their birth sex.
 According to medical theory being transgender is a genetic
component that doesn't form correctly during the
early stages of pregnancy. This means while in the womb the
baby forms a different body than brain, or vise versa.

3. Statistics
 There is about 1.4 million people who identify as transgender across the
Untied States
 About 0.7 percent of 13- to 17-year-olds living in the United
States identify as transgender
 42 percent of teens who identify as transgender have had
thoughts of suicide
 55% of all reported LGBT homicide victims were transgender
women, and 50% were transgender women of color.
 20% of respondents reporting that they were evicted or denied
housing simply for being transgender

4. Symptoms and Behaviors
 Ask yourself why you are curious. If it's persistent discomfort
with your assigned gender, or attraction to the image of
yourself as a different gender, you may be transgender.
 Consider the possibility that your gender is nonbinary: if you
don't feel like you are exactly a man or a woman, you could be
something else.
 If you feel comfortable with your assigned gender but you
notice yourself acting out of step with other cisgender people,
that doesn't necessarily mean you're transgender. You could
just be a feminine man, or a masculine woman.

5. Strategies
 Find a gender therapist
 Explore the internet
 Dress to express yourself
 Ask questions
 Acknowledge being curious

6. Activity
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA5n9YW4MVk

7. Support groups
 National Center for Transgender Equality
 1325 Massachusetts Ave., Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005 202-903-0112
202-393-2241 (fax) www.nctequality.org

8. Work cited
 http://www.belongto.org/group.aspx?contentid=2918
 http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/transgender-what-it-
means#1
 http://www.apa.org/topics/lgbt/transgender.aspx